The Archduke’s Flower is in Jeopardy - Chapter 151

Episode 151 Side Story: Imprint of Eternity
2024.03.10.

　
It was different from the previous entrance ceremony, when I left first due to an unexpected schedule. Caeron’s steps toward her child, Del, were without the slightest hesitation, like her straight gaze that only looked for her.

“What about the Empress?”

At the back of the theater, where she thought she would meet Idel after her speech, there was only a waiting carriage, attendant, and Bienne. Vien relayed the words of her child, Aedel, to Caeron, who was searching for her empress.

She said, “She is the Empress. Her Majesty has said that she will be stopping by the Faculty of Administration building for a moment. “She said hello to Professor Nitzen and other students who studied with her.”

“… … “I see.”

“I would like you to stay in the carriage with His Highness the Prince for a while.”

Vien encouraged, looking at Lillian, who was resting her head on Caeron’s shoulder. Lillian, who had begun to nod off perhaps because it was time for a nap, had already fallen asleep.

“Take Lillian and wait in the carriage. “I will go and meet the Empress.”

She said as Caeron handed over her sleeping Lillian to Vienne. I wanted to see Eidel’s face even just for a moment.

She said, “There is no need to practice. “It’s enough for her to go alone.”

“Haona… … .”

“It’s okay since it’s inside Imperial University. “I don’t want to stand out.”

Imperial University was a place where everyone was equal without class. There was no need to highlight the emperor’s presence with many attendants. Caeron began to walk alone towards the Department of Public Administration building, fighting back the attendants who tried to follow him.

Upon arriving in front of the administrative department building, Professor Nitzen, who was talking with her students, recognized Caeron and ran to him.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

“It was a troublesome example.”

Caeron stopped Nitzen from bowing deeply to show respect and looked around. Nichen quickly opened his mouth to him, who seemed to be looking for where Eidel was.

“Eidel, no, Her Majesty the Empress has just gone to the library. “She had her graduation thesis bound for the library to keep as a collection, and she went to check it out.”

“I see. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Here comes the Emperor. Please take a look.”

It seemed like their steps were slightly different from each other. After seeing Nichen off, Caeron turned toward the library again.

As he entered the library building, a scent floating in the still air passed his nose. He took natural steps, following the scent that awakened all the senses in his body.

Every time I passed through the high library that almost reached the ceiling, memories of the past came back as vividly as if it were yesterday. For the first time in his life, he was intoxicated by a strong scent that shook him, and the moment he came here as if he was being drawn by something.

And what I came across at the end was the profile of a woman who was engrossed in a book as she was now. Her light green eyes beneath her long eyelashes seemed busy chasing type again today.

She was usually so immersed in her reading that once she started looking at her book, she didn’t even know who was around her. I loved her consistent appearance, but at the same time, I found it annoying to see things like bundles of paper stealing her attention.

‘It was like that last night too.’

On days when his work ended late, she would wait for him, leaning against the headboard of her bed and reading a book.

Even last night, he was so focused on her reading that she didn’t even notice that he had returned, so he hugged her and at the same time took the book out of her hands and put it away.

In an instant she was holding his hand instead of her book, and she kissed him in surprise, immediately putting all thoughts of her book out of her mind.

‘What should I do this time?’

The space between his eyebrows narrowed as she glared sharply at the book she was holding. That was when Caeron was brushing under her chin, trying to figure out how to remove the book from her hands.

“ah… … ! “This is not the time!”

Idel muttered softly to herself with a ‘oops’ look on her face.

She tried to leave the library right after checking her bound thesis, but she couldn’t easily turn away because she was sad that she couldn’t come back after graduation.

While walking with the intention of taking a walk around this place that would remain a place of her unforgettable memories, she discovered her new book and picked it up without realizing it.

Despite her promise to just check the table of contents, she seemed to have finally come to her senses as she turned to the next chapter in her own words.

‘I have to go quickly.’

Thinking of Caeron and Lillian waiting for her, Eidel boldly closed the book she was reading. It was the moment when she, putting her book back in its place, stood, turned her body outward, and was about to take her steps.

“oh!”

She gasped in surprise as her man’s ample chest appeared right before her eyes. As she hurriedly took a step backwards, her body lost balance and shook violently.

‘widely!’

The man grabbed her staggering wrist and pulled her towards me. He then skillfully caught her falling body into his arms.

The man’s hard chest touched the bridge of Idel’s nose. She was so startled that she started to move her body away, but when she saw her man’s face, she immediately stopped her movements.

It was still a dark library with little sunlight, but the face of a man was now familiar enough to be recognized even in the darkness.

“Caeron… … !”

Idel, who now realized that the man who hugged her was Caeron, let out a sigh of relief.

“It was you. “You were surprised.”

“… … .”

As expected, their attitude was that they were completely unaware of his existence.

“When did you come here?”

“… … well.”

Eidel had a hunch as she looked at Caeron’s short answer, his stiff tone of voice, and his raised eyebrows.

‘You’re sulking because you didn’t notice he came.’

Perhaps because of the scent that only he could smell, Caeron always noticed her presence first, no matter where she was. On the other hand, unlike him, when she reads a book, she gets lost in it, and she doesn’t notice Caeron’s existence until it’s too late… … .

‘Of course I can’t help but feel sad… … .’

Even if she were in his shoes, she would have felt the same way. Feeling sorry, Eidel smiled humbly and spoke in a soft voice as if to comfort him.

“Shall we go quickly? “Lillian will be waiting for you too.”

“… … .”

But Caeron kept her lips tightly shut and remained unmoved. It didn’t seem like he would be able to ease his mind easily.

‘At times like this, you’re just like Lillian.’

This was mainly when she had to go to college to take her classes, or when her outside activities required her to go out and leave Lillian behind. Instead of expressing her disappointment at her mother who could not be with her by crying or getting angry, Lillian just stared at her like she was protesting.

Does Lillian resemble Caeron? Or maybe Caeron resembles Lillian?

As she looked at Caeron, who had the same expression as her two-year-old son, Idel sighed and smiled.

‘Maybe it would be good.’

She was lost in thought for a moment, and then, as if she had made up her mind, she took a step closer to him.

She simultaneously lifted her head up and brought her face closer to his. The distance was so close that each other’s breath could touch.

“… … !”

Caeron’s blue pupils widened as if surprised by Eidel’s sudden action. Unlike his embarrassed face, Idel made eye contact with him with a relaxed smile.

“… … this… … .”

When his eyes asked what the action meant, Idel whispered with a deeper smile on her lips.

“I was going to go quickly, but… … “She changed her mind.”

“… … why?”

“I like being alone with you like this.”

“… … !”

Just as he was unable to hide his surprise at the unexpected answer, his whole body stiffened at Eidel’s next action.
　

　
‘Ugh.’

Eidel lifted her hand, which was not caught by him, and placed it on Caeron’s cheek. Then, I slowly traced the line of his lower lip with my thumb.

His eyes, lost for a moment at her touch, wavered. As his nervous neck moved greatly, the bewitching angel smiled brightly, unaware of how fast he was burning.

“… … “It’s difficult.”

Caeron chewed his teeth, as if he was bearing something of her with great difficulty. In the same space as three years ago, she caused him trouble again.

Except for her urge to lose her temper and rush at her at any moment, everything had changed since then.

At that time, he only followed her scent and took in her appearance, but not anymore.

The eyes that look at him with immeasurable and upright affection, the lovely smile he shows while making eye contact with his precious person, even the slight tremor he feels at his fingertips while boldly touching him first… … .

Each and every sight of her was deeply engraved not in his eyes but in his heart.

“… … Are you in trouble?”

“… … okay. “I feel like I’m losing control because of you.”

This feeling that rose from deep within her heart and made his pulse race was not because of her scent, but because of her presence that was forever imprinted on him.

Looking at his dark blue eyes, which seemed to devour her at any moment, Idel knew that his words were not exaggerated.

He took the initiative to reach out to her to soothe his feelings, but she didn’t want to see him losing control here. Besides, this was a public place.

“… … “I think I’ll be in trouble if I lose control here.”

With a shy smile, Eidel slowly removed her hand from covering his cheek and lowered it. At the same time, he was about to take a step back again.

‘Poof!’

As if there was nothing he could do, he grabbed her waist and pulled her close. The two became close again, to the point where the tips of their noses were touching. Eidel sucked in a surprised breath and hurriedly called his name.

“Caeron… … !”

“You have to take responsibility for your actions.”

“… … !”

“What did you mean when you touched my lips earlier?”

When Caeron mischievously asked the meaning of her unexpected behavior, the tips of Eidel’s ears turned faintly red. She trailed off her words with a troubled look in her eyes.

“that… … .”

She had intended to lightly kiss him on the lips, but when she actually tried to talk to him, she felt embarrassed. As he watched her long eyelashes flutter down, his eyes widened as he already knew the answer.

“From now on, I will guess its meaning.”

“… … !”

“And if I lose control… … “Please at least step on my toes in the middle.”

“What is that… … town!”

She could no longer continue her words due to his hot breath resting on her lips without hesitation. As our breaths intertwined, her sweetness filled us endlessly. Her fingertips grabbed his broad shoulders as she was helplessly taken over and had nowhere to go.

Their breath, which had been intertwined with each other for a long time, could only be separated when she lightly stepped on his foot.