Chapter 72…………………………….
“W-who? Who dares!”
In a mountain like this—someone dares embrace and kiss the imperial princess?
And in the middle of the competition, no less.
“Most of the ones here on the mountain should be contestants… Could it be? Did he recognize me?”
Her tear-stained eyes flew wide open, trembling. Still pressed against her, his lips urgently parted, and a thick tongue pushed in without restraint. At the same time, a familiar scent and energy filled her senses.
“Ah… As?”
It was unmistakably Asterios’s scent and mana.
“But… how!”
She had clearly seen him fall before her, lifeless.
Was this another hallucination? Had her mind finally broken?
But it felt far too vivid to be an illusion.
A soft tongue swept through her mouth, invading every corner, as if desperately searching for something. It tangled with hers, hot and consuming.
“Mmph!”
The kiss burned so fiercely it made her mind go hazy.
Held tightly in his arms, her lips sucked dry, it felt as if her whole being were being devoured.
His kisses had always been courteous, tender, and gentle—never like this.
Never this rough, this passionate.
“Haa… haa…”
Not since long ago with Tenebres had she felt such an overwhelming kiss, leaving her mind spinning.
At last, her blurred vision cleared, and her dulled senses began to return.
“Your Highness…”
Ah—that voice. It really was him.
Could it be true then? That he was alive?
“A-As? Is it really you?”
Though the forest was shrouded in darkness, the faint glow was enough for her to see his face clearly.
Instead of answering, he only pulled her closer. His arms crushed her with breath-stealing force.
“Ugh—c-can’t breathe.”
Roziana managed to get words out before she was broken in his grasp.
“Ah…”
Startled, he released her just slightly, though he still wouldn’t let go.
“Forgive my rudeness. I was so overjoyed to see Your Highness safe…”
“It’s fine. But more importantly…”
How could this be? Roziana cupped his face with both hands, disbelief written all over her expression. This time, tears of joy welled up.
“I’m so glad you’re alive, As! I thought you were dead—I was about to go beg the Gregorian Pontiff!”
When she glanced down at her feet, she saw it clearly: beside the glowing magic-stone torch lay nothing but a moss-covered boulder where Asterios’s corpse had been.
“I was pouring divine power into… a rock?”
No wonder nothing worked!
Her knees nearly gave way in despair.
“Ah…”
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
Asterios steadied her, arms tightening around her slender waist.
“I-I’m fine. Just… so ridiculous. I really thought that rock was you.”
“You were caught in an illusion.”
“You don’t understand—I saw you cold and lifeless like stone, dying before my eyes. Your voice echoed inside me—I thought it was your spirit calling to me. So I…”
Trying to explain only brought the tears rushing back.
Her throat stung as if filled with shards of glass, but Roziana fought to hold back the sobs. It burned like swallowing fire, her chest aching as though scorched.
When she lifted her head to look at him, she froze.
His eyes were rimmed red.
“…As? Were you crying?”
“No. It’s just… I never thought Your Highness would grieve so deeply for my death.”
His already low voice cracked even deeper. She had been crying just as wretchedly for him, but hearing those words, seeing his face, her tears overflowed anew.
“No, I don’t want to cry anymore!”
“Of course I would! You’re precious to me, As!”
The sobs burst out again, stupidly. She hadn’t wanted to show him such an ugly side, yet her heart was in shambles.
“Because I kept taking too much of your strength, you were at a disadvantage in the competition! I couldn’t just sit back, worried you’d be in danger.”
He said nothing, only looked at her with a knowing, troubled expression. That alone made her eyes sting more.
“And then… seeing you collapsed like that…”
“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you worry.”
He had hoped she would never notice.
“Why are you apologizing, As? I’m the one at fault.”
“No. If anything, I’m grateful that Your Highness thinks so much of me.”
He smiled faintly at her teary face, his broad hand patting and soothing her back. After a while, Roziana calmed down and lifted her head.
With her emotions steadied, her mind cleared—and her feelings stood out more vividly than ever.
“I’m alright now. Until you reach the summit, I’ll stay close by in secret.”
“You’re still worried I won’t be able to break free of the illusions.”
Gripping the hood of her cloak, Roziana set her jaw with determination.
“That’s right. If you get caught again, it’ll be because of me. But if I wear this cloak again, no one will see me.”
Asterios smiled softly and clasped her hand.
“Your Highness, if I fail to escape the illusions, it will be because of my weak spirit—not because of you. Besides, thanks to you, I already overcame them and made it this far.”
He had discerned the real Roziana from the false one the illusion presented. He had kissed her to break her illusion as well, and in doing so, both of them escaped the mountain’s tricks completely.
When he came to, the sky was close. Above them the night was jeweled with stars—it meant they were near the summit.
“We’re not far from the top. I’ve passed through the illusions, and even gained insight from them. Please don’t worry about me.”
His warm, large hand clasped hers gently.
“But… As, you’ve already pushed yourself too hard.”
Roziana brushed his lips with her fingertips. There was a faint smear of blood.
“This is nothing.”
“And you expect me to just leave you like this?”
Her brows arched in anger.
“From here on, I can manage alone.”
“But—!”
Smack.
In an instant, Asterios’s lips brushed hers and withdrew.
“!”
“Edwin gave me a healing potion. Please don’t worry too much.”
How cowardly, sneaking a kiss at a time like this!
“Trust me, Your Highness. I will win every trial and stand at your side.”
His eyes shone with unshakable resolve, stronger than ever before.
“And as you wished, I will come closer to you with all my heart.”
That gaze—so intense and mesmerizing—made her breath catch and her heart pound.
“From now on, I will no longer hide my feelings. So please… be prepared.”
Was being “prepared” always supposed to sound this thrilling?
Her violet eyes quivered with heat.
“T-then… drink it here before you go.”
She turned her head, cheeks puffed, though flushed scarlet.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He chuckled softly, drew a small green vial from his chest, and drained it in one go. Roziana could feel the potion working—his strength returning, mana stabilizing.
“The potion is quite effective… Edwin really is a remarkable mage.”
Relieved, she clasped both his hands.
“As, can the mountain send more illusions after you’ve already broken free?”
“In truth, I’ve never heard of such a thing before… but this time seems different.”
The last Secret Fog’s illusions hadn’t been so strong, nor did they strike repeatedly. But now, it was different.
“Different how?”
“For one, they were strong enough to affect even those with mana. And they appeared layered, one after another.”
By rights, Roziana should never have experienced such illusions at all. Something was strange.
“Ah! That’s exactly what I went through. I thought I broke free—only to find myself in another illusion.”
“It would be wise to hear from others what sort of illusions they faced, once we descend.”
“Yes.”
It could have been because their mana was linked that they both suffered multiple illusions—but Asterios suspected another possibility: that someone had deliberately targeted the two of them.
The fact that someone capable of reflecting his power with such advanced magic had been nearby, only to vanish, supported that suspicion. Few could wield such high-level spells.
“I’ll have to tell Edwin.”
Having collected his thoughts, Asterios released Roziana, picked up her fallen torch, and handed it to her. The Secret Fog no longer affected those descending, so she would be safe.
“I’ll head upward, Your Highness. Please take care going down.”
“Alright, As. Since you say the summit’s close, I’ll trust you and head back. But you must come down safe.”
Her violet eyes brimmed with affection as she urged him.
He gazed at her a long moment, bowed politely, then turned toward the peak.
Roziana watched him climb until he disappeared into the dark. She thought she glimpsed the faintest smile at his lips as he vanished.
Without the fog hindering her, Roziana made her way down swiftly, arriving at the camp at the mountain’s base. By then, dawn had broken.
“Your Highness! You’re safe?”
“Marie!”
