TNCTR 19

Chapter 19

“So, you’d better move that hand. Don’t you think, Count?”

Everyone would soon be reminded again—
Who they needed to look good for.
Who truly held the power.

“Ash, that’s enough now.”

Because they’d be sure of it.

Eshidwa responded in a gentle tone, as if the sharpness from before had never existed.

“Shall I? If my lady says so, I shall.”

“Then, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”

I took the hand he offered, turned around, and walked away.

People clung to us from behind.

They probably wanted to stop us—but they wouldn’t be able to.

Their bodies had likely frozen from the shock of what had just occurred.

Since it came to this anyway, maybe I should show them one more thing.

Gone was the cold expression from when I threw away the ring.
I smiled faintly and kissed the Crown Prince on the lips.

Someone murmured.

“Beautiful.”

Everyone stood still, unable to say a word.

✦ ✦ ✦

Fulfilling the emperor’s request was more rewarding than I expected.
Eshidwa had taken my side. I was inwardly cheering at the fact that the imperial family now appeared to be working for me.

At that moment, a calm voice came from above.

“To be honest, I didn’t want to let it slide that easily… but I held back, for your sake.”

Eshidwa brushed back his hair and smiled mildly.

I stopped the internal victory chant I had been mentally shouting just moments ago.

He placed both arms loosely on my shoulders, bent forward, and looked me in the eyes.

“As a reward for your praise, I’d like to monopolize your time.”

A shadow fell over me.

“Is it time for just the two of us now?”

Why did it feel… dangerous?
Maybe I was just imagining it.

“Shall we go for a walk under the night sky?”

I had no choice.

Because I was bound by a restriction—the cost of casting a mind-control spell on Eshidwa.

Before I knew it, I was nodding.

And so, I ended up taking a peaceful evening walk with him—something I’d never done before.

It felt strange.

Stranger than returning to the past…
Stranger than meeting the Emperor or the Pope, people I thought I’d never encounter again…
Stranger than becoming a duchess…

This moment felt even more unbelievable.

A calm night walk.

Was I even allowed something like this?

The moon is so beautiful.

Walking beside someone, breathing in the scent of grass, watching the beautiful moon—it didn’t feel real.

And the fact that the man walking beside me was Eshidwa? That, too, was hard to believe.

“How is it?”

I turned my head.

“Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy this kind of leisure, right?”

He lightly tapped my cheek with the back of his hand, drawing my attention.

“Was that… for me?”

Among the flood of thoughts in my head, that was the only sentence I managed to utter.

He tilted his head.

“Who knows?”

He didn’t say yes or no—just gave a vague response.

I glanced sideways at him, shimmering under the moonlight.

A silent pause followed before he spoke again.

“Innera.”

“Hm?”

“You always call me Ash.”

Well, that’s because you told me to.

I nodded obediently.

“Like you do with me, I want a name only I can call you.”

I tilted my head at that.

He already called me Innera, didn’t he?

No one ever calls me by name…

There was only one person in the past who ever did.

As if he read my mind, he added,

“Anyone can call you by name—if they have the right. But I want something that makes me feel like you’re mine alone.”

He closed his faintly glowing eyes.

“I gave you my nickname hoping you’d accept me as yours.”

Even though I knew it was a fabricated emotion, having someone express affection like this made me feel… ticklish.

Maybe it was because he looked too dazzling under the moonlight.

So many things are tangled up, but still… he’s beautiful.

Hesitating, I recalled my name syllable by syllable and asked quietly.

“Do you have a name you’d like to call me?”

He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek.

He looked genuinely pleased.

“If you have something in mind, will you allow me to use it?”

I’d never imagined someone would want to call me by a pet name.

With a nervous heart, I waited for what he would say—
Then, unfamiliar figures appeared in the distance.

Ah, wait!

I grabbed Eshidwa’s arm, just as his lips were about to move.

Caught off-balance, he stumbled toward me.

We fell behind a well-trimmed bush with a soft thump.

“Innera…”

“Shh.”

I placed a finger to my lips.

As we both fell, Eshidwa ended up beneath me and nodded in understanding.

The approaching figures looked like a noble couple.

I didn’t recognize them, but judging by how affectionate they looked, they were clearly lovers.

“I’ve never hidden from someone like this before… It’s a new feeling.”

He whispered playfully. I squinted at him in warning, and he chuckled softly.

Should we push through those clingy lovebirds?

After making him promise to stay quiet, I cautiously peeked over the bush.

…

I’d never witnessed such an open display of affection before—it was incredibly embarrassing.

Then, Eshidwa wrapped his arm around my waist.

When I looked down, he was staring up at me.
Only then did I realize I was sitting on top of him.

Startled, I tried to move my legs, but he grabbed my ankle firmly.

Our eyes locked midair.

He released my waist and lightly brushed my warm nape.
His soft touch gave me goosebumps, and I curled my toes.

“Ina, will you look at me?”

His voice pulled my attention.

My reflection filled his sapphire eyes.

“That’s it. Just like that.”

His gentle tone oddly relaxed me.

As I replayed his words, a realization hit me—and I widened my eyes.

“Wait… What you just called me—was that my pet name?”

“Pretty, right?”

He smiled, repeating it again in a soft, melodic voice.

Somehow, I couldn’t help but laugh, my body relaxing completely.

“Do you like it?”

“It feels strange… probably because I’ve never had a nickname before.”

“Strange? Not good?”

Nicknames are usually like childhood names given by parents, but…
I’d never had anything like that.

“Yeah, I think I like it.”

A fluttering feeling lifted my spirits.

“Same here. I always liked when you called me by name.”

He tapped my skin lightly with his fingertips.

Eshidwa gazed at me with a longing look.

Wherever that gaze landed, my body felt like it was burning.

My mouth suddenly felt dry, and I swallowed.

Come to think of it…

Did this longing gaze of his count as part of the restriction?

The brainwashing spell made Eshidwa fall in love with me.
In return, I had to fulfill all his desires—part of the restriction.

It was a tangled relationship where neither of us came out the winner.

And yet… there was one loophole.

I had to touch him periodically.

Maybe that was another form of restriction. But compared to having to fulfill any desire of his, it seemed simple enough.

He’ll come to me often anyway… and I’ll probably seek him out too.

All I had to do was touch that beautiful body everyone wanted.

But…

If he comes close, asking to kiss me—
Could I really say no?

I knew how binding words could be.
But if he expressed a desire with action…
What kind of restriction would that place on me?

I guess I’m about to find out.

I slowly closed and opened my eyes.

What he’d see in them now… was probably the sight of his disheveled self.

Lying on the grass, golden hair gleaming in the moonlight, red lips parting to catch breath…
Eshidwa, unable to look away from me.

As if possessed, I placed my hand on his chest.

Warmth radiated through his clothes, heating my cold fingers.
His gaze tickled me.

Drawn by the way he touched me, I instinctively leaned closer.

He gently caressed my cheek and tilted my head upward, leaving only a thin sliver of space between us.

“This isn’t so bad…”

His eyes curved like crescent moons.

I was certain—
More than that round moon in the sky, everyone would find this man’s smile beneath me even more beautiful.

“Do you want me, Ina?”

Instead of answering, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

To kiss those lips I had once touched while casting the spell…
Was easier than I thought.

And the reward was oh so sweet.

Whether I kissed him because I was enchanted by him—
Or because I was hiding my own desires behind the excuse of a restriction…

I wasn’t sure.

But I do remember this one thing—
The warmth that settled over my body as he embraced me.