She Is a Daughter Raised As the Son of a Duke - Side Story Episode 2

Side Story Episode 2

Throughout the hunt, May constantly felt someone’s gaze upon her. She knew it was Diego’s, but she never looked at him even once. She wanted things to remain like this, as if they were just strangers, and she even had a wish to become strangers again.

‘Because we aren’t fated.’

She concluded abruptly.

She was so preoccupied with wondering if she was indeed hunting or not that the night descended before she realized.

During regular hunts, they always had to camp out at the hunting grounds. May set up her tent near the lake and created a makeshift place to spend the night.

She’d set up a makeshift bed every camping night, and then she would sit and rest until it was her turn to wash up.

As she recalled not being able to fully concentrate on today’s hunt, she let out a sigh.

‘It’s uncomfortable after all… I’m sorry to Lady Iris, but I need to find a way to transfer to the Second Knight Order.’

Being in the same space as her suitor was quite uncomfortable.

After a while, a knight opened the tent entrance and informed her that it was her turn.

“Lady, you can bathe now! All the men have already bathed, and the women have too.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

When there was only one bathing area during the camping night, a representative from both the men and the women would come out for rock-paper-scissors. The winner would go first. Today, the women’s side lost, so May volunteered to go last as she wanted to be alone.

May walked out of the tent and headed towards the nearby lake. Everyone else had finished bathing and left the lake, leaving May alone.

All she could hear were the gentle sounds of the wind and the hooting of an owl. Confirming that she was alone, May started to undress, one piece of clothing at a time.

As she became completely naked, she left her clothes aside and stepped into the lake. The water, heated by the magical powers of the knights who had used it earlier, felt warm.

The surface of the water that initially touched her thighs rose higher as she walked forward.

Past her navel, just below her slightly raised chest…

Splash—

Accompanied by the sound of someone intruding into the lake, a voice that was familiar yet unfamiliar reached her ears.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

May was momentarily startled, causing her to stop in her tracks, but she didn’t attempt to hide her body.

Instead, she pondered how to handle the inevitable situation of facing him.

Should she apologize? Say she’s sorry?

But she had already closed off her feelings towards him.

Then, perhaps we’re not destined to be together?

Despite May’s cold thoughts, Diego’s voice was calm and composed.

“I came back to see you.”

Although covered by the pale water vapor, his expression was undoubtedly one of anger. It was the expression of someone who had been hurt, someone who had inflicted pain.

May covered her body’s curves with her smooth arms and turned away.

“I’m bathing. Please leave.”

However, Diego clenched his jaw, and with pursed lips, he advanced towards her.

“Don’t you understand that you’re in no position to command me?”

As he approached, the intensity of his gaze touching her body grew stronger, causing May’s shoulders to tremble.

“I’ll scream. Don’t come any closer.”

“Scream if you want. It doesn’t matter.”

Suddenly, Diego was right in front of her, roughly grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him. His clothes got soaked irreversibly, and the fact that the woman before him was now so exposed didn’t register with him.

He wanted to see her. Desperately.

Suppressing all desires and indulging only in the blood of demons, he thought he could easily forget May Flotina.

It hadn’t even been four years. A mere four years. So he believed he could forget, but in the end, he couldn’t. No matter what she said to him.

Unlike Diego, May’s gaze towards him was filled with caution. Seeing this, Diego twisted his lips and let out a bitter laugh.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You know, this is just who I am.”

Cruelly, he was someone who couldn’t convey warm words. Despite knowing that if she rejected him like she had rejected Jed Bloche, he would surely lose his mind.

“So you also thought lightly of my feelings. Is that it?”

May couldn’t help but think lightly of it. True love didn’t suit the disgraced prince, who was once called a wastrel.

She had also regarded his affection for her as something that would eventually fade away, a consumable.

Only after he left with a helpless expression did she realize that she had truly liked him.

“… If you’re looking for entertainment, I hope you find someone else, not me.”

She could spout insincere words because she had already determined that she and he weren’t fated to be together.

His response came in a voice that sounded wounded.

“See? Even now, you’re still reducing my feelings to mere entertainment.”

“…”

“I feel like I’m still going crazy because I can’t forget you.”

Even though the mist was thick, May could immediately tell that his eyes were reddened.

“Why did you kiss me back then? To get revenge for what I put you through? Did you want to see me going crazy and running wild like this?”

“… I got swept up in the atmosphere. The falling snow was just so beautiful.”

Once again, it wasn’t a sincere answer, but it was a bleak response for Diego.

In the end, tears welled up in his eyes. The grip on May’s arm seemed to weaken, but then Diego, as if he had made up his mind, grabbed her again.

“… So this time, you got swept up in the atmosphere again.”

For my sake.

He forcefully pushed her arm, causing May to tumble into the lake with a splash. With a large splash, Diego followed her into the water.

As if the destination had been predetermined, Diego quickly covered May’s lips underwater.

The cold sensation in the warm water roused May’s nerves.

“Ugh…!”

May tried to inhale as she couldn’t breathe, but Diego didn’t miss the opportunity and explored her inner parts.

‘”Can’t breathe… if this goes on…’

If this goes on, she might die. As her consciousness began to fade, Diego pulled May up onto the water’s surface.

“Huff, haa- haa-“

Spitting out water and laboriously catching her breath, May was in a state where she had no strength, and Diego held her with both arms to support her. Diego also breathed heavily.

After a while, when their breathing had calmed down, May was the first to speak.

“… I didn’t kiss anyone else. At that time, I really did it because I liked the prince. I wanted to date you.”

“…”

“I wanted to become the prince’s lover, it wasn’t a kiss for marriage purposes. At that time, I was barely sixteen, and hadn’t even established myself Flotina yet. So, words pressuring me into marriage were burdensome.”

As May regained her senses from the underwater kiss, she finally spoke her honest feelings.

“You say you like me, but did you ever consider what I want or don’t want before telling me what the prince wants?”

As she brought out the feelings she had buried in her heart and tried to forget, tears streamed down her face. He wiped away her tears with his large hands.

“… I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll make understanding your feelings a priority.”

He pulled May into his embrace. Feeling each other’s warmth, they both reveled in the joy of their reunion after four years.

“I missed you.”

“Me too.”

* * *

Dressed in new clothes, they entered the tent that May had set up.

He pretended that he wanted to stay over to talk about many things, which made her laugh, but she allowed it with a gesture of consideration.

Lying side by side on the bed with the blanket covering them, they began to have the conversations they hadn’t been able to have for four years.

“How was the long-term training?”

“It was terrible at first, but as I continued, I got used to it.”

“There must have been no entertainment there, so it must have been boring.”

“Not really. I became even more impressive there, and I was excited to come back and tempt you.”

She unintentionally let out a soft laugh at him. Diego was still overflowing with self-love.

“You was so sure I would fall, you know?”

“And you’re still not falling?”

Suddenly, he grabbed May’s wrist and pressed it against his abdomen. The touch of his hot and firm muscles made her flinch.

“You really like my body.”

May withdrew her hand as if asking when she had ever done such a thing, then playfully tapped his shoulder, but there was a smile on her lips.

It seemed like the first thing to ask might be if there was anyone who didn’t like his body.

Then, Diego apologized for what had happened earlier.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t control my emotions and did something awful.”

This time, May acted provocatively.

“Definitely… It’s not a nice thing to barge in while I’m taking a shower. But it’s not the first time I’ve seen you, so it’s okay.”

“!”

In response to her sudden words, Diego was surprised, his eyes widened, and then he smirked.

“You seem bolder in my absence. No, were you always this bold?”

Even before, May couldn’t bear her grievances and had confidently expressed her opinions, despite the other party being the prince.

“That’s my charm.”

“But that’s not the only thing, is it?”

While May was distracted, Diego climbed on top of her and pinned her down. He trapped her with his legs around her waist and his arms around her head.

When he wiped her cheek with his rough hand, May tensed up and involuntarily swallowed.

“Your innocent face keeps testing me.”

Whether I can have you. Whether I can’t.

Whether I must possess you. Whether I shouldn’t.

May raised her hand without backing down and gently touched Diego’s cheek.

“The prince’s decision would probably be the answer.”

“Don’t say that. You saying that will make me misunderstand.”

Diego took May’s hand and kissed the back of it.

“Because I know I can have it.”

Her heartbeat raced, and her ears were filled with the pounding sound. With a smile, May gathered her courage and spoke.

“But… It’s still okay.”

With her consent, Diego kissed May as if swallowing her with his lips.

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