Chapter 234
While I was momentarily speechless at the audacious proposal, the constellations went into a frenzy.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
It had been quite some time since I experienced such a barrage of donations.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘If You Like It, Sound the Siren’ has sponsored 100,000 coins.]
[Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘All In on Euges’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[
★
Dre
★
ams
★
co
★
me
★
tr
★
ue
★
]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Picky for Male Lead’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[If you keep this up, I’m just going to claim Euges~]
I managed to squeeze out my voice after dismissing the unnecessarily confusing donation notifications. “
Uh
… with me?”
It was indeed absurd, even by my own admission. The timing for cohabitation wasn’t what I had in mind.
{Our Happy Home Evaluation Sheet}
▸
Parenting:
★★★★☆
▸
Marital Harmony:
★★☆☆☆
▸
Reputation:
★★★★☆
Thanks to Euges’s cooperative attitude lately, even without using the marital bedroom, our marital harmony score had slightly increased. I planned to reserve the use of the marital bedroom card until a critical moment.
That’s when Cecilia intervened. “Then Cecilia too! Cecilia wants to sleep with Mommy and Daddy too!”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Be Mindful’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[No, not that, Cecilia, please leave your mommy and daddy alone!!]
“
…Okay!” I quickly seized the opportunity to include Cecilia. “Tonight, let’s all sleep together with Mommy and Daddy.”
“Yay, I’m excited!”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Racoon That Washed Cotton Candy’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[This can’t be real…]
Euges, finding amusement in the situation, made a practical suggestion despite Cecilia’s involvement. “The marital bedroom has a small bed, so it would be better to sleep in one of the personal bedrooms.”
“Then let’s go to my room.”
Given Euges’s smoking habits in his room, I feared it might adversely affect Cecilia. Thus, the three of us ended up side by side in my personal bedroom.
“Mommy smells nice!” Cecilia giggled, jumping on the bed.
Sleeping together required quite a bit of preparation. We needed everyone’s pajamas, Cecilia’s favorite doll, and storybook, and we had to change the bathwater several times. Though I thought we could simply wash up in our own rooms and meet afterward, the servants desperately kept us from leaving the room.
“Today, of all days, you must show Madam Mintzberg just how harmonious you are as a couple!” Mary, resolved yet looking regretfully at Cecilia, said, “I hoped your relationship would deepen further… but since Lady Cecilia is so happy, it can’t be helped.”
“I’m happy with this.”
“
Ah
, madam, how can you be so selfless!” Whispering as if it pained her, Mary urged, “Please make sure to go on a date tomorrow. We’ll take good care of Lady Cecilia.”
I awkwardly laughed it off.
After a simple dinner in the small parlor attached to the bedroom, it was time to wind down for the day. Cecilia brought a storybook. “Mommy, read this to me.”
“Alright, shall we go to bed then?”
“Yes!”
Cecilia, taking the center of the bed, patted the sides eagerly for us to join her. “Hurry! Hurry!”
Euges nonchalantly settled next to her, leaning comfortably back. I hesitantly took my place on the other side. Cecilia looked ready for a grand tale, her eyes sparkling.
“
Ahem
, let’s begin.”
The storybook Cecilia chose was Peter Pan, which is fitting since she had decided to remain five forever. Reading it brought a familiar sense of suffocation, reminding me that upon clearing the dungeon, five-year-old Cecilia would disappear, and her soul, turned into a demon contractor, would fall into hell, unredeemed.
“So, Peter Pan…”
“
Shh
.”
While I was reading, Euges, who had been quietly watching, gestured for me to stop, pointing downwards. Following his direction, I saw Cecilia, now peacefully asleep. I softly smiled and put the book away.
“We should probably sleep too, considering we’re going to the stadium tomorrow.”
Euges, who had proposed something so daring, didn’t take any special actions throughout our time in the bedroom. Almost for the first time, he acted like a ‘real husband,’ helping me to bed properly before turning off the candle that had softly illuminated the room. Despite being backlit by moonlight, his features were clear. Thus, I knew he was looking at me without closing his eyes.
He asked, “Do you like children?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never really thought about it.”
“You take care of her so diligently, I thought you liked children.”
I was never particularly skilled at childcare. I simply lavished Cecilia with all the affection I had envied in my own childhood. Despite her flawed character, Cecilia’s deficiencies especially tugged at my heartstrings, compelling me to care.
As I gently soothed Cecilia, ensuring not to wake her, Euges’s large hand suddenly covered my cheek.
“…?”
I looked up in confusion, only for a warm touch to briefly press against my forehead. “…W-What are you…?” Flustered, my words faltered, but he adjusted my chin upwards, enveloping my lips quietly.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Romance Pass’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Though today started unexpectedly, let’s remain calm, switch donations to silence, and enjoy with manners. Donations can wait until Theresa is asleep. Now, shush.]
“
Wa—!”
He silenced me with a kiss, pressing his lips against mine more leisurely and gently than anything I’d ever experienced. The unfamiliarity left me unsure of how to react. It felt like an older man leading a kiss for the first time.
I suppressed my breathing as much as possible. Euges gently coaxed me, layering his lips over mine multiple times as if assuring me it was okay. The way he caressed my face as he did so was surprisingly tender, especially knowing he was the most willful and ruthless tyrant among the male protagonists.
“Your Majesty…” I whispered his name so faintly, hoping he would stop.
Cecilia might wake up at this rate.
My heart raced too fast. If Cecilia woke up to the sound of my pounding heart, how embarrassing would that be? Just the thought made me sweat.
Euges laughed off my concerns. “That’s why you should have refused when she asked to sleep together.”
This insane… It seemed he intended to have his way, whether a child was present or not.
Amidst the confusion, a sudden insight prompted me to check his likeability.
[Likeability: ❤️❤️❤️🤍🤍]
Why is his likeability like this? Why did it suddenly jump five levels?
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Sunfish Emperor Euges’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Finally, the denial phase is over~]
I held my breath, trying to stay quiet, but it only made me feel more breathless. Without realizing it, I clung tightly to Euges’s chest, completely at his mercy. I prayed Cecilia wouldn’t wake up, curling my toes nervously.
When I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw Euges’s face, fully absorbed in admiring me. Blushing deeply, I quickly shut my eyes again, then peeked through them, only to shut them tightly once more in surprise. How many times did I repeat this?
Chu.
With a gentle sound, Euges withdrew his lips from mine. When I opened my eyes to his touch on my flushed cheeks, I met his gaze directly. He was smiling.
“Stop overthinking and go to sleep early. We have to go to the stadium tomorrow.”
He covered my eyes with his hand, blocking my view. In the darkness, I murmured softly. “
Um
… Your Majesty.”
Chu.
Just when I thought the kissing was over, he gave me a brief kiss. Startled by the unexpected kiss while my vision was obscured, I flinched.
“Watch the title.”
Euges’s voice was incredibly clear as if he was speaking right next to my ear. I tensed up, anticipating another surprise kiss at any moment. My heartbeat, once elevated, showed no sign of slowing down. I felt anxious, biting my lip and nodding silently in acknowledgment. I couldn’t bring myself to call him ‘Honey’ now, not like I did in front of others.
“Now, sleep.”
How am I supposed to sleep like this? The dark emotions that had been suffocating me evaporated due to the sudden kiss. However, the lingering heat kept me restless, making it difficult to fall asleep.