NRAL | Chapter 70

~Chapter 70~

When the Drug Begins to Work

It wasn’t long before Arlo came back, looking perfectly tidy.

 His jacket had changed—he must have sent a servant to buy a new one.

“Did you wait long? You should have started eating without me,” he said.

“How could I? It was my fault your clothes were ruined,” Eleanor replied.

“You’re too kind. The food’s probably cold—let me ask them to bring new dishes.”

Arlo motioned to a waiter, then lifted the water glass in front of him.

 The hot weather had left him thirsty; he gulped the whole glass at once.

Eleanor watched every drop slide past his lips.

 She hadn’t expected him to do it so quickly. Lowering her eyes, she smiled to herself.

The pleasant mood returned.

They chatted as if nothing unpleasant had ever stood between them, adding light jokes here and there.

 Eleanor never showed off what she knew first; instead, she praised Arlo’s remarks and shared cultured opinions.

 To Arlo—who was starting to see Nora’s innocence as mere immaturity—Eleanor looked impressive.

Yes, an empress should be like this, he thought with real regret.

 If only he hadn’t backed Nora that day when she claimed to be the real daughter…

 Then Eleanor would still be his fiancée, and their wedding would be set for a few months from now.

True, no one knew where Eleanor’s blood really came from, and that bothered him.

 Yet she was more beautiful, more mature, and far better educated than Nora.

 A child who took after the two of them would be perfect, no matter the bloodline.

 For Arlo—who normally cared a great deal about noble blood—that was an unusual thought.

 But the girl smiling before him simply pleased him too much.

The warm atmosphere froze at one quiet question.

“Arlo… do you still remember that night?” Eleanor asked.

That night.

 Arlo blinked, not understanding at first.

Only when he saw her uneasy look did one memory come back to him.

“Do you really have to bring that up here?”

 His gentle voice turned sharp; annoyance crept over his face.

Since that night of her coming-of-age, Eleanor had mentioned it twice, and each time their relationship grew colder.

“I’m not here to blame you,” she said softly. “Actually, the opposite.”

Unlike before, Eleanor showed no anger, no hurt.

 Her violet eyes were clear, almost shining.

Arlo raised an eyebrow, doubtful. She continued in a small voice.

“I overreacted then. My tutor said a true lady must stay pure until marriage… and I had no idea anything important would happen that night. I was shocked and shy. I’m sorry, Arlo.”

Even shameless Arlo hadn’t expected an apology.

 He had never thought he was at fault, yet here she was saying sorry.

 He licked his dry lips, and Eleanor went on—making him even more uneasy.

“This might sound strange, but… I’ve replayed that night in my head over and over. Each time, my heart races. Not from fear, but from excitement.”

“…What?”

“You know how some people like… that kind of situation. It’s embarrassing, but I thought you looked so manly when you held me down and took control. I almost regret pushing you away.”

Disgust twisted inside Eleanor, but she kept her face calm.

She could see the way Arlo’s eyebrows twitched—she’d been his fiancée for eight years; she knew exactly what that look meant. He was aroused.

The drug should start working any moment now.

 She glanced at the clock, then slowly rose from her chair.

 Leaning toward him, she whispered like a lover:

“Next time… could you do it that way again?”

Arlo’s eyes widened, his lashes fluttering.

 That composed Lady Eleanor Astria—begging him to dominate her—was more intoxicating than anything he’d ever known. He wondered if she’d been spying on his private desires.

Their gazes locked. Eleanor gave a half-moon smile, then glanced around.

“This hotel is lovely, isn’t it?”

Why mention the hotel again? Arlo knew exactly where they were. His dry throat gave a painful tingle. He reached to take her hand—but Eleanor slipped away excitedly and stood up.

“Excuse me for a moment. I think some of that wine got on my hand, too.”

She was heading to the restroom. Arlo swallowed the urge to grab her. No matter how heated he felt, he couldn’t pull on a lady’s skirt as she went to the restroom.

Once she left, he shifted impatiently, standing on one leg.

This is it—finally!

 He pressed his elbows to the table and covered a triumphant grin with his hands.

In front of Nora, he’d acted indifferent, but the truth was he’d longed for Eleanor’s body. He had always wanted Eleanor. She wasn’t flashy in the past, but her beauty, long legs, slender neck, and clear skin had always drawn him in.

But he had too much pride to chase a woman who rejected him, and she was too high-ranking to take by force.

So he kept his distance—pretending he didn’t care.

Now, though, she had asked for him.

‘Did she plan this all along? Is that why she chose a hotel?’

 He chuckled.

Arlo chuckled and rose quickly. Before he could reach the reception desk, a strange young man blocked his path.

It was a tall young man in a hood, hiding his face. His chin looked delicate like a woman’s, but his height suggested he was male.

“Um… here.”

Arlo was about to yell “How dare you block the crown prince?”—but the stranger held out a hotel key.

“A lady asked me to give you this.”

“A lady?”

“The blonde one… Anyway, goodbye!”

Without waiting for a response, the man hurried away.

Normally, Arlo would’ve had him punished for rudeness, but instead he looked down at the key.

A golden key—for a top-floor suite.

Eleanor must have planned this ahead of time.

“She’s more eager than I thought.”

He didn’t mind. Women who were bold in bed gave him more pleasure.

Humming happily, Arlo made his way to the elevator.

He was finally going to taste the fruit he had long desired.

He felt heat rushing below—more than usual—but didn’t think much of it.

By the time he reached the suite door, he realized something felt off with his body. Still, he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

He inserted the key.

The room smelled faintly of something strange—thick and smoky. He inhaled deeply and frowned.

The room was dim. He squinted and saw a flickering light.

A woman’s shadow glowed faintly in the candlelight. Her long golden hair shimmered, swaying slightly—seductively.

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Just seeing her back made his heart race. His body burned. His vision blurred.

Normally, he would have been suspicious of this situation. But the drug clouded his judgment. He couldn’t think—he only remembered her voice:

“Could you do that to me again next time?”

A dark room. A silent woman, not turning around, even after hearing him enter…

Lost in lust, Arlo jumped at her—

Completely unaware that her voice would soon sound very different from what he expected.

***

Meanwhile…

Countess Annabel was in a very bad mood.

Why? Because her lover still hadn’t returned after saying he’d be back shortly.

“Treat them kindly, and they forget their place.”

She lit a special candle beside her bed—imported from the East. It was said to intensify a man’s senses, especially… in bed.

Too much pleasure could become pain. She smiled, imagining Fabian crying and begging her to stop.

The sharp scent of the candle filled the room. It was dizzying but pleasant to her.

She began undoing her hair, removing a long, sharp ornament gifted by Eleanor.

“I’m only wearing it because it’s pretty. Not because of what she said,” she told herself bitterly.

But the truth was, Eleanor’s suggestion that she use it for protection in places the emperor couldn’t reach had stuck in her mind.

She wasn’t the type to ignore mysterious advice.

As she stared at the ornament with annoyance, the doorknob suddenly rattled behind her.

Her adorable lazybones has finally come home.