Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 66.1

Half-brother.

He mentioned before that he has two younger brothers.

What were their names again? Anyway, he said the second brother was the Emperor, and there was a third brother as well. Since the third brother hadn’t appeared in the parts I’ve read, I still didn’t quite feel that Enfrise had siblings.

“The Emperor… you mean?”

“No. It’s my youngest brother, Elmare. He’s currently in the position of a prince.”

…Prince?

At the sight of me tilting my head at the unfamiliar title, Enfrise then provided some clarification.

“A prince refers to the brother of the Emperor. Since there’s currently no crown prince, Elmare, as a prince, becomes the first in line for the imperial throne.”

Oh, that was quite a position for a hidden villain.

Just as I was thinking this, Enfrise smiled faintly and continued, “Elmare was the only person who got angry for me when I was shunned by my own blood. Even now, he’s doing his best for both you and me. And…”

As he seemed about to say more, he suddenly closed his mouth. Perhaps this was a part he found difficult to discuss.

“Is it a secret?”

“No. It’s just… I feel like you might get angry if I say it.”

Angry? Why would I be?

When I tilted my head in confusion, he tightly sealed his lips before he let out a small sigh.

“Can we talk about this later?”

Well, it wasn’t the most important thing right now. Just by looking at Enfrise’s expression, I understood that he trusted his younger brother, Elmare. Considering that those in such a position are often either the hidden puppet master or a supporter…

He must be the supporter.

“Alright. Just promise to tell me later, okay?”

“Yes.”

Seeing him nod as if it was the most obvious thing made me keep my mouth shut. Then Enfrise continued.

“Elmare is well-liked and has a good personality, so he’s able to gather information from various sources. Thanks to that, I was able to bring you here.”

I see.

I didn’t have much to say in response, so I nodded. Enfrise then got up and sat down beside me. At first, he had kept his distance, but now he gradually moved closer.

Feeling a bit cramped, I suddenly stood up and placed my back to him.

“Why are you being so shy? You could just come over and hug me.”

“I was worried you might dislike it.”

“Earlier, that gaze was just… instinct. It doesn’t mean I dislike you, so don’t think that way.”

With that, he suddenly pulled me into a hug, burying his face into my back. The coarse strands of his hair tickled my skin through my clothing.

This was surprisingly…

‘Hmm, it feels a bit uncomfortable.’

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“It’s ticklish. Why don’t you rest your head on my shoulder instead? I’m used to that and it feels fine.”

“…Chaperil.”

“Yes?”

I looked up and met his golden eyes, which seemed to glisten as if he might cry.

“Do you know what kind of scent comes from you?”

“Hmm?”

I raised my hand to sniff, but unfortunately, I couldn’t smell any scent on myself.

Thinking my hair might have a fragrance, I gathered a handful of my flowing hair and brought it to my nose. It had a sweet scent, like fruits or perhaps flowers, lightly tickling my nostrils.

“Is it a sweet smell?”

“Yes, sometimes when I hold you, that scent makes me feel… strange.”

“Strange?”

I thought he always held me gently…?

Considering the reputation of the untraveled male lead in novels, it almost seemed forgotten. If we were to create a novel about our current situation, it might be suitable for all ages. He may occasionally exude a sexy allure, but that was the kind of thing that could appear in all-age stories.

“I’ve unconsciously…. brought my lips to your nape a few times and then stopped. That’s why I keep telling you to be careful with me.”

“To my neck…?”

What would kissing the neck even feel like? Would it evoke any reaction from Enfrise? Then again, my skin was soft enough that it might feel pleasant against his lips. At the thought, I subtly raised my hand to gather the strands of hair cascading down my back and moved them to one side.

“Here.”

“…Chaperil, I didn’t mean to say this…”

“It’s fine, really.”

It might be a bit ticklish, but I think I could get used to it quickly. Besides, I feel that having my cheeks or lips touch him would be less ticklish than those coarse strands of hair.

“….”

After a moment of hesitation, Enfrise carefully moved his head. Our upper bodies, which had been slightly apart, now pressed against each other. Feeling the solid support from behind, I leaned into him completely.

At that moment, something cold and damp touched my shoulder.

The unfamiliar sensation felt like jelly on my skin, as if jelly had spilled from a small cup onto my body. Although I had expected it to be warm, it was surprisingly cold, causing me to flinch and shiver as I tightly grasped his arm.

Startled, Enfrise pulled his lips away.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s just that I was surprised by how cool it felt. Is it similar to what you expected?”

“…Softer than I imagined…”

His low voice murmured softly, and then, once again, his lips gently brushed against my nape. The way his lips grazed my skin felt teasing, parting with a warm sigh.