I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 166

“Do it, Euseniel.”

I didn’t want to disappoint his excited demeanor, so I bit his lower lip gently.

When I tried to pull away, Tess willingly loosened his grip. As I hugged his neck and leaned in deeply, Tess responded willingly, with unhurried movements.

After a while, we separated our lips, and I softly brushed mine against his, just as Tess often did. His jet-black lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

“You’re always so petulant.”

Holding hands was one thing, but any more physical contact still felt awkward. I scolded him to hide my unease, but it seemed that Tess, with a flushed face, didn’t hear it.

“I just love it when it’s Euseniel doing it.”

It’s like he always wants the opposite of what I’m willing to give.

When we can’t be together, he asks to be together. When marriage is out of the question, he asks for marriage.

“I’m already doing plenty.”

I pressed my forehead against his cool one.

“No, it’s not enough. It’s very lacking.”

This time, Tess rubbed his nose against mine.

“What I do and what Euseniel does for me are completely different. What Euseniel does is sweeter, tastier, and makes me happier.”

“…”

“I always feel like I’m the only one wanting Euseniel, but when you approach me first, it feels like Euseniel wants me too, and I like that.”

Aahh, I understand the feeling.

I remember pondering the same when Tess was overly polite and didn’t kiss me. Questions like why doesn’t Tess kiss me or has his affection waned, etc.

He was about to kiss me again, but after hearing such words, it seemed too much. All I could do was to change the subject.

“Quick, tell me what you said to Gael.”

I wish I could smoothly change the topic of conversation in these situations, but it’s just too awkward!

Thankfully, Tess decided to spare me the embarrassment. However, his response made me frown.

“It’s a secret.”

“What?”

“Euseniel’s sister said if anyone, even a single person, comes to know about this, she would intervene in the relationship between you and me. She threatened to interfere with us till death. So, I can’t tell.”

“You.”

I grabbed and shook Tess’ non-existent cheek fat, causing his pale cheeks to start turning a bright red.

“If you’re not going to say it, don’t act like you will!”

Tess stayed stubborn and didn’t say anything until the end. Convincing this stubborn man seemed harder than asking Gael directly. It’s her secret, so it’s only right to ask Gael.

“I’ll see you at the next sparring.”

“…Euseniel?”

I made no further arrangements as a payback for his teasing.

“Euseniel.”

“Next week, same time, I’ll be here.”

“Euseniel, I’ll tell you!”

“Forget it. Don’t tell me. Don’t open your mouth.”

I smiled as I watched Tess press his lips together tightly.

“Don’t even come to see me off. See you next time.”

I managed to hold back a big laugh at the sight of Tess who suddenly became glum.

Teasing him is too much fun, I can’t stop.

* * *

Finally giving in to Tess’s wish to ‘hang out like normal couples’, we decided to meet outside the palace. Right after our training session ended, I sent a letter to arrange a meeting. I was the one who chose the location.

Both of us, with our faces hidden under hoods, met at ‘Ilusha’s Garden,’ an artificially cultivated forest.

“Interesting structure. Is this a maze?”

“Yes, it’s a maze made of trees. I’ve heard about it during my time at Concium. People often call it the ‘Labyrinth of Love’ rather than its original name.”

“An amusing name.”

Hnng, Tess chuckled with our fingers interlocked.

“It’s said if you confess your love here, it will be accepted. It’s also popular for more private encounters since it’s easy to be discreet here.”

“What kind of private encounters?”

Tess, with his eyes shaped like crescent moons, tilted his head. His fingertips began to stroke the back of my hand, and I withdrew my hand from the rising warmth.

No, I tried but failed.

“Tell me, Euseniel.”

Just then, the sound of an intense couple’s kiss reached us, followed by Tess’s loud laughter. The noise crossed the wooden fence, and soon the person disappeared with the sound of running.

“You’re so sly.”

“Why?”

I couldn’t pull away from him playing with my earlobe and just ended up blushing.

“Why ask when you know? It’s awkward.”

“Because your face turns so adorably red, Euseniel.”

“…”

“Your face is blooming like a flower, Euseniel. Like a ripe apple.”

Tess pulled down his hood and bit my cheek. A sweet, tingling pain washed away my will to protest. It’s times like this I think living with Tess might not be so ba…

“So, when are we getting married? When are we getting engaged?”

…not be so bad, until he starts pushing, and any such feelings vanish.

“You’re marrying me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why won’t you agree?”

Unlike you, who’s been ready since you were six, marriage still feels strange to me, you know? Not everything good has to end in marriage.

“There’s something called a preparation period.”

“I’ll handle the preparations, Euseniel just has to show up.”

Tess smiled as he whispered sweetly.

“Don’t stay in the Empress Palace, come to Hill Palace with me. I’m fine staying in the Empress Palace too. Or shall we go to Hardland residence? Hmm, but then the Duke might keep interfering, so maybe not.”

He clung to me and blew his breath in my ear, scattering my thoughts.

“As expected, you better come to the palace, Euseniel.”

I covered Tess’s mouth with my hand as he was trying to extract a ‘Yes’.

“Tess. It hasn’t been long since I dealt with a significant matter, and I’m still feeling confused.”

“So, let’s get marri-“

“-Let’s not talk about marriage. Let’s date, like we are now.”

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