Are you a gold-digger? (11)
T/N: Tues chappie but a little late π
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Aristine smiled awkwardly and opened her mouth, βUm, g-good morning?β
βHands off.β
βAye.β
Aristine quickly lowered her hand. But as she did so, her finger swept over Tarkanβs muscular stomach.
βUk…β Tarkan groaned through grit teeth then he growled, βStop right there.β
βOh, yes. Sorry.β
Losing its destination, Aristineβs hand hovered over Tarkanβs abdominal muscles aimlessly.
Tarkanβs stomach trembled and tensed even more.
βT, Then what should I do?β
Tarkanβs body was so close to hers that she couldnβt move her hand behind her back.
And they were wrapped tightly in a very thick blanketβ.
βHm? Wait, wait a minute.β
Aristine checked her condition with bewilderment.
Right now, she was naked, and she was being hugged by Tarkan, who was also naked, and they were wrapped in this blanket like a crepe.
βW-Why am I lying naked with you? And so close together at that, under one blanket?β
Shock, embarrassment, and absurdity flashed through Aristineβs eyes and after the wave of emotions, it firmly settled on distrust.
βI knew you were a pervert, but I thought you were a pervert with good morals.β
But you take advantage of my deep sleep to do such a thing?!
Aristine criticized him with a cold gaze.
Tarkanβs forehead creased, βWho do you think I did this for?β
Honestly, he was the one who was facing the most difficulty in this situation.
He had been in close contact with Aristineβs soft body for almost half a day and even his fingertips were not spared.
After her body temperature recovered somewhat, Aristine began tossing and turning…
It was only a slight twist of her body but to him, it was torture. He never knew someone could feel so soft, supple and smooth.
As if he wasnβt stimulated already, Aristine started moving her hand to touch his chest. He would be grateful if it was just groping but she evenβ.
βHow can you even call me the pervert?β Tarkan asked, grinding his teeth.
Aristine was taken aback since she knew her crimes but soon became confident.
βIf you didnβt do this in the first place, I wouldnβt have touched your chest. Who asked you to hug someone naked?β
βI did that to save you.β
When Tarkan said that, Aristine frowned.
βSave me?β
βYou had hypothermia, so I had no choice but to hold you.β
He emphasized that it was not of his own will.
Aristine blinked.
βI had hypothermia?β
At that very moment, she remembered what happened in the bathroom. She used the Monarchβs Sight to find a solution to the pig-iron monopoly, then she heard Tarkanβs voice calling her from outside the bathroom and thenβ.
Nothing after that.
She blacked out.
βDid I faint?β
βYes.β
βWas I in there that long?β
She saw the monarchβs sight through her sense of perception, so time passed quickly. But to think a longer time had passed in reality.
βI was focusing so hard and I finally found something.β
βNow you understand,β Tarkan said and looked at Aristine with confidence, βI did this purely for medical reasons.β
βUrk…β
βThe pervert here is you.β
Tarkan looked at Aristine with a gaze that said he felt refreshed just saying that.
Aristine felt pricked by that look and pursed her lips, then her eyes narrowed.
βDo you want me to show you what a real pervert looks like?β
Her fingers which were on Tarkanβs abdomen wriggled around. His tight muscles instantly clenched and contract.
βDonβt do it, Iβm serious.β
βWhy? Didnβt you call me a pervert? A pervert will do what perverts do!β
Aristine giggled and tickled Tarkanβs side.
βI said stop.β
Tarkan grabbed her wrists with one hand.
The blanket that was tightly wrapped around the both of them loosened.
βOh…β
Right. They were naked.
Aristine belated realized what that meant.
She quickly pulled up the blanket and mumbled, βShould we put on clothes first?β
Her face was hot.
* * *
The couple who were making a scene in the middle of the night, sat next to each other on the bed in their night robes.
They both acted fine but sat farther from each other than normal.
Unable to bear the continuing awkward silence, Aristine opened her mouth.
βHow long was I asleep?β
βAbout 10 hours.β
βThatβs a lot.β
βYou should sleep more.β
That, she couldnβt do. In her current situation, she couldnβt afford to waste time.
She wanted to escape from this tense atmosphere too, so she got up and looked at Tarkan.
βItβs the crack of dawn, right?β
βMn.β
Then even if she went out now, it would be of no use.
Aristine sat back down on the bed.
β…β
β…β
Silence followed.
She wasnβt looking at Tarkan but she couldnβt help but be conscious of him because the bed tilted slightly towards him.
The view of Tarkanβs body that she saw earlier rose into her mind.
His body had tiny scars scattered all over and it was filled with tight muscles. The sensation of her hand stroking his chest remained on her hand.
βIt was very bouncy…no!β
What am I thinking!
Aristine clenched her fist and cleared her throat for no reason.
βI didnβt think Iβd collapse in the bath. To think I got hypothermia just because the water got cold…β
βItβs likely more because your body was under strain since you were overworked.β
βOverworked?β
Aristine tilted her head. Did she work that much?
βYes, overworked. I heard you must have had a slight fever for the past few days. Didnβt you notice that?β
βNot at all.β
Tarkan looked at Aristine with dissatisfaction, βIf you feel sick, say so.β
βNo, I wasnβt exactly sick. I did think my head felt a little heavy.β
To Aristine, being sick meant getting burned or feeling so sick that death felt a few steps away. During her time in imprisonment, a minor fever was nothing more than a passing event.
βThatβs what being sick is,β Tarkan said firmly.
He placed his large hand against Aristineβs forehead.
βFrom now on, even if itβs a fingernail bothering you, let me know youβre sick.β
βYouβre very kind.β
Aristine laughed but swallowed the later part of her sentence.
βTo someone who bothers you.β
She lowered her head and shook off Tarkanβs hand.
For some reason, the more conscious she was of Tarkan, the more those words from earlier echoed in her mind.
βIβm kind?β
He had never been called kind before. Heβd only ever heard it from Aristine one other time, and she was being sarcastic.
This was the first time heβd heard those words being said with sincerity. Then again, this was also the first time heβd felt so anxious when someone was sick.
When he saw Aristine collapse before his eyes, his mind really went blank.
Tarkan was not a cruel master to his subordinates.
But earlier, he almost drew his sword at the court ladies for not taking good care of Aristine.
However, Tarkan was much angrier with himself. He should have noticed Aristineβs condition earlier.
βIf your head feels heavy, tell me that. I told you to rely on me.β
βArenβt I relying on you a lot already?β
Aristine tilted her head. Whether it was the merchant group or the blacksmiths, they were all thanks to his help.
βBy calculating everything and repaying every little thing?β
Like she was drawing a line.
βI mean, Iβm only trying to make sure you donβt suffer a loss. Would you prefer I wash my hand and eat all the money while using your forge and merchantry?β
Yes.
I would love that.
How would Aristine react if he said that? He didnβt have to wonder. Because he knew she would give him a confused look and ask, βwhy?β.
βI am your husband,” Tarkan held Aristineβs hand and spoke as if pleading.
βThat is true but…β
Aristine held back the words and avoided his gaze.
βBut what?β
βWell, you know…we are not really a couple.β
Aristine smiled.
Translator’s Corner:
**Bonus 2 is out~! Click next and password has been removed for ch171.
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 62 - December 29, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 56 – 61 - December 21, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 50 – 55 - December 7, 2025
PLSSSS Iβm hurtingπ COMMUNICATE I BEG
β the pervert here is you β
Lmaoooooo finally his grudge has been repaid
Hahahahahahaha I imagined that Aristine could call Tarkan a pervert, but see it myself was hilarious πππ
Thank you so much for this funny chapter miss ruby π€π€
I can never thunk of crepe the se way again.. Hahhh
Thank you very much ruby
Princess tell him what u feel about being called bothersome π Tarkan is dense you know. Tell him and let him regret! But both of u need to communicate π₯Ί
Tarkan is really tiresome you had the perfect chance to explain about the lover situation and you just stfu and you know aristine well you know the girl don’t even know what love is you can use the business relationship as an excuse and say “since you’re securing my position as crown prince I would like it very much if you rely and spend my money take my house take everything” it’s not that hard
im crying π i hate slow burn trope. PLS I BEG U JUST BE A COUPLE ALREADY