The Archduke’s Flower is in Jeopardy - Chapter 147



Only Krnovel

Episode 147 Side Story: Embroidery Night
2024.02.25.

　
It was one night, not long before Prince Lillian’s christening.

Soft moonlight shone on the elegant face of the woman leaning against the head of her bed.

Using the moonlight coming through her window and the light of the oil lamp as guideposts, the woman’s slender fingers moved busily over her cloth.

“Idel?”

At that moment, Idel’s concentration broke and Eidel’s hand stopped. When she heard her familiar voice calling to her, she quickly hid the cloth she was holding in her hand behind her back.

“Caeron, are you here?”

Idel smiled brighter than usual as she saw Caeron appearing through the curtains of her bed.

She was Caeron, who would normally have curled the corners of her mouth in response to the smile of a woman as pretty as a flower blooming under the moonlight… … His face was subtly frozen.

“You haven’t slept yet. “I told you to go to sleep first because you would be late today.”

“I heard. Because I couldn’t sleep… … “I lost track of time while waiting for you.”

The imperial palace was busy with preparations for the prince’s christening and commemorative banquet. Originally, it was the empress’s job to host the imperial family’s events, but in accordance with Caeron’s wishes that Eidel should not attend official duties yet, he was on his way to take care of the event on her behalf.

“You’re very busy preparing for the christening and banquet, right? It’s something I have to do… … “It’s putting a burden on you who are already busy.”

“I do it because I want to. “The fact that you are putting so much effort into preparing for the event is putting more of a burden on me.”

Ever since she gave birth, Caeron has only cared about her child’s recovery, making sure she doesn’t have to do even a single task that requires her strength.

I was always grateful for his kindness, but now I needed to recover to some extent and be ready to get back to my daily life.

As Eidel gradually began his official duties following the Prince’s christening, he also planned to prepare to return to college in the upcoming fall semester.

“I guess you rested well today, right?”

It was a plan I couldn’t bring myself to tell Caeron, who was acting like a strict supervisor, yet.

“… … sure.”

Idel, who decided to talk about the situation, nodded his head. However, despite her obedient response, Caeron’s eyes shone sharply as if searching her. A look of embarrassment flashed across Eidel’s face as she felt his gaze.

“… … Caeron?”

His body tilted towards her. At the same time, his shadow completely swallowed her shadow on the bedroom wall. Caeron, who was close to Aedel as if he were trapping her in his arms, slowly stroked her cheek.

“I know that?”

“What, what?”

“You can’t lie.”

“… … !”

Caeron’s hands ran down her soft cheeks, down her delicate neck and round shoulders. Just like her eyes looking at her, her heat spread through her palms and into the inside of her thin negligee.

Eventually, as the heat reached his slim waist, Idel flinched. Her face turned red as his persistent hands touched the inside of her waist.

“Besides, I’m not good at hiding things.”

“ah… … !”

For a moment, the feeling in her waist disappeared, and Eidel let out a low sigh. The cloth hidden behind her back was suddenly revealed before her eyes.

A small bell-shaped lily of the valley flower was carefully embroidered on the cloth he was holding. Except for a few corollas that were not yet finished, it was almost in shape.

“It was cute that you lied about waiting for me instead of saying that you had embroidered all this time.”

“Well, that’s… … .”

“Still, it’s shameful that you tried to hide it from me.”

“It was wrong to try to hide it, but… … “I thought you might be worried.”

Idel was at a loss as to what to do, and then she revealed her true feelings to him.

“Actually, I wanted to embroider the birth flower on Lillian’s baptismal gown… … .”

Madame Pont-Feigne, who was in charge of making the prince’s baptismal gown, decided to add the embroidery made by Eidel to the inside pocket of her baptismal gown.

Eidel, who wanted to give Lillian a meaningful gift, began secretly embroidering while Caeron was away for the past few days. Just a little more and it was complete, but Caeron caught on.

“You said using your fingers or wrist would be hard on your body.”

“I didn’t overdo it. “Embroidery doesn’t take much effort.”

Despite Eidel’s persuasion, Caeron did not relax his stern expression. Even though months had already passed, the moment when Aedel lost her mind during her childbirth was vivid in Caeron’s mind.

Idel, who had suffered a difficult childbirth, was told by her royal doctor that she should not overexert herself until her body fully recovered, and he personally took care of everything by her side, not allowing her to move a single finger. It was him. His eyes were still full of worry for Idel.

“Now just a little more and it’s complete. “I will move carefully, so will you give me the embroidery back?”

When persuasion did not work, Eidel changed her attitude to a charming plea. As her earnest eyes turned towards him, Caeron, who had been lost in her thoughts for a moment, opened her mouth.

“… … good.”

“really? “Is it okay to embroider it?”

“However, there is a condition.”

“condition… … “This?”

“Teach me how to embroider.”

“… … How to embroider you?”

After hearing the conditions laid out by Caeron, Idel asked back with her doubts.

“okay. “I’ve never done it before.”

Of course, there was no way he had ever done embroidery. Idel was about to burst out laughing when she imagined his long, strong fingers holding the needle, so she hurriedly covered her mouth. After taking note of her expression, she asked Caeron back as if to confirm.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious.”

“Why do you suddenly want to learn embroidery?”

In response to Caeron’s serious answer, she asked Idel again as if he could not understand at all.

“To finish the embroidery on your behalf.”

“… … !”

Idel covered her mouth again at his unexpected answer. It was because of the emotions welling up in his chest. Idel’s eyes filled with moisture as she finally learned why Caeron wanted to learn embroidery from her. Caeron’s image blurred in her vision.

“It would be more meaningful to the prince if his parents completed it together and gave it as a gift.”

When Caeron reached out her hand and wiped the dew around Eidel’s eyes with her long fingers, his face in her eyes became clear again. The corners of his mouth were rounded and drawn into a deep line.

Eidel, with a wide smile on her face, looked at Caeron, whose expression had finally relaxed, and hugged his body.

“of course! “We will complete it together.”

Caeron gently stroked the back of her head as Idel couldn’t hide her joy.

“okay. From now on, don’t hide it and talk to me. “Because I always support your wishes.”

“all right. From next time, I will tell the truth even if I am worried.”

“Is there anything else you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t tell you… … “What?”

Eidel’s voice trembled slightly. After the christening, thoughts of the Empress’s official duties and returning to university passed through my mind.

“actually… … .”

After hesitating for a moment, she lifted her head from his shoulder and slowly released her lips from his. I thought it would be better to talk about it now.

“Starting from the baptism, I want to return now. “I want to properly carry out the empress’s official duties, and I also want to return to school in the fall semester and graduate.”

Idel conveyed her intention to Caeron with her eyes shining brightly.

“Is that okay? “The palace doctor who examined me today also said that I have almost recovered to my pre-pregnancy state.”

“I was in a pre-pregnancy state… … .”

In response to Caeron’s unreliable response, Idel hurriedly added her words.

“Really! It’s because you’re worried… … In fact, there is no pain anymore and my body feels lighter.”

“Hmm… … .”

Although Eidel passionately expressed that her physical condition had recovered, Caeron’s response was still lukewarm.

“How do I prove it for you to believe me? I’m really fine now… … .”

Idel slightly frowned at the corners of her eyes as if she was frustrated by her mournful voice. Caeron, who was looking at her quietly, opened his mouth in a meaningful voice.

“There is one sure way to prove it… … .”

“Is there any way to prove it? “Which one is it?”

Idel asked Caeron with an expectant look on her face. He lowered her head towards her ear.

When he whispered something in a low voice, her eyes widened and her face instantly turned bright red.

“Well, what is that…” … .”

Her voice trembled like a lost pupil.

“I think it’s the most reliable method. “Would you like to try it today?”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious.”

In response to Idel’s question about her authenticity, Caeron’s answer was serious this time. His suggestion was no joke.

“I know your physical condition well.”

‘If you try it.’

It was as if I could hear her hidden words in my ears. Idel could not hide his embarrassed expression. A silent sigh escaped from her lips that were parted in surprise.

“He said he wanted to prove his physical condition and return. is not it?”

He asked her again about her intentions. Unlike her soft voice, his eyes towards her were stern. There seemed to be no way to escape the trap set by the experienced hunter.

“… … is it so.”

Idel eventually surrendered and bowed his head. It was lovely to see the red color from the white earlobes to the exposed white nape of the neck. His eyes widened like the moon as he looked at his wife, who was still shy even after countless nights.

“ah… … .”

Following his touch, Idel, who was now lying down in the middle of the bed, looked up with trembling eyelids. Her whole body trembled as she saw the man’s earnest gaze looking down at her.

She lowered her eyes again, not knowing what to do. When a nervous Idel unconsciously grabbed her bed sheets tightly, he gently wrapped her hand.

“Are you nervous because it’s been a while?”

“… … yes.”

Thanks to Caeron risking her life, she and her unborn child were safe, but he did not do anything that would put too much strain on her body, considering that she had overcome her difficult times. Even though we fell asleep together every night, it had been a long time since I spent a night like this with him.

“Me too.”

Caeron placed her right hand over her own left breast, which she held with her left hand.

“Can you feel it?”

“… … “I can feel it.”

I could feel the clear sound of his pulse pounding through my palm. Her body, which had been stiff due to his pulsation and body temperature, gradually began to relax.
　

The person who moves my heart… … .

“… … “It’s only you.”

His eyes, which seemed to contain blue lava, warmed her entire body. Idel, all her tension completely melting away, smiled softly at the corner of her mouth.

“It’s just you for me too.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Caeron’s low laugh and hot breath poured down on Eidel’s lips.

Her petal-like lips were dyed deeply, and as he slowly moved, her entire body became dyed red.

It was a night endlessly embroidered with strong threads of affection that never break.