~Chapter 48~
I Should Tell Her to Line Up the Buttons on My Shirt, Too
“Just like that, okay!”
Conrad stuck out his tongue. Regina’s head tilted back at the sharp sensation.
Her mouth opened on its own, and she gasped for breath. Her whole body felt weak.
“See?”
Conrad hugged Regina’s trembling body and chuckled. Regina’s fingers scratched at the desk.
Conrad noticed and took her hand, kissing the back of it.
He clicked his tongue when he saw the tips of her long, white fingers turning a little red.
Regina’s senses were on edge, and all she could do was watch as Conrad moved. His lips touched her fingertips, and his thick tongue licked over them.
“Ah!”
“If you get excited over just this, what am I supposed to do with you?”
Conrad’s blue eyes were wild.
“I can’t even show you to anyone.”
The moment he saw Regina so undone under him, Conrad couldn’t hold back his desire.
He bit her fingertips and sucked on them. Regina’s throat went dry.
“This is just… too much…”
It was embarrassing.
“Regina.”
Conrad looked over her face, and his mouth was just as dry. He slowly let go of her fingers, and his lips moved lower.
Every place his lips touched burned like fire for Regina.
When Conrad bit the soft skin inside her arm, even the pain turned into excitement.
Rip—
“Don’t wear such complicated clothes when you’re with me.”
The indoor dress Regina wore for work was easily ripped in Conrad’s strong hands.
‘There’s no way to wear something simpler than this!’ she thought to herself, embarrassed at how messy she looked.
It made her even more embarrassed that Conrad was still fully dressed in his shirt and pants.
‘Why is it always my clothes…?’
As if he read her mind, Conrad slowly undid his cravat. Regina’s eyes followed his hands.
He ran his hand through his hair and unbuttoned his shirt one by one, then frowned.
Finally, he just yanked his shirt and ripped it. With a calm smile, his solid chest was revealed, making Regina’s face turn red.
Regina looked over him slowly, and their eyes met.
“I should tell you to line up the buttons on my shirt, too.”
When she saw his red lips, Regina felt oddly thirsty. She pulled Conrad’s neck toward her.
Their lips touched, and their breaths mixed together.
The magic flowing between them made Regina’s body heat up even more. Conrad felt the same.
“If you don’t want this to happen in the study, then don’t tempt me here.”
Between her excited breaths, Regina’s soft voice slipped out.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Conrad protested with a hurt face, as if asking how he could just watch her look at him like that and do nothing. Regina couldn’t answer and just turned her head away.
Then, suddenly, Conrad’s lips pressed down again, making her open her eyes wide.
She tried to twist away, but Conrad’s strong arm held her by the leg and didn’t let go.
“Wait, that’s too fast!”
Regina’s hand grabbed and let go of Conrad’s dark hair over and over, trying her best to hold on as waves of sensation rushed through her. Conrad felt a mischievous joy rise in his chest.
‘She’s already this hot, but she’s still trying to hold back.’
Conrad wanted to see Regina looking even more lost in pleasure, so he didn’t hesitate.
“Ah!”
The sensation was so strong, Regina’s waist trembled on its own.
She couldn’t move and just took his kisses. Her toes curled, and her thighs trembled.
“Ahh!”
“You need to let out your voice properly.”
Conrad spoke softly, as if comforting her, but his hands were anything but gentle.
Regina’s excited sounds filled the air. Hearing them in his ear made Conrad even more excited.
“Really…”
He frowned and raised the corners of his mouth, thinking she was being too cute.
Regina didn’t have any calm left, either.
When Conrad’s weight pressed her down, Regina gripped his hand tighter.
He grabbed her hand, which was scratching at the desk, and moved like a snake.
Regina’s moans were swallowed up again by Conrad’s kiss.
“Mm!”
Conrad looked down. On her straight collarbone, red marks he left looked like flowers.
He licked his dry lips.
He’d long forgotten about the magic and aura swirling between them.
Breathing hard after enjoying Regina’s soft body, Conrad finally looked satisfied.
“So sexy.”
The moment Regina saw his darkened eyes, she felt the urge to run away—and a secret hope at the same time.
Then Conrad grabbed her shoulders and spun her body gently.
“Ah!”
They became even more connected.
Magic and aura swirled around them, but the two were so focused on each other they didn’t notice at all.
A Week Later
Not only the people in the palace, but the nobles who wanted to get close to power, could feel the tension between the Grand Empress and the Empress.
“Isn’t today the day Her Majesty is supposed to take the test on palace etiquette and imperial law?”
“I heard the elder nobles are all gathered in the Empress’s sitting room.”
“Does that mean they’ll grade her right away?”
“Probably.”
“Hmm.”
If the Empress passed this test, she would get control over the finances. So, everyone’s attention was on the Empress’s palace.
“She’ll have to know imperial law and even do math…”
“She must be confident, or she wouldn’t have agreed to the test.”
Even though the results weren’t out yet, the nobles watched carefully and kept their opinions quiet.
If Regina succeeded, the Emperor Conrad’s side would definitely gain more power.
That meant even if Conrad left the capital to fight monsters at the border, he wouldn’t lose control of the palace, because Regina would hold the budget.
“It’s been a while since the test started—shouldn’t it be finished by now?”
“It must be almost over.”
Regina was the one taking the test, but the nobles seemed more nervous. Depending on the results, they would have to decide how to act next.
Conrad watched the nobles waiting, not even discussing meeting topics, just waiting for Regina’s results. He almost sighed.
‘They’re just trying to grab power.’
Even his own allies were no different. They just wanted to be on the winning side, and only a few really cared about the empire.
Conrad took careful note of all the nobles acting like this, keeping in mind those who were missing from the room—those who were doing their jobs instead of waiting for results.
Just then—
“The test is finished!”
The chief attendant of the Imperial Palace shouted and ran into the meeting room. The excited look on his face told the nobles all they needed to know.
And just as expected—
“Her Majesty the Empress has passed every test! The elder nobles said she did so well, she doesn’t even need extra lessons.”
Just as Conrad expected, Regina passed easily. But he hadn’t thought she would do so well that she didn’t need more teaching.
Regina was a princess from the Permang Empire, and royal children from every empire were trained from a young age.
Just completing that training was enough to manage most palace duties.
Thanks to the former Empress of Permang, Regina had passed all the courses a long time ago, so this result was natural.
Conrad didn’t know all these details, but he still felt proud that Regina had proved herself by her own power.
“Oh, really?”
But he acted surprised in front of the nobles, opening his eyes wide on purpose.
