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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Sigh…”
Eileen stood before the mirror, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
Her reflection sighed in return.
A slight frown creased her brow, her eyebrows subtly raised, as if something displeased her. But even with a frown, she was beautiful.
She’d reached a high level of mastery, slowing her aging process considerably, but she was still in her late twenties, the peak of a human’s physical prime.
Thanks to her magic core, she looked closer to Rudrick’s age.
Her beauty was almost doll-like.
Raven hair, a rarity among Northerners, contrasted sharply with her snow-white skin.
Elena had once commented that she looked like the personification of the North. Even the most discerning noblemen would acknowledge her beauty.
But her expression was stiff. Even her frown was subtle, barely noticeable. Her face was a mask, betraying no emotion.
“I don’t like this.”
She didn’t like her stiff, emotionless demeanor. Her formal speech, her unchanging expression, her inability to express her true feelings.
She was aware of it.
“When I’m with Rudrick…”
Even the doll-like Eileen became more expressive around Rudrick.
Her face would flush crimson, her heart would race uncontrollably, and her body would react… honestly to her emotions, as if something had malfunctioned.
It had been over a year since their marriage, hardly newlyweds.
But the atmosphere between them was still… new. Eileen recalled a conversation from the distant past, before the regression.
‘Eileen, why do you always look so serious?’
‘…My expression?’
‘Yes. You’re beautiful, but… lifeless.’
‘…’
It had been a casual comment from Rudrick, but it had been a turning point for Eileen. Or rather, a switch had been flipped.
She’d always found him unusual, different from other noblemen.
Energetic, almost boisterous.
But after that conversation, she’d started seeing him differently, and her body had begun betraying her emotions whenever she was near him.
“I don’t even have to think back that far…”
She trailed off, frowning.
A less pleasant memory surfaced. She occasionally got nosebleeds when she was flustered around Rudrick, but their wedding night had been particularly… intense.
He’d looked at her with alarm, asking if she was going to bleed out.
“Ridiculous,” she muttered, sighing again.
Her physical abilities were superhuman, enhanced by magic. And yet, she couldn’t even control her own body.
But what could she do? It had happened, and it was still happening.
Her face, usually devoid of emotion, would light up whenever she was with him. Just holding his hand would make her heart race.
“Perhaps I should change my attire.”
Her usual attire, a stiff, formal uniform, only accentuated her lifeless appearance. Perhaps a more… vibrant dress would help.
She shook her head.
“A dress…?”
It didn’t suit her.
She was about to go find Rudrick when…
The door creaked open, and a pair of eyes looked at her.
“Not bad.”
Sylphia said, leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed.
“Eavesdropping isn’t a good habit.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was looking for Rudrick. I just… overheard.”
Sylphia’s nonchalant attitude, despite being caught red-handed, was… typical.
“You have a good figure, so you can pull off anything. A dress might feel… strange, since it’s not your usual style, but it wouldn’t look bad. It’s just… different.”
Silence.
“I’m giving you sincere advice, and you’re looking at me with… distrust. It’s hurtful.”
“I apologize.”
“After a year of marriage, you still don’t understand Rudrick’s tastes?”
Sylphia sighed, clearly exasperated.
“He’s a sucker for this kind of thing.”
“That’s… true.”
“He pretends to be all cool and collected, like a romance novel protagonist, but he’s the one who gets flustered in the… bedroom.”
Eileen couldn’t deny it.
“So, what do you suggest?”
“Just tell him! Tell him you’re not letting him sleep tonight. What’s so hard about that? Wear a dress! So what if it’s not your usual style? You’re married! The table is set, why aren’t you eating?”
Silence.
“Or tell him you want to go on a cute date! Do you think he’d say no?”
“He wouldn’t, but…”
“Just do it! Stop wasting time! It’s your day; are you going to wait another week?”
“I… see your point.”
Eileen nodded.
Sylphia’s last comment had struck a chord. This was her one day a week with Rudrick. If she missed this opportunity, she’d have to wait another week.
Sylphia’s language might be crude for a dragon, but her logic was sound.
“Or get him drunk. Not now, but later tonight. Rudrick said alcohol changes people.”
“Absolutely not.”
Eileen’s face hardened.
She remembered their first date after the regression.
They’d gone to her favorite bar from her academy days, and Rudrick had gotten drunk on the complimentary strong liquor. He’d become a completely different person.
Watching him drunk was amusing, but dealing with him drunk was another matter.
“Sylphia, Rudrick gets… problematic when he’s drunk. He’s… different.”
“I didn’t know that.”
‘But alcohol lowers inhibitions… breaks down walls…’
Eileen looked at Sylphia.
“You’ve been reading romance novels too, haven’t you? Arwen gave up after Rudrick confiscated them all.”
“I… haven’t.”
Sylphia’s delayed response was telling.
“Be careful, or he’ll confiscate yours too,” Eileen said, her eyes twinkling.
“I just read one!”
“Sure.”
“Ugh!”
Sylphia stomped off, and Eileen murmured,
“Be honest…”
She opened her wardrobe.
Her usual uniform was the first thing she saw, but her gaze drifted to the ornate, jeweled dress she’d received as a gift. She’d never worn it.
It was too flashy, too revealing.
Sylphia’s visit meant Rudrick hadn’t returned yet.
She still had time.
She stared at the dress, then closed her eyes, as if making a decision.
She’d never been able to express her true feelings to Rudrick.
Her heart would race, her face would flush, and she’d become tongue-tied.
But…
“I…”
She started to speak, then swallowed the words.
She wanted to cuddle with Rudrick, to hold his hand, to link arms, to run her fingers through his hair.
Her desire overwhelmed her logic, and she reached for the dress.
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