~Chapter 64~
When she saw him, Lovelace couldn’t remember what she wanted to say. Her mind went blank.
Instead of talking, Lovelace leaned her head against Larvihan’s hand. She didn’t resist when he gently whispered and lay beside her, pulling her into his arms.
With her forehead resting on Larvihan’s broad chest, Lovelace quietly talked about everything that had happened that day.
They were stories she couldn’t tell Judith because she was the lord, or Paulo because she was his big sister.
The only person Lovelace could truly act childish with was Larvihan.
Maybe it’s fine, if it’s just a little complaining? she thought.
Still, Lovelace couldn’t sit face-to-face with Larvihan and instead let out her feelings quietly. Larvihan listened patiently, never interrupting her long story.
“…That’s all.”
“You can tell me more if you want.”
“I don’t have anything else to say.”
“Then, can I talk now?”
Larvihan asked, and Lovelace nodded.
“So, things are a mess, you don’t want my money, you can’t stand asking that bastard Nikolai for help, and you don’t want to ask Arwen either… So what should I do, Rey?”
If she went to Nikolai or Arwen, something bad would happen. Lovelace giggled at his honest worries and suggestions.
“I should solve this myself.”
After talking with him, Lovelace felt a bit stronger. She turned over in bed. The ceiling was painted with beautiful angels saving people. Lovelace slowly blinked up at it.
“I wish I could be that angel.”
“That’s a big dream. Who said you could just go die?”
Larvihan suddenly hugged her tight, trapping Lovelace in his arms.
“Mmm, I can’t breathe. Let go so I can talk.”
The ceiling painting seemed to urge Lovelace to act on her decision soon. She pushed Larvihan away and peeked up at him from under his chin.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
“I know how I can make my dream real.”
“And?”
“I’m just not sure if it’ll work.”
Lovelace pulled away from Larvihan. Quickly, she climbed on top of his waist.
Larvihan raised his eyebrows and stared at Lovelace, his dark eyes searching her face.
Suddenly, fear rushed in. Was she seducing him? He was famous for being weak to temptation—but that couldn’t be true. So many women had tried and failed.
Would she end up like them?
Seeing Lovelace’s nervous eyes, Larvihan grinned and put both hands behind his head.
“Go ahead, do what you want.”
Now that he gave her the chance, she couldn’t do anything.
Looking at the ceiling painting, Lovelace thought how wonderful it would be if she could use Yak’s healing powers as much as she wanted. She had already saved several people today, but it wasn’t enough.
Maybe, if she could get power from Larvihan, she could save even more.
On impulse, Lovelace climbed on top of him.
“Go on, Rey. What are you waiting for? I’m right here.”
Larvihan gave her a sly smile. His hair was tousled, his eyes sharp, his skin glowing in the light, and his lips curved up, tempting her.
He gently pulled Lovelace’s hand and brought her fingers to his lips.
Larvihan softly bit the skin under her neat fingernails. Lovelace flinched, trying to pull away, but he licked her fingertip with his tongue.
“Try it.”
The tingling feeling ran down Lovelace’s spine. When their eyes met, Larvihan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Before she could react, his thick tongue softly licked up her finger.
She wanted to tell him to stop, but no words came out.
“Stop looking at my face.”
“Huh? I wasn’t staring.”
“You’re staring so hard. I thought you were going to eat me.”
Isn’t he the one trying to eat me? she thought.
“Or did you fall for me again? My face, or…”
Larvihan kissed her fingertip. When he let go, Lovelace quickly hid her hand behind her back.
“You can eat me up if you want, Rey.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“I was hoping you did, but now you say you don’t, I’m a little disappointed.”
Larvihan grumbled with a crooked smile.
“I’m being serious, don’t joke around.”
Lovelace held both his cheeks. Larvihan’s lips still curled in a happy smile.
The soldiers in Danger are suffering. Is it okay for me to enjoy myself alone?
No, she couldn’t. Lovelace, as a person, might want happiness, but as a lord, she couldn’t turn away from their pain. She had to make a decision. She couldn’t let her pride make them suffer more.
“Larvihan, can you lend me your strength?”
Larvihan’s brows furrowed deeply.
In the end, Lovelace didn’t get Larvihan’s power. What she wanted was his mana. She thought if she had enough mana, she could use the spirit’s power better.
Larvihan kissed her, agreeing, but no power was transferred. He tried to go further, laying her down, but Lovelace didn’t want to do more than that.
She pushed Larvihan away and he left. The problem still wasn’t solved.
Lovelace sold her valuables to buy food. It wasn’t much, but she got enough for a week. She sent the food by wagon and wrote a letter to the border lord, asking him to send a doctor to care for the wounded.
It seemed the enemy only wanted food. After hearing there was no more food, they didn’t attack again.
At least she had bought some time.
Meanwhile, Lovelace decided to ask Yak about large-scale healing magic.
She took cocoa into her room and closed the door tightly.
“Yak.”
She called the water spirit.
[Did you call?]
Yak answered right away, as if he had been waiting. Now, Lovelace could talk to Yak without fainting.
Seeing Lovelace amazed, Yak explained that they were just a good match.
“This is for you, Yak.”
Lovelace held out cocoa in front of an empty chair. A small whirlpool appeared on the chair, just Yak’s size.
A little white foot stuck out of the swirl, then a leg, a waist, and finally blue hair as bright as the ocean.
The Yak from her dreams and spirit world appeared in real life.
“Yak!”
Her voice got louder in excitement.
[Lovelace!]
Yak jumped down from the chair and hugged her. Yak was even cuter and softer in person. Lovelace petted Yak’s head again and again. Yak peeked up at her.
[Is that cocoa?]
Yak was very happy to see Lovelace, but the sweet smell of cocoa was even better.
Yak didn’t just look like a baby, he acted like one too. Even more than Paulo. Lovelace felt like she had gained another little sibling.
“Yes, it’s the cocoa I promised. Sorry it’s late.”
She sat Yak in the chair and handed over the cocoa. Yak sipped the cocoa with big sparkling eyes. As Yak drank, snow suddenly fell from the ceiling.
[Hmmm.]
Yak hummed and shivered. Fluffy snow piled up on the floor.
“Yak! It’s snowing!”
Lovelace panicked, but Yak quickly came to his senses.
[Sorry, Lovelace. I was just so happy…]
He must have made it snow by accident.
Yak bowed his head and apologized. Lovelace couldn’t scold him. The warm sunlight soon melted the snow.
The carpet was soaked, so Lovelace dragged it to the balcony. Then she went back to the room.
[Can I… have another cup?]
Yak asked shyly. Lovelace gladly went to make more cocoa.
When Becky saw her carrying three cups into her room, she looked suspicious, but Lovelace just muttered “I’m tired,” and Becky didn’t ask more.
“Here you go. Careful, it’s hot…”
Lovelace put down three cups. Yak slurped up the cocoa like water, not giving her time to finish her words.
[It’s so tasty!]
Yak’s happy smile made Lovelace smile too. Since Yak was in a good mood, Lovelace decided to ask her real favor.
“Yak.”
[Yes, Lovelace?]
Seeing Yak’s innocent eyes made Lovelace feel guilty. She felt bad for using Yak’s power.
Coming from a strict give-and-take world, Lovelace felt uneasy just taking from Yak. That’s why she’d prepared four cups of cocoa.
“Can you help me?”
[Of course! It’s not even helping. If Lovelace wants something, I’ll do anything.]
Yak hugged Lovelace. Yak loved to cuddle. Lovelace squeezed Yak’s soft cheek.
[Thanks for saying that. About the healing magic I used last time…]
“Yes, the healing power.”
Yak tried to explain the difference between spirit power and magic, but to Lovelace, both were just mysterious powers. She called them all “magic.”
“Can you use it on a large scale? Like, you know, magic that drops a bunch of stones from the sky or something?”
[Did Larvihan show you that?]
“No, not really…”
She’d just read about it in fantasy novels, but there was no need to say that.
[It’s not impossible, Lovelace. But… can you handle it?]
It felt strange to be worried about by a tiny child.
“I’m really tough! I’ve used magic a lot and I’m fine.”
[That’s because you have Larvihan’s power inside you. But it’s not enough for large-scale healing.]
“Isn’t there any way?”
Yak thought hard for a long time before answering.
[If Larvihan helps, it’s possible.]
Larvihan, again.
With a complicated look, Lovelace asked:
“How?”
[But Lovelace, can I have one more cup?]
Yak held out his cup and asked.
Please unlock!~