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CHAPTER 69:……………..
I Absolutely Won’t Let It In
Celia was completely at a loss for words at Dietrich’s unexpected confession.
She had wanted to be angry.
Like a child who couldn’t control their emotions.
She wanted to scold him until she had vented all her frustration, telling him how much she had worried.
“I like you.”
But at Dietrich’s straightforward confession, as he looked at her sincerely, Celia forgot that she had been trying to get angry.
“If you allow it…”
Dietrich continued, tidying her disheveled hair as he spoke.
“I want to be your true lover, not a fake one.”
Every word dripped with genuine sincerity.
After a moment’s thought, Celia took his hand and spoke.
“Dietrich, as you know, my time is limited.”
She was a terminal case with less than a year left to live.
No matter how strong Dietrich’s healing ability was, he could not fix her decaying organs.
That was what Celia believed.
Though she was genuinely happy at his confession, she couldn’t accept it entirely with pure joy.
“My life… it’s less than a year.”
“I can heal you.”
“How?”
Dietrich answered in his slow, relaxed voice.
“My healing ability manifests when I come into contact with someone.”
He interlaced his fingers with hers.
“Simple contact can calm someone, but to heal wounds or relieve physical pain, my body fluids are needed—excluding my blood. Among the fluids, the most effective…”
Dietrich brought her hand to his lips, kissed it softly, and continued.
“My mother told me the most effective way is to merge bodies with the person.”
Celia’s eyes widened.
She understood the meaning of his words.
“I won’t do anything you dislike.”
“……”
“I respect you.”
Even though this was coming from the man who had just kissed her so forcefully, she found it hard to trust immediately.
But Celia knew that if she had refused his kiss, he would have withdrawn willingly.
She hadn’t refused because she, too, liked Dietrich.
Two people who shared the same pain, who had the same goal, naturally developed feelings for each other.
So she could not refuse his confession.
She felt the same way he did.
Celia didn’t remember when she first began to like Dietrich.
Perhaps it was when his normally dry eyes held a soft light.
Or when he fed her food.
Or maybe the moment he said he would give her a collar.
“When I first saw you.”
Celia spoke, her lips parting.
“I thought your eyes were really beautiful.”
She had never seen such vivid red eyes before.
Even after killing the Emperor, when she collapsed coughing blood with her consciousness fading, she thought his calm, enraged eyes were like a spark in a fire—pure, without desire.
Perhaps that’s why she had felt safe letting herself go in his arms.
“I’d never seen eyes like that in my life.”
Whenever men looked at her, their eyes always carried some desire.
The nobleman, the priest claiming to serve the gods, even the Emperor who died by her hand—all the same.
But Dietrich was different.
From the moment they met, he had looked at her with pure anger and intent to kill.
So, she thought, meeting death at his hands wouldn’t be so bad.
At least he wouldn’t do anything inappropriate with her body.
Celia wanted to touch Dietrich’s face.
—May I touch your face for a moment?
She remembered the time he had asked her permission and looked up at him.
“…Can I touch your face?”
“You don’t need my permission.”
Dietrich placed her hand on his face and said,
“You are my master, after all.”
Finally, Celia realized she had become Dietrich’s true master.
She gently caressed his face.
Flawless, smooth skin met her hand.
Her fingers traced his masculine jawline, sharp nose, and neat neck.
From his high forehead and straight eyebrows to long eyelashes, her hand finally reached his moist lips.
Celia pictured a future with Dietrich.
Having always been trapped by shadows of the past, she had never dreamed of a happy future.
She thought revenge would be the end of her life.
After that, she had thought of nothing.
But life with Dietrich… didn’t seem bad.
Traveling wherever their feet took them, living quietly in a remote mountain, farming… it sounded fun.
Simply, modestly.
She wanted to go somewhere no one knew them and live peacefully.
Having someone to fully trust and rely on was such a wonderful feeling.
Something she had never felt alone.
“After Abellon falls, once everything is settled…”
Celia paused and looked up at Dietrich.
He waited patiently for her to continue.
That calm, attentive look was unbearably lovely.
“Wouldn’t you like to travel with me and live quietly?”
Dietrich smiled brightly, eyes crinkling.
“I’d like that.”
“You’ll really never do anything I dislike?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then, from now on, do nothing and stay still. Whatever I do, you must stay still.”
Dietrich nodded like a gentle lamb.
That conversation was enough.
Celia hugged his strong neck and kissed him.
She entered his mouth, which opened willingly.
Pushed deep inside, she lightly bit the inner flesh of his lips.
Celia stole his saliva and breath just as he had taken hers.
The wet sounds echoed through the room.
Dietrich’s hands reached for her head but hesitated, gripping the sheets instead.
Seeing the blue veins in his hands, Celia slowly pulled away.
Silk-like strands of saliva stretched as she parted from his lips.
Desire shone in his face, overflowing like a wild beast—so intense that she could clearly see it in his eyes.
His gaze, as if choking her, made her feel breathless.
And yet, Dietrich kept his promise.
He remained still, not touching her.
He prioritized his word over the surge of desire.
Celia felt warmth in her chest and spoke.
“You can move now.”
As if waiting for her words, Dietrich grabbed the back of her head.
Hot breath pressed against her lips.
He alternated between rough thrusts and soft strokes inside her.
The spreading heat made her toes curl involuntarily.
Dietrich was both gentle and rough.
Tender at times, beastly at others.
Like the world consisted only of them, they kissed again and again.
Dietrich’s hands slowly moved down under her collarbones.
Celia moaned without realizing it at his illicit touch.
His lips traveled over her forehead, neck, collarbones, and protruding clothing.
The heat consuming her body, Celia hugged his firm neck tightly.
Through their touching chests, they could feel each other’s hearts beating wildly, irregularly.
Then, a heavy sensation against her lower body snapped Celia’s pleasure-addled mind back to reality.
What had emerged between her legs… could hardly be considered human.
It absolutely wouldn’t fit.
No matter how much her terminal body was healed, if that entered her, she would likely die instantly.
Not only healing—her body would be torn apart.
Shivering at the fear she had never felt before, Celia whispered,
“…Stop.”
Dietrich froze completely.
He paused to catch his breath, then carefully adjusted her dress.
His hands tidied her hair as well, warm and gentle.
“I’ll never do anything you dislike. So, don’t be afraid.”
With that, he lifted her and headed for the bathroom.
“What are you doing?”
“There’s still a scent of blood on me, and I think I might have transferred it to you.”
He carefully placed her in the bathtub.
“You can wash yourself, right? Or do you want me to help—”
“I’ll wash myself.”
Dietrich smiled wryly at her firm reply and left the bathroom.
Soon, he returned carrying a bucket of hot water on his shoulders.
Steam rose as he poured it into the tub.
Splash—
The empty tub quickly filled with hot water.
Celia looked at him as if to ask why he didn’t make a servant do it. He closed his eyes and said,
“I’ll be in the next room. Call me if you need anything.”
He handed her clothes and a towel.
Thud.
Dietrich left, and the bathroom door closed.
Celia undressed and sank into the steaming water.
Relaxing completely, she drifted off to sleep in the tub.
The next day, the winner of the hunting competition was announced.
This translation maintains the original tone, intimacy, and emotional nuance while keeping the pacing and style close to the Korean text.
