~Chapter 87~
Calix turned his head toward the knights and started talking with them. Seeing that, I turned my head slightly. There was something I wanted to ask Tan when Calix wasn’t around.
But the seat Tan had been in just seconds ago was empty. Where had he gone in such a short time?
I turned my head quickly and spotted him standing outside the inn. He had slipped away quietly without anyone noticing, standing still like a shadow. Clearly, Tan felt uncomfortable around the knights.
“Tan…!”
I called softly. He turned his head.
When our eyes met, Tan narrowed his gaze as if to say: ‘Please don’t cause trouble.’
‘I will cause trouble.’
I motioned him over with my eyes. Though reluctant, he followed me quietly.
Soon, Tan and I were standing under the shade of a tree outside the inn.
“Do you know where Prenia is?”
Even though I asked suddenly, Tan replied calmly without surprise.
“I don’t know.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t know everything.”
I frowned. I thought he would answer right away. Seeing my face, Tan quietly added:
“At least, she’s not in this village.”
“Well, of course.”
There was only one inn in this village, and since we had rented the whole place, Prenia couldn’t be here.
“How many villages are there around the old Troxia territory?”
“All together, less than ten.”
“That many, huh.”
We couldn’t search every single one.
I kicked a stone near my foot and fell into thought. Could I really control Prenia as a variable, or not?
The emperor was coming in two weeks. Would Prenia cross paths with her?
If Prenia killed the emperor first, it would be like having someone else do our work for us.
‘Anyway, the key to the underground is with Prenia.’
Calix had already succeeded in luring the emperor out of the palace. Now she was walking straight into a trap without knowing anything.
The underground chamber where the dragon slept was full of pure mana. It was basically my domain. The moment the emperor entered, she would be in the palm of my hand.
‘Then I can definitely catch her.’
Whether Calix had calculated that far, I didn’t know.
But where was Prenia? Contrary to my expectation that she would act quickly, she stayed quiet.
‘Should I try searching the area with my mana range…?’
As I thought more, I lifted my head. The knights had scattered back to their seats, talking among themselves.
“…Where’s Calix?”
“If you mean our lord, he just went into his room.”
The answer came from Tan, who overheard my muttering.
“You know that well.”
“When someone glares at me so fiercely, I notice things even if I don’t want to.”
“Who? Calix?”
“Yes.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Why do you think?”
“….”
I didn’t know.
“For the first time, I almost feel sorry for our lord.” Tan sighed.
That stung, so I snapped back.
“I know already!”
But even as I climbed the stairs, I didn’t know why.
‘Did Tan do something wrong?’
The moment I opened the door, Calix pulled me in. His arm wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly.
He smiled mischievously.
“Kiss me.”
“A kiss? All of a sudden, why?”
I could do it, but… there was something more important.
“Anyway, about the emperor—”
“…I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“What? What’s more important than—”
“Rena.”
Calix stopped me, lowering his head to meet my eyes.
“Kiss me.”
What was this stubbornness? I narrowed my eyes at him, but he ignored me.
At times like this, he wouldn’t listen. I sighed, placed my hand on his cheek, and gave him a kiss.
He didn’t react.
“…?”
When I opened my eyes, I realized he hadn’t closed his. Our eyes met directly, and Calix smirked.
I bit his lip in protest, but he only opened his mouth, as if waiting for that.
Apparently, this was what he really wanted.
“Are you seriously doing this?”
“I can’t help it. My dream is to be a gentle husband.”
“Ridiculous.”
Still, it wasn’t difficult. I grabbed his neck with both hands and pulled him down.
His eyes locked on me, full of desire.
“Open your mouth.”
Calix obeyed. I kissed him again, this time teasing inside his mouth. At first, he received me gently like a lamb—but then he suddenly changed, growing bolder and leading.
What began lightly soon heated up. We shifted positions, our hearts pounding against each other.
When our lips parted briefly, I gasped out:
“Why—ha—why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“You caught me.”
“Of course—! Mmph!”
I tried to retort, but his lips swallowed my words.
Arms around his neck, I let my body relax against him. He held me firmly and leaned down.
He looked dissatisfied, like a child robbed of candy.
Now I was slightly higher than his gaze. Stroking the corners of his eyes, I asked:
“What’s bothering you this time?”
He muttered grumpily.
“You only have me.”
That wasn’t really an answer, but I nodded anyway. Seeing me agree, he kissed the corner of my lips.
“…But aren’t you too close with Tan?”
What? Why bring up Tan now?
A sudden realization hit me.
“…Wait. Are you jealous?”
Instead of answering, Calix covered my face—cheeks, nose, chin—with countless small kisses.
Clearly avoiding the question.
“Wow…” I let out a dry laugh.
“You won’t even raise his poor salary, but you’ll get jealous?”
“Why do you care about Tan’s salary? That’s for me to worry about.”
“You’re rich. He’s not.”
“Still, can’t you not worry about him?”
“What more can I do—”
He ignored my protest. By then we had reached the bed. He gently pushed me down and climbed over me.
In an instant, I was under him. Calix looked down at me with the expression of a hunter catching prey.
“….”
“….”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak first.
I sighed.
“You’re really childish sometimes.”
“What can I do? You proposed to a childish man. Now you have to endure it.”
He wasn’t wrong, but it was still irritating.
I grabbed his cheeks and pulled him down again. Our lips met softly. As he kissed along my jawline, he whispered:
“You’re the only one who makes me childish.”
“….”
That… I actually liked hearing. Rolling my eyes, I decided to tease him back.
“I’ve got something on my mind.”
He eagerly urged me.
“Tell me.”
“I can’t stop thinking about your diamond mine. I want it.”
“Alright.”
He smiled warmly and kissed my cheek.
“More.”
“…More?”
I thought.
“You have land in Brussels, right? The grain region. I want that too.”
“Alright.”
This time, he kissed my neck, like rewarding me.
“It tickles.”
I giggled, stroking his hair. He chuckled against my skin, filling me with his affection.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Mm… a little.”
Generously, he kissed my forehead, then my eyes, cheeks, nose, chin, and finally paused on my lips.
We exchanged deep kisses until heat and breath blurred between us.
Finally, he pulled back—and said the one thing I hated.
“Now, take your medicine.”
“….”
Correction. Calix was childish very often.
I shut my eyes and shouted.
“No!”
