After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 28
Chapter 28: Age-Appropriate
“So, that kind of thing should take more time…”
“Lutz is serious, and I don’t mind that. Yeah, if Lutz says so, we won’t do ‘baby-making’ tonight. We won’t, but… just sleeping next to me is fine. Is that still not okay?”
“Not that it’s not okay, but if I sleep so close to Beatrice, my reason might be compromised…”
“Lutz, you’re sometimes saying incomprehensible things. Well… this is a royal order. Lord Ludwig, come to my side.”
Uh, it’s cheating to cutely command something like that with a little nose up… there’s no way to resist. Slipping into her side with a smile, the nightclothes emitted a sweet fragrance typical of young girls. My reason, which had just spoken some cool words, seemed to surrender unconditionally to these monkeys. No, this calls for some distraction.
“Well then, until we get sleepy, shall we chat? I only know the surface of Beatrice, so how about sharing some stories from your childhood…”
It seemed like a good idea to suggest that, but there was no response from her. Did I handle this wrong? She was quite pushy earlier, saying something like, “I’ve arranged everything, so make a move, coward!” Maybe she’s that type?
Worrying about it, I looked at Beatrice, and her face, which was already pale, lost even more color. Her lips trembled finely. What’s with this reaction?
“Beatrice, perhaps… perhaps, are you forcing yourself a lot?”
…
“Am I… scary?”
As expected, no answer. I slowly turned to Beatrice and gently touched her slender shoulder with my index finger. At that moment…
“Eek!”
Surprised by a reaction completely different from what I imagined, I realized something. This sheltered princess, without any brothers and with prospective fiancés from foreign lands… she rarely had close interactions with men, probably. Despite inviting me to bed with a confident demeanor, she must be secretly frightened.
“Phew. Even so, to tempt me with that, impressive.”
“This is… a noble duty, you know.”
When I thought she would roll towards me with a thud, she replied with an unexpectedly forceful voice. Her cheeks, which had lacked emotion until now, were now blushing due to embarrassment or anger. I’ve never teased her like this before; she must not be used to it. Well, I prefer this charming side over the doll mode. I like it.
“Don’t worry. We already exchanged a somewhat exaggerated contract for this engagement. I won’t run away just because we’re binding ourselves physically. It was surprising, though… becoming the partner of a beauty like Beatrice, I think it’s fortunate.”
“But you don’t… love me.”
“Well… I’m not skilled enough to say ‘I love you’ to a girl I just talked to for the first time today. These things, you know, need time to develop slowly, right?”
She probably didn’t expect this kind of answer, even though it’s what she wasn’t looking for. Well, I can’t lie. At the very least, I intend to make efforts to love her. My mentality is from the Showa era, after all.
“Lutz is very honest. At times like this, you’re supposed to lie and say you love me. Not suitable for socializing or diplomacy… as a royal consort, I wonder…”
“If you think so, it’s not too late. Before we create a ‘fait accompli,’ shouldn’t you find a more noble-looking man?”
I said it as a joke, but I meant it seriously. It’s impossible for me to perform the tricks of nobles or royals. In my former world, I was often called a corporate warrior, well, more commonly a company slave…
“Yeah, I think so. I think, but…”
Beatrice timidly covered my right hand with both of hers. The cool sensation felt pleasant… as if she were gently confirming my body temperature.
“This way is not bad.”
While saying such words, Beatrice raised the corners of her mouth. Unexpectedly, I, who had suddenly encountered a dere side of my fiancée, found myself pierced in the chest. I must be quite a soft guy.
As her cold hands gradually warmed up, and for some reason, Beatrice began to seem cute to me. Of course, Beatrice was originally an impeccable beauty, but I never quite liked her cold beauty lacking vitality.
But now, how is it… her fair cheeks have a hint of cherry blossom color as if tinged with red, and her softly closed eyelids flutter with long eyelashes. The pink lips are slightly open, as if inviting me… and the sweet fragrance drifting around. I can’t resist this any longer.
As my instincts took over and I tried to extend my empty left hand towards Beatrice, at that moment, the strength seemed to drain out from both of her hands that were firmly holding my right hand. Looking closely, a gentle, peaceful breath was escaping through her slightly open lips.
Hey, come on, just when the atmosphere was getting good, are you going to sleep now?
Beside the peacefully sleeping princess, I felt the monkeys in my mind going wild, and I spent a sleepless night, feeling frustrated.