The Emperor's visit didn't last much longer than the blink of an eye. Consciously aware, there are only two of them in this room. Arthur, who had been back a long time since his visit, sent a servant to deliver a basket of fresh apples, grapes, and papayas, each of which was now in Cedric's hands to peel.
Sitting on the long sofa beside the bed where Kirsi sat pensively, Cedric peeled an apple and shaped it like a rabbit. When his bunny apple was done, he would shake it in Kirsi's face to get her attention. Kirsi was about to flinch lightly, before her eyes flashed a slight tear of joy and eventually opened her mouth to eat.
The man asked, "Who sent these fruits?"
"Arthur."
"No wonder. "
Kirsi tilted her head, parroting, "No wonder??"
"Papaya and grapes are not good for pregnancy, especially early pregnancy. You can still eat the grapes tho, but only a little."
"Oh," Kirsi suddenly knew the reason why Cedric had said "No wonder" knowing that Arthur was the one who sent the fruit. She then asked about other things, nonetheless related to current topics. "It seems that only the Emperor people in this palace know about my pregnancy?"
Cedric picked some grapes and arranged them on coasters. He offered it to Kirsi, but the woman refused. He replied, "Yes. The Emperor and I think that it is better to keep it a secret for now. The more people know, the riskier it is. But we won't insist. If you want to celebrate to welcome your pregnancy, I will not oppose."
Kirsi chuckled and shook her head. "No, it's better to keep it a secret until it can no longer be kept a secret. I don't want to take any risk."
Cedric laughed back just as small as he threw a grape into his mouth, "Clever."
Kirsi cradled her head in her fist, watching Cedric for a moment in curiosity. Feeling that the situation was still conducive and friendly, she abruptly asked, "You seem to know a lot about this."
"About what? "
"Pregnancy."
"I'm a man with a lot of experience."
"With a pregnant woman?"
"With a pregnant mom."
Kirsi gave a mocking look, "You sound very suspicious."
"You are good at twisting meanings. I only have experience taking care of pregnant mom."
"Who is that lucky pregnant mom?"
Cedric took a bite of the apple and replied casually, "You are one of them."
Since this man didn't want to answer further, Kirsi wouldn't question any further.
She nodded pretending to feel fortunate and replied, "I'm flattered."
Cedric gave a low sneer, continued to nibble on his apple, and said no more. Kirsi across from him unexpectedly got up and sat down next to him. Just when he thought she was going to go all out, Kirsi inexplicably opened her palms right in front of his face, like someone who was collecting a debt. Cedric thought she wanted another apple, so he took one from the basket and handed it to her. But Kirsi refused. Her small, slender finger instead pointed at the bitten apple in his hand. Cedric felt he was losing his mind.
"Hah? "
"I want your apple."
"What a weirdo," he said, but kept handing his apple to Kirsi.
Kirsi tasted Cedric's bite with satisfaction. Even so, her mouth commented otherwise. "Yuck, the smell of tobacco."
"Give it back." Cedric (pretend) tried to snatch back the apple, but Kirsi had already run away to escape. She sat back down in her place.
"Hey," as soon as the apple in her hand ran out and she had nothing else to do, Kirsi opened another new chat.
She asked, surprising her audience.
"Wanna kiss?"
Cedric stopped chewing. Now he couldn't be shocked anymore even if he wanted to. He complained about the frankness, fussing, "Are you sure you want to kiss a smoker?"
"I was joking just now. The apples don't smell like tobacco at all."
"What's wrong with you, so suddenly."
What's wrong with Kirsi?
If she can answer,
Of course, because Kirsi was worried.
This man probably annoyed her more often than made her happy, to make matters worse, he had almost killed her twice. However, for most of the time they spent less than a month, he was more likely to be straightforward and very considerate. The kind acts he had bestowed on Kirsi all this time might seem far-fetched and insincere, but for someone who rarely received such treatment even from her very parents, it was inevitable that these actions had melted Kirsi's heart more or less.
She wasn't a sentimental girl in the first place.
She's a high school girl who is more rigid and passive than most girls her age, and her preferences tend to be unclear which makes it difficult for her to be in a romantic relationship. She does not like to be seduced with sweet words, nor does she like to be praised with a sky-high compliment. It will only make her uneasy.
However, when faced with monotonous actions that feel normal and seem commonplace, such as when Cedric lets her play with his hands when she's nervous enough to get calm, or when the man helps her chop tough meat from her plate, or when the man put a cloth on every slippery spot in the house so she wouldn't slip, or even when he peeled an apple and moulded it into a rabbit-like earlier, such commonplace actions had a profound effect on her.
Kirsi didn't feel in love with the act, she just felt so new and suddenly wanted more.
When it's time for her to want more, then she moreover has to give back in return, right?
She said, "You know, you don't have to hold back against me."
As long as she lay on the bed after Arthur's short visit just now, Kirsi had made up her mind in varied ways.
First, she wouldn't be in the same boat as Arthur, even if the man was entirely innocent. This must be ensured to minimize the possibility when Arthur unexpectedly changes his mind and prefers to take revenge on her instead. Indeed, the matter of the lovers' breakup between them was not Arthur's fault. But just like that man, the current Kirsi was also innocent. It would be better if they stay away from each other and have time to introspect themselves.
Second, the only person who has the potential to be both the most dangerous and the safest partner is Cedric. As long as Kirsi could convince him, it would be easy for both to avoid the fate of a tragic death at the hands of the protagonist. As long as Cedric is on her side and this man agrees to her plan, at least Kirsi can be sure that the protagonist's position will turn into Cedric's hands. Well, the main goal is to survive until the end and live happily in a peaceful place. But isn't such a comfortable life the easiest to get if you're the protagonist?
Kirsi doesn't want Cedric to marry Viona following the fate of the protagonist as written by the author. Kirsi just hoped that Cedric wasn't kidding about the Imperial throne succession, and hoped that the man was more serious about establishing his future foundation. She had no desire to control Cedric like a disgusting succubus, she just wanted to make a bid. If the man would listen to a disabled reader like her, wouldn't that be a relief to both of them?
There is nothing more worrying for the protagonist of a story than the villains joining hands.
The problem came when Kirsi thought about what kind of things she could offer Cedric.
If the current situation is still going exactly as described in the novel, she can still confidently lead with her knowledge as a reader. But less than a month had passed, and almost all of the content in the novel was already moving in the opposite direction without her even having time to do anything.
So, what else can she offer?
If this situation were to happen in her old world, Kirsi would confidently boast of her brilliant academic abilities. She has an 80% guarantee to enter a prestigious art college, and even her paintings have won many district-level awards. Look, isn't the future as bright as Venus for sure?
Even though she had a manipulative and authoritative mother, and a father whose presence was even rarer than eclipse sightings, there was no need to worry. Because not long after she was accepted into her dream college, she was able to say goodbye to her trashy family.
But now, what did she have?
The project on the Aslaug plantation alone is still not progressing. Not to mention Eugene Goldstein still hasn't made her a trusted business partner. There has been no real achievement that made her able to convince Cedric.
What more can she offer?
She only has her body.
At least if she couldn't get Cedric to be attracted to her, she could make him miss her body every moment they separate.
At first, she felt disgusted with herself for thinking of this kind of idea as a solution.
However, aren't they husband and wife?
Isn't it natural for them to warm each other in bed?
Not to mention, Cedric has fulfilled his obligations as the head of the family by providing her with more than enough income.
So, it was her duty to serve her husband, right?
No, that's wrong!
The only obligation in a marital relationship is mutual respect and acceptance!
So far Kirsi was just making up excuses to make herself comfortable.
"See now, you are the one who takes initiative first, and yet you are the one who takes a step back first."
Kirsi snapped out of her daydream. Cedric's scornful voice woke her from her flashing thoughts. She instantly refuted, "No. I have no doubts at all."
"Then come here." Cedric put his apple down on the side table and patted his thigh.
"...Can't you come here?" Unfortunately, Kirsi didn't dare to take another initiative, because talking was easier than doing.
"I've agreed to your invitation, can't you agree to mine too?"
What he said was true, leaving no room for rebuttal.
Kirsi was desperately holding back her embarrassment as she took slowly but surely steps forward. They were only half a step apart, it was quick for her to arrive. The man looked up as soon as she reached him. His face looked calm and polite, but for some reason, there was a mischievous impression in the way he looked back at Kirsi. It made her stomach feel tight for some reason.
Yes or nothing!
Achievement cannot be achieved without sacrifice!
After comforting herself, she gained tacit confidence. Kirsi bent down and sat on Cedric's lap. And because she was wearing a dress that was narrow at the foot, the hem of her dress parted up as she straddled Cedric, exposing her thighs to the point where they were most embarrassing to show.
Afraid that the man would see, Kirsi was about to forcibly block his vision, but what she saw was Cedric looking straight into her eyes. Since the man was so tall, even after Kirsi sat on his thighs, she still couldn't match his height, so the one who needed to duck was yet Cedric. The man then smiled while placing his warm palms on her back and said,
"Now kiss me."