Our Make-Believe Ends Here - Chapter 2

Volumes I & II are available uncensored on ko-fi!

Back in her own room, Luirene slid the book into the bookshelf pressed against the wall. It went between 『The Faded Portrait Story』 and 『Letters from Forgotten Time』. Every book on the shelf was in its designated order; those closer to the front were works more to the former Marchioness’s taste.

Despite her advanced age and fading memories, the former Marchioness had a surprisingly girlish taste. She cherished pure stories like essay collections on lost love and memories, short story anthologies, and collections of classic fairy tales like a child. Like lingering remnants of a childhood innocence she never had as a maiden.

It was a common story among noble families. They rarely ended up with the one they loved. They became engaged to designated partners, married designated spouses, had children with designated people, and built designated families.

Luirene recalled the former Marchioness’s face, beaming with joy at seeing her grandson. Or perhaps not. What she cherished might not be an unattainable first love, but her late husband, the former Marquis, lost to her. Luirene decided she would read her favorite book, 『Tales of the Quiet Lake』, to her tomorrow.

That evening, special food was prepared, unlike usual.

These were special provisions given even to the servants and workers to celebrate the young master’s return. Herb-roasted chicken leg and a glass of rum.

On any other day, even boiled potatoes or a fish dish would have been a welcome luxury, but now there was meat flavored with precious herbs, and alcohol. Everyone was thrilled. Just like the servants’ kitchen, already brimming with excitement, the main dining room was likely in the midst of a lavish feast.

Luirene cut a piece of meat and took a bite. The flesh was tender and moist. The flavor was excellent. Not being much of a drinker, she only wet her lips before passing her rum to Sissley, the stablemaster. Sissley, claiming he’d nearly worked himself to the bone attending to the young master during the journey, didn’t hesitate and chugged it down.

Watching him, Luirene turned her head. Next to her bowl, there was a note that hadn’t been there before.

[15 minutes. Crescent moon.]

She looked around, but there was no way to tell who had left it. Only the workers, already as drunk as Sissley, and the onlookers clapping and stirring up the mood remained. Luirene quietly rose from her corner.

The outside air was brisk. The empire’s season had already entered autumn. Luirene looked up. The crescent moon hung beautifully. As she thought it looked like a white flower blooming in the sky, she entered the detached stable.

With Sissley, the person in charge, absent, the inside was quiet. Hearing footsteps, the horses whinnied. Luirene added hay to their troughs before moving on. She passed through the stable corridor and exited through the back door, where the shed came into view below. It was where Sissley stored the supplies needed to run the stable.

It was quiet here too. The space was cramped, and Sissley was lazy, so this area was virtually untouched, left to neglect.

A crack from long ago had formed in one wall, a slight gap. Through the fissure, which would have been sealed by now if not for Sissley’s negligence, the crescent moon was embedded, framed by empty space above, below, left, and right. It was a prime spot for stealing a glimpse of the moon.

When she heard footsteps, Luirene slowly turned. The door opened and someone strode in. Moonlight streaming through the crack in the wall slashed diagonally across a beautiful tailcoat, worn for the feast.

Hitaon Glair. Emerging from the darkness, the moment his eyes met Luirene’s, he closed the distance without hesitation. What approached before any words was his body. His broad arms pulled her in, and immediately, fierce kisses rained down on her cheek and lips.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

“No, I just—”

“I missed you.”

“Ngh…”

“What about you? Didn’t you miss me?”

At the end of his breathless words, Hitaon pressed her against the wall and firmly lifted her small bottom. He asked first, but gave her no time to answer, like a beast awakened to lust, completely disregarding any sense of rhythm.

His desire was only natural. It had been a long time since they’d faced each other, long enough to make even Luirene’s heart pound. She obediently closed her eyes and surrendered herself to his momentum, which crashed over her like a violent wave.