The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Translator: Yonnee
—
Held captive in Luciana’s arms, his body refused to listen, seemingly acting on its own.
His heart pounded as though he’d swallowed poison, his palms grew damp, and the warmth spreading across his cheeks showed no sign of receding.
“Pfft!”
Luciana watched Richt with a soft smile, then let out a harmless laugh. Releasing her arms from around his waist, she stood on her toes and wrapped them around his neck.
“Why are you so cute today?”
“……!”
At her last words, his entire body tensed as if he’d just heard something forbidden. He froze momentarily, unable to believe what he’d just heard.
Chu—
Just now… what was that?
Gaaasp…!
The moment her soft lips pressed unexpectedly against his cheek, the distant dream shattered, and he woke up.
Propped up against the headboard, Richt panted heavily, his bare chest rising and falling as if it might burst.
“What a ridiculous dream.”
He muttered irritably, as if to shake off the unpleasant memory, but then noticed something strange happening in his body and slowly looked down.
His gaze fell on the faint outline visible on his left thigh.
“……!”
Every curse he knew got tangled up, seething in his mind.
His clenched jaw trembled slightly. Richt chuckled bitterly, ignoring the tightening in his lower abdomen.
He would rather die than admit this happened because of the dream.
“She’s even appearing in my dreams now?”
There was a hint of resignation in his self-deprecating tone.
He had tried to ignore everything about Luciana, but instead of getting easier, it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Though a part of him longed desperately for his mate, his rational mind held firmly against it.
But while his mind resisted, his body, like an addict in withdrawal, was drawn to her more with each passing day.
He could almost feel the softness of her hair on his fingertips. At times, a faint, soothing fragrance seemed to linger around him, reminiscent of her scent.
These strange, haunting symptoms only grew stronger over time, making it harder to stay rooted between instinct and reason.
Even today, hadn’t he been tormented by a ridiculous dream as if they were lovers?
Though he was at an age of peak vitality, Richt had never once felt such desire for a woman.
There were even rumors in high society once that the Duke of Cassio was impotent. It was all because he’d kept a stern eye on any young lady who tried to approach him for his title.
To think that a mere illusion from a dream had left him with such a shameful reaction—it felt bleak, no matter how he tried to justify it.
For someone who had always sought to keep Luciana out of his realm, this was shocking.
“Damn it.”
This had been happening ever since his rut cycle. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, each time his resolve faltered, he found himself helplessly drawn to her, like a parched wanderer finally finding water.
—Don’t you see? You’re already someone who can’t live without your mate.
At that moment, the voice of his instincts—silent for days—returned with a sly tone.
—That dream today… it’s because you desire Lucy deep down. I know everything. No matter how much you deny it, I am a part of you, aren’t I?
It’s been two weeks since the rut. I want to see Luciana—living, breathing, right in front of me!
The voice faded, but the memory it left lingered, like a fragrant residue in the air.
“Agh! This is driving me insane!”
Richt frowned, feeling a raw sensation shoot up his spine. Just a fleeting thought of Luciana was enough to provoke a powerful reaction within him, leaving him speechless.
At that moment, Richt felt the urge to cut away a part of himself entirely.
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