RAMHM Chapter 112

You Should Have Me

"Vincento, what does this mean? True master?"

Neil asked at his master's sudden declaration of parting.

Neil was greatly flustered by the tears of Vincento, who was far from tears and always rational.

"Vincento Winster!"

Vincento Winster.

He had been the late Bardenaldo's playmate and grandson of Marquess Canulla Winster, who gained her title after the wife inheritance law—in other words, he was cousins with the Crown Prince brothers.

Marquess Winster, who wished to protect her grandson in place of the deceased Empress Letina.

It was only natural that he became Crown Prince Bardenaldo's man, carrying on the Marquess's will.

"You served His Second Imperial High... no, His Second Imperial Highness closest and longest. I thought you were more loyal to His Highness than any other adjutant. Your true master! Are you saying you were Crown Prince Bardenaldo's puppet?"

To Neil pouring out questions in bewilderment, Vincento couldn't say a word.

He had been a puppet.

A spy who monitored Rhodness on the Crown Prince's orders.

'Vincento, my old friend. You've surely heard the legend that red eyes lead a nation to ruin. Go watch over my brother so he always stays on the right path.'

Vincento had seen then the mouth that casually called that ghost story a "legend."

Flawless Empress Letina's treasure. Ronteaux's Saint. The Winster Marquessate's hope.

Having lost her children in their prime one after another, with only Empress Letina's sons and herself remaining, Canulla Winster cherished her grandsons terribly.

She especially cherished her maternal grandsons who lost their mother at a young age and whom she couldn't even stay with—and Crown Prince Bardenaldo, called a saint and dispensing good deeds, was the grandson most beloved by Canulla, a devout believer who donated enormous sums to the Grand Temple annually.

Vincento had felt something unsettling while observing the Crown Prince closely all this time, but couldn't bring himself to tell anyone.

To speak of it externally would be spitting on his own face, and to tell Marquess Winster—she was too elderly, and he worried even a small shock might make her faint.

"Answer me. Are you saying you'll turn your back on His Highness and live like this? Vincento, are you going to let His Highness go like that?"

"...No."

It was the first time Bardenaldo's reality, always like a fog-shrouded fantasy, became clearly defined.

While investigating the Crown Prince's palace underground on Rhodness's orders, he realized Bardenaldo had been far more twisted than he'd thought in childhood.

"The beginning wasn't good, but my master is no longer Crown Prince Bardenaldo."

It wasn't just because he'd heard the declaration of parting from Rhodness today.

Though he became Rhodness's adjutant by the Crown Prince's will, he was someone who had witnessed right beside him how much Rhodness had lived sacrificing himself for Bardenaldo and this nation since before he came of age, and still did.

Even the constantly grumbling Neil would yield one hand when recalling the days Rhodness rolled through battlefields, saying "Still, His Second Imperial Highness truly suffered greatly."

For the image of Crown Prince Bardenaldo always solving problems, Rhodness lived thoroughly as his opposite—the one causing problems.

But in reality, the one who always solved problems and protected this nation was Rhodness.

"My master is His Second Imperial Highness. Even if Crown Prince Bardenaldo were still alive, that wouldn't change."

"Explain. Give me some explanation, Vincento."

"I'll explain properly to His Highness and accept whatever punishment gladly. So don't worry."

Once he voiced his thoughts, his heart grew firmer.

He had already made Rhodness his lord a very long time ago.

The time had come to speak about the deceased Bardenaldo, about the story he'd buried in his heart.

Vincento thought so and turned his back on Neil demanding explanation before running.

After leaving the ceremony, Epero and Viktor headed to the Empress's palace while I headed to Rhodness's palace office.

I had to attend to post-funeral procedures, and there were many tasks dumped on Rhodness by the Crown Prince's sudden death. Even if he didn't want to come, he'd have no choice but to come to the office after the funeral ended.

I buried myself in the office sofa and closed my eyes for a long while.

Just recalling the time I'd kissed him last night sent a tingling sensation down my spine.

It wasn't even my first time kissing a man.

Yet everything felt like a first time.

Click-Clack, Click-Clack.

I was absently touching my slightly swollen lips when footsteps approached.

Instinct told me it wasn't Rhodness's footsteps, so I hid my body in the massive cabinet behind the sofa.

There was no real reason to hide, but—

Burst!

Through the cabinet's ventilation slats, a very familiar face came into view.

"Not here."

It was Doris.

The woman who had just been demonstratively shedding tears beside Rhodness was gone.

I frowned at the thick fragrance seeping through the ventilation holes.

Rustling as she removed her cloak, Doris wore pure white clothing—like a bride's wedding dress.

Burst.

The office door opened again.

Standing at the door was the room's owner, Rhodness.

Rhodness raised one eyebrow at the unexpected guest.

I'd been shocked enough to gape since earlier, but he didn't look particularly surprised seeing Doris.

Tak.

Closing the door without a word, Rhodness stood before Doris without hesitation.

Doris's reddened lips immediately curved into an arc.

"Rhoan."

"If you have something to say, say it."

His reaction seemed almost as if he'd expected this. But Doris appeared pleased just that he hadn't ordered her out.

Doris slowly reached out and unbuttoned Rhodness's jet-black uniform. Though it was mourning clothes for her husband's funeral, her touch was unhesitating.

More surprisingly—Rhodness merely looked down at her touch, offering neither reply nor resistance.

Not satisfied with waiting in her brother-in-law's office dressed like a new bride at her husband's funeral, Doris's touch grew quite explicit.

"The only one who can comfort me is you, Rhoan."

Rhodness's chin gradually lifted.

His face watching what Doris did without blinking even once almost seemed to seduce her.

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.

"I'll forgive your rudeness last time. So..."

As her hands grew busier, countless buttons came undone. Beneath the jet-black mourning clothes, a snow-white shirt appeared, sharply angled and well-pressed like a knife.

"Become my man."

The persistent touch now moved to the shirt. Gold buttons embroidered with the imperial crest in relief held firm.

"I'll make you Emperor, Rhoan."

I finally realized I was trembling.

Rhodness's sunken eyes and strangely sensual gaze seemed to squeeze my heart.

When the lips we'd hungrily explored just hours ago in the rain slowly curved into a gentle arc, Doris's face filled with joy while mine turned pale as a corpse.

Doris's touch grew bolder.

Catching a glimpse of Rhodness's body between his shirt, she swallowed an admiring moan unconsciously before her wicked hand crossed his abdomen toward his firmly fastened belt buckle.

That was when it happened.

Tap-Tap-Tap!

Urgent, strong hands knocked on the office door.

Doris's face, lost in ecstasy, immediately twisted violently.

Knock-Knock-Knock!!

"Your Highness! It's Vincento Winster!"

"Send him away."

Doris commanded through gritted teeth. But Rhodness laughed softly as if he'd heard nothing. Doris's gaze clung to the corner of his mouth rising sharply.

"Your Highness!"

"Send him away!"

Rhodness finally moved his body, which had seemed absolutely immovable. He straightened from his crooked stance and slowly fastened the buttons Doris had completely undone.

"Rhoan!"

"Quite boring. I'd prefer if you were the one leaving."

Doris's eyes rounded in disbelief as she shook her head.

"You need to choose sides well from now on, Rhoan. If my father arranges a marriage between Epero and me, do you think you can remain in this palace, in Ronteaux?"

Rhodness turned his back and walked toward the entrance. I watched Doris bite her lower lip hard enough to draw blood before throwing on the cloak she'd removed.

"Remember that the only path to becoming Emperor without seeing anyone's blood is the seat beside me!"

Rhodness opened the door without replying, and Doris quickly left the office.

In the process she irritably struck Rhodness's body with a thud! as she left, but he showed not even the slightest tremor.

The person who'd knocked outside was Vincento.

Vincento's voice and Rhodness's voice crossed back and forth. I finally released the breath I'd been holding and carefully opened the cabinet door.

A feeling like all my energy had been drained.

And perhaps because I knew better than anyone that Doris's proposal was an unparalleled opportunity for Rhodness—

My insides felt like they were burning up, trying to gauge how Rhodness felt after receiving a proposal anyone would waver at.

Click.

After Rhodness's final words telling him to come again later, the office door closed, and I ran and embraced Rhodness's waist from behind, holding nameless anxiety.

Rhodness froze with the door still closed.

"...Rhoan."

I steadied my pathetically trembling voice. What had he thought while holding Bardenaldo's funeral?

Doris's confidence in making him Emperor without hesitation made me both envious and anxious.

He seemed slightly surprised I'd been hiding, but with a face completely different—180 degrees from earlier, quite languid—he turned around and lightly lifted me up.

Soon seated on the sofa, I firmly grasped the hands of Rhodness, who crouched to match my eye level.

"This isn't bad either."

Rhodness raised his eyebrows and looked down at his captured hands, laughing softly as if watching a cute animal's antics.

Even that appearance somehow felt distant, like he'd suddenly grown into an adult.

"Doris said..."

"I won't make you anxious, Adrienne."

As always.

As if seeing through my heart, Rhodness gave his answer before my words even ended.

Kneeling on one knee, he placed my feet on his knee. Perhaps my shoes had all come off while escaping the cabinet—I was barefoot now.

Though slightly embarrassing, I didn't avoid his gaze watching me. Again, our gazes tangled together.

"You don't trust me?"

I pressed my lips into a firm line and quietly shook my head.

"I'm just... anxious for no reason... Doris..."

"Were you jealous?"

It wasn't simple jealousy.

Just as I was exhausted, wasn't Rhodness equally exhausted and wanting to take the easy path?

If so, did I have the right to refuse that? Such foolish thoughts lined up, making me anxious.

Because my heart, newly wounded with fresh betrayal alongside rekindled feelings of betrayal, hadn't yet healed, my heart was in a very weakened state.

But Rhodness seemed the opposite.

"I have no intention of making you anxious, but if you're that anxious, there is one solution."

"..."

"The problem is you always try to go around when there's an easy way."

He was more unwavering than ever, seeming almost like a god who could solve all problems.

Not understanding what he meant, I waited for his words, fidgeting with my trembling hands.

Rhodness's gaze thoroughly examined my precarious face.

"Nothing that would make you anxious will ever happen, but there's the most certain and fastest way to resolve your anxiety."

"...What is it?"

I'd only asked what the method was, yet Rhodness's face grew slightly stern.

"You should have me."

"!"

At the firm, weighty voice, I jerked my bare feet backward from his knee in shock.

"Right now, even."

But he lightly gripped my ankle.

"If you want, right now. Even right here."

The hot body heat of his firmly gripping hand transferred moistly to my ankle.

I trembled like a small beast caught in a trap, instantly facing the violently intense desire he sent me.

"Have me, Adrienne."

Rhodness's head tilted slightly to the side close to my face, just as it had at dawn.

Clean platinum hair scattered strand by strand across his handsome forehead. Everything was like a painting.

At the end of the scene I could only gaze at as if enchanted, his lips touched my cold instep.