CH 103.2

“But if the king and the prince are dead, isn’t… the bloodline of the royal family completely severed?”

“Not really. They say there is a princess who’s currently studying at the Empire’s Royal Academy.”

“Good, that’s fortunate in adversity. The fact that the lineage remains means that the validation also remains. I’ll ask you one last question. What do you want?”

“What do I want?”

“Yes. I need to know that to set in order the direction of my advances. If you want to become a king or a prominent noble, I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

There was a strange fervor to Leslie’s voice.

As if she wanted him to be the king.

Cloud looked at Leslie quietly for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I would rather not be in power. I just don’t want the kingdom to fall into chaos. To be precise, a rebellion happening.”

“…you mean the civil war between the lords.”

“Even if it is not civil war, there’s the possibility of small circles of power struggle breaking out. For example, the conflict between other Kingdoms over this piece of monarchless land in chaos. I just wish not to see that. I don’t like, neither want war.”

This time, Leslie stared at Cloud.

Then she slowly nodded her head.

“I understand your choice. It’s a bit unfortunate that you have no intention of becoming the king, but I will do my best to help regardless.”

“Are you certain? I hope you’re not just bringing this option out to satisfy me, this will be an exhausting ordeal.”

“I have mandated the Principality of Polycia, a land that was more difficult to manage, more barbaric. It will not be more difficult to take charge of such a peaceful city for a while.”

Her voice was full of resolve, sourcing from her experience.

Relieved, Cloud smiled.

“Thanks. To be honest, I suck at administration or accounting. I don’t even know the basics of how to run a country. I think I did myself a favor consulting you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s all what I’ll get paid for.”

“…huh? Paid?”

“Yes. Did you really think I would work nonsalaried? And for this country, which has nothing to do with me?”

“No, yesh, you’re right.”

As anyone else would come to know, Leslie was his teammate.

No matter how clouded he was in economics, he wasn’t so shameless that he would make his teammate work for free.

That’s why he had thought to present her a surprise later, but was stuck as of now. He hadn’t thought of anything yet!

“Is there anything you want?”

“Yes, definitely. But before that, please answer me honestly.”

Crawling forward, Leslie sat down on Cloud’s chest.

It wasn’t too difficult to get on top of him, who was lying on the bed and unguarded. She put her hands on his chest, lowering her body just as it was, and looked down at him.

“What do you think of me?”

“Of you?”

The thin, white long hair that tickled his cheek was as soft as fine silk. The jewel-like eyes that shone blue made likely to fall into if one got careless even for a moment.

In an attempt to look down, away from her mesmerizing eyes, one would see the translucent négligée; the flashy black underwear visible through the see-through curtain of cloth.

Sensing his gaze, she quietly squeezed her chest together and spoke.

“Looking at it objectively, I’m on the pretty side. I have the hair, the skin, the face, and even the body.”

“…”

“I’ve vacated it now, but I was also the head of a country. In addition, I certainly have a certain air to myself.”

“…”

“I have heard that men prefer beautiful women. And have also heard that they take pleasure in corrupting and tainting a noble woman, and take additional pleasure in crushing an overbearing woman.”

Leslie led Cloud’s hand up her soft thighs.

She continued speaking.

“Then why don’t you embrace me? I have everything. Don’t you want to see me more deeply? Don’t you want to see me covet your manhood rather than power? Don’t you want to see me groan under you?”

Leslie stroked Cloud’s cheek like a fragile jar.

“I can show you everything.”

She felt the warmth in her cold hands.

Leslie smiled at that warmth. The natural smile was alluring enough to touch the heart of the man who saw it.

Cloud sighed.

“I know. You are a stunning woman. Too good for a guy like me. But like I said the other day, I want to avoid ruining the party because of a fuss. That’s why I put the condition of getting permission from Katarina,”

“If I had met you before Katarina, would the position have been reversed?”

Cloud nodded his head.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Satisfaction lingered in Leslie’s smile.

“I’m glad I’m not lacking.”

“Yes. So stop…”

“Not so easily.”

Cloud, who tried to raise his body, was gently pushed back by Leslie as she leaned on him.

“I want to be paid for my service in advance.”

Leslie pulled Cloud closer to her face. When he raised his palm to stop her, she swatted it.

“If you don’t pay for it, I will return to the principality.”

“You really don’t think from my position at all.”

“I don’t think, I feel. Didn’t you also don’t think about my heart?”

“…If you say like that, I have nothing to add.”

“Don’t worry, though. I’ll only ask to get paid when two of us are alone. And I won’t cross the line. I’ll do ‘it’ only after I get permission from Katarina.”

“Wait for a moment. Are you sure you intend to fall in this entanglement?”

Leslie tilted her head.

“Of course, I’m. I plan to continue serving you from now on, alright?”

“No, but if the tail is long, it will be stepped on in due time, so if you keep doing it, you might get caught.”

“It’s okay. Even if I have to lose a little bit, I will get permission before I get caught. Then the secret will remain a secret forever.”

Even if she said so, Cloud was disapproving.

Still, they’d come a long way at this point.

Was he just going to back out?

Leslie decided to drive in a wedge.

“Cloud. I don’t know if you know it, but the world is really simpler than you think. Mine or someone else’s. It is divided into two parts.”

She caressed Cloud’s face with both hands and let out a sad mewl.

“In other words, if you push me away, I will become someone else’s. Do you want that?”

“No.”

Leslie’s eyes widened at his immediate reply. She hadn’t predicted him to be so sudden. It was a pleasant mistake. She smiled and slowly lowered her face to his lips.

“Then take me. I will gladly be yours.”

Cloud’s hand pressed against Leslie’s forehead, blocking her kiss.

‘Now what else is the problem?’

Leslie narrowed her brows to express her question.

“Let me ask you one thing. Are you doing this because you like me or because of your father’s will?”

Was this really a question worth to ask for breaking the mood? Leslie was puzzled, but when she saw Cloud’s serious expression, she smiled.

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“No woman pushes this hard herself on someone she doesn’t even like.”

“…is there any reason why you fell for me?”

“Why, um? Hmm… If I had to think about it, there are a few things that come to mind, but should I summarize them?”

After thinking for a moment, Cloud shook his head.

Because love’s a feeling, not a calculation.

He removed his hand from her forehead.

“Are you sure about getting permission from Katarina?”

“Do not worry. Even if I have to lose a little bit, I will definitely accept it. So now…”

—focus on me.

Leslie and Cloud’s lips overlapped.

The girl managed to win her first kiss in a bit of a rough way.