https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1575-A-War-Without-Victors-Twenty-Five-/12529209/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1577-A-War-with-No-Victors-Twenty-Seven-/12529295/
Chapter 1576: A War Without Victors (Twenty-Six)
Chapter 1576: A War Without Victors (Twenty-Six)
As Hermione slowly woke from her hazy slumber, she found herself in an unfamiliar room, with what seemed to be a stranger lying by her side. It took only a few seconds for her to realize what had transpired, and her mind went blank.
Fighting the urge to scream, she stiffly turned her head and gazed upon a face that was both familiar and foreign, leaving her completely stunned.
Hermione stared blankly at Albert's sleeping face, recalling the events of the previous night: She had finally gathered the courage to confess her feelings to him, only to be sternly rejected. He had hoped that she would let go of those feelings as he was already married and couldn't offer her the future she desired.
However, Hermione, with the help of a well-prepared Felix Felicis, had successfully turned the tables on Albert and won herself the happiness she sought.
Or so she thought. She had finally embraced and kissed Albert passionately, and... At this thought, Hermione's cheeks burned, and she pulled the covers up to hide her face, her mind involuntarily replaying the events of the night and the intoxicating sensations that lingered.
"Are you still in pain?"
Albert's warm voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Ah!"
Hermione was at a loss, unsure of how to face Albert.
Albert noticed her shy demeanor and blinked in surprise. He deliberately leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "You were quite the aggressor last night. I was taken aback by your boldness."
"That... I... Are you angry?" Hermione's mind was in a muddle, her words tumbling out incoherently.
"In matters like these, men rarely come out on the losing end. As long as you don't regret it, that's all that matters," Albert reassured her.
He pulled Hermione into his embrace, and as their skins made contact, she trembled involuntarily.
"What about you...?" she asked.
"I didn't go back last night, so Isabelle probably has her suspicions," Albert said, gazing at the girl who had buried her head in his chest. After some hesitation, he decided it was best to give Hermione a heads-up, sparing her the anxiety of being kept in the dark.
"Oh... What should we do?" Hermione had not anticipated that their secret would be exposed so soon.
"Don't worry, I'll handle Isabelle. You don't have to be concerned about her causing any trouble for you," Albert gently soothed the worried girl in his arms, suddenly realizing the vast difference in their levels of experience.
"Are you sure it's alright?" Hermione's voice was barely above a whisper, her guilt apparent.
"That's not something you need to worry about," Albert sighed. "Being someone's mistress isn't as glamorous as you might think. Your situation could become quite awkward."
"Who said I'm your mistress? We're just good friends, nothing more," Hermione refuted, unwilling to acknowledge the truth. She had planned ahead, knowing there would be consequences to her actions.
"It's good that you've considered the implications," Albert said, understanding the underlying message in her words. He then brought up another matter, "I can probably stay with you for another two days before I have to return to Britain."
"Only... two days?" Hermione asked, her voice laced with disappointment.
"Yes, I have a family of my own and can't stay away for too long," Albert reminded her.
"Alright, you can go back first then. I plan to stay a bit longer to spend time with my family," Hermione said, her voice heavy with sadness.
She felt that the time they had together was too short, but she also understood that some things couldn't be forced. Albert was already taking a huge risk by spending two days with her, and he had his own family to consider. She was the outsider disrupting their lives.
"Well, you must be hungry. I'll go make us some breakfast," Albert said as he released Hermione from his embrace and gently patted her waist, indicating that she should move away from him. He then slowly got out of bed.
"Do you want to shower together?" he asked with a smile.
"You go ahead. I'll take a shower later," Hermione replied.
With a flushed face, Hermione said, "You... you should get used to it. And I put the ointment for reducing swelling in there. Apply some after your shower; it'll make you feel more comfortable. Or I can help you with it later."
"No need, I can manage it myself," Hermione stammered, still not quite accustomed to the excessive intimacy with Albert.
Of course, she also realized that this was what a marital intimate relationship was supposed to be like! Using the spare ingredients from his briefcase, Albert prepared a simple breakfast, surprising the freshly showered Hermione with his exquisite culinary skills. It was astonishing to her that none of the guys she knew were proficient in this area, not even in basic cooking.
"If you like cooking, I have a collection of recipes from various countries," Albert said, looking at the girl across from him with a flushed face, marveling at the remarkable change in her.
After a simple breakfast, the couple lounged on the sofa like newlyweds, fantasizing about their future plans and how to handle the aftermath of their current situation.
As noon approached, they indulged in a gourmet meal at an upscale restaurant, then strolled hand-in-hand like lovers, casually browsing through Australian souvenirs. It wasn't until evening that they paid a visit to the Granger couple.
The couple's smiles were even more enthusiastic, and they even hinted that the two could consider getting married.
Fortunately, Hermione hadn't graduated from Hogwarts yet, so Albert was able to politely deflect the suggestion for the time being.
However, the Grangers still expressed their regret that Albert couldn't stay longer in Australia and even suggested canceling their work plans for the next day to tour the local sights with them. Thankfully, Hermione secretly put a stop to that idea.
"I think they're really worried that I won't get married," Hermione complained after emerging from the bathroom post-shower that evening.
"They're just concerned that you'll be alone in Britain without anyone to look after you. It's natural for parents to have such worries," Albert replied, his skill as a Legilimens making it easy for him to understand the Grangers' thoughts.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'm already an adult, and I can take care of myself," Hermione pouted.
"In fact, you can't yet, because you can't earn money to support yourself independently," Albert said with a smile as he pulled Hermione's slender arm, drawing her naturally into his embrace. He didn't give her a chance to argue and swiftly sealed her lips with his, rendering the usually composed girl utterly blank-minded and soon devoid of any strength to resist.
It was yet another night filled with passionate intimacy! Hermione snuggled in Albert's arms, reveling in the sweet and cozy afterglow, a feeling so delightful it was addictive.
However, what made Hermione feel incredibly wistful was that the man in front of her would soon no longer be exclusively hers! Just thinking about it made her feel terrible.
Perhaps, she shouldn't have wasted such precious time together by running around aimlessly today.
If the two of them wanted to continue their relationship, they would have to sneak around like thieves.
This thought left a bitter taste in Hermione's mouth, but she also understood that some things couldn't be forced, or they might end up losing everything.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Let's stay in tomorrow and spend the entire last day here with me."
"That sounds a bit strange."
"After these two days, you won't be just mine anymore." Hermione said glumly, "Sometimes I really envy Isabelle. If only I had confessed to you earlier."
However, what Hermione didn't know was that she never had a chance to turn the tables. Albert and Isabelle had started dating even before she enrolled at Hogwarts.
Seeming to realize that she was rambling again, Hermione turned over and sat on Albert's lap, like an internet addict unable to tear herself away from a game, trying to squeeze out the last bit of energy from her body. Eventually, she collapsed on top of him, and Albert carried her into the bathroom.
(End of Chapter)
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