It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 33 (Slight R19)

“I used magic to stay hidden. No one saw me,” Achilles said, before she could even ask.

It had been on her mind.

Charlize gave a silent nod of understanding, then turned and locked the window, drawing the curtains tightly shut.

When she turned around, Achilles had already removed his hood and was slipping off his cloak. Underneath, he wore the formal robes of the Tower Master—embroidered with gold thread, elegant and refined.

The garment suited him perfectly.

Charlize paused, briefly mesmerized by the sight.

Even if Achilles were clothed in rags, he would still shine. But a beautiful gem always gleams brighter when properly adorned.

“I hoped it would please you,” he said quietly. “I wore it to look good… for you.”

“Did you?” she replied, flustered.

His gaze met hers, and for some reason, she couldn’t hold it. Just as she turned her eyes away, he stepped in close and tilted her chin upward.

Oh—

His kiss was smooth, practiced. Perhaps it was inevitable—after so many kisses, one was bound to improve. Achilles was a man who mastered things quickly, after all.

His lips were gentle, so much so that Charlize almost forgot her purpose tonight. His voice was low and reverent as he whispered:

“You’re so beautiful tonight, Lize… I nearly forgot how to breathe.”

Aaagh!

She screamed internally and tried to back away. But Achilles, as if reading her mind, pulled her right back into his arms.

“What’s that face, Princess? You’re so adorable I want to bite your cheeks. May I?”

“N-No! Wait, weren’t we supposed to be researching? Or investigating? Or—whatever it was!”

Her flustered outburst came out louder than expected. She slapped her hands over her mouth.

Achilles, utterly unbothered, gently cupped her cheek.

“I’ve sealed the room with magic. No one can hear us now. You can scream if you like.”

“I’m not planning to scream!”

“That expression… it’s cute too. But why is your face turning even redder?”

He looked genuinely amused. His eyes were soft, playful, affectionate.

Even as she glared at him in frustration, her heart raced like it would explode.

“You know why! You’re not stupid—you know exactly what this means!”

A hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

“Embarrassed? Did you picture yourself moaning in my arms?”

“W-What?! Of course not!”

But it was a lie. And he knew it.

Achilles’s eyes shimmered with mischief, clearly delighted by her reaction.

“I’ll do my best to make sure you enjoy it.”

“Th-That’s not the point! You were supposed to study my powers, not—this!”

Still backing away, she tried to redirect him. But Achilles stepped closer.

“I’m filled with selfish desires, Princess. I’ll probably do shameful things tonight. Are you still alright with that?”

“…I said I was.”

And she had.

But now her face burned so hot she felt like steam might pour from her ears. As she looked away, Achilles leaned in and pressed his lips to her cheek—then suddenly, his tongue slid out, trailing along her skin.

“Ah! Achilles!”

Startled, she pushed him away, but he only looked down at her with an intense gaze.

“You’re far too cute. It’s dangerous.”

“I’m not the—mmph!”

He kissed her again before she could finish.

His tongue slipped past her lips, as if that was the most natural thing in the world. Charlize, stunned, opened her mouth for him—and immediately questioned her own sanity.

What am I even doing? Is this… really accomplishing anything? Will this actually make him lose interest?

Her toes left the floor as he lifted her. One of her slippers fell off.

The kiss deepened. Her upper body tilted backward, and before she knew it, she was being carried toward the bed.

“Haa… mmf…”

He laid her down gently, his body following hers onto the mattress. His golden eyes burned with something primal as he hovered over her.

He realized he’d made a mistake—he should have removed her nightgown before laying her down. Now it would be more difficult.

But he was the Tower Master.

And troublesome things? Were what magic was for.

He brushed his hand across the sheer fabric of her negligee, and a warm pink light spread across it.

In the blink of an eye, the garment transformed—into delicate white petals that scattered all around her.

Even her undergarments vanished, dissolved into the same ethereal flower petals.

“Ah?!“

A sudden warm breeze swept through the room, scattering the petals before she could even catch them.

Charlize stared in horror as the petals fluttered away, leaving her completely bare.

The room was filled with floating white petals—and her stunned silence.

How am I supposed to clean all that up?

That fleeting thought vanished the moment Achilles’s gaze settled on her bare form. Charlize’s cheeks flushed crimson as she instinctively wrapped her arms across her chest and pressed her legs together.

“Princess, you mustn’t cover yourself. This is for the investigation,” he said.

Liar. His face was flushed too.

Though not as red as hers, a hint of pink crept across his cheekbones. As she hesitated, he looked at her with such sincere admiration that she slowly lowered her arms—eyes burning, heart pounding.

My head’s overheating…

Her body tingled, not from pain—but something else entirely. Achilles swallowed hard.

His eyes devoured her—not crudely, but with an aching hunger that made her squirm beneath his gaze. The few petals that still clung to her skin only made it worse.

Quietly, reverently, he reached out to brush them away. Each petal that fell revealed more of her. Charlize trembled, too embarrassed to meet his gaze, but she didn’t stop him.

“You are already more beautiful than any flower, my rose,” he whispered, pulling away the last petal.

Her voice trembled. “P-please stop… staring like that…”

It wasn’t research—it was indulgence. That much was clear.

“You’ve been deceived by a man who loves you desperately,” he murmured, pulling her into his arms.

His breath tickled her ear as he added, “If this is research, then I intend to savor every inch of you like sugar candy… until you cry from the sweetness.”

“Ugh…”

Charlize wanted to call him a liar. But the words melted before they could reach her tongue. His lips pressed gently to her cheek, then trailed down to her neck—hot and tender—and nipped at her skin.

“A-Achilles!”

Startled, she broke away slightly, only for him to take her hand and kiss it. He brought her finger to his lips, and then into his mouth.

“Mm…”

The wet warmth sent shivers through her. She tried to look away, only to gasp again when he lightly bit down.

“Don’t bite!”

“Does it hurt?”

“No, but—biting isn’t part of the investigation.”

But he only smiled slyly and continued, licking between her fingers.

“It is now. Your emotional state affects your mana. We must observe everything,” he replied with effortless ease.

Was he making that up? Maybe. But there was truth to the idea—emotion did affect mana, and Charlize knew that.

So she didn’t argue. Instead, she watched as his lips continued to trace from her fingers to her palm, and down her wrist.

Her breath caught.

His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, and her heart beat even faster. His lips were now at her shoulder—and she hadn’t even realized when his hand slid across her chest.

Wait—

“I’ve located the target,” he murmured, voice half-teasing as his hand lifted her breast.

“W-why… why is it so firm?” he asked innocently, eyes twinkling.

“T-That has nothing to do with your research…!”

But before she could finish, his mouth closed over her, kissing and tasting, making soft noises that made her face burn with heat.

“Haa… ah…”

Even the slightest touch made her nerves tremble—especially when it was Achilles.

She bit her lip, trying not to let the sound escape her throat, only for him to trace a finger gently across her lips.

“If you must bite something… bite this instead.”

His finger lingered at her mouth, and without thinking, Charlize gently took it between her lips.

Achilles’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He tried to pull away but she wouldn’t let him.

Not yet.

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