Chapter 99
“Roy, is Tessarion angry because of me?”
“Hhh… uhh… hhh…!”
I covered my mouth and shook my head. Tessarion bit my earlobe and snapped at him.
“Stay out of this.”
“My savior is in trouble, of course I should help him. Why are you acting like this in front of a sick man? It’s disgusting.”
“….”
Tessarion held me tighter, squeezing until my breath was cut off and my vision went white.
“Ugh!”
I kicked his shin out of panic, but he didn’t budge. My heart pounded wildly, panic crawling up my spine.
Too dangerous.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I forced myself to stay sane and pulled away from Tessarion. I wanted to beg Variette to stop him—but could Variette even stop Tessarion? Covering my burning face with both hands, I stammered:
“F-forgive me, Duke… I-I won’t do it again…”
“Roy?”
Variette looked shocked. Tessarion’s tongue slid across my neck.
“F-forgive me… ahh…”
My toes curled, wings trembling.
“Leon, stop it!”
Variette grabbed Tessarion’s shoulder to pull him away. Tessarion growled.
“Hands off.”
“Stop it.”
Variette gritted his teeth, cold mint-like magic spilling out.
“Isn’t this what you provoked me for?”
“What?”
“You kissed Roy in front of everyone.”
“It was a greeting.”
“Then this is also a greeting.”
…Oh goddess.
Why are you giving me this trial?
“Who greets people with their… their whole body?!”
I screamed. My sanity was hanging by a thread.
Variette sneered.
“See? Roy says no.”
Tessarion growled back.
“He kissed Altair first.”
“…What?”
Variette froze. His laugh sounded sharp, empty.
“Haha… no, Altair must have forced him.”
But Tessarion spat each word like poison.
“Roy Dover went to Altair first—and kissed him.”
“…Why?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask the Guardian who broke his vow.”
Both their gazes stabbed into me. Variette gently lifted my chin, smiling with dangerous softness.
“Roy. Did you really kiss Altair? Hmm? Why would my lovely dove do that?”
Cold sweat ran down my back. His gentle smile was scarier than Tessarion’s heat.
“I thought you liked me. I confessed everything to you… I waited, thinking we’d talk again. Was I mistaken? Did you reject me? Yesterday—you kissed Altair?”
“P-Prince Variette…”
“It feels like I’ve been stabbed in the back twice. Then why save me? Why stay by my side?”
My throat tightened.
I wanted to explain—that I had asked Altair to create a charm spell for their happiness, and while testing it, I kissed him by accident. But would they believe me?
“Forgive me… I never meant to deceive you, Your Highness…”
“Didn’t mean to?”
Variette wiped away my tears with a tender smile, but his words cut sharp.
“Don’t just apologize. Explain why you did it.”
My chest throbbed painfully. His soft tone hid thorns of anger.
Shaking, I finally cried out:
“I thought Tessarion… the Duke… could make you happy, Your Highness. I thought… a kind princess like you could heal his loneliness. That’s why I begged Altair… to make a charm spell…”
Both men froze.
Variette frowned in confusion. Tessarion’s hands trembled against my back.
“I never knew things would end like this… forgive me, both of you…”
Before I could finish, Tessarion pulled me into his arms. Variette’s face went cold, his magic flaring in fury.
“Leon. Put Roy down. I haven’t heard everything yet.”
“Don’t listen.”
“What?”
“Don’t forgive him.”
“You bastard…!”
Tessarion held me tighter, soothing me.
“Roy. From now on, don’t even speak to that mage again. Understand?”
Unfair! But my voice was stuck in my throat.
“Let’s go.”
He lifted me up and carried me out.
“Hey!”
Variette’s shout echoed behind us. A glowing green pillow hit Tessarion’s back—useless, only fueling his strength.
“Where are you going! You said you’d fight me, now don’t run away!”
But with his injured leg, Variette couldn’t stop him. Pressing against Tessarion’s chest, I bit my lip.
What’s going to happen now?
To these two men?
And to Altair… and that charm spell…?
We left Variette’s chamber. I didn’t know where Tessarion carried me, but it wasn’t far from the south palace. He shoved open a door and threw me onto a bed.
“Ugh.”
Why here? And when had we—when had our clothes come off? Both of us were half-naked.
The room was neat, unused.
Clink.
A heavy metallic sound made my hair stand on end.
“…D-Duke?”
I froze, staring wide-eyed.
