CHAPTER 76:……………………………
You Feed Me
At Poina’s temporary residence, I had skipped even dinner and was learning how to manipulate healing energy.
Mix was horrified to hear I had skipped a meal, but there was no time since we had to depart for Harun at dawn.
“Do you understand that rushing the energy gathered in your dantian to your fingertips consumes a lot of stamina?”
“Yes… I’ve been using that method all this time without realizing it.”
I stood comfortably, holding my palms forward toward the sky.
“Gradually move the energy from your chest up over your head, then down to your shoulders, and circulate it through your whole body down to your feet.”
“Haah… It’s spinning stronger and stronger.”
“Yes, now try to rotate it slowly two or three more times.”
The healing energy, which had been slowly spreading through every corner of my body, suddenly exploded and grew immensely.
As I surrendered to the flow, I instinctively spread my arms wide and tilted my head back. Golden energy radiated intensely from my body.
“Now. Pull the energy extending outward and gather it in your palms.”
Following her instructions, I focused the energy in my hands, and it began forming an enormous spherical mass that could fill the entire room.
“This is amazing!!”
Even though I created it, the sheer size was incredible.
“Shall we try reducing its size now?”
“Can we shrink it?”
“The master of the power can do anything.”
I learned to freely manipulate the energy ball, stretching it, flattening it, and even compressing it to a tiny size.
Once all the healing energy I had created was absorbed back into my body, I finally exhaled deeply. Despite accomplishing such a tremendous feat, my body didn’t feel drained at all.
“This is incredible. I can fill a room with energy created within me and not lose consciousness!”
I looked at her with gratitude, and to my surprise, Poina’s eyes glistened with tears.
“You truly are Yurahel’s daughter. Your speed of learning is astonishing.”
“Ah, really?”
I felt slightly embarrassed at the unexpected praise.
“I heard that mastering healing energy could affect an entire castle or even a whole village.”
“That’s amazing. I’ll practice diligently. Thank you so much, Poina.”
She gently held my hand.
“When the healing energy reached its peak just now, you tilted your head back and spread your arms wide, right?”
“Did I??”
“Yes, you did. Yurahel did exactly the same.”
“Ah…”
She smiled softly through her tears.
“When energy reaches its peak, priestesses often have their own unique movements. Seeing you mimic Yurahel’s exact gesture took my breath away. If he had seen it himself, I’m sure he would have been pleased.”
Thinking of my mother, sadness welled up again. What must she have felt, seeing her daughter’s future from afar? I couldn’t even begin to guess.
After a brief moment of reflection, I turned my attention back to Poina.
“You left the temple three years ago, right?”
“Yes. Usually, a priestess’s divine power fades around forty. Some stay in the temple, while others, like me, return to the mortal world and find new callings.”
As an ordinary human, I deeply admired the noble life of a priestess, something I could never even approach.
Poina’s soft gaze suddenly hardened.
“The disappearances of children aren’t recent. From what the guards say, it’s been happening in other border regions of Harun for quite some time.”
I recalled what she had said earlier.
“Someone saw the children following the knights, right?”
“Yes, revealing their identities is the key to uncovering the conspiracy. Haah… If only Yurahel were here—his radiant foresight and keen insight would have untangled this mystery…”
Seeing the sorrow on Poina’s face, I reached out to hold her hand in comfort.
“Don’t worry too much. My husband will surely handle it. He’s someone I trust and love as much as my mother.”
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“You can feel it without being told. Someone so strong yet remarkably gentle to the queen—it’s truly astonishing.”
I felt a little embarrassed by her words, but I couldn’t deny their truth.
Even when I said I would go to Harun to heal my mentor or skipped meals to learn healing energy, he didn’t like it—but ultimately, he followed my wishes.
As gratitude toward Mix swelled in my heart, a commotion erupted outside.
Soon, Mix entered, followed by Miri and other knights carrying bundles of food.
“Leah, enough. Stop and eat. It’s impolite to make Poina skip meals because of you.”
Before I could respond, Poina answered for me.
“I’m fine, Your Highness Mixlock. During temple lockdowns, fasting for half a month at a time was ordinary.”
“Hmm…”
Mix frowned as if dissatisfied with her answer. I quickly intervened before he could be embarrassed by Poina’s teasing.
“Poina, we’re almost done, right?”
“Yes, I think I’ve taught you everything important.”
“I’ll come back after Harun to learn more. Then I’ll invite you to Fritan Castle.”
“I hope your business is resolved quickly, so I can see you again at Fritan Castle.”
After promising to meet again, I stood.
“Miri, put the food on Poina’s table. Mix, have you eaten?”
“How can I eat while you’re like this?”
I chuckled at his gruff remark.
“Then let’s leave so Poina can rest comfortably.”
“Oh, you’re not eating here either?”
“No, we’ll eat together back home.”
I whispered teasingly into his ear.
“I don’t even have the strength to hold a spoon. You feed me.”
His mouth twitched. Though his expression was stern, he was clearly pleased inside.
“Go.”
As Miri helped him put on his coat, he pulled me close and hurried outside.
Poina watched us with a gentle smile.
“Yurahel, your daughter and son-in-law are truly a beautiful pair. Now you can rest without worry.”
Late Night at the Imperial Queen’s Palace
Late at night, the Imperial Queen’s Palace of the Harun Empire, where Hailey stayed, was unusually noisy. Woken from sleep, she summoned a maid to ask what was happening.
“It’s… Marquis Uzcal. He insists on seeing Your Majesty immediately.”
Expecting a harsh reprimand, the maid nervously closed her eyes after reporting—but surprisingly, Hailey was calm.
Opening her eyes slightly, I saw Hailey had already put on a robe and even had a smile on her lips.
The perceptive maid quickly helped her get ready.
“Don’t let him in. Hold him at the entrance. She’ll come out soon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once the maid left, Hailey opened her jewelry box and began adorning herself with expensive ornaments—bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings.
Though they didn’t match her simple robe, she didn’t care.
That Marquis Uzcal came to the palace at this hour meant desperation. There’s nothing more thrilling than flaunting wealth to someone in need.
Straightening her shoulders, she confidently walked to the entrance where the marquis waited.
“Do you not know who I am? Step aside immediately!”
The marquis tried to enter the hall but was blocked by the palace guards.
“What commotion is this at such an hour?”
When Hailey stepped forward, the guards finally let him through.
The marquis’s eyes lit up when he saw the jewelry adorning her. His face gleamed with greed, and he spoke with a sycophantic smile.
“My beloved daughter Hailey, I came here at this hour because of my urgent need!”
“Observe proper etiquette before invoking the law,” Hailey said coldly.
Her words shattered the mask of sycophancy on his face. He immediately dropped to his knees, clutching her robes.
“Please spare me, Your Majesty. The creditors never let me rest. Even today, assassins were sent—I barely survived twice.”
“What money have you spent?”
“I… intended to repay as soon as the mine yielded…”
Blinded by greed, he had not only extorted family and friends but also touched the illicit funds of the empire’s most notorious criminal syndicate, the Black Rose, involved in murder-for-hire, human trafficking, prostitution, and drugs.
Of course, Hailey was fully aware of the situation.
“How much do you need?”
“Two hundred million gold by tomorrow morning will stop the immediate threat.”
“Is that all?”
“Not entirely… within half a month, I must repay four billion gold, but we’ll see how that goes. For now, I must at least escape the assassins…”
Hailey let out a dry laugh. The Uzcal family was truly a bottomless pit.
“And your mother?”
“She has fled to her family, but even there, much money is involved, so she cannot stay long.”
“You really messed things up badly.”
“….”
Even insulted, the marquis could not argue—he needed at least some hope of collecting money from his daughter.
“Your Majesty, if you spare me this time, I will repay double!”
“Repay? You still don’t get it.”
Hailey’s voice was icy, leaving no warmth. The marquis paled.
“When you made me queen, you said a child could become a means to fulfill parents’ desires. But what if a child is only a burden to their parents?”
Later, Feeding with Mix
“Mix, I can’t eat anymore. I feel full to my chin.”
“Just one more bite. Come on, ah~”
I pouted but finally took a small bite of the strawberry tart when it came close.
Thanks to Mix, I had eaten a huge meal without lifting a finger.
“Really, that’s enough!”
“Got it.”
He kissed my lips and finished the tart himself. Seeing crumbs on his mouth made me laugh.
I reached out and brushed them away.
“What is this, acting like a child?”
Mix grabbed my hand firmly to stop me from moving.
“There are still crumbs on your lips, Mix.”
“Use another method instead of your hands.”
“What…?”
He leaned his chin toward me. I laughed helplessly.
“You’re impossible!”
With both my hands held tightly, I had no other choice. I slowly licked my lips, and Mix silently watched, deepening his gaze.
I brought my moist lips to his and carefully collected the remaining crumbs.
He let out a happy laugh.
