LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 144
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This is troublesome.
A sudden thought made him chuckle softly.
He gently stroked Miragen’s hair as she slept, oblivious to the world. He wasn’t sure how they had become so close.
Just a few days ago, Miragen seemed to be rejecting him, and now, not even a week later…
Where did things go wrong?
He hadn’t intended to get this close.
His plan had been to use her as a lover, to take what he needed and discard her when he was done. He could have left at any moment, but seeing her sleeping face beside him erased those thoughts completely.
He had thought she was an easy woman, swayed by a simple confession of love at first sight.
“You’re letting your guard down too easily.”Of course, they weren’t in bed.
They hadn’t progressed that far in just a few days.
Miragen lay asleep beneath a large willow tree at the edge of the Taylor estate, a cool breeze rustling the leaves. Her lips were slightly parted.
He reached out and gently traced his finger along her lip. Like a child, she instinctively closed her mouth around his finger, sucking lightly.
He chuckled at the sight, then sighed, realizing his feelings had changed. He had been caught in his own trap.
He had been the hunter, but now he was the prey.
Was she a fox? Was she secretly wagging her tail behind her back, even in her sleep?
Nothing about her had changed since they first met, yet he found himself increasingly drawn to her.
He had told her he fell in love at first sight, but it had been a lie.
Now, as his feelings deepened, maintaining that initial pretense was becoming difficult.
It was he who was startled each time she suddenly took his hand, he who felt awkward when she occasionally called his name.
At this rate, it was he who was being seduced, not the other way around.
The funny thing was, he didn’t mind. This life wasn’t so bad.
No, it was rather enjoyable.
His feeling of being trapped wasn’t entirely wrong. At some point, his feelings for Miragen had become genuine.
It was ironic, considering his initial intention had been to change Theresa and Yuria’s perception of him.
“…Still, with time…”
These feelings might fade. It could all be a misunderstanding.
Perhaps his vision was clouded by the time they spent together.
Miragen was a princess.
No matter how high his standing in the Taylor family, bridging the gap between them wouldn’t be easy.
Things could change tomorrow.
He ran a hand across his forehead, then shielded Miragen’s eyes from the setting sun. Her soft breaths sounded peaceful.
Was it her nature to sleep so soundly beside a man, or did she trust him that much?
He hoped it was the former.
It would make leaving her easier. He turned his gaze back to the sunset, lost in thought once more.
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“Are you awake?”
Miragen slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry with sleep. She realized she had fallen asleep next to Robert.
Mortified, she wanted to disappear.
She considered feigning sleep, but their eyes met, making it impossible.
She wished he would ignore her. But Robert was awkward in these situations.
Miragen slowly sat up, her face hidden behind her hands.
She didn’t remember falling asleep.
She had been admiring the view, and when Robert suggested she rest her eyes, she had closed them…
Now, the sun was setting.
Miragen blinked, realizing several hours had passed. She would be returning to the palace late.
She knew she should leave, but the thought filled her with a strange feeling.
She smoothed her hair, glancing at Robert. If he asked her to stay, she would.
Staying outside the palace for a day wouldn’t be a problem…and she didn’t want to refuse him outright. But she knew he wasn’t the type to ask.
She had to find a way to make him say it.
“It’s already evening.”
She said casually, hoping he would realize how late it was.
He nodded, looking up at the sky.
The stars were scattered across the darkening canvas.
Lost in the sight, time slipped away, and the setting sun disappeared completely. Robert knew what she meant.
She wanted him to ask her to stay.
He hadn’t spoken because he wasn’t sure of his own feelings.
Was this genuine? Just moments ago, he had been thinking of leaving her.
How could he ask her to stay?
“Shall we go then?”
When Miragen gave up and started to rise, a sudden thought struck him.
He couldn’t let her leave. If he let her go now, he might never have this chance again.
His intuition, honed through countless regressions, was rarely wrong. He instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Robert?”
“…Well, you see…”
What should he say?
The sudden question left him speechless.
Would she understand if he simply said he didn’t want her to leave?
Keeping her here meant spending the night together. It would change their relationship, in every sense of the word.
Miragen’s eyes narrowed as he held her wrist silently.
She was the one who was frustrated.
Hadn’t she deliberately stood up, waiting for him to say something?
One word was all it took.
Just one word, and she would gladly stay.
He hesitated, unable to speak. If this were their first meeting, he would have easily asked her to stay.
Back then, he hadn’t fallen for her. His feelings had been ambiguous. But now, his affection was undeniable.
He was acutely aware of how his words would affect her.
Miragen was no longer just a tool to be used.
They connected surprisingly well, and perhaps… even if he regressed again, he might never meet someone like her.
“I have something to say.”
“…And what is that?”
He hesitated again, then smiled awkwardly, meeting her gaze.
Her golden eyes always made his heart flutter. It had been that way from the beginning.
He should have been confident, using her for his own gain, but seeing her smile, directed solely at him, how could he not be swayed?
He didn’t need a reason to like someone.
Hadn’t he thought his meeting with Theresa was fate as well?
A good day, a bad day.
Just looking into her eyes made his heart race, as if a phantom breeze was caressing his skin.
“I was going to ask you to stay.”
“Was? Does that mean you don’t want me to stay now?”
“No.”
He realized now that this feeling was love. Robert looked at Miragen again. He felt foolish for even considering leaving.
His heart was swayed by a few shared glances, a few exchanged words.
How could he have been so confident he could leave her?
“So?”
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
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Miragen’s voice trembled slightly, but Robert, oblivious to her nervousness, was trembling as well. It had been a long time since he felt this nervous.
He hadn’t felt this way since he started regressing.
He took a deep breath and spoke carefully.
“I won’t let you go. Even if you want to leave. I’m telling you, we’re spending the night together.”
“Really?”
Miragen smiled, then giggled softly, running a hand through her hair as she looked at him.
He had given her more than she had hoped for. She decided to reciprocate, to tell him what she had been thinking.
“I have something to tell you too.”
She had been wavering after hearing his confession, but now she understood.
Her realization had changed everything.
The world seemed brighter, and Robert Taylor, a man she had previously ignored, suddenly seemed incredibly attractive.
Miragen realized she was in love.
She never thought she would say these words, words she had only read in novels. But somehow, things had turned out this way.
She spoke again.
“I like you too.”
Her words weren’t as romantic as his, but she preferred honesty.
A warmth bloomed, slowly spreading across both their cheeks.
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[Translator Notes]