NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35: HOW DOES IT FEELS ?
For a long second, Eran kept his eyes lowered, elbows resting on his knees, smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey…" Miyu's voice broke the silence, softer than she meant it to be.
He glanced up.
She stood there, face flushed crimson, trying to mask the storm that had clearly taken hold of her. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as if grounding herself.
"W... what was that?" she finally managed, her voice stuttering slightly.
Eran raised his head just enough for his gaze to catch hers. He didn't answer right away, only let the smirk curl just a little deeper.
"Don't pretend Eran," she pressed, breath catching. "I know what you did out there. At the last moment, that wasn't me who froze the bone beast. I saw it. It was you."
He chuckled low, the sound rich, almost amused. "Oh? That's the first time you've called my name." His smirk sharpened as he leaned back lazily. "I thought I was just another commoner to you."
Miyu's jaw tightened, her face burning hotter. "I knew I sensed something from you," she said, voice almost a hiss. "And today you proved it right there in front of everyone. They all think it was me."
Eran's smirk widened, his posture shifting as he leaned forward slightly now, letting the weight of his presence fill the space between them... his voice low but edged with that playful calm.
"Sure… I'm just a commoner before everyone's eyes. But I have to admit, Miyu…"
Her head turned, violet eyes locking on his. "Why?"
He tilted his head. "Who would've thought a noble would rush in to save a commoner like me? Out there—" he let the words hang, "what made you ran like that? In that instant?"
Miyu's breath caught, her lashes lowering as her head bowed slightly, the crimson flush crawling higher up her cheeks. Her fingers tangled together nervously, the silence thick between them. She didn't answer, she couldn't.
Eran's gaze caught the heat rolling off her, saw the way her pride fought with whatever else she was feeling, and that smirk of his curved sharper. He leaned closer, slow and deliberate.
His hand brushed forward, resting against her chest... right over the curve, feeling the faint rise and fall of her breathing.
Miyu froze. Her violet eyes widened, lips parting, her whole face burning a deep, helpless red. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, the mana in the room suddenly flaring with her pulse.
And Eran… he only smiled, that tugging smirk refusing to leave, watching every flicker of emotion dance across her face.
She didn't move.
It felt like she had been caught in some invisible snare, her pride screaming to break free, yet her body refused.
Eran's smirk deepened as he leaned closer, his voice a low whisper that brushed against her ear.
"Your heart's racing, Miyu," he murmured, eyes locked on her. "Tell me… do you feel this way for a commoner?"
She had every chance to push him away, to break that grip on her chest. But she didn't.
Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, heat flooding her cheeks. Eran's fingers traced slowly over the fabric of her blouse, his touch dragging lower until it parted the edge of her robe, revealing the pale curve of her chest.
"You're burning here…" he said, his tone almost teasing, but too soft, too steady to be dismissed. "Seems like your body can't hide what's in your mind."
Her breath hitched, violet eyes darting to where his hand rested. Her lips trembled before she stammered... voice barely a whisper.
"E–Eran… no one's ever touched me there."
Her gaze lifted again, glassy and vulnerable, locking with his.
Eran's smile curved slow and deep, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin.
"What do you feel?" he asked softly, almost like he already knew the answer. "Because I can feel your chest racing right now."
Miyu's breath broke into a quiet, choked sound, half a moan, half a plea — and she bit down on her lip.
Her eyes shining now, locked on him, and her voice came out low and shaky.
"How… does it feel?"
Eran he leaned closer, his breath brushing over her ear.
"It feels hot in here," he murmured, pressing slightly firmer, "like it's about to jump out of you."
Miyu's hand shot up, grabbing his wrist, pressing his palm tighter to her chest.
"Stop it," she whispered, though her voice cracked, "I don't… I don't want it to race any faster."
But her body betrayed her, her thighs squeezing together as each passing moment sent little jolts of heat down her legs.
Eran leaned even closer, one knee sliding between hers and parting her just slightly.
She gasped, her head tilting back, a faint moan spilling from her lips before she could bite it back, her whole face flushed crimson as her breath grew shallow.
Eran's smirk didn't fade.
"It feels… warm, doesn't it?" he murmured.
Before Miyu could answer, his fingertip slid deliberately against her lips — slow, unhurried, brushing over them until they parted with a shiver she couldn't hide.
"See?" he whispered, his tone maddeningly calm. "It's not racing now. Just warmer. Steadier."
His hand moved, cupping her chin, tilting her face up until her glassy eyes met his.
"How does it feel now?"
Her lips trembled, the words barely making it out.
"Y-Yes… it feels… better."
Eran leaned back slightly, giving her just enough space to breathe, his gaze never leaving her flushed face.
"Good," he said, his smirk faint but cutting through the tension. "I stopped it from racing. It'll get better now."
His eyes slid lower, deliberately.
"You're already wet here…" his fingers brushed lightly against the edge of her chest before his gaze dipped lower, "…so I'd guess you might be wet down there too."
Miyu's breath caught, her head jerking down instinctively, and she saw it, a faint shimmer of sweat sliding down her inner thigh.
Her cheeks flamed as she clamped her thighs together on reflex.
Eran's chuckle was low, quiet, and somehow more dangerous than if he'd laughed aloud.
"You're doing good," he said, voice smooth.
For a moment too long...
Their eyes locked again, and this time, Miyu didn't look away
Then...
The door clicked softly, and Selene's steps broke the charged silence.
Her gaze lingered on Eran first, then drifted to Miyu — slow, deliberate as if she could read the unspoken heat between them.
"Alright," she said, her voice soft but carrying weight, "come. Let me show you your chambers."
Miyu straightened too quickly, her robe shifting as she turned. Eran rose more slowly, his eyes sliding back to her just before she stepped away.
And then...
his system flared across his vision:
Dinnggg!!!
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION! ]
CONQUEST PROGESS... 80%
[ CHANCE OF HIDDEN ENCOUNTERS HIGH ]
[ PRIDE RESISTANCE: TRANSMUTING → LUST ]
LUST RATE... 80%
DESIRE LEVEL... 60%
A low laugh echoed only in his thoughts.
He had left her drowning in that heat, trapped somewhere between anger and craving. And he knew, the next step wouldn't need his push.
She'll come to me herself.
The smirk curved his lips as he followed Selene out, leaving Miyu's face still crimson as she bit her lip, her eyes unable to let go of him even as she walked ahead.