chapter 47

" So, let's take it slow, shall we? "

While her hand gracefully rises the cup and slowly sips the hot tea a little with her beautiful red lips, Claire's shining green eyes keep on staring at the other green eyes of a person who was sitting in front of her without a blink.

' I want to be the next emperor, sister. ' Is what this stupid brat says earlier, but now I'm being doubtful with him.

" You know what you mean by saying that? "

Her eyes still staring at her younger brother with completely mixed feelings.

" I wanted to make Adam the next emperor, that's why I get engaged to him in the first place yet you come back alive and claim that you wanted to be the emperor instead. Are you out of your mind? " Clenching the teacup with a trembling hand just because I hardly pull myself together, my eyes keep glaring at Calipsto in annoyance.

" sister.. even back in the past, I'm the 42nd emperor after you died. So, it's not possible to make me the emperor once again. " Told him with a straight face.

Frown my eyebrows, abruptly I lean on the chair with an upset face. " That's because you forcefully ascend the throne after you killed that bastard Noelle. Now, you, Adam, Noelle, me, and father had a right to ascend to the throne too. not just only you. "

" but, you. my Claire. you don't want that's useless right and give your full support to that fiance of yours, right? Then he is nothing without you. Furthermore, father has already declined to ascend the throne, even though he's the firstborn of the late empress Lamina but just because of his loved towards our mother, he immediately turned down his right and give it to the current emperor Geordo. That bastard Noelle, it may be hard to kill him now but I could find a way for it if I wanted so. well, what's so hard then? "

Claire clenches both her teeth and her fist in anger after hearing her little brother easily make up some reasons for him to be an emperor. Killed the imperial to ascend the throne again? Do you think it will be that easy? if it that easy, I'll just be the emperor myself! Easy to say than done. ' Tsk. this stupid brother! '

" Ha. Then, what with father? if he knows that you've come back to me, he might chase you away again from me, Cal. "

" He can if he want. I had full protection from aunt Shannet anyway. it will not be that easy, sister. " with an arrogant face, Calipsto smirk a little before graciously sipping his tea.

" hm? Come to think of it, you have been living under aunt Shannet's protection for your whole life, are you going to get back home now as a Romanoff again? "

Shannet Pioneer Laterra or we often called, Aunt Shannet. She is the little sister of my late mother. Aunt Shannet is a noblewoman who had so much pride and egos that's so high that even a guy doesn't have. she never married nor get engage with anyone. She's a woman as carefree as a bird and no one can track her down on the ground. She even debuted her salon that was famous throughout the whole continent and easily become the richest woman in the Castella Empire's history in just a year. She has always become my role model and was like a mother to me but it was all until my father chases away Calipsto from Romanoff Archduchy and thus I never see her again.

" I'll not come back to the Romanoff if you are not there, my Claire. " with a calm voice, Calipsto suddenly stroke my hair gently, pull my hair a little with his big hand, and casually put his lips against it with a smile.

" Nevertheless, why did you want my support, Cal? isn't it enough since you had both aunt Shannet and Queen Leticia's support as your influences? "

Aunt Shannet is a countess of Laterra. Laterra was a land under the Romanoff Archduchy and it was a land that was protected by my father himself since he held dears that place to him. A place where he first met my late mother. Anyway, since aunt Shannet is a countess, Calipsto had so much influence with her by his side. And for Queen Leticia, she is the current queen who was from my mother's family line and was the closest cousin with aunt Shannet. So, that's also the reason how he can gain so much influence if he keeps aunt Shannet by his side forever.

" But, sister. you're the princess of Romanoff. You must acknowledge me as a member of Romanoff since I knew our strict father wouldn't do that for me. you're my only hope, my only stairs for me to get to the throne. I really needed your support. "

Now he wants mine because I'm a Romanoff. How funny. I don't know why is he's so desperate on being an emperor, but I know that I'll not like the reason at all.

" Don't make me laugh, Cal. I've made up my mind to make Adam the next emperor. you'll only waste my efforts so far to make Adam ascend the throne. "

" Then, leave him, sister. "

"?! you think it will be that easy?? " frown in annoyance, I glared at him as soon as he said those words with a calm tone. I abandoned father's words on keeping my distance from Allard's members and even make him go to the war for years just because I wanted to get engaged with Adam. I get the honor of being the saint princess after lift Adam's curse and even had a good relationship with the villain so far. Then did you think it will be that easy for me to break up with him after what I've done to the Romanoff and to those people who I messed with their feelings with just to get my own supporter? How ridiculous with the way you talk about it looks like it was so easy.

" ....Ha. haha. "

" sister? "

How absurd. Then, if it was that easy to leave him, what should I do with this fluttering feeling that has been lingering in my heart every time I see his face gets near me? tell me! should I throw it away or ignore it till the end?

" ..... "

" Cal, I need some time to think about it. Can you go away for now..? please. " turn her face down and slowly walking towards her bed, Claire sits on it with a straight face. As her brother let go a deep sigh softly, Claire could only stare blankly at the window when Calipsto leaves her room using teleportation magic just like usual.

As a master of the west tower, Calipsto did qualify. he had a really big amount of mana because of his outstanding abilities as a Romanoff, and because of that he is also known as a young genius mage at the west tower. Father doesn't know this fact obviously since Calipsto has been living under a name, 'Alister von Laterra'. A fake son of aunt Shannet. She has been lying to my father that she had a son with an unknown man and just taking care of that child by herself. That's also was the sole reason why she never comes to visit me even once and keeps on declining my father's invitation to any parties we hosted. Father didn't have time to look after aunt Shannet since he's a busy man and just bluntly trust her lies just like that, but he keeps on investing in aunt Shannet's salon even until now without stop.

Knock. Knock.

" Laire. "

" ..... "

When my eyes stare at Adam's face who slowly open the door of my room so casually, I could only look at his figure getting near me without words and slowly Adam sits beside me so naturally. As my hair was being stroked by his flawless fingers, I close my eyes and stay still as he's playing with my hair as he pleases.

" Adam.. "

Beam when I called for his name, Adam look at me with a charming smile. " hm? "

Heard him respond so tenderly to my voice calling for him, I bend my head while my finger fidgeting uneasy. " can I ask you something? "

" Go ahead. "

I take a peek at him a little before bending my head again. I should ask a simple question first. " um.."

" if-if I want something.., co-could you get it for me no matter what? " while slowly lending my head on his broad shoulder so naturally, I asked him those questions out of blue.

" Hmm. Of course. Anything for you, my Laire. " Adam kisses my head a little when I look so uneasy beside him, his hand starting to play with my fingers next.

" then... um. if I ask you to do something, would you do it for me without any complaints? "

"? As you wish, my fiance. " this time, he played with my hair again after he had a little doubt before answering my question earlier.

" Even if I say not to leave me? will you ever stay with me for my whole life? forever? " this time, I'm getting more serious. my eyes finally met him and for a while, we staring into each other eyes in silence before I starting to bend my head once again, and thus the atmosphere between us slowly change.

" Hey.. look at me. "

Adam's hand slowly touch my right cheek then gently he pulls my head to look at his face directly.

" ... "

" what's wrong, Laire? "

Adam's gleaming rubies eyes always make me fascinated, it was like something that had a force that makes me enchanted with it and will just drown myself in it even to some extent, I feel like I'm suffocating but rather I feel good from it. In fact, I did enjoy these feelings I feel if I'm near this guy.

" um. nothing.. it's just.. you look um. different tonight. more stunning, I guess? " I just realized that this guy beside me only wearing a see-through shirt that exposed his muscular chest so casually. when my cheeks redden in embarrassment, abruptly I change my view to look at the scenery outside which the tree was shining when the moonlight touches its leaves.

"?? " speechless when Claire suddenly compliment his simple attire that night makes his heart beating so fast. Slowly his big hand shoves Claire's slender body into the bed and smoothly Adam puts his tough body against her and bends his head to look at Claire with tender eyes.

" are you trying to seduce me right now, my fiance? "

"?? "

" if so, I did get seduced by you. "

" wh-what.....?? no. I'm not! "

" that's so? "

" .....ugh. Adam... let go.. "

" ...pft. " Smirk with his beautiful lips when he looks at Claire trembling in anxiety because of his teasing, Adam slowly rises his body from continuing to press on Claire. " I know. I'm just kidding. "

But suddenly Adam feel something tugging his right arm before he could get away from Claire. "? "

" Laire? " his red eyes look at Claire in wonder when her hand tightly holds his arm even though she purposely hides her face from being seen when she just bending her head like that. stunned when she prevents him from get going, Adam blinks his eyes in uneasy.

" ....Adam. "

" ye-yes, my fiance? " flinches when answering to his fiance, Adam stares at her while hardly swallow uncomfortably.

" Can you hug me..? "

"??! "

' Oh My God!, what's wrong with her tonight?? she's starting to act spoiled so suddenly. But I guess, it's not that bad..? I kind of like it though. '

" are-are you truly allowing me to hold you?? you won't regret it later? "

As soon as his eyes look at Claire who was slowly nodding her head as a sign for him to get closer, Adam smirked while bending his body even more closer.

" Then, don't get mad at me later. "

His tough arms slowly lingering his fiance's small body and pull her body closer to him. He can feel her warmth slowly gets through his thin shirt and with that, Adam tightening his arms even more and puts his head on Claire's shoulder.

' she's so silent that makes me feels uneasy. what's on her mind that made her acted like this? '

" .... "

" ....hmm. "

" Sigh. I'll not do something more than this since I know you will regret this later, but I'm already grateful just for staying like this with you. so, please don't come to your sense yet and just let me spoil you for a moment more, Laire. "

" ....um. " a small response from Claire instantly makes his heart flutters in joy. when Claire slowly put her arm around him and hugged his body too, make Adam couldn't hide his smile anymore and squeeze on her even more.

" Laire... I.. "

" Adam, I'm tired.. " her little red lips complaining while her head was naturally lending on Adam's broad chest. Adam stiffened in disbelief when he almost says something that could bring disaster to their relationship immediately speechless in his stead. ' thank god she's cut off my words. '

" Haha. Then sleep, my fiance. I'll wake you up soon. " Adam with a smile slowly pats the back of his fiance's body and calmly waits for her to fall asleep.

" ...mn. Adam.. "

"hm? "

" I... don't want to break up with you. "

"? "

' does she's sleep talking too?? oh god. how cute you can be, my fiance? '

" So do I, Laire. " while patting her head and kiss it for a long time, Adam smiles brightly. " So don't you dare to leave me that now I've been completely yours, my fiance. "

" ..um. "

" ... I really do love you.. " when he's whispering his voice at Claire unconsciously, Adam abruptly glances at Claire to make sure she has fallen asleep and didn't hear his confession, then when he makes sure she does, Adam sighed in relief.

" I want to tell you when the time is right, my fiance. "

Stroking his fiance's face gently, Adam put his lips on Claire's natural red cheek and kiss it.

" Then, when the time has come. I'll propose to you and make you forever mine. "

" That's my oath, Laire. "

****

" Damian. "

" yes, master. " kneeling on his knees while bending his head in front of his master, Damian silent while waiting for his master's command.

Without even glance at Damian who was bending his head beside the bed, Adam gently stroking his fiance's sleeping face tenderly before he starting to caress Claire's silky pinked hair. " Report. "

" Today the princess just stay in her room without going out at all. No one gets in or out of her chamber except for her maid, Daisy. that's all. "

" ... "

Slowly Adam's eyes gleaming brightly when he takes a glance at Claire and then out of nowhere he's snapped and clicked his tongue in annoyance.

" Are you fu*king kidding me? do you wanna die for lying to me? "

"?! wha-what..?! "

In a blink, Damian hardly swallows when the sharp blade of the sword has already pierced slightly on his nape and immediately blood flows from his neck when Adam keeps on pressing his blade on Damian's nape without any mercy. With a very dark and fierce expression on his face, Adam's intense ominous figure menacing through Damian's sight with his threatening aura. Sweat begins to cover his whole body, in shivers, Damian's dark-colored eyes shaken when he looks at a human before of him which starting to act like a blood-hungry beast.

' Ugh! this is the rumored 'Evans'! the villainous grand duke's son has appeared before of me! the villain of the emperor! I'm screwed! '

" Mas-master. I'm telling you the truth..!! "

" Then? What with this sh*tty smell that has mixed with the smell of my fiancé's room? Ha. you're telling me that this smell of whoever bastard who broke into my fiancé's room and makes the air sucks with his scent and even dared to hold my fiancé's hair when I'm not by her side, that fu*king bastard never existed in the first place? did you take me for a fool, you bastard?! "

" Eek!! for-forgive me, master. I swear with my clan's name that I never saw anyone except the princess's maid get through her highness chamber. she's alone for the whole day. I mean it. " Kneeling to the ground while his head lay on the floor, Damian begging for mercy when Adam's gets angry to him even though he's innocent. He swears that no one ever gets into this room except Daisy. Damian always does his works properly even without miss any single piece of information. He'd always do a perfect job no matter what it is. Killing, murders, and even make someone committed suicide by themselves have always been done by Damian by himself and that's why people always find him if they want to have a clean scheme on their enemies.

" Tsk. Damn it! " His clenching hand slowly loosening up even though his face still the same as earlier. Fierce and contempt. Coldly Adam throws his sword away in annoyance before he sits on the bed with a bitter expression.

" Find that sh*tty bastard immediately and I want him alive no matter what. I'll fu*king torture him until he will think that death is better than living in hell. "

" .! ye-yes, master! thank you for your mercy!! " with a trembling body, Damian abruptly gets out of Claire's room through the window and disappears from Adam's sight in just a blink.

" Ha. "

" How annoying.. " said his voice in low tunes while his flawless finger playing with Claire's smooth hair once again. She was under a sleeping spell again because of Adam so she will never wake up even Adam was going to throw a tantrum just now.

Gleaming his red eyes on Claire's sleeping figure, Adam stares at her and strokes her red lips with a straight face. " Just you wait. I'll make sure this smell disappears from you as soon as possible and I'll put mine on you instead, my fiance. "

Slowly put his lips on Claire's forehead and kiss it for a long time, Adam's face begins to change into a tender one again. " Don't leave me. you're mine forever. "