ITTRAETML 25

~Chapter 25~

Arwen bit the inside of her mouth. She was angry.

After becoming Emperor, Arwen had also tried to pass the same law Larvihan just brought her. But she failed each time. Even as Emperor, she couldn’t openly go against all the nobles.

Especially since she had killed her own brothers to seize the throne, she couldn’t ignore the families who had supported her during that bloody struggle.

So she had been moving step by step—only for Larvihan to solve it in one stroke.

She was both glad the long-desired reform was done, and furious that he had achieved what she could not.

“Didn’t Your Majesty also need this law? You even declared you wouldn’t marry because of it.”

When Arwen became Emperor, nobles worried: what if the Empress married and her family name changed? What if, worst of all, she married a foreign king—would the Empire’s name itself change?

It was a foolish fear, but still possible. So Arwen had declared before all the nobles:

[As Emperor, I will not marry.]

The distant royal relatives and nobles smiled in relief. If she didn’t marry, she would have no heirs—leaving them with hope for their own ambitions.

“Excellent.”

Arwen acknowledged Larvihan and signed the reform bill with the Emperor’s name.

“Announce it quickly.”

“Is that a request?”

“Let’s call it that.”

Arwen’s eyes narrowed. He had changed. To call it a request and accept so easily?

“I’m done here. I’ll be going.”

Larvihan turned.

“Wait, Larvihan.”

Arwen stopped him.

“How did you…?”

“You mean, how did I get their signatures?”

Arwen pressed her lips tight. Larvihan smiled refreshingly.

“I told them—if they didn’t sign, I’d kill them.”

It was exactly the kind of method that suited him.

“Judith, do you know about men’s amusements—like drinking, card games, or cigars?”

While struggling over complicated math calculations, Lovelace suddenly asked.

At the desk nearby, Judith looked up from land deeds.

“You’re curious about men’s leisure, my lady?”

“Yes. I should know before going to the Bell Boys’n Club.”

“In that case, there’s an expert.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Who?”

“Lord Larvihan.”

Lovelace’s reaction was flat. Since she had told him to delay the marriage, Larvihan hadn’t visited the mansion.

Maybe he’s really busy…

“Should I send word? I already wrote that you’d be attending the Bell Boys’n Club. I can just add you want to learn men’s culture. It’ll seem natural.”

Seeing Lovelace hesitate, Judith quickly added.

“You already sent word?”

“Oh dear—was I not supposed to? I didn’t know… I’m sorry, my lady.”

Judith drooped like a scolded puppy. Lovelace realized she was overreacting. With a sigh, she handed Judith stationery.

“Fine. Just add a note that if he’s too busy, it’s okay.”

Then she returned to her accounts.

Night fell. Sunlight faded, and moonlight filled the room. Lovelace stood at the window, gazing at the sky.

He must really be busy.

He had said to call whenever she needed him, but now he didn’t come when she did.

Is it because I asked to delay marriage?

She sat on the windowsill, slippers slipping from her toes.

Thinking carefully, she tried to see from Larvihan’s side.

He had been trapped in a dark cave, powerless, for five years. When he finally woke, the orb containing his power had vanished into her body. He hadn’t even killed her for it—instead, he had fed her, sheltered her, restored her family.

And the reason was clear: marriage, to reclaim his power.

No wonder my request to delay it meant nothing to him.

But still—what did she want with him?

“Why are you sitting in the cold?”

Startled, she turned. The very man she had been thinking about walked in. Behind him, servants carried trays—lined with wine bottles, cigars in fine cases, cards, and chips.

“Finished your work?”

“I never said I was busy.”

“You didn’t come for a while…” Her voice trailed off. Larvihan smirked and crossed the room. He sat beside her on the windowsill.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“N-no…”

“Did you miss me? No, don’t answer. I can tell. You look tired—can you handle a lesson?”

He pointed at the trays.

She honestly wanted to rest, after staring at numbers all day. But she couldn’t afford to show weakness.

“It’s just drinking and playing games, right? Nothing hard about that.”

She lifted her chin confidently. And immediately regretted it.

“Uuuh… this one’s… Bon Joryu wineeee.”

“Bourgogne red wine.”

Larvihan took the bottle from her hand. The table was crowded with corkless bottles.

“This won’t do. No more wine for you.”

He set it aside and gently pried the glass from her grip.

“I can still driiiiink!”

“Oh, I know you can. I didn’t expect you to be greedy for wine too.”

He rang a bell. Judith entered, and with one gesture, carried the tray of bottles away.

“I told you we should’ve started with something else. Why insist on drinking first?”

Larvihan lifted her easily into his arms. His hand brushed her underarm, and she squirmed.

“Hehehe, don’t—it tickles!”

She kicked her legs, but he held her tighter.

“Stay still. How can you get drunk off only twenty glasses?”

Only twenty?! Do you even know how strong wine is, you idiot?

She pouted. She prided herself on her drinking, yet Larvihan was perfectly fine while she was dizzy and slurring.

“I’m not druunk. I just mixed too many—Bon Joryu, Epperoton, Fooklan, red, white…”

“Bourgogne, Epperoton, Pouclon.”

He smugly corrected her.

“Whatever…”

She leaned her forehead against his chest. When she grew quiet, he carried her to bed.

“Ugh, I should be studying…” she muttered, cold hand on her brow.

“What do you want to learn so badly?”

“What men like.”

“And why do you need to know that?”

“Because tomorrow, they’ll probably use it to exclude me. It’s obvious.”

“I’ll kill them for you.”

He started to rise, but she grabbed his collar tightly.

“Don’t. Just… teach me.”

She pulled herself up, inch by inch, until her face was close to his. She grinned.

“You promised you’d help me.”

“You’re in no condition.”

“Nooo, I’m perfectly fine.”

Her round eyes sparkled like captured starlight. With loose hair, crescent-shaped eyes, red lips, and flushed cheeks—she looked radiant.

His gaze lingered on her lips.

“Do you really want me to teach you what men like?”

“Mm-hm!” She nodded eagerly.

He pulled her onto his lap.

“But don’t ever do this with anyone else. Promise me.”

She hesitated—why not? But still, she nodded.

“Can I at least talk about it?”

“Talk all you want.” He smirked.

“Fine. I promise.” She held out her pinky.

He looked at it, then leaned in.

“You don’t know how to make a promise? You do it like this.”

Larvihan kissed her lips. The soft touch froze her. His hand soothed her stiff waist, and a shaky sigh escaped her parted lips.

“If you don’t like it, say so. If you can’t, push me. If you can’t push, hit me.”

He whispered, teaching her how to refuse. But he didn’t stop.

And she didn’t want him to.

She clung to his collar as his lips parted hers, his tongue sliding inside. Her breath quickened, her body trembled like struck by lightning.

His kiss was deep, intoxicating, endless.

When he finally let her breathe, he murmured with eyes darkened by desire:

“Shall I teach you more?”

Lovelace nodded.