Your Majesty, I’m Not that Man - Chapter 12. The Tyrant’s Fiancée (5)

‘We haven’t even made it to the bedroom yet…’

Levinia thought, her face flushing bright red at the idea of spending the rest of the day with Cassion. She hoped this would only last for two days at most, judging by how things had been going.

When the teasing in the bathroom finally ended, Cassion wrapped a thick bathrobe around her and led her to the sitting room attached to the bedroom. A full banquet-style meal was already laid out.

Clearly, the servants had been keeping the food warm until they came out. If the taste diminished even slightly, they must have replaced the dishes with fresh ones. The kitchen staff was likely feasting on what had been switched out. The sheer amount of food laid out was impressive.

Even though it was supposed to be Levinia’s party celebrating her inheritance of the duchy, she hadn’t had the chance to eat a bite earlier. This feast was a welcome sight.

Cassion seemed pleased with her reaction. With a mischievous smile, he kissed her forehead.
“What do you want to start with?”

Judging by his tone, he intended to personally serve her. Levinia hesitated but decided to let him. After all, Cassion was as stubborn as iron. Resisting would only delay the meal, and she was too hungry for that.

“Soup first…”

“Good.”

Although Cassion was serving her, it was technically the maids and attendants who brought the food. Cassion merely delivered it to her table. Well, with one exception.

“Say ah.”

He scooped up a spoonful of soup with a silver spoon and brought it to her lips. Levinia obediently opened her mouth. Given what awaited her in the bedroom later, conserving her strength seemed wise.

‘Mushroom soup… but…’

It melted in her mouth like no ordinary soup. Cassion, noticing her pleased expression, murmured thoughtfully.
“I’ll have to reward the chef.”

Though he was glad to see her happy, a strange twinge struck him when he realized she looked more delighted than during their bedroom activities.

Next, perfectly seared quail and roast duck were cut into bite-sized pieces and placed on a plate. Cassion picked up a piece with a fork and held it to her lips. Levinia accepted it without hesitation.

The maids subtly avoided looking in their direction, pretending not to notice. Levinia played along, ignoring them and continuing to eat.

As Levinia chewed, Cassion helped himself to a few bites before signaling the attendants to bring in the next dishes: braised short ribs, pork, fish, and even exotic seafood dishes that Levinia had never seen before.

Though they weren’t finishing every dish, they would take a few bites of each. If Levinia particularly enjoyed something, she got a few more bites before the rest was taken away.

Naturally, all that uneaten food went to the servants. The kitchen staff had their own meals, but these luxurious leftovers were much more appealing. It was common practice for them to claim untouched leftovers as their own.

After eating bit by bit, Levinia finally felt full. Once she seemed satisfied, Cassion ordered the remaining food to be cleared away. He had eaten quite a lot himself, keeping pace with her slow chewing.

“What about dessert?”

“I’ll have it!”

Levinia’s response was immediate and firm. Cassion chuckled, signaling the attendants to bring the dessert trays. Some of the items were from the earlier banquet, while others seemed prepared specifically for the emperor and his fiancée.

Cassion fed her a spoonful of ice cream, and Levinia sighed contentedly. She finally felt alive again.

If she could head straight to bed and fall asleep now, that would be perfect. But she knew better—sleeping right after a meal would only lead to gaining weight, and Cassion wouldn’t let her rest so easily.

As she kept accepting desserts, Levinia shot him a wary glance. He was currently feeding her a lighter lemon-flavored cake before moving on to a rich chocolate one. There were so many kinds to try.

Following the universal truth that the stomach has a separate compartment for desserts, Levinia consumed a significant amount. Cassion, being a big eater himself, didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.

‘I think… I may have overdone it a bit.’

It had been a long time since Levinia had eaten so much, except when she was a child. When she finally declined more dessert, Cassion instructed the maids to clear the remaining dishes.

The atmosphere suggested that he would soon take her straight to the bedroom, so Levinia quickly grabbed his arm.
“Y-Your Majesty… My stomach is too full right now…”

Though it was a bit embarrassing, it was better than showing her noticeably round belly.
“C-Could we go to the bedroom later?”

“Hm… Alright.”

Cassion chuckled and stroked Levinia’s hair.

“If the young lady agrees to fulfill one request of mine, then I’ll grant you that.”

Levinia clicked her tongue inwardly, already expecting that he wouldn’t ask for something simple. Still, she decided to hear him out.

“What is it that you want?”

“Well, now that we’re engaged… Don’t you want something from me? Not something for others like last time, but something for yourself. Tell me what you desire.”

Any other noble lady would have had a long list of requests by now. Though Cassion had showered Levinia with countless gifts, he still felt it wasn’t enough. He always worried that one day she might abandon everything he had given her and leave without looking back.

That’s why he wanted to grant her wishes—anything to hold her heart. Since he couldn’t figure out what it was on his own, he hoped Levinia would tell him directly.
The only thing he earnestly wished was that it wouldn’t involve someone suspicious like Ifarian, who seemed more like a rival than an ally.

“Then… Your Majesty, can you go on a trip?”

After a long pause, Levinia asked cautiously. Cassion looked slightly puzzled at her request.

“A trip?”

“Yes. I’d like to see the festival in Thierry… with you, if that’s possible.”

In her heart, Levinia wanted to go alone. However, knowing full well that Cassion would never allow it, she figured it would be easier to convince him if she asked him to accompany her instead.

Thierry was where the Witch’s Tower was located—a place Levinia had been aiming for. Near the outskirts of Thierry lay the Gray Forest. Around this time of year, the nearby small village hosted a festival.

The Witch’s Festival.

Though the temple didn’t look kindly on it, the festival was quite popular among the locals, especially commoners.

It wasn’t quite what Cassion had expected, but Levinia’s suggestion seemed like a suitable engagement gift. His expression brightened.“You want to go on a trip with me?”

“Well, it seems difficult to go on dates in the capital. Most people in the capital know Your Majesty’s face.”

The mention of “date” melted away any lingering tension in Cassion’s mood.

Although they had spent plenty of time together inside the palace, it didn’t feel like the kind of date Levinia had in mind—one where they could freely enjoy each other’s company outside.

“A Witch’s Festival… I heard it’s a festival not well-known among the nobles. I’ve always wanted to check it out… Would you have time for that?”

If it was a festival, then it would certainly have a set schedule. Currently, Cassion had cleared two days from his schedule to celebrate his engagement with Levinia. Taking more consecutive days off would be difficult. If the festival was happening soon, he would need to rearrange his schedule.

“When is this festival supposed to take place?”

Cassion asked without a hint of displeasure, and Levinia immediately sensed that things were going her way.
“Toward the end of next month, I think….”

‘The end of next month….’
There weren’t any important events scheduled then. Even after using the current two days off, he would have enough time to free up his schedule.

Since this was the first time Levinia had ever asked him for something—well, not entirely the first time—Cassion genuinely wanted to grant her request. Especially since it wasn’t just anything; it was a request to travel together with him. How could he refuse?

“Alright. I’ll make time for it.”

Levinia’s face lit up at his words.

For a brief moment, Cassion wondered if Levinia had some other hidden motive, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He would be accompanying her on the trip, after all. Wherever she went, even to the ends of hell, he would follow without hesitation.

＊ ＊ ＊

The place they went to digest their meal was a terrace with a view of the stars. It also served as a greenhouse, surrounded by blooming roses along the edges. Cassion led Levinia to a white chair placed in the center of the terrace. A small tea table had already been set up next to the long chair, with soft cushions laid on the seat.

Cassion sat down and gently positioned Levinia to lie across the chair, resting her head on his thigh. She looked up at him with a sleepy expression.
“This feels like I’ll fall asleep,” Levinia said.
“If you’re sleepy, you can sleep,” Cassion replied with unexpected tenderness.

Levinia glanced at his face, surprised by his response. Cassion seemed to be in a particularly good mood, likely because of the request she made earlier.
“It’s fine…,” Cassion whispered softly as he gently stroked her hair. His affectionate touch made her eyelids grow heavy.
“Mmm….”

Cassion sipped his tea, gazing at the stars through the glass. Since there were no tall buildings in this world and no glaring modern lights, the night sky was wide open and clear, filled with countless stars.

Sensing the mood, a quick-witted attendant quietly removed the lantern from the table, making the stars appear even brighter. Wrapped in the pleasant scent of tea, Levinia stared at the sky.
‘It’s… a little nice.’

She hadn’t imagined she could spend such a peaceful moment with Cassion. His thigh was firm and muscular, but with the cushion beneath her, it was surprisingly comfortable. His gentle hand patting her head only added to the warmth, making her drowsy.

‘Should I really sleep? I kind of want to….’

The stars were beautiful, her body was relaxed, and her stomach was pleasantly full. The warmth of Cassion’s thigh and hand was soothing.
‘Ah… I feel a little happy.’

Levinia didn’t resist sleep and quietly drifted off. Once he confirmed that she was asleep, Cassion set his teacup down carefully on the table—he couldn’t risk spilling it on her by accident. The tea he was drinking was the perfect kind to be enjoyed even at a mild temperature.

At Cassion’s gesture, a servant approached with a blanket. Cassion took it and gently draped it over Levinia’s body.

Truthfully, he had intended to keep her in his arms all night, indulging in his desires, but… occasionally, moments like this weren’t so bad.

Cassion gazed at her sleeping face with a serene expression. The sky was glittering with countless stars, but right now, the most important thing to him was the one star that had fallen beside him.

“I love you, Levinia….”

He knew she wouldn’t hear it, but he whispered it anyway. The night of their engagement deepened quietly around them.

＊ ＊ ＊

‘Huh?!’

Levinia snapped her eyes open, jolted back to consciousness. She had intended to rest her eyes for just a moment… but somehow, she had fallen deeply asleep. When she turned to her side in a panic, she found Cassion lying next to her. Naked. Covered only by the same blanket they shared.

‘What?!’

Her gaze quickly swept over her own body—she, too, was completely unclothed. It seemed Cassion had undressed her while she slept.

‘Did he… do something while I was asleep? No… it doesn’t feel like it.’

She couldn’t figure out his intentions, but at least she felt oddly refreshed. She had slept so soundly that all her fatigue had vanished. Even the spots Cassion had massaged felt light and relaxed.

‘What a weird talent to have.’

It was surprising how much better it felt compared to the massages given by her attendants. Was this another perk of being with the male lead? Thankfully, he was the emperor, so this talent would never be used on anyone else but her.

‘Still…’

Her eyes roamed over Cassion’s body, barely concealed by the thin, silky sheet. Now that her guard was down a bit, she finally noticed his physique and face in full detail.

‘Such a… desirable body. There aren’t even any gyms here, so how does he maintain that physique?’

Although she’d buried her face in his chest and been embraced by his strong arms countless times, she had never openly stared at him like this before. Usually, it was hard to steal a touch during their passionate moments… but considering how much Cassion touched her, wouldn’t it be fair to return the favor?

‘Wow, I’ve really lost all sense of fear. I used to worry about him killing me, and now… this?’

Given how tenderly he treated her, it was becoming harder to believe he had any ill intentions. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay by his side after all.

If he really was sincere and she truly had taken Albert’s place, refusing him might mean being pursued for the rest of her life. Staying with him was probably the safest option for everyone.

Besides, it wasn’t like she disliked him. In fact, considering how devoted he was to her, what was there to complain about?

‘Even back when I was planning to run away, I thought it was such a shame… wasting a face and body like his.’