Chapter 111
Kalid’s gaze fixed on Ash, who was barely alive.
The murderous urge rising within him throbbed fiercely in his veins as he swallowed it down.
“Hah.”
He clenched his jaw firmly and sheathed his sword.
With a rigid expression, he pulled Luna into his arms. He tried to calm himself, inhaling her intoxicating scent deeply, yet the cracks in his composure refused to settle.
Ever since the fight with Ash, nagging questions had pried into his mind, making it almost impossible to suppress his emotions.
‘Why does this ridiculous bird call Luna by another name? What does it mean that it’s connected to my wife’s curse…?’
The more he thought, the sharper the blue in his eyes glowed.
It was as if the battle had never ended, or a new beast with an otherworldly blue light had been born.
Kalid’s gaze dropped to the magic stone hanging around Luna’s neck, and he furrowed his brow sharply.
With one eyebrow sharply raised, he leaned in and pressed his lips to her ear.
He licked the delicate curves of her ear, nibbled her earlobe, and erased the anxiety lingering there.
“Ugh! Your Highness… w-we should get treatment first!”
For a brief moment, he scanned her startled reaction, then whispered slowly in a low voice.
“My beloved wife… were you the one who cast a curse on me?”
By the time he pulled his head back, his mouth had hardened into a set line, as if carved from plaster.
Then Kalid let out a small laugh, realizing that the words he had just spoken were perhaps the most absurd he had ever uttered.
“What…?”
Luna froze, unable to speak, trapped by his piercing gaze that seemed to seek the truth. She could only stare blankly at the approaching lips. The damp, invasive touch no longer felt unfamiliar.
Even in this situation, he was unbearably hot and sweet.
Luna furrowed her brows and swallowed the words she wanted to say.
‘What kind of nonsense is that!’
It was absurd. Even if she had somehow become a powerful enough mage to cast a curse, there was no way she would ever do that to him.
“Hngh!”
He was relentless. Running his hands along her back, he pressed into her tender flesh without restraint.
The prickling sensation ran down her spine and made her toes curl.
“W-wait! Ah, ah… hngh!”
She tried to say that Ash was still around, but the overwhelming closeness of his lips left her gasping for breath.
His hands moved down to grip her hips firmly, kneading them.
It was as if he were scolding her for trying to say another man’s name with those pretty lips pressed against his.
Her heart lurched. The long, sticky kiss clung to her ears, leaving her mind completely consumed by Kalid Bahir.
“No… I can’t take this anymore!”
As his wet tongue tangled with hers, the sensation deep inside her made her chest push against him.
Thankfully, her husband yielded slightly to her small push.
The heat between them, both equally seized by desire, sent warmth up her neck and shoulders.
Luna quickly glanced toward where Ash had been.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Ash had already disappeared. It seemed he had escaped during the chaos.
Since the fight had ended without anyone dying, it was, in a way, a relief.
Luna caught her breath, lowering her face, still flustered and unsure why Kalid had said what he did. A tinge of disappointment rose in her chest, and she bit her glossy lips.
“…I spoke out of turn. Don’t worry about it.”
Kalid gently drew Luna closer and kissed the top of her head.
The harshness in his voice had softened completely.
“Now, let’s go get you treated properly. I’m worried about you.”
“Let’s go, then.”
“Your Highness! Madam! Are you alright? Oh my!”
At that moment, the attendant who had lost sight of Luna came running over, out of breath.
The attendant had actually been observing from nearby, witnessing the intense battle and the ensuing chaos.
But the continued display of affection from the Duke and his wife had kept him from approaching sooner.
“I will immediately begin treatment. I am truly grateful to you both. I am at a loss for words.”
“Good words. But tell me, Attendant, why was my wife roaming near the most dangerous beast?”
Seeing Kalid’s eyes harden as he used his healing powers, the attendant broke into a nervous sweat.
No matter what he said, it all felt like petty excuses compared to Kalid’s intensity.
Luna bit her lip hard, trying to steady her startled heart.
She had never thought that the child in danger would be Ash.
Embarrassed, she scratched her cheek and turned her gaze to the giant block of ice nearby.
“If… this melts, it could be disastrous. Luckily, the fire seems to have gone out, but the area near the shore is completely ruined.”
“As long as it doesn’t all melt at once, it should be fine. Don’t worry. We Southerners adapt quickly. Now, let’s figure out a plan, ha ha!”
Kalid followed Luna’s gaze, observing the frozen sea and the wreckage of the destroyed buildings stretching across the shore.
Had she not intervened, his creations would have caused even greater damage, now exposed in raw ruin.
He reluctantly decided not to scold the attendant any further.
“We can’t leave this as it is… hmm… ah! I have a good idea!”
Luna studied the gray chunks of iron and smiled brightly.
“Ah, this feels so good…”
Luna finally relaxed in the steaming bathtub, stretching her lips in relief.
Her pale pink hair floated atop the water, rippling gently, and her eyelids drooped with fatigue.
“I did push myself too far, but I’m glad it helped everyone.”
Her plan had been brilliant.
She had gathered the broken walls and large debris with magic and stacked them as a breakwater where needed.
Though the task required a lot of energy and some mana had leaked, it cleared the wreckage quickly and would prevent serious damage even when the ice melted. Everyone welcomed it wholeheartedly.
“You were just reluctant, Your Highness.”
Thinking of Kalid, she pursed her lips and smiled shyly.
Remembering how he had carried her everywhere, worrying she might be hurt, brought a smile to her face.
Was it thanks to the purified magic stone? Or the mana-enhancing spring water she drank?
Honestly, it was the first time she had used so much magic, yet her body felt surprisingly calm, which even surprised her.
“Maybe I can finally call myself a real mage… Though I still have a long way to go compared to Ash…”
She thought of Ash, rolling around in the chaos.
It still bothered her that her magic teacher was a fallen Phoenix.
She wondered if he had been treated, whether he had returned safely to the magic tower, and the thought that she might ultimately be needed to lift the curse weighed on her, making her sigh deeply.
“I’m going in.”
“…?”
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened.
“Your Highness? I’m not done yet!”
“I know.”
Kalid replied casually, placing a large bath towel over Luna’s head.
His intent was clear: cover yourself if you wish. Luna’s eyes widened immediately.
Splash—
As she scrambled to spread the towel, the sound of water falling indicated someone else was joining.
A man, bare-chested, covered his lower half and squeezed his large frame into the bathtub.
Even in this luxury inn near the harbor, there was no tub built for multiple people.
‘Too close!’
Luna narrowed her brows, wondering about Kalid’s intentions, and met his gaze.
His wet, handsome face hovered near her, radiating heat.
“….”
Luna silently moved her lips but froze in place.
In the bright light and mist, the muscular man gleamed almost blindingly, leaving her speechless.
But she quickly pressed her lips together and shook her head firmly. Even if he was His Highness, embarrassment was still embarrassment.
“You said you’d wait outside.”
“I changed my mind because my wife tried saying another man’s name.”
Kalid said matter-of-factly, as if it were obvious.
All her senses, heightened by the curse, had caught every sound and subtle motion. Hearing the name “Ash” pushed him to act according to his heart.
Kalid’s eyes sharpened like a tracking hound, his chin lifted.
If she wanted to resist, he would show her the consequences, a smug smirk spreading chillingly across his face.
