Cornered Rat (16)
Nadia ran into the banquet hall, gasping for breath and looking around.
"Where are you? Where..."
Kjer, who was supposed to be drinking with the Emperor, was now here to be seen...
If he was in close conversation with the Emperor, there was no way for Nadia to call him.
"This won't work. If this continues, our lady will be in big trouble."
Nadia paused as she tried to find someone to replace Kjer.
'But the young lady asked me to call the grand master..."
Nadia knew very well what kind of condition a person would become in after eating Sirok.
'It's a shame for a young lady to show that side of herself to another man...'
The worries were short-lived. But she couldn't just wait forever for Kjer to show up.
Even at this very moment, Millenia is probably fighting against irrational impulses.
Nadia licked her dry lips and looked for Rahon.
Rahon was drinking wine and surrounded by cardinals.
The redness around his cheeks suggested that he had had too much to drink, but he had no other choice.
Nadia walked towards them.
"I, Lord Rahon..."
A look of delight spread across Rahon's face at Nadia's voice. He quickly stood up with an exaggerated expression and grabbed Nadia's hand.
"Nadia, what's wrong? Do you need me for something?"
"Ah Yes..."
"Oh, well then I guess I should go. Um, sorry, but I guess I should go first."
Rahon shook off the regretful cardinals and approached Nadia.
"Oh my, you persistent old men... Nadia, thank you for saving me."
Rahon, who was muttering that he finally felt like he could live, turned his gaze to where Millenia had been.
He clearly saw her sitting on the sofa a moment ago, but she disappeared from sight.
"What about Millenia? Where did she go?"
"This way for a moment..."
Nadia pulled Rahon's sleeve and led him behind the pillar.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"We're in trouble, Lord Rahon. The young lady has taken the Sirok."
"...What? What did she eat?"
"I think someone put a squirt of citric acid in your tea. What do I do?"
The expression disappeared from Rahon's face.
He quickly closed his eyes, opened them, and wiped his face with his bare hands. It felt like the alcohol had been swept away in an instant.
"Where is she now?"
"I put her in the garden lounge for now, but she's not in good condition."
"Let's go."
"Yes! Follow me."
Rahon stopped as he turned around with Nadia because Ian and Kalit were approaching them.
Kalit asked, pointing with his chin near the sofa where Millenia was sitting.
"Why are there two of you? And Millenia?"
Rahon and Nadia were unable to answer readily.
Ian's golden eyes, sensing an ominous premonition just from that, sank fearfully.
"Nadia, where is Young lady?"
"That, that..."
“Rahon.”
"..."
Ian's expression immediately became gloomy. The royal knights guarding the banquet hall were glaring at him.
Rahon grabbed Ian's arm.
"Follow me quietly. I'll tell you as we go."
lan, Rahon, and Kalit. The three men followed Nadia out of the banquet hall.
After leaving the noisy banquet hall, no one spoke until they reached the garden.
Only after entering the quiet garden did Rahon open his mouth.
"Millenia ate the sirok."
"...!"
Ian and Kalit stood still.
At the same time, the hazy traces of alcohol that had remained in the two men's eyes until then completely disappeared.
"I think she fled to the break room as soon as she realized something was wrong. So..."
Before Rahon could finish speaking, Ian jumped forward. Then the two men and Nadia also started running.
There was only one break room with the curtains down.
lan, who arrived first, stood there dumbfounded.
Then as if trying to sense something, he fixed his gaze on the floor and did not move.
After that, Kalit, Rahon, and Nadia arrived in turn.
Only then did Ian raise his head.
"Nadia, are you here?"
"Huh, huh! Yes! That's right!"
"It seems like no one is here."
Kalit also narrowed his eyes as if he had realized something.
"I can't hear anything."
"Huh? That can't be! This is the break room!"
Nadia ran over and grabbed the doorknob of the break room. The door, which should have been locked, slid open.
"Huh? Why won't this open?"
As Ian had expected, there was no one in the break room.
Only the purple shawl that Millenia had been wearing was left in a corner, crumpled and in a mess.
The gazes of three men were fixed on it.
Millennia is gone.
The three men dispersed in each direction as if they had made a promise.
***
When slavery existed in the empire, the herb that was used to increase the number of slaves was Sirok.
Then, as slavery was abolished, the cultivation itself was banned along with Montpain.
lan gritted his teeth.
The image of Millenia being trampled by someone lingered in his mind. He thinks he knows what it means to feel like he's going to turn around.
lan, who was running like crazy through the garden, suddenly stood tall.
Someone was sitting huddled together under the tree.
Although it was hard to see because of the shadows, he could vaguely see a purple dress.
Unable to overcome the energy of the dark green, he ran out, but since he couldn't see ahead, he seemed to have gotten lost in the garden.
"Ha..."
Ian closed his eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath. The fists he had been clenching all along were finally starting to feel sore.
'I found it. Calm down."
Ian opened his eyes, controlling himself internally, and slowly approached her.
Luckily she was wearing a dress.
People who originally ate the Sirok were often found naked, so he doesn't know how they survived.
Her condition didn't seem too bad. Perhaps she had consumed too little of the citrus fruits.
Then Millenta turned her head.
"... Little Duke..."
"Why are you here?"
"..."
She stood up slowly without answering.
Her hair, which had been neatly groomed, was now loose and flying around. She was barefoot, not even wearing shoes."
"You are hurt. Stay where you are."
Millenia quietly stretched out her arms.
What happened, red splatters were messing up her forearm. A wet, wet voice flowed from her dry lips.
"Please hug me."
"Excuse me."
lan took off his jacket and covered Millenia's shoulders. Just as he was about to hug her, the jacket fell to the ground with a thud.
"Young lady?"
Millenia, who had taken off her jacket, extended her arms to him again.
"Please hug me."
Something is strange.
Before he could even think, Millenia grabbed his collar.
"Come on."
"Young Lady."
It was a weak force that could be subdued with one finger. But still, he lowered his head like a trained dog.
Finally, hot, burning lips touched his.
lan opened his eyes wide at the feeling of lips pressing hard without any technique.
"Now, wait a minute, Young lady..."
Ian came to his senses belatedly and grabbed Millenia's shoulder, but he couldn't push her away.
Because Millenia bit his lower lip as if punishing him.
"Ugh!"
lan squeezed his eyes shut.
All kinds of impulses swirled.
This innocent kiss was too sweet to push her away. Why should I refuse it? If I just reach out, my daily dreams come true.
'... It's not like this.'
His heart was not light enough to sincerely accept Millenia's permission, which was based solely on instinct. It wasn't something he had endured all this time just to hug her once.
Suddenly, a grinding sound came from inside Ian's mouth. He slowly opened his eyes, painfully overcoming the urge.
"Please stop."
"Why? You like me. I gave you permission. So hurry up..."
"You will regret it."
"I don't regret It! I'm sick. My body hurts so much. I need you."
Millenia rubbed her cheek against the nape of his neck. Her long eyelashes tickled his skin every time she blinked.
"Phew..."
Instead of dropping Millenia, Ian hugged her.
Millenia, trapped in strong arms, flailed her limbs.
"Let go! I don't like it!"
He felt hot breath on his neck, and then he felt a sharp pain. She was biting his neck.
"This is driving me crazy."
Ian let out a long sigh towards the sky and then shouted loudly.
"Rahon!"
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