Chapter 110
My pink hair that had fallen down covered one side of my face like a curtain. We felt each other as much as we had missed each other during the time we were apart. Raymond’s lips were persistent, as if he would never let me go, but he didn’t force me. I, too, recharged my soul by accepting him.
When our lips finally parted after a long time, I saw Raymond’s smiling face.
“Your saliva is like honey.”
Looking up at me, he bewitched me with a seductive smile. That appearance was reassuring, yet irritating, so I snapped back at him.
“Do you know how serious the situation is right now?”
“I do. But can’t we enjoy the joy of reunion a little more? We’ve been apart for a long time. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
His persuasive words made me nod reluctantly. In truth, I wanted him desperately as well. My cheeks turned red from embarrassment, so I slightly averted my gaze.
“One more time.”
He went straight for it. As soon as he got permission, he pulled my face close again. The soft, squishy sensation sent tingling waves through my entire body. Behind the curtain of hair, we built a cozy and thick moment together.
As if one position wasn’t enough, Raymond lifted his body. But since he had just recovered from his injuries, he needed stability. Perhaps he felt dizzy, because his upper body swayed.
“Ah—.”
“Raymond, are you okay?”
I quickly supported his upper body and let him lean his head against the cave wall. He pressed his forehead and groaned.
“Thanks, Aileen. What’s wrong with me?”
“You need to stay still. You should rest first.”
“Our reunion greeting is still not enough….”
Even in this situation, Raymond licked his lips playfully. The way he licked his lips with his tongue was sensual, but I reminded myself that the person in front of me was a patient and shot him a glare.
“Wait a moment.”
Telling him to wait, I stood up and went to the waterfall to get water for Raymond.
“There’s a waterfall over there. I brought drinking water.”
I held the bottle out in front of his nose, but he just stared at it blankly without taking it.
“Is it healing liquid?”
“Should I make it into healing liquid for you?”
As I asked and brought the bottle to my mouth, Raymond grabbed my arm.
“Yes. And put it directly into my mouth.”
It was a command, not a request or suggestion. He pulled my face closer and kissed me. I opened my lips, which had been tightly closed to prevent the water from spilling, and let him drink. Each time the water flowed down his throat, my cheeks that had been puffed out gradually deflated.
“Puhaha. This position is tiring for me.”
“Sorry. I still need healing.”
He weakly leaned his back against the wall. I thought he was just pretending to kiss more, but seeing his complexion looking bad made me worried again. After repeating it several times as he wanted, he finally looked better. I couldn’t tell whether it was the power of the healing liquid or the satisfaction of desire.
Time passed, and just when I thought it would be better to go back since Raymond had recovered, I suddenly felt the outside becoming noisy. Were they enemies, or allies? We held our breath to listen to the conversation.
“Haa… Where did those two go?”
“We must not lose them. Surround this area completely.”
“Yes.”
After the uniform responses, we heard footsteps scattering in all directions. Our voices probably didn’t reach them because of the nearby waterfall. The cave Baekho had introduced was the perfect hiding place.
But the fact that they were enemies, not allies, was now the problem.
“What should we do? It seems we were a step late.”
“What about the Archmage?”
“I’ve been calling Niyan since earlier, but there’s no response. Did something happen?”
“Hm.”
We groaned. As long as we stayed inside the cave, there was nothing we could know.
We could avoid being discovered if we stayed here, but we couldn’t remain in one place forever. The biggest problem was food. Even if you just sleep, hunger eventually comes.
“Let’s wait a little longer. Allies might come.”
I nodded in agreement. Or rather, it was a shared wish. Despair would only make everything darker. We tried to think positively and waited for the right moment.
The Magic Tower.
The cylindrical building made of dark gray stone rose so high it seemed to pierce the sky. It looked like it would sway in strong wind, but it was surrounded by dozens of barriers and remained unshaken even after long years.
The Tower Master’s room was on the top floor of the Magic Tower. From there, the sound of two people arguing could be heard.
“Niyan. Didn’t I tell you not to get involved?”
The elderly wizard with a long gray beard was the Tower Master, Shandalf. Wearing a dark robe and a long pointed hat, he looked like a wizard in every sense. Facing Niyan, he scolded him sternly.
“Didn’t you tell me to remain neutral? If we stay still like this, things will go in the direction the Emperor wants.”
“The neutrality I spoke of is not that. It means we won’t create any situation that the Magic Tower has to take responsibility for. Moreover, the moment we refused to become the Emperor’s troops, it was already the same as disadvantaging him, so from the Magic Tower’s perspective, we’ve responded similarly to both sides.”
Shandalf believed that was enough, having given carrots alternately to the Empire and the rebels. He intended to maintain balance on the scale and follow whichever side gained the upper hand according to the flow of history.
Feeling frustrated by that fact, Niyan protested again.
“But there were those who disobeyed orders this time.”
“I’ll give them appropriate punishment. After this is over, I’ll impose disciplinary measures.”
“Just that? They should be expelled immediately!”
“Enough. Whose side are you on? Do you really want the Magic Tower to split?”
“…….”
No matter how much Niyan protested, he was rejected coldly. No matter how much he shouted, the fact that his top priority had to be the Magic Tower was unshakable.
When he closed his mouth, the Tower Master, who had been scolding him continuously, softened his voice.
“I know that you pledged loyalty to Countess Cowet.”
“Gasp. How did you find that out, Tower Master….”
Did he really think I wouldn’t know? I know everything about you.
“….”
Silence fell for a moment.
He felt awkward because a fact he didn’t want revealed had been exposed. But he didn’t deny it. There was no point in doing so.
However, Niyan did not become the next Tower Master by skill alone. Although he didn’t know it well, Shandalf cherished him greatly.
“Don’t worry too much, Niyan. If you endure now, you’ll have a justification to move later.”
What was the point of postponing it to later?
That question arose, but there was nothing to gain from arguing further.
With his feet tied, Niyan grew impatient.
It had been a full day since he heard that Aileen had fled into the forest with Raymond, followed by the Imperial army and the rebel army, with the Imperial army having the upper hand and completely surrounding the forest.
‘If I don’t go, they’ll have no choice but to surrender….’
With the Tower Master blocking him, there was nothing he could do. Feeling hopeless, he could only stare out the window.
As Niyan had predicted, Aileen and Raymond voluntarily came out of the cave the next day and had to surrender. As soon as they came out, they were captured and dragged away by the Imperial army that had surrounded them.
With the rebels invading the capital and the initial difference in troop numbers being large, they lacked the capacity to defend the forest. In the end, they lost the most important core.
At first, I thought I would have a chance to escape the Emperor. But this incident made me realize it was a naive illusion. Perhaps relying too much on Niyan was the problem.
We were brought to the Imperial Castle and immediately separated and confined. And as soon as Kyle came to my room, he made me an offer in an icy voice.
“Become my Empress.”
He leaned on the sofa across from me, crossing one leg over the other. It was an extremely arrogant posture for a proposal.
“We’ll hold the wedding soon.”
“I…!”
I tried to protest, but Kyle put his finger to his lips, signaling that he wasn’t finished yet.
“If we fight again, the rebels have no chance of winning. Even if Raymond returns safely.”
“Why?”
My gaze sharpened with defiance. He shrugged and continued explaining.
“The neighboring kingdoms’ reinforcements will arrive soon.”
“What kind of price did you promise to get troops….”
I growled lowly.
I understood Kyle’s confidence. If reinforcements arrived, the rebels could never defeat the Imperial allied forces. Even if the number of supporting kingdoms had dropped to one-third, the number was still overwhelming for the rebels.
“You’re already thinking about the Empire’s stability. You really are Empress material.”
Kyle clapped loudly while laughing. Knowing that his action was mockery, not praise, my teeth ground together.
He stopped clapping and stared straight into my eyes, as if he had something to say.
“If you come to me, I’ll make everything as if it never happened. I’ll let Raymond live and send him back. On the condition that you marry me and bear an heir.”
“!!”
It was an unexpected proposal.
I thought he would rage and threaten to kill Raymond if we were captured. That’s why I planned to ask Melas for cooperation through Okhee and somehow help him escape.
If he came out like this, I might have to change the plan.
“I’ll give you time. Think about it.”
After thoroughly disturbing my mind, Kyle turned around and left. The door slammed shut with a bang, and my heart dropped.
