CHAPTER 50………………………………….
. Love You Like a Madman
Princess Shine, who had invited us to the Malau-style salon party, threw a shocking proposal at Pritan—one far beyond expectation.
“The Kingdom of Malau wishes to share with Pritan our newly developed technology for refining Heat Mana Stones. With this, we can permanently extend the lifespan of the stones, which normally last no more than five years.”
It was certainly not an offer that could be brushed off with a simple refusal.
If refining the stones meant their power lasted even fifty years at minimum, it would be irresistible to Pritan, where nine months of the year were bitterly cold.
With such stones, we could distribute warmth to the common people, help them survive the winters, and even build massive greenhouses to grow crops year-round.
That meant no more wars with neighbors over food, and no more need to throw our forces recklessly into dangerous monster hunts on other nations’ behalf.
The first to react was Duke Zenon, the Chancellor.
“And in exchange, what does Malau wish from Pritan?”
Princess Shine’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“I knew the Chancellor of Pritan would find my words interesting. The political marriage between Malau and Pritan has already been refused, so now it is for Pritan to deliberate. What will you offer, to obtain this?”
She spoke to Duke Zenon, but her eyes were locked onto Mik.
“When I was meant to come as a concubine, I had planned to bring this technology as part of my dowry. But the King of Pritan declared he has no need of any woman besides his Queen.”
Her gaze sharpened, tinged with challenge, as she fixed it on my husband.
“A ruler’s decision carries much responsibility, does it not? We depart tomorrow for Malau. Think carefully, Your Highness, and when you have made your decision, come to Malau yourself.”
With that, she smiled in triumph.
*****
The next morning, after Malau’s delegation had departed Pritan, I was still dazed, my thoughts heavy.
“Your Majesty, is something troubling you?”
“No, Millie. But can you find out what Mik is doing right now?”
“I heard he finished a meeting with the Chancellor this morning, and just a while ago he went into the forest to check on the golden pines.”
“I see…”
The truth was, I had carried Princess Shine’s bombshell all through the night, and even into the morning.
The salon party the night before had ended naturally after Shine delivered her message. As we left the annex, I glanced sideways at Mik, but his expression was unreadable, his face as blank as stone.
Just then, Duke Zenon hurried over.
“Your Highness, may I have a word…”
“It’s late. I’ll see you in my office tomorrow morning.”
“B-but Your Highness—”
“Tomorrow.”
The Chancellor bristled with impatience, but faced with Mik’s firm tone, he had no choice but to leave with his wife.
I too had wanted to talk through this matter with Mik, calmly and together.
“Will you be going to your office now?”
“No. To the South Palace.”
His hard gaze, set forward without once looking at me, stung with disappointment. He meant to drop me off at my Queen’s Palace and then wrestle with the decision alone.
Princess Shine’s proposal was no trivial thing, not something one could simply dismiss. I longed to share the burden with him, to search for a solution side by side—but the cold gleam in his eyes stopped me from pressing further.
We entered my chambers, kept pristine by Adele. Bitterness rose in me—he would soon leave me here, to brood in solitude. So I turned my back to him in silent protest.
Then his arms wrapped suddenly around my shoulders.
“Leah.”
His voice burned with heat, so at odds with the situation. His arms tightened around my waist, and he pressed wet, insistent kisses along my bare shoulder blades.
“W-what are you doing, Mik?”
With a mischievous grin, his lips brushed my ear.
“Picking up where we left off earlier. It was torture, holding back through the entire party.”
So that stern mask he’d worn all night—it wasn’t deep thought over Shine’s offer?
“Then you didn’t go back to your office because…?”
“Why would I, when the South Palace is closer?”
Before I could answer, his deft fingers had already undone my gown.
I tried to clutch the fabric, but my hands were trapped in his.
“This strange dress—never wear it again. It only makes me imagine peeling it off.”
“This isn’t imagination anymore!”
I protested, but he ignored me, stripping the gown away and showering my face with fierce, hungry kisses. His touch was urgent, relentless.
In moments, his own clothes were cast aside. He swept me into his arms and carried me to the bed.
“Mik, we should at least talk about—”
“Later.”
And just like that, thought dissolved, and with it Shine, Malau, and their stones.
Until dawn, there was no room for talk—only wave after wave, storm after storm.
“Mik, what will we do now?”
I asked softly, stroking his hair as he lay against me.
“Do what?”
“Malau’s proposal…”
He scowled, tugging on my nose.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been thinking about that all this time in my arms.”
“N-no! It just popped into my head, just now!”
I shook my head frantically, begging him to believe me. He only sighed, hugging me so tightly it almost hurt.
“So I’ve lost even to a dress… and now to mana stones.”
Pinned by his iron arms, I could hardly breathe. Gasping for air, I traced my palm over his chest, soothing him.
“That technology could transform Pritan. With greenhouses we’d have food, we could dominate trade, and we wouldn’t need dangerous campaigns anymore.”
“And in return, you’d weep because of a concubine.”
“I…”
The words I’ll be fine stuck in my throat.
“Forget it. We’ve come this far without such things. We’ll keep going, just the same.”
His certainty only deepened my worry.
“Can you really live with that? History might call you a fool of a king who let pride over a woman cost him greatness.”
He only smirked.
“What do I care what they say when I’m dead?”
“No regrets? Truly?”
He sighed and pressed his lips to my temple.
“I don’t even have enough time to love you. Look—here we are, wasting it with talk again.”
“Mik, how… how can you say things like that?”
My eyes filled with tears—fear, love, gratitude all tangled. He knew his duty as king, yet still placed me above all else.
“I hate doing what makes you sad. Hate it even more when it makes you cry.”
He kissed away the tears slipping down my cheeks.
“Do you remember? When you first stole a kiss from me, down in the valley?”
“Why bring that up now?”
The sudden reminder of my most embarrassing moment dried my tears in an instant.
“When your lips touched mine, my Dragon’s Breath flared to life.”
He showed me his palm.
“Look, Leah. It’s almost gone.”
“Oh—really?”
I grabbed his hand and stared. The scar I’d long accepted as part of him had faded—nearly vanished.
“My father once said only love could erase the Dragon’s Breath. For it to fade, it means your love for me is just as fierce as my mad love for you. This is the proof.”
My cheeks burned as I kept my eyes fixed on his palm.
“So let’s stop wasting time. Come on, spoil me a little.”
This man! When he’s like this, how could I ever resist?
I peppered his face with kisses.
“Pretty eyes, mwah! Pretty nose, mwah! Pretty brows, mwah! Pretty forehead, mwah! Oh my, even my husband’s cheeks are pretty—mwah, mwah!”
He chuckled, basking in my kisses.
I trailed down his jaw, nipping at his ear. He twitched, ticklish.
“Don’t move. I’m not finished.”
He stilled, and I crossed to his other ear, teasing with my lips, then flicking my tongue across the shell.
“…Leah!”
He growled, catching my wandering hand against his chest.
“What’s wrong? Don’t want more spoiling?”
I teased, gazing up at him. His restraint broke; he toppled me beneath him, eyes glinting dangerously.
But I wasn’t about to cower like some trembling rabbit. He had just cast aside a golden bargain for me! How could I not charge forward in love?
I pounced, reckless as a rabbit leaping at a tiger.
“Leah?”
He blinked at my sudden boldness.
“What, can’t handle it? Back down if you’re scared!”
I puffed myself up in mock bravado, but his gaze melted with adoration.
“…I never knew you had this side.”
“So? Don’t like it?”
“Not a chance.”
He pulled me tight, and I whispered in his ear, shy but certain.
“I love you, Mik. As madly as you love me, I love you too.”
“What?”
“I said I love you!”
He stared down, stunned, then cupped my cheek.
“Say it again. Once more.”
“I love y—”
But before I could finish, his lips claimed mine, stealing the words.
With speech silenced, I could only pour my love into him with all my being.
Dawn had already broken—yet for us, the night was only beginning again.
