I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Side Story 11

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Though it wasn’t planned, Enoch decided to stay at the Floné residence for the night. With Arthdal and Ruzef also staying, why shouldn’t he, especially since the imperial palace was so close by?

The Floné family’s staff seemed flustered by the unexpected visit from such high-profile guests. Enoch quietly examined the work guidelines he had taken from Arthdal.

3. Lady Margaret’s room is located in the west wing on the third floor, rooms 1-5. If Lady Margaret is found sleeping in the garden in the middle of the night, quietly move her back to her room.

He had heard that a makeshift hut had been set up in the garden, and sometimes Margaret slept there when she couldn’t find peace at night.

‘Must be the aftereffects,’ Enoch mused.

“All preparations are complete,” announced the Duke of Floné.

Enoch nodded, sitting leisurely on the sofa in the duke’s office, sipping tea. “You’ve worked hard,” he acknowledged.

“It was my duty,” the duke replied with a smile, following Enoch’s lead and sipping his tea. “I sincerely wish for my daughter’s happiness.”

Happiness. Enoch pondered the word. The duke’s words were filled with a father’s love for his daughter.

The duke watched Enoch for a moment, then spoke with a gentle smile, “Of course, I wish for your happiness as well, Your Highness. You’ve endured much, and it’s about time you found some peace.”

Enoch’s hand paused mid-motion, then he calmly set the teacup down. “Before the island abduction, Duke, why didn’t you stop your daughter?”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve always wondered why you didn’t restrain Lady Margaret from publicly expressing support for me, given that your house maintained neutrality. The deposed empress must have exerted pressure on you. Back then, I had no future.”

“Pressure? Of course, there was,” the duke chuckled, a hearty sound that belied the severity of the past. “I was even threatened.”

Despite the hardships, the duke laughed as if it were an amusing memory.

“Margaret once said something to me,” the duke continued. “She said that once someone has hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. She claimed she saw light in Your Highness’s eyes, a light that would never be extinguished.”

Light? She saw light in me? Enoch was perplexed. How could she have seen an unextinguishable light in him?

His childhood had been so bleak. He had silently trudged through thorny paths, shedding countless tears. He couldn’t deny that he had been at rock bottom, but to say she saw light in him was incomprehensible.

‘At that time, I was dying,’ Enoch thought, struggling to understand.

“Are you saying you rejected the empress based on a child’s words?”

“Well, it became a ‘pretext,’ you could say.”

Pretext. The duke’s eyes, though gentle, held a steely resolve, an unyielding firmness that would not bend to even the strongest of winds. Enoch found himself at a loss for words, only one thought echoing in his mind.

Perhaps I wasn’t alone, even when I thought I was, Enoch reflected. It was a realization that filled him with an overwhelming sensation.

Looking down at the teacup the duke had prepared for him, Enoch couldn’t help but feel awkward. Warm steam wafted up from the cup, enveloping him in its gentle embrace. Enoch stared at the cup for a long time.

After his conversation with the Duke of Floné, Enoch stepped out into the garden just as the sun began to set. The duke had mentioned that Margaret was in the garden. Through the well-tended trees, he saw a small makeshift hut nestled in a corner.

“It’s an escape from reality. She goes there on sleepless nights.”

Enoch thought back to what the Duke of Flonet had said.

Indeed, it was tucked away in a deep part of the garden, where it would be difficult for anyone to intrude. Surrounded by large trees, it appeared peaceful and cozy.

From Enoch’s vantage point, he could see a small, white foot peeking out from under the hut. Her feet, white as snow, were covered in small scars—all remnants from Alea Island.

Turning his head slightly, he saw Margaret sleeping peacefully. Enoch sat in front of her, examining the wounds on her pale feet. As he gently traced a scar with his thumb, her toes twitched, and Margaret scrunched her nose. Yet she remained asleep, lost in deep slumber.

‘Sleepless nights…’

Enoch had never seen Margaret tossing and turning in her sleep. Whenever they slept together, she always fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.

‘Does she always sleep like this when she’s alone?’

Enoch gently caressed Margaret’s bare feet, feeling a dull ache in his chest as he noticed the scars on them.

Squirm.

At that moment, Margaret stirred and sat up. “Mmm… tickles.”

Her foot slipped out of Enoch’s hand, and he watched the scene in silence.

“…Huh? Enoch?” Margaret rubbed her eyes and lifted her head, her eyes widening as she recognized him.

“Is it you…? Am I dreaming? I thought you’d returned to the imperial palace.” She crawled over to him, her sleepy face lit up with surprise.

Enoch softly grasped Margaret’s ankle as she approached. Her ankle fit loosely in his large hand. As he gently rubbed the inside of her ankle with his thumb, he finally spoke. “You can think of it as a dream if you’d like.”

Margaret blinked sleepily, her gaze shifting to her ankle in Enoch’s hand.

“Oh…”

His hand continued to move gently upward, cupping her calf as he pulled her closer. Surprised, she grabbed his shoulders, bringing their faces inches apart. Even though their lips hadn’t touched, their breaths mingled.

Margaret’s back stiffened with tension.

“Relax.” Enoch wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him.

Now the two were pressed together with no space between them. Enoch, without taking his eyes off Margaret, slowly laid her down on the floor of the hut.

Enveloped in his embrace, Margaret stared at him as if entranced and murmured, “This… isn’t a dream.”

“Just think of it as a dream. That way, we can do much more,” Enoch whispered, lowering his head with a smile, casting a shadow over her face. He pressed his lips against her soft cheek like a seal.

Margaret’s hands on his shoulders trembled with tension. This hut was meant for escaping reality, yet here she was alone and pitiful. Enoch decided to fill her hut entirely with himself instead.

He kissed her forehead, nose bridge, and cheek in succession, prompting Margaret to mutter, “W-what do you mean by ‘much more’?”

“Starting now.”

This time, he captured her lips. Heat and humidity spread within the hut. Enoch’s fingers wove through her hair, drawing her closer with a steady embrace. He knew he should hold back, but standing before her, it was easier said than done.

Then a thought struck him.

Why should I hold back?

“If you need a way to sleep peacefully, come to me instead of this hut, Margaret.”

“Even if that means seeing you every night?”

Margaret’s response made Enoch pause. Her unexpected boldness made him chuckle softly.

“Soon, we’ll see each other every night anyway, so a little practice beforehand wouldn’t hurt.”

Enoch was sincere. He had never been anything but genuine with Margaret.

Margaret placed her hand over his mouth as he leaned in for another kiss. “Wait a minute. What do you mean by that…?”

A playful smile curved Enoch’s lips. He licked her palm, startling her into pulling her hand away.

“Why? Is tonight too soon?”

He bent his head further, kissing her neck. The soft, moist sensation traveled from her neck down to her collarbone.

“Why hide away in a place like this?” he murmured, leaving a mark on her collarbone with gentle bites and moving a little further down. “Makes me want to find you.”

Enoch’s knee slipped between Margaret’s legs, drawing them even closer. Margaret squeezed her eyes shut, gazing up at him pleadingly. Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, she looked stunningly beautiful.

Enoch lovingly kissed every part of her body. He hadn’t planned to hold Margaret here, in this place. He wanted her first time to be special, so it felt as if she possessed him rather than the other way around.

‘It’s true in reality, too.’

There were countless nights ahead for them, and they would share many of them together. There was no need to rush.

With his face buried in Margaret’s shoulder, Enoch embraced her, inhaling her scent. He was already unable to live without her. And now it seemed she couldn’t live without him either.

This realization filled Enoch with a sweet satisfaction. Though unfortunate for Margaret, Enoch was overjoyed.

Yes, he was happy beyond words.

‘Ah.’

A sudden thought occurred to Enoch, and he lifted Margaret’s chin. She looked up at him with dreamy eyes, still dazed and beautiful in his arms.

“…Why?”

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Although he hadn’t planned to spend their first night here, there was still much to savor with her. He didn’t hesitate long.

Gazing down at her full, red lips, Enoch slowly captured them with his own. The night was long, ample time to express his happiness.