Chapter 212 - Chapter 106 (2) - Do Not Think about Anything Else, Only Focus on Me

“No, no. I do not mean it like that.”

When it hit Patrizia that she had misinterpreted the meaning of ’embrace’, she blushed automatically. Lucio watched her reaction, smiling and hugging Patrizia lightly. Her face only got redder as she was held in his arms.

Lucio whispered a question above her head, “Did you want an embrace like ‘that’?”

“…” It was clear that he was making fun of her now. Patrizia could feel the flush on her face and bit her lips.

Without even looking, he stopped this habit of hers by gently placing his hand on her lips.

Patrizia looked a little angry that she could not even bite her lips as she pleased. “Are you making fun of me, Your Majesty?”

“No way, that could not be,” Lucio answered playfully with a smile and planted a small kiss on Patrizia’s forehead. “My dear beloved Empress, may I ask for a dance as an apology?”

His whispered voice was beyond sweet; she had no choice but to break into a soft smile without realizing it. She replied in a low voice, “If you want…”

There was no need to leave the terrace they were on to dance, as the music was plenty loud enough to dance where they were.

Lucio knew that Patrizia was more comfortable with the empty terrace and no one else there. In fact, he liked this outcome better as well. He did not want this time with her to be disturbed by anyone. Of course, it would have been a pleasure to cement the fact that she only belonged to him in front of everyone, but the most important thing was Patrizia and how she felt…

“…” As Lucio quietly placed his hand on her waist, Patrizia grabbed his shoulder with trembling fingertips. -How long has it been since we danced like this?- Patrizia wondered as she began to move her feet, a light blush on her cheeks.

Lucio moved together with her.

The sound of the music floating out from the inside of the banquet hall was soft, but it was more than loud enough for the two of them to dance to. The two started to dance, matching each other’s movements, without any harsh moves or steps that stuck out. Both of them could feel the cold sweat flowing from their hands, evidence that both of them were nervous while pretending not to be.

Patrizia had been dancing along silently, and finally whispered, “I like that no one is here.”

“Since you like it that way, I like it as well.”

“…” -Do not say such cringe-inducing words.- Patrizia wanted to shoot these words out to him as she blushed, but the atmosphere was so delicate that she could not say it out loud, and decided to let it go. She closed her mouth and calmly took a breath. With a faint sniff, she could smell the subtle scent of the cologne he had sprayed on himself. She thought about how he would also be breathing in the scent of her perfume, leading to a peculiar feeling.

As she dropped her slightly reddened face, Lucio, concerned that her behavior was strange, asked, “What is it, Lizzy? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? Your face is red.”

“…I am fine, Your Majesty.”

He was somewhat skeptical about her answer, but stopped questioning her and let go of his doubts.

The dance started to get more intense, and the two of them were completely assimilating and dancing with each other, having forgotten about their nervous dispositions.

The process was making Patrizia happy. Even though she was someone who usually did not enjoy dancing, this dance was a joyous thing. Was it a matter of the location, or a matter of who the partner was? Patrizia was contemplating that when she heard a low voice coming from above her head.

“Do not be distracted and think about anything else,” Lucio told her.

“…”

“Only focus on me, please.”

His voice was vague, saddling the borders of being a command as well as a request, quietly ringing in Patrizia’s ears. She turned slowly, whispering into his chest that she would be willing to do so. The hair done up high on her head was now slightly loosened, a few strands of hair escaping here and there, but neither of them cared.

Perhaps, Lucio would think even that sight was beautiful.

“Haaa…”

When the song had finally reached its end, Patrizia looked up at Lucio with a reddened face and a disheveled appearance. They were close. At that exact moment, they kissed each other, without either of them doing the act first. The dance completely erased the awkwardness of the previous situation and got rid of the sliver of doubt that Patrizia had held in her heart.

“Nnnngh…”

When Patrizia released a light moan due to the more intense motion than usual, Lucio drew Patrizia into his arms a little harder, like a stimulant.

Patrizia whispered to him in a low tone, “In this place…we cannot.”

“I know that.” He never stopped kissing her as he whispered, “Only I can be the one to see your bare flesh. It cannot be seen by anyone else.”

“…” As she listened to his line dripping with possessive desire, Patrizia covered his mouth with her lips again. Patrizia thought about how they were fortunate that this was the terrace, and not the banquet hall, as she grabbed onto his collar a little harder.

The kiss lasted for quite a long time.

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“I cannot see Her Majesty around here.” When Petronilla had finished dancing with Rothesay, she looked for Patrizia, thinking the situation was odd.

Rothesay spoke to Petronilla in a voice slightly mixed with laughter, “Maybe Her Majesty is having a good time with His Majesty, Nil?”

“Oh my goodness.” Petronilla shook her head as if she thought her sister was being too much, “After playing so hard to get like that…”

“Is that not what love is originally about? Even if there might be an unpleasant feeling, it will quickly be replaced by a much better emotion…”

“But we did not have any of that.”

“That is because we did not have any particular external adversity. Both the Emperor and the Empress have gone through too many trials and tribulations.” After Rothesay said this, he planted a small kiss on Petronilla’s cheek and whispered, “The night has arrived now, Nilla.”

“Indeed it has,” Petronilla muttered, “It is nighttime already. When will this party be over?”

“Most like the fireworks display at midnight will be the last event scheduled for today. But before that…” Rothesay whispered in her ear with a low voice, “Would you like to come outside with me for a moment?”

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED