FLNL 14

Maia couldn’t help but notice how his golden eyes shone unusually bright in the dark tonight, standing out starkly against his elegant complexion.

“What are you talking about? How could you possibly help me?”

Pushing aside the unnecessary thoughts, Maia asked him directly.

She still had no clue who Lihi really was. But what kind of help could he possibly offer against the Emperor and Duke Western?

She just hoped he wouldn’t do something reckless.

Yet, he still seemed completely unaware of how serious this situation was.

“A bond of marriage isn’t something so easily broken. Unless one of the partners breaks the vows first.”

That was something the Emperor had said today. Though the next sentence that followed had been different.

In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind brushed her face as he suddenly came closer.

Lihi smiled playfully. Maia was startled and instinctively braced herself with her hands behind her.

His face was so close—if she didn’t lean back, their noses might touch at any second.

What is this? What is he doing? Why is he acting like this?

Even with Maia’s confused gaze, Lihi remained completely unfazed.

As if he were doing it on purpose, he whispered gently to her.

“Don’t you want to undo this marriage—this trap you’re caught in from just one mistake?”

She had no idea what he was thinking.

“Well… sure, but how would that even be possible?”

Maia couldn’t find a place to look with him so close, her eyes darting all over the place.

Then, as if telling her not to look away, his warm hand—soft with heat—gently cupped her cold cheek.

“I’ll help you. Use me.”

He leaned down, supporting the nape of her neck to pull her close.

A foreign sensation pressed against her face, and Maia blinked in shock.

It was a scent she knew—but never this close. Intimate. Strange.

She could hear his heartbeat through the thin fabric of his clothes.

“You already know what the most damning disgrace in a marriage is, don’t you?”

Lihi brought his lips closer to Maia’s ear and whispered.

She couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

But ironically, her mind, gone completely blank, offered up one clear answer.

Affair.

“I’ll be your lover—so get divorced.”

As if reading her mind, he answered.

Then he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“If you don’t want that… I could tear the Western heir into ten thousand pieces instead.”

After that horrific whisper, silence fell.

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

Maia shoved Lihi away with all her might.

Her face flared up.

“What? Why not?”

Lihi looked down at her, genuinely puzzled.

“What do you mean why not? That’s…!”

His calm response left Maia completely at a loss for words.

“The person you’re talking about… is Duke Western.”

Usually, anyone making such ridiculous claims would instantly falter at that name.

“So what?”

Lihi frowned slightly, clearly not understanding why this was a problem.

Maia stared up at his pure, innocent face in disbelief.

Time dragged on, and then Lihi pursed his lips with an annoyed expression and poked her forehead hard with his finger.

“Ow!”

“Stop changing the subject. Just tell me what you really think about my proposal.”

“Of course it’s ridiculous!”

Maia shouted in exasperation.

Then, pointing an accusing finger at his face, she yelled—

“You’re just a jobless freeloader!”

Her voice echoed sadly through the room, now dark with the moon hidden behind clouds.

“……”

Lihi looked so dumbfounded that he seemed almost empty of all thought.

Why does he look so shocked?! I’m the one who’s supposed to be shocked!

Maia clenched her teeth and ranted,

“You never tell me your real identity, so I can’t be sure, but from the way you just lounge around all day doing nothing, I figured you’re just some idle low-rank magician! How could someone like you play the lover of a Duke’s wife?! You could get yourself killed! How am I supposed to use you like that?!”

Even if he were from a high-ranking noble family, Lucas Western was the Duke Western.

The man’s mother was a Princess. He had been raised in the Imperial Palace by the Emperor himself. He was practically royalty.

“…Ha. Haha.”

Lihi suddenly burst out laughing. It was a hollow, bitter laugh that made Maia frown.

With a self-deprecating smile and a complicated look in his eyes, he stared down at her like he had no idea what to do with her.

“What if… my status was high enough that having an affair with a Duchess wouldn’t be a problem? Then what would you do?”

Maia looked up at him worriedly. At this point, she wasn’t even angry anymore.

What is wrong with him? Did he read some weird romance novel? Can he just stop already?

Clearly, something had happened during the time they hadn’t been in contact.

She needed to ask what on earth had happened over the past two years.

Just as she opened her mouth to press him—

Knock knock.

A soft knocking sound echoed.

“…Maia. Are you asleep?”

Then came the low, unmistakable voice of Duke Western.

“…Oh my god.”

Maia’s heart sank to the floor.

No way. That had to be a hallucination. This couldn’t be real.

There’s no reason for the Duke to be here at this hour!

“Maia.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a mistake. Duke Western clearly repeated her name.

Maia turned her gaze toward Lihi, who was now staring at the door.

Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through her mind.

If Duke Western sees me and Lihi like this, alone together on my bed at night… what will happen?

The answer was obvious.

If we’re even one second too late, we’re both screwed.

Maia immediately grabbed Lihi by the collar.

“What are you—”

He asked in a confused voice at her sudden move.

“Be quiet!”

Has this guy lost his mind?!

Maia glared at him and hissed as loud as she dared.

“What is going on… Maia?”

Damn it. Their scuffle had leaked noise outside. Lihi finally seemed to realize the gravity of the situation.

He looked like he had a thousand things to say but wisely shut his mouth.

Maia quickly scanned the room.

She had so many questions left to ask—she couldn’t just tell him to run.

Even if he was a magician, spatial teleportation at this range would require ripping up at least several scrolls.

It was better to just hide him until the Duke left.

Her desperate eyes caught sight of the large wardrobe in the corner of the room.

That size might work…

“Hey! Wait! Get in here!”

There’s no way the Duke would open her closet.

Without hesitation, Maia opened the door and shoved Lihi inside.

Like cramming luggage, she stuffed him in as he panicked and grabbed her arm.

At that moment, Maia slapped her hand over his mouth and whispered urgently,

“Shut up and stay quiet in there!”

If we get caught, we’re dead!

Cutting off any protests with that command, she completely ignored Lihi’s mouth trying to form words and slammed the wardrobe door shut.

Click.

Hoo…

Maia shut her eyes tightly and finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

A bitter self-mockery rose up within her.

She never imagined she’d actually be the heroine of some cliché novel—hiding her lover in the closet as her husband barges in.

“…I’m coming in.”

That moment, a thunderous voice struck her ears.

Oh no. No, no, no!

Maia threw herself forward.