Chapter 25 – Affectionate
Chapter 2, Part 3.2
Novel Title: ルーデンドルフ公と森の獣 (Duke Ludendorff and the Beast of the Forest)
Author：かわい有美子 (Kawai Yumiko)
Illustrator: 周防佑未 (Suoh Yuumi)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 藤森賢士 (Kenji Fujimori -MC), ユリアン ルーデンドルフ (Julian Ludendorff -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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“I came to Japan because I wanted to see you again…,” Julian’s large hands cupped Fujimori’s cheeks as he whispered with a voice full of warmth.
“To see me…?” Fujimori murmured, more than half disbelieving, thinking it couldn’t be just for that.
Julian didn’t seem like the type to spout sweet words indiscriminately like an Italian man might.
“It’s true, I came to see you.”
Julian’s smile, which didn’t seem like mere lip service, softened as he whispered. He then intertwined his long fingers with Fujimori’s.
“I’m happy you accepted me.”
Fujimori had never been adored by someone else to this extent. So he was still somewhat sceptical. Yet, he could tell from Julian’s warm voice, the atmosphere, and the way his hands roamed over not just his face and hair but his entire body, that Julian’s feelings were sincere.
More than anything, Fujimori’s instincts told him that this man wasn’t lying, even before his rational mind caught up.
“…Do you like Japanese people? Or Asians in general?”
“No, I don’t really distinguish much between others besides you. I can tell the difference between you and Herr Tanba, for example.”
“Well, it would be a problem if you couldn’t.”
Fujimori, who found himself on Julian’s lap, was lamenting that Tanba was older than his own father. He nodded with a strange sense of satisfaction.
“But, you know. You seemed pretty confident… I’ve never been asked out like that before.”
“Confident…?” Julian looked puzzled.
“You didn’t say, ‘Please be my lover.’ Instead, you said, ‘Do you want to be my lover?’… That’s quite bold, isn’t it?”
“I thought I was being very respectful in asking you out…”
Julian’s confused response made Fujimori wonder for a moment if it was an issue with his understanding of German.
“If I were to focus on myself and ask you to be my lover, it would come off as too forceful. That’s why I made it about you instead…”
It seemed to be more of an issue with phrasing than understanding.
According to Julian, in German, if you use yourself as the subject when asking, it comes across as a pushy request, disregarding the other person’s feelings. So, Julian had made Fujimori the subject, intending to be extremely polite and respectful of his wishes.
Fujimori considered this for a moment, realising that in English, the phrase “Would you…” is used when making a request. But he hadn’t thought it applied in the context of asking someone to be your lover. He was impressed.
Fujimori had never considered asking someone to be in a relationship in either German or English, so this was surprising.
At least in America, before even asking someone to be your lover, wouldn’t people directly say, “I love you,” or “I want you,”… Fujimori mused to himself.
If only he had internet access, he could look up more about this. But there was nothing he could do about that now. In fact, he didn’t mind navigating these things in an analog, hands-on way as well.
However, in a blundering move, Fujimori had meant to turn the tables by asking if Julian wanted to be his lover. But instead, he ended up making the same kind of respectful request, like saying, “Do you want to be my lover?”
He had thought he’d outmanoeuvred Julian. But instead of closing off the opportunity, he had practically built a grand bridge over the moat himself, leading to a rather foolish situation.
Well, whatever… Fujimori smiled wryly.
“If I offended you, please forgive me. I really do want to cherish you. It’s true that I came to this country to see you.”
Julian whispered between kisses, touching Fujimori’s cheeks and back with apparent joy.
Fujimori hadn’t realised it before. But now that they were lovers, Julian turned out to be a man who indulged in excessive physical affection.
When Fujimori had visited Germany, he was surprised to see couples being incredibly affectionate in public, almost as if they were in a Latin country.
In fact, he had seen people being all lovey-dovey without a care for who was watching, more so than in Italy, Spain, or France. It had made Fujimori rethink his image of Germans as rigid and uptight.
It seemed that Julian’s German blood was being fully displayed in this aspect as well.
However, hearing Julian say all that, Fujimori couldn’t help but feel good about it. Thinking back, ever since he arrived at this mansion, Julian had been showing in both words and actions just how happy he was to see him.
Of course, back then, if Julian had told him that he had come to Japan just to see him, Fujimori, who thought of him as a reclusive man in his forties with a beard, would have been completely freaked out…
“For now, since Frau Gessner went to all the trouble of preparing breakfast, shouldn’t we eat before it gets cold?”
When Fujimori suggested this, Julian eagerly moved his plate from the seat across the table to sit next to him.
And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he began eating his meal there.
Even during the meal, Julian fussed over him, peeling fruit for him, touching his hair, and stealing quick kisses. Fujimori was amazed at how passionate Julian could be and was surprised at the level of affection and attention he was receiving.
While it was a bit embarrassing, Fujimori found the intensity of their relationship to be a novel experience—one he had never had even with the girls he had dated before.
It was a feeling that might be close to being won over.
Even though Julian was older, there was something endearingly cute about him… Fujimori thought, smiling to himself.
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*Translator’s Note: Now that they’re lovers, Julian will waste no time but to have him in his bed at night. 😝 -K
Next update: 2024.11.14
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