The Empror's Trap-Chapter 65: Ch - Massage Fixed

While Pluvia was pondering what had gotten into Kenji lately, Kenji himself was enjoying a massage from his personal guard at home.

Lina had been bored in the palace lately, since the security there was so robust that her intense vigilance wasn’t needed as much.

"Young master seems quite tired lately,"

In Kenji’s bedroom, Lina’s delicate hands gently pressed the pressure points on his body.

"It’s not too bad. I find it interesting, though I’d prefer if I could focus more on military matters," Kenji replied.

His second proposal regarding the Fifth Prince’s punishment had received feedback from Pluvia. After a long silence, she had ultimately approved the recommendation.

The Fifth Prince would be officially imprisoned for seizing civilian homes and plotting rebellion. However, this imprisonment was just for show - shortly after entering, the Fifth Prince would likely commit suicide.

Plotting to usurp the throne and sending assassins after the emperor - in the past, such crimes would warrant death by a thousand cuts. But since he was Pluvia’s brother, she wanted to be lenient and let him die with some dignity. This was her final request.

How laughable that a royal prince’s death sentence would ultimately come from an official outside the royal family.

Only Kenji and Pluvia knew about this confidential proposal.

"Young master, please mind your health. Though state affairs are important, excessive fatigue can also harm the nation."

"Lina."

"Yes?"

"You’ve been quite talkative lately."

The hands massaging his back suddenly paused.

"Is that so? Do you dislike it?"

Just as Kenji was about to tease her, an excruciating pain shot through his back.

"Ow ow ow I’m sorry! I like it! I like you however you are!"

Kenji let out agonized screams, his body writhing on the bed.

"Young master has quite the spirit of charging headfirst into danger. I thought you’d hold out longer," Lina chuckled.

Hearing this, Kenji laughed: "And here I thought you hadn’t been reading lately. Seems you’ve studied a bit after all."

"Just learned a little, nothing worth mentioning," Lina said, touching the firm back before her.

Several scars crossed that back. Though Kenji’s cultivation healing abilities were extraordinary, these faint marks remained from his past battles.

These were left from his campaigns in the field.

By now, even Lina found it hard to define her feelings for the man before her.

Perhaps it began as simple loyalty when the previous Duke Anos brought her into this household and ordered her to serve the current Duke.

But when did those feelings grow beyond ordinary loyalty? She wasn’t sure, but she knew she was drawn to Kenji’s current self - his blend of rationality, warmth and reliability.

The Kenji she had served before possessed ambition far beyond ordinary men, living an almost obsessive life. She served him then, and he entrusted her with tasks he wanted no one else to see. Their trust was peculiar, almost abnormal.

But perhaps after the new emperor’s ascension he had an epiphany, or maybe the honors and power satisfied his ambition. Either way, the current Kenji was almost unrecognizable from before.

Beyond loyalty, perhaps she felt something else stirring in her heart for the Kenji of today.

She took a deep breath, then bent down to gently wrap her arms around his neck, her soft chest pressing against his back.

Kenji hadn’t processed what was happening when he felt the softness against his back.

"L-Lina?!"

Kenji’s face instantly flushed red.

Having never properly dated in his original world, the closest female contact he’d had was with his sister. But as everyone knows, sisters are best appreciated in their absence.

Though Lina stayed by his side daily like his sister did, his feelings for her were completely different from those for Siyue.

"Young master, just for a moment."

A rare show of tenderness.

Kenji had never seen this side of her before. Lina had always been strong, and he had always believed in that strength. But now, this wasn’t bad either.

"Alright."

He tried to calm himself, but his heart was racing wildly - even facing off against her Majesty in court had never affected him like this. He could hear her heartbeat too, but hers was remarkably steady. What was this, a state of relaxation?

"Young master can be quite interesting sometimes," she whispered in his ear. "It’s a shame I didn’t see this side of you before."

"Ah wait, if you want to talk let’s do it normally, don’t breathe in my ear..." The warm breath by his ear was making him tingle. Kenji was at his limit. What had gotten into her today?

"Um, shall we continue with the massage?"

Kenji decided to change the subject, since he really couldn’t take much more.

"Of course~"

There was a rustling sound behind him. Kenji took a deep breath, relieved to have held on.

But soon he felt something soft and supple pressing against his back.

Wait, what are you doing?! Something’s not right!

Kenji didn’t dare look back anymore, afraid of what he might see.

Feeling the warmth radiating from the solid body in her embrace, Lina’s breathing quickened. She reached out her hand as an impulse took over her mind.

"Why not continue like this?" The thought crossed her mind.

Her lips parted slightly. In that moment she seemed transformed into a man-eating spirit, wanting to completely devour the person before her.

But she stopped herself.

She saw the faint sword scars on Kenji’s back.

Then, with a touch of melancholy, she let go.

She couldn’t.

Her young master was the Grand Marshal and a Duke of the empire. The gap in their status was too vast.

Moreover, who could say if this Kenji truly had feelings for her?

Forcing herself on him now might not be good for either of them.

She looked down at her pale skin pressed against his back, sighed deeply, and pulled away.

Before Kenji could turn around, she had already refastened her buttons.

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"I apologize, young master. I was being irrational," she said softly.

"In what way do you think you were being irrational?"

His words reached her ears, but left her confused.

"In what way?"

"You must have been thinking a lot just now," Kenji turned to face her. Though his cheeks were still flushed, he was no longer flustered. "Were you thinking you’re not worthy of me?"

Kenji wasn’t being conceited - this was the truth.

Lina came from a demonic sect. Though she was brought out as a child, her identity as a sect disciple was undeniable. If not for his father’s keen eye, she likely would have become a deadly weapon on the battlefield, but would have been forever separated from a normal life.

Of course, even now her life was far from ordinary.

Because of this, Lina’s status truly made it difficult for her to match him. While he didn’t mind, the upper echelons of Camelot deeply despised those from demonic sects.

"...Yes."

Lina spoke in an emotionless tone, though it took a deep breath to maintain that calm facade.

Kenji was amused by her contradictory demeanor.

"Look at you, all worried," he caressed her face. "Don’t worry. No matter what others think, as long as you’re willing to stay by my side, I’ll never let you go."

"Mm."

The corners of Lina’s lips turned up slightly, but she quickly controlled her expression.

Her emotional control was truly masterful. If he didn’t know her well, Kenji would have thought she felt nothing at all.

"However, I still hope you won’t act rashly," he said, putting on his clothes.

"Why?"

"You shouldn’t focus on whether the other person will accept you. First consider if you truly have feelings for them, how deep those feelings are, and if they’re worth acting impulsively over," he rolled his shoulders and continued, "For example, what if I’m actually someone who just uses you as a tool and discards you when done? Would you still act impulsively for me? Consider yourself first, then worry about whether others will accept you - that’s how it works with feelings."

"Isn’t that selfish?"

"Feelings are inherently selfish - no one’s emotions exist purely to serve another. It’s okay to be a bit selfish in this regard," he said with a smile.

Of course, while everyone understands this in theory, practice is different. In his past life, he could talk endlessly about relationship theory but never had a girlfriend himself. Though several classmates successfully found partners thanks to his advice and lived sweetly ever after.

At least this world was better - he had a reliable female guard to comfort him.

"I understand, young master."

Lina returned to her usual working demeanor and stood up.

Kenji didn’t expect Lina to understand everything immediately - that would be unrealistic.

He knew what she had intended earlier. Given how far things had gone, he dared not imagine what she’d planned next.

But Kenji knew that girls like Lina especially couldn’t be indulged impulsively - that would destroy a person. Though fierce in battle and skilled at teasing him, once she truly gave her heart, she would be more impulsive than anyone.

"Now then, young master, you still have much work to do and cannot rest yet. The northern defense documents require your review."

Lina announced this with a cruel smile.

Kenji’s spirit immediately deflated.