054: Please, Don't Hate Me
As the new emperor's coronation ceremony concluded, night officially fell.
Having placated Nero with a kiss, Novia declined the girl's invitation to the palace and returned to his home outside Rome, where he had lived for several years.
However, the moment he opened the door, Novia saw Albion, in her silver-haired girl form, staring at him with a deep, haunting gaze.
"Human, you......."
Albion's voice held not a trace of warmth. It was too low and piercingly cold, so much so that for an instant, Novia even felt a sudden drop in his own body temperature.
Usually devoid of vitality, she now radiated an even more peculiar atmosphere.
This was not unexpected to Novia. While kissing Nero, he had sensed that the "spear" he had brought to the Pantheon was on the verge of exploding with magical energy.
That Albion was interested in him was something Novia had long suspected. But until Jerusalem, Novia had mostly viewed this dragon with a utilitarian mindset. It was only after Albion sincerely did those things for him there that he began to see her as a friend and someone trustworthy.
In terms of affection, it naturally didn't compare to his feelings for Nero, given the many years spent with her. This dragon was also a "tsundere."
It seemed he had to take the initiative. Having decided, Novia adopted an equally cold expression and said to Albion:
"Don't be so willful, Albion."
In the tense, precarious atmosphere, Novia broke the deadlock.
"Human, what... did you say......."
"I mean, I do have a name, to be honest. I'm tired of you, acting all weird all the time. After spending so much time with you, I've had enough of you long ago—your temper is just so inexplicable. Let me make it clear: I hate you. We are no longer fri—"
Before Novia could finish, Albion, just like that time before, lost control and lunged at her again.
She opened her mouth wide, baring her sharp teeth, and viciously tore a chunk of flesh from Novia's stomach. Blood and flesh flew everywhere, staining the lower half of her face crimson. Still unsatisfied, she swallowed and then bit even deeper.
Seeing this, Novia silently accepted the pain of being torn apart—after all, this was exactly what he had intended.
When Albion heard Novia say "I hate you," she felt her heart make a sound—an exceptionally loud, overwhelmingly noisy beating.
I am his one and only light, he had said. It was the first time anyone had ever told her that.
From that moment on, a completely different emotion, one that had never stirred within Albion until now, began to sprout deep in her heart.
It wasn't fear, annoyance, or a desire for control. It was something warmer, more alive.
But now—right now—
"Novia."
Just speaking that name brought a sweet ache to Albion's heart.
"Don't hate me. I... don't want to eat you."
Even as she spoke these words, Albion continued to bite down, lost in the flow of warm blood.
"It's fine," Novia said, enduring the intense pain. He held Albion's head and smiled. "No need to hold back. If this satisfies you, then it's not a problem."
"Novia, please... don't hate me. I won't... be willful anymore."
The silver-haired girl trembled more and more violently, finally raising her head. Clear droplets traced paths down her blood-stained lips.
Seeing Albion like this, Novia sighed in relief. Finally, I've gotten through to her, he thought. She probably won't lose her temper so easily anymore. Her attitude will change.
"No problem. As long as you behave well from now on, I won't say such things again."
Novia created a warm atmosphere with his gentle voice—this was his specialty.
"Um... shouldn't you drink some water or something?"
Albion, obediently curled in Novia's arms, asked timidly.
"Shouldn't you be the one drinking water to rinse the taste of blood from your mouth?"
The words rose in Novia's throat but never left his lips, because Albion pushed him down again, sitting on his waist, pinning his hands with hers. Her golden pupils held desire, yet her expression remained timid.
"Mmm, I know. You definitely need to drink. Because that human's scent is in your mouth, Novia. You don't like that either, right? So we need to clean it, or you'll be tainted. Besides, that feels good, doesn't it? I'll completely overwrite her scent like that..."
The silver-haired girl lightly licked her lips, her tongue darting out, suddenly showing a pleading expression like a cat's. She buried her face forcefully into the young man's chest, first licking clean the blood from where she had bitten him earlier and using magic to heal the wound. Then, she tried to thoroughly cleanse the scent of Nero from Novia's mouth.
...
"Eh? The teacher took a day off?! Why?"
The newly crowned Emperor Nero, upon hearing the report from her minister Seneca, instantly dropped her previously cheerful expression.
Although she diligently handled all the reported matters, as soon as she finished, she ran back to her bed, feeling gloomy.
She had originally planned to see her teacher Novia first thing in the morning, believing it would put her in a good mood for the rest of the day.
"How could this be? It shouldn't be. The teacher has never taken a day off before. Could it be because—"
Just as Nero was puzzling over it, she suddenly remembered kissing Novia at the Pantheon during yesterday's coronation ceremony. The thought of her own boldness made her blush, but she never expected her teacher to react like this.
"Mmm, mmm. So the teacher is that innocent? What the... hehe, never expected he'd be as cute as a little animal. Hehe..."
Her mood instantly lifted, and Nero felt an appetite coming on. She summoned Locusta, the green-haired girl in charge of palace food safety, and asked her to make mushroom soup.
For some reason, Nero had recently taken a great liking to mushroom dishes. And she trusted Locusta, who had been assigned by her teacher, completely.
Come to think of it, the teacher hasn't been giving me much poison to drink lately. Is it because I've been drinking it for so long that the toxicity isn't effective anymore? That won't do. As the teacher's disciple, his most important person, I can't let him fall into distress.
Next time the teacher gives me some, I'll have Locusta help develop a stronger poison. That way, the teacher will definitely praise me!
"Mmm, mmm..."
Nero couldn't help but laugh out loud while drinking her mushroom soup.
"Your Majesty, why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
Locusta, standing nearby, looked puzzled, not understanding why the emperor suddenly started laughing while drinking. Was it because it tasted so good?
"Because I thought of a great way to get the teacher to praise me!"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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