Chapter 66
Before they knew it, the front gates of Count Payson’s estate came into view through the carriage window.
It was time to wake Luvianah.
After a brief hesitation, Elion finally reached out and gently shook her shoulder.
“Luvianah, we’re almost there.”
“Mmm… ugh…”
She only stirred slightly, still deep in sleep.
Perhaps sensing the magic flowing through his body, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his arm and nestled even closer into his embrace.
A fierce impulse surged within him—to just hold her tightly, right there.
His gaze lingered on her rounded forehead, her small, cute nose, and those alluring red lips that he suddenly longed to kiss.
But he had to resist.
He couldn’t give in now.
If he did, the emotional dam he’d barely held together over the past two weeks would collapse in an instant.
Elion shook her shoulder a little harder.
“Luvianah, wake up. We’re home.”
“Ugh…”
Her eyelids quivered, then slowly lifted.
Her dazed gaze soon sharpened as realization dawned—she had fallen asleep leaning against his shoulder.
Luvianah quickly straightened herself.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. We’re almost there.”
“Ah… okay.”
Through the window, she saw the carriage passing through the front gates and onto the driveway.
In about three minutes, they would stop.
And then, she would have to part with Elion.
Was it because she was still half-asleep? Or maybe it was the alcohol?
Before reason could stop her, Luvianah suddenly grabbed his hand.
“I want to stay with you.”
“…”
“I don’t want to say goodbye like this.”
Elion’s pupils trembled violently as he looked at her.
“Do you… even know what you’re saying right now?”
Luvianah nodded firmly and spoke again.
“Yes. I said I want to be with you. I said I don’t want to part ways like this, Your Highness. Now that I’ve recovered, you’re cutting me off like slicing a root vegetable—just like that?”
“…”
“Shouldn’t there be some sort of grace period? A little time to ease into it? Not everyone is as sharp and cold as you, Your Highness.”
Her red eyes shimmered with tears as she looked up at him.
The delicate hand holding his tightened its grip.
“…Luvianah.”
Elion called her name in a low, trembling voice.
It was he who wanted to stay with her.
It was he who didn’t want to let her go.
What he wanted most in that moment was to hold her close, leave everything behind, and disappear somewhere with her.
To become each other’s entire world—and live forever that way.
But that was an impossible wish.
He couldn’t let himself be swayed by fantasy and drag her into danger.
It was enough that he alone lived a life constantly shadowed by death.
“You’re… very drunk. You’ll regret this tomorrow.”
“…”
“Our contract—to exchange magic—has ended. So from now on—”
He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Because Luvianah suddenly threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
At that moment—
The last thread of his self-control snapped.
The emotional dam he had built up over the past two weeks shattered completely.
Elion wrapped an arm around her back and deepened the kiss.
The soft warmth of her lips, the heat of her breath—it all consumed him entirely.
The sensations—familiar, yearned for, and long suppressed—flooded through his body.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Count Payson’s estate!”
The coachman’s report jolted Elion back to himself. He pulled his lips away, breathing raggedly.
Their breaths mingled in the air, hot and uneven.
Still clinging to his neck, Luvianah whispered,
“Take me with you.”
“…My lady.”
“Just for tonight. Think of it as a grace period. Just today, okay?”
“…”
Their gazes locked.
That desperate look in her eyes shattered the last bit of reason left in his mind.
Elion turned to the coachman and shouted,
“The lady will accompany me to the Grand Duke’s residence. Inform the Count’s household and depart immediately.”
“Ah—y-yes, Your Highness!”
They heard the coachman’s hurried footsteps running off toward the mansion.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Only halfway.”
“Halfway?”
As Elion’s brows furrowed, Luvianah smiled mischievously.
Her lips brushed lightly against his forehead, then the bridge of his nose, and finally found his mouth again.
She bit his lower lip softly and murmured,
“Now I’m satisfied.”
Their lips met again—deeply, insistently.
Between their tightly entwined mouths, breath and warmth melted together.
Neither of them even noticed when the carriage started moving again.
They were lost entirely in each other.
When at last their lips parted—reluctantly, breathless—they gasped for air, their foreheads still touching.
Luvianah’s head then drooped gently against his shoulder.
“My lady? Luvianah?”
“…”
She had fallen asleep again.
Elion let out a short, incredulous laugh.
Soon, the carriage halted before the Grand Duke’s mansion.
As Elion stepped down, carrying Luvianah in his arms, the butler Scott and head maid Jocelyn both froze in shock.
Seeing her limp in his arms, they assumed she had fainted.
“My word, Your Highness! What happened?”
“Shall I summon the physician immediately?”
“No. It’s fine. She’s just asleep from drinking too much.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Thank goodness…”
Both Scott and Jocelyn sighed in relief.
Then, smiles slowly spread across their faces.
They had been quietly worrying that Elion and Luvianah’s relationship had grown distant.
The two used to visit each other’s estates nearly every day—but since returning from their trip, they hadn’t seen each other at all for two weeks.
But now—he had come back carrying his fiancée so tenderly in his arms!
Jocelyn’s nose tingled with emotion.
Watching Elion stride up the stairs with Luvianah in his arms filled her with joy.
She whispered to Scott beside her,
“I hope they marry soon. Then we can all return north together. They’ll have two little lords and two little ladies and live happily ever after.”
“…”
Two and two… four? That seemed a bit much, but Scott said nothing.
He didn’t have the heart to dampen her cheerful imagination.
“I’ve found a new goal,” Jocelyn continued. “I need to stay healthy. I’m going to raise all of our young lords and ladies myself.”
“I’ll help you, Head Maid.”
“Of course you will.”
Chuckling, Scott and Jocelyn exchanged smiles.
Elion, naturally heading toward his own bedchamber, suddenly stopped.
He realized how strange it was to bring Luvianah—who was no longer his lover, nor even his fiancée—into his bedroom.
…Idiot. Bringing her here at all was already absurd.
Annoyed at his own hypocrisy, he shook his head and turned away.
Scott and Jocelyn, following behind, tilted their heads curiously as he changed direction.
Just as they reached the guest room, Luvianah stirred and lifted her head, blinking at Elion.
Her sleepy eyes narrowed suddenly.
“…Huh? You… jerk!”
“What?”
Elion frowned, his dark brows knitting together, which only made Luvianah burst into giggles.
“Wha—what is this? You even look handsome when you frown?!”
“You’re drunk.”
“So what if you’re handsome? This chest—”
Slurring, she tapped lightly at his chest.
“This big, firm chest—no, that’s not what I meant! I’m talking about the heart inside this chest!”
“…”
Elion’s face flushed bright red.
Behind him, both Scott and Jocelyn were red-faced as well—but while Scott gaped in horror, Jocelyn’s lips twitched with barely contained laughter.
“Yeah, that’s right! Your real heart is colder than ice! No—drier! So dry it’s all crackly!”
“My lady… that’s enough, don’t you think?”
Elion clenched his jaw, his tone warning—but his words didn’t reach her drunken ears.
“And you’ve got spikes, too! You’re just like a hedgehog! Not a cute, tiny hedgehog—but a mean, grumpy one!”
At her comparison, both Scott and Jocelyn simultaneously burst out with a stifled pfft.
Elion’s sharp glare instantly turned on his “loyal” servants.
