Chapter 77……………….
: If I Have You
A sweet scent drifted from the nape of Celia’s neck.
Instead of sinking his teeth into her skin, Illeon pressed his lips against it.
As if engraving his mark, he sucked gently, leaving behind a red trace.
Celia twisted her body, trying to escape Illeon’s grasp.
But since their chests were pressed against one another, the more Celia struggled, the faster Illeon’s reason slipped away.
Illeon bit the inside of his own mouth hard enough to draw blood.
“Kh…! Don’t move…”
Unlike him, Celia was debating whether or not to use her ability once more.
If I use it again and he finds out I have this power…
Narrowing her eyes, Celia considered slamming her knee into him instead.
Men like Illeon only seemed to enjoy resisting all the more the more they were told to stop.
She had seen countless kinds of men before, so she knew their habits all too well.
“And what if I don’t stop moving?”
Celia snapped back and deliberately twisted her waist.
Illeon groaned and threw his head back.
“Take your hands off my waist.”
Instead of letting go, Illeon only gripped her tighter.
His veins bulged as he squeezed her slim waist as if wringing it.
“If I just….”
His voice was thick and sticky like a swamp, overflowing with desire.
“If I just have you…”
Illeon’s lips brushed against the hollow of her collarbone.
At that very moment, the closed door burst open.
Bang.
A figure with long legs stepped in, clad in pitch-black armor.
Behind him, Illeon’s subordinates lay collapsed and heaped upon the floor.
Ebony hair, sharp brows, and beneath them, gleaming red eyes—
It was Dietrich.
Illeon was so consumed he didn’t even notice the door opening.
He kept breathing in Celia’s sweet scent again and again.
The instant Dietrich saw this, his fist crashed into Illeon’s face.
Thud!
A blunt, heavy sound rang out as Illeon’s head snapped to the side.
His hands fell from Celia’s waist.
Dietrich’s fist struck again.
Thud!
Illeon’s face swelled instantly from the blow, brutal like a weapon.
Thud!
Another punch sent Illeon sprawling onto the floor.
Dietrich beat him like a dog, pounding his face relentlessly.
Fists poured down like rain until Illeon’s body went limp like a corpse.
Dietrich’s raised fist, ready to crush the unconscious man’s skull, was stopped—Celia had grabbed his hand.
“Dietrich.”
At her voice, he pulled her into his arms as tightly as he could.
“I missed you.”
Celia placed her hand on his back.
Comfort. Warmth. Strength.
And love.
Overflowing emotions welled within her, and she closed her eyes.
Whether it was from using her power or from relief at Dietrich’s arrival, all her accumulated exhaustion surged at once.
Her body tilted, and Dietrich swiftly caught her.
Her silver hair spilled over his armor, exposing the nape of her neck.
Red, mottled marks.
Dietrich’s gaze deepened.
He drew a white handkerchief from within his armor and wiped away the stains with great care—
Then covered them completely with his own.
His lips pressed against her neck, tongue softly sweeping over the skin.
The marks vanished.
Once he confirmed they were gone, he carried Celia and called to the man waiting in the hall.
“Anderson.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Lock that bastard in the dungeon I was held in. Shackled.”
With that command, Dietrich returned to his mansion with Celia.
He laid her down upon his bed.
Pulling the white quilt up to her neck, Dietrich gazed down at the sleeping Celia.
She breathed so quietly it seemed she made no sound at all.
With careful fingers, he tucked her messy hair behind her ear.
Then he sat on the bedside.
“…”
His large hand brushed her cheek.
Her face eased as he stroked it gently.
Long lashes, full lips, a faint smile.
To Dietrich, just looking at her made his chest ache.
A woman forced to endure unwanted desire from men because of her strong ability—his heart broke for her.
He could no longer remember when his feelings for her had begun.
He was simply pulled to her like a magnet.
Guilt over his desire had once made him say he’d hand her his leash—
Even though, truthfully, she had always held it.
“Celia, rest easy without worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
He bent low, brushing his moist lips softly against her forehead.
“I’ll throw Illeon into prison and make him watch Avalon’s fall.”
Clasping her hand, he murmured:
“Everything that tried to harm you will pay the price.”
Her hand felt so small, as if it might crumble if he squeezed too hard.
But he knew Celia was stronger than anyone.
Her unshakable core was not something anyone could defile.
Her determined steps forward, her fierce eyes—radiant beyond compare.
He had first been drawn to her gaze, then to her heart, until at last he wanted to give her everything.
Though her life was shortened defending herself from greedy men, she chose to press onward rather than despair.
Only his essence could cleanse the tainted blood festering in her body.
For the first time, he was grateful for his healing ability.
“I must have been born with this power for your sake.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“…I’ll be back.”
He tried to release her hand.
But Celia held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing her fresh green eyes.
Dietrich wasn’t surprised—he had known she was awake even before he spoke.
“Dietrich.”
“Yes.”
“I…”
Her hazy gaze rose to him like someone still half in a dream.
“I’ll rest a little, so you must return safely.”
Her hand slipped away from his.
“Yes. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Dragging heavy steps as if glued to the floor, Dietrich forced himself to leave.
Out in the hall, a faint foreign scent caught his keen senses.
He followed the trace and threw open a door.
Inside the wide room, his eyes fixed on the center.
On the wooden table sat a birdcage.
Celia had often spoken to Popo there, worrying the little bird might be stressed.
But the cage was empty.
Dietrich’s gaze darkened.
There was only one man who would stoop to such petty cruelty.
Arthur Cervantes.
Once again, Dietrich thought Avalon was better off destroyed as soon as possible.
He strode out swiftly.
Meanwhile, Illeon awoke in the dungeon, where he had been thrown unconscious.
Seeing the scene before him, he let out a rasping laugh.
