"Demon?"
“Yeah! Demon.”
Astin Targayel laughed, his voice thumping.
The boy who was taking classes with Astin pouted his lips for a moment at the indifferent response, then expressed his opinion enthusiastically again.
“Now the new millennium is approaching, right? The millennium is just around the corner. The end of the continent! If you decide on a topic and make a presentation about it, everyone will be interested.”
“Hmm.”
“We should meet with the priest of Ines and hear his opinion! If we succeed in this, our research will definitely be number one.”
"Ah..."
“What is that reaction!”
The boy frowned as if he was disappointed. Astin sighed and pointed out his words.
“The priests of Ines are people you only meet once in your lifetime. They are people who are stuck in the sacred city of Inesian and never come out.”
“It used to be like that. I heard you see it a lot these days.”
"Yes?"
“Yes! I said it’s a subject worth studying!”
As the boy was about to explain more excitedly, a loud voice was heard from outside the classroom.
“Astin Targayel!”
When he turned his head, Heyla Wade was standing there. The boy next to her smiled and poked Astin in the ribs at her appearance.
Heyla was the only person who had helped Astin since he was bullied. However, she was only interested in him, and it wasn't a romantic relationship. Astin blushed slightly and muttered.
“...I’ll wake up first.”
Then he hurriedly packed his bags and got up.
Astin has been feeling quite comfortable at school lately. This is because a lot has changed since his sister's husband, Shan Cirxus, came to visit.
Material wealth was a given. The costume shop sent Astin clothes and accessories from head to toe, and various school supplies and daily necessities were also regularly delivered to Astin from a store connected to the top of the Machangs.
The best part was that he could buy books freely. Astin was able to buy expensive books that he had never been able to afford before.
He's also become a lot more comfortable mentally. The kids who used to bully Astin so persistently haven't come near him lately.
It might have been because Chesian Parnon, who had been at the forefront of bullying, had quietly dropped out. Rumor had it that all the students in the swordsmanship club had been disciplined, but he didn't pay much attention to it, so he didn't know. Astin just vaguely thought that the Count had done something about it.
“Miss.”
Astin approached Heyla happily. But Heyla was strange. She swallowed hard and looked around. In the hallway, students were milling about, looking for their next classroom.
“Go to a quiet place.”
Astin belatedly noticed that Heyla's face had turned pale as she dragged him away. As soon as they reached a deserted place, Heyla asked Astin urgently.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes?"
Astin just blinked, not knowing what Heyla was talking about. Heyla gasped and shouted at Astin.
“Countess Targayel...!”
As soon as Elze's story came out, Astin's face hardened. Astin grabbed Heyla's arm.
“What happened to the Countess?”
It was Astin who always wore glasses and was always gentle. Heyla stopped when he suddenly got angry. Heyla absentmindedly handed Astin the letter she was holding in her hand.
Astin read it urgently. It said that Countess Targayel had been badly injured in the assassination of the Crown Princess during the hunting competition.
“...”
Why didn't Targayel contact me?
“Yeah! Demon.”
Astin Targayel laughed, his voice thumping.
The boy who was taking classes with Astin pouted his lips for a moment at the indifferent response, then expressed his opinion enthusiastically again.
“Now the new millennium is approaching, right? The millennium is just around the corner. The end of the continent! If you decide on a topic and make a presentation about it, everyone will be interested.”
“Hmm.”
“We should meet with the priest of Ines and hear his opinion! If we succeed in this, our research will definitely be number one.”
"Ah..."
“What is that reaction!”
The boy frowned as if he was disappointed. Astin sighed and pointed out his words.
“The priests of Ines are people you only meet once in your lifetime. They are people who are stuck in the sacred city of Inesian and never come out.”
“It used to be like that. I heard you see it a lot these days.”
"Yes?"
“Yes! I said it’s a subject worth studying!”
As the boy was about to explain more excitedly, a loud voice was heard from outside the classroom.
“Astin Targayel!”
When he turned his head, Heyla Wade was standing there. The boy next to her smiled and poked Astin in the ribs at her appearance.
Heyla was the only person who had helped Astin since he was bullied. However, she was only interested in him, and it wasn't a romantic relationship. Astin blushed slightly and muttered.
“...I’ll wake up first.”
Then he hurriedly packed his bags and got up.
Astin has been feeling quite comfortable at school lately. This is because a lot has changed since his sister's husband, Shan Cirxus, came to visit.
Material wealth was a given. The costume shop sent Astin clothes and accessories from head to toe, and various school supplies and daily necessities were also regularly delivered to Astin from a store connected to the top of the Machangs.
The best part was that he could buy books freely. Astin was able to buy expensive books that he had never been able to afford before.
He's also become a lot more comfortable mentally. The kids who used to bully Astin so persistently haven't come near him lately.
It might have been because Chesian Parnon, who had been at the forefront of bullying, had quietly dropped out. Rumor had it that all the students in the swordsmanship club had been disciplined, but he didn't pay much attention to it, so he didn't know. Astin just vaguely thought that the Count had done something about it.
“Miss.”
Astin approached Heyla happily. But Heyla was strange. She swallowed hard and looked around. In the hallway, students were milling about, looking for their next classroom.
“Go to a quiet place.”
Astin belatedly noticed that Heyla's face had turned pale as she dragged him away. As soon as they reached a deserted place, Heyla asked Astin urgently.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes?"
Astin just blinked, not knowing what Heyla was talking about. Heyla gasped and shouted at Astin.
“Countess Targayel...!”
As soon as Elze's story came out, Astin's face hardened. Astin grabbed Heyla's arm.
“What happened to the Countess?”
It was Astin who always wore glasses and was always gentle. Heyla stopped when he suddenly got angry. Heyla absentmindedly handed Astin the letter she was holding in her hand.
Astin read it urgently. It said that Countess Targayel had been badly injured in the assassination of the Crown Princess during the hunting competition.
“...”
Why didn't Targayel contact me?
It was obvious that they didn't contact him because they were disturbing his studies. Astin bit his lower lip. And then he spoke in a determined tone.
“I have to go home.”
Heyla asked in surprise at Astin's words.
“But Astin! Exams are coming up soon. Are you thinking of not taking your exams?”
“I’m thinking of asking the professors if I can submit a report instead of an exam.”
“Even if you could, you would get a lower grade if you didn’t take the test.”
“Then I will accept it.”
Heyla stared blankly at Astin. He had never once lost the top position. She knew how hard Astin had worked to achieve that. But now, Astin's words were like giving up on being top this semester.
“Astin...”
Astin bowed politely as Heyla called out softly.
“Miss, thank you for always caring for me.”
Astin's greeting was the end of his promise not to speak of the matter any further. Heyla nodded slowly.
“I understand. If that is what you wish. But..."
Heyla took out another letter she had kept in her bag. The neatly folded letter was from Heyla to her father, Duke Wade.
“While you’re at the Empire, please say hello to my father.”
Heyla pressed a letter into Astin's hand and urged him to take it seriously.
“You have to tell it yourself!”
It was something like a letter that could easily be sent by a subordinate. Although Astin was a little puzzled by Heyla's words, it wasn't a request he couldn't accept.
Astin promised to deliver the letter to Heyla and then prepared to return to Baluar.
It was a dream.
Elze was trapped in endless darkness. But the deep darkness did not frighten her. Even though she was sinking down and down, it was soft and warm, like being buried in a pitch-black cloud.
"..."
Elze leisurely enjoyed the darkness, just letting herself go and slowly sinking in. Then, suddenly, she felt something touching her back. The solid object wrapped around Elze. Curious about what was embracing her, Else turned around and found purple eyes.
"Shan...?"
But the moment their eyes met, her vision suddenly darkened and she couldn't see anything. Since she couldn't see anything, her whole body's senses quickly became more sensitive. Even her hair stood on end due to the tension.
"Shan, let go...!"
But there was no answer. Instead, his long fingers traced along her neckline and rubbed along her collarbone. He kissed the long exposed neck.
She was even more anxious because she couldn't see anything, but the hand that was stroking her was rough. Even though the hand that was grabbing her chest was rough, her waist was trembling. Her heart was beating fast, and her breathing was rapid. A groan escaped her lips without her realizing it.
"Ugh..."
His lips touched Elze's trembling round shoulder, and then he bit it hard. His large hand slowly slid down. The hand that dug between her legs gripped her thigh hard and then groped deeper.
Elze felt herself being pushed into a corner by his touch. While panting frantically, a sticky whisper flowed into her ear. In the darkness all around, the only thing she could hear was Shan’s voice.
"It's all up to you, Elze."
He dug deep into Elze's mind.
"It all...depends on what you choose."
A sudden surge of thrilling pleasure hit her, and her back snapped. Elze groaned and turned her head to the side. Her cheek touched his chest. The surging sensation was so painful that she unconsciously rubbed her face against him, and a low laugh was heard. It was the moment when his hands were tightly squeezing Elze.
"!!"
A light appeared in the pitch-black darkness. It was a mysteriously colored eye. The eyes were so large and clear that they filled the space in front of her eyes, and they contained all the light in the world.
Suddenly, she felt as if her mind had been cleared. Elze realized that her movements had become free. Shan had disappeared somewhere, and Elze was alone in the darkness. As Elxe was looking at those rainbow-colored eyes in amazement, she heard a majestic voice.
“I have to go home.”
Heyla asked in surprise at Astin's words.
“But Astin! Exams are coming up soon. Are you thinking of not taking your exams?”
“I’m thinking of asking the professors if I can submit a report instead of an exam.”
“Even if you could, you would get a lower grade if you didn’t take the test.”
“Then I will accept it.”
Heyla stared blankly at Astin. He had never once lost the top position. She knew how hard Astin had worked to achieve that. But now, Astin's words were like giving up on being top this semester.
“Astin...”
Astin bowed politely as Heyla called out softly.
“Miss, thank you for always caring for me.”
Astin's greeting was the end of his promise not to speak of the matter any further. Heyla nodded slowly.
“I understand. If that is what you wish. But..."
Heyla took out another letter she had kept in her bag. The neatly folded letter was from Heyla to her father, Duke Wade.
“While you’re at the Empire, please say hello to my father.”
Heyla pressed a letter into Astin's hand and urged him to take it seriously.
“You have to tell it yourself!”
It was something like a letter that could easily be sent by a subordinate. Although Astin was a little puzzled by Heyla's words, it wasn't a request he couldn't accept.
Astin promised to deliver the letter to Heyla and then prepared to return to Baluar.
***
It was a dream.
Elze was trapped in endless darkness. But the deep darkness did not frighten her. Even though she was sinking down and down, it was soft and warm, like being buried in a pitch-black cloud.
"..."
Elze leisurely enjoyed the darkness, just letting herself go and slowly sinking in. Then, suddenly, she felt something touching her back. The solid object wrapped around Elze. Curious about what was embracing her, Else turned around and found purple eyes.
"Shan...?"
But the moment their eyes met, her vision suddenly darkened and she couldn't see anything. Since she couldn't see anything, her whole body's senses quickly became more sensitive. Even her hair stood on end due to the tension.
"Shan, let go...!"
But there was no answer. Instead, his long fingers traced along her neckline and rubbed along her collarbone. He kissed the long exposed neck.
She was even more anxious because she couldn't see anything, but the hand that was stroking her was rough. Even though the hand that was grabbing her chest was rough, her waist was trembling. Her heart was beating fast, and her breathing was rapid. A groan escaped her lips without her realizing it.
"Ugh..."
His lips touched Elze's trembling round shoulder, and then he bit it hard. His large hand slowly slid down. The hand that dug between her legs gripped her thigh hard and then groped deeper.
Elze felt herself being pushed into a corner by his touch. While panting frantically, a sticky whisper flowed into her ear. In the darkness all around, the only thing she could hear was Shan’s voice.
"It's all up to you, Elze."
He dug deep into Elze's mind.
"It all...depends on what you choose."
A sudden surge of thrilling pleasure hit her, and her back snapped. Elze groaned and turned her head to the side. Her cheek touched his chest. The surging sensation was so painful that she unconsciously rubbed her face against him, and a low laugh was heard. It was the moment when his hands were tightly squeezing Elze.
"!!"
A light appeared in the pitch-black darkness. It was a mysteriously colored eye. The eyes were so large and clear that they filled the space in front of her eyes, and they contained all the light in the world.
Suddenly, she felt as if her mind had been cleared. Elze realized that her movements had become free. Shan had disappeared somewhere, and Elze was alone in the darkness. As Elxe was looking at those rainbow-colored eyes in amazement, she heard a majestic voice.
[...Listen... I declare.]
But the slurred words were not heard well. It was only a short fragment from the end that could be heard. At that moment, Elze was about to listen. With rainbow-colored eyes widening, a thunderous voice echoed all around.
"I hereby declare that Shan Cirxus Targayel is the demon who will annihilate the continent!"
“...!!”
Elze woke up in shock, her whole body drenched in cold sweat.
“What, what is it...”
It was a truly bizarre dream, a nightmare if it was a nightmare, and a dog dream if it was a dog dream.
Elze picked up the pitcher on the small table next to the bed and poured water into a glass. After emptying a glass of cold water, she finally calmed down.
She looked around the seat next to her and saw that Shan was gone. It wasn’t even dawn yet, so he probably hadn’t gone to the palace. He was probably looking over some piled-up documents in the study.
“...”
Elze, who had been blankly looking down at the empty seat next to her, suddenly got up and got out of bed. Suddenly, she really wanted to see him. No, she felt like she had to see him. Elze put on a shawl over her pajamas and headed straight to the study.
When she reached the study, she saw a faint light coming out from under the closed door. She opened the door quietly without knocking, thinking that she would surprise Shan. However, Shan seemed to have already sensed the presence.
“Who are you?”
A cold voice cut through the silence of the night. But when Elze opened the door and appeared, Shan quickly asked back in a cold voice.
“Elze?”
Elze smiled and entered the study lightly. She liked the way Shan melted away like ice in the spring sunlight as soon as he saw her.
Shan had already gotten up from his desk and was approaching Elze. Elze didn’t even have to go to his desk; she could meet him in the middle of the study. Shan hugged Elze’s waist. Then he stroked her face and asked her affectionately.
“Why did you wake up?”
"Ah..."
ElZe was about to say she had a nightmare, but she just didn't say anything.
“I woke up and you were gone.”
For some reason, to be honest, she felt like it would ruin the good mood they had with him. Shan smiled faintly at Elze's words.
“Oh, I wish you were here.”
Elze leaned over his desk, ignoring Shan's apology that he was busy.
"You're busy?"
As she asked while looking over the desk, Shan brought Elslze over and sat her down on the chair in front of the desk. The chair was made to fit Shan’s body shape and hugged Elze’s body tightly.
The spacious desk was filled with spread-out documents. Looking at the contents of the documents that were visible at first glance, they were of a truly diverse type. There were documents with the imperial seal, documents related to Targayel, documents related to the operation of the Machangs's upper class, and other unknown documents, and the amount was enormous.
Elze, who was examining them one by one, looked up at Shan with a tired face and asked.
“Does this all have to be finished today?”
“It’s okay to take some things a little slower.”
“Still, it’s amazing... Is it hard?”
When Shan did the paperwork, Marle always helped him. Today, she seemed to have a lot of work to do, so it was strange that he was working alone. Shan answered Elsze's question as if it was nothing.
“I just... I feel like working alone today.”
Although he spoke as if it were nothing, a complex and subtle emotion flashed across Shan's face. Elze asked cautiously.
“Shouldn’t I also give up my seat?”
Shan squeezed Elze's shoulder as she wiggled her hips to get up.
“You are the exception.”
Elze smiled faintly. His special treatment always felt good. Shan spoke as if he was passing by, sorting out the documents that Elze had left in disarray.
“The trial of the Count of Epernon is just around the corner. I’m trying to find a way to clear his name with Duke Wade, but it’s not going to be easy.”
"Is it so?"
“It seems like it would be easier to find Duke Seraph’s weakness...”
But it didn’t seem like it would be an easy solution either way. As she listened to Shan’s words and looked through the documents here and there, Elze’s shawl slipped down from her shoulders.
Elze tried to pull up her shawl with her left hand, but Shan, who had been watching, immediately pulled up the shawl again. Elze briefly thanked him and muttered as she lifted and put down the shawl with her right hand.
“Oh, my right hand is okay... I’m not used to it yet, so I keep forgetting.”
Elze handles the mangosh with her left hand, but she used to do everyday things like eating and writing with her right hand. She recently injured her arm badly and has been doing everything with her left hand lately.
Of course, now that her wounds had healed, there was no need to use her unfamiliar left hand. And the person who had healed Elze’s right hand was... the Queen of Ryeo.
“...”
Shan also seemed to be thinking of the Queen. Shan and Elze were both silent for a moment. Since the Queen had left Targayel’s mansion, the two had been consciously avoiding talking about her.
Then, at that moment, both of them simultaneously thought of the Queen. Shan was the first to speak amid the silence, not knowing what to say.
“We received word from the royal family. The Queen has hurriedly returned to the country, using the incident at the hunting competition as an excuse.”
"Yes...."
Why was she so angry at Shan? The Queen acted as if Elze and Shan were never meant to be together. And the Queen's hostility towards Shan was strange.
Elze suddenly remembered the dream from just a moment ago. The sound of rainbow-colored eyes shouting loudly...
The scream that he called Shan a demon still lingered vividly in her mind even after she woke up from the dream. It was a ridiculous dream, but she couldn't understand how it was so engraved in her memory. As Elze was recalling her dream, Shan spoke next to her.
“It’s hard to get information from Ryeo, so it’s hard to figure out what the situation is right now. I’m trying to find out as much as I can, so don’t worry too much.”
"All right."
After awkwardly wrapping up the conversation, they fell into silence again. The two people who had been staying in the quiet silence looked at each other and called out to each other at the same time.
“Hey, Shan.”
“Elze.”
It was the moment when their eyes met. Without saying who would be the first, they reached out to each other. Elze got up from her chair and ran into Shan’s arms, Shan accepted Elze and hugged her tightly. He whispered as he hugged her as if his body would crumble.
“For whatever reason... I can’t let you go.”
Elze frowned. And she pushed Shan away. Shan looked at Elze with shaking eyes as she pushed him away. Elze put strength into her eyes and urged him on.
“Anyway, you... who gives a shit about whether or not you’ll let me go? That’s my decision.”
“...”
“Now that I’ve come this far, I plan to stay by your side.”
Elze whispered, caressing his arm with her hand.
“So don’t let me go... and hold on tight.”
Shan didn't say anything. He just stared blankly at Elze. Elze was starting to feel embarrassed because he didn't answer.
Shan's hand pushed the chair behind Elze away. It fell with a loud crash. Then he roughly swept the desk. The papers flew into the air with a loud clatter and then sank to the floor.
And Shan laid Elze down on the desk. Elze was flustered, but Shan called her name softly.
“...Elze.”
His hand touched the side of Elze's head. He could see her wrist, where the veins were bulging. He looked up, following the blue veins.
His muscular arms, square shoulders, sharp neck, and tightly closed lips came into view.
The last thing she saw was his purple eyes. To suppress her boiling excitement, Shan took a deep breath and exhaled as she spoke to Elze.
“I want to.”
The voice was creepy. It felt like it was digging into her body and scraping out her insides.
“I want you here, right now.”
He whispered as he caressed Elze's body.
“Allow me.”
His breath was hot. His longing eyes groped for Elze. Shan’s hand slowly brushed Elze’s hair back. Their faces came closer. Their noses were lightly touched. Shan waited for Elze’s permission at a precarious distance.
“Shan..."
Elze quietly raised her hand. Then she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pushed it down.
Their lips touched. It started out softly. They were careful to rub each other and even bite each other gently. However, as they moved and mingled, it started to get rougher.
Shan was a bit impatient. He had finally had sex after being abstinent due to Elze's injury, so it was enough to make him anxious. But beyond that, he seemed anxious about something else.
Suddenly, Elze remembered Shan from her dream. As the pleasure she felt in her dream came to mind, her body started to tingle and her bottom got wet in an instant. Shan’s hand dug into her underwear and rubbed her private part. He must have known that she was already wet. Elze could see the corner of his mouth slightly rising.
The hard tip of the nail rubbed the convex part, then soon pushed inward. A wet sound was heard. Shan tried to loosen it sufficiently with his fingers, but Elze gently grabbed his wrist.
“It’s okay to just put it in...”
Shan couldn't stand Elze's whisper. He kissed her roughly and unbuckled her belt. His erect penis touched the entrance and then pushed in.
“...!”
The foreign sensation along with the hot heat gave a thrilling pleasure. Elze's struggling hand slid across the desk. Shan made Elze wrap her legs around his waist and started moving right away. The thick and large thing quickly went in and out of her stomach. Elze moaned without thinking.
“Haah, ah, yeah, haaah!”
The sturdy desk shook dangerously with the violent movement. The smooth hardness of the desk against her bare skin felt cool and unfamiliar. Elze spoke to him with a snicker.
“Shan, it’s too urgent... Slow down, ahhh...”
Shan frowned. He paused for a moment, exhaled, and muttered.
“It’s hard to bear.”
Elze laughed at his words even in the midst of all this. Shan kissed Elze's lips and moved a little slowly. But soon, he became impatient again, and Elze had to let Shan sweep her away.
Shan's eyes were much clearer than usual. The purple eyes shining in the dark study were eerie. Elze felt as if she was being eaten by him.
Her body started shaking slightly, and everything became blurry. It felt like she was wandering through a hazy fog. It felt like she was struggling in a dream, unable to wake up.
Then, from time to time, a hot and sticky feeling covered her body, and a sudden thrill of pleasure ran through her. The sensation that flashed through her hazy state brought her back to reality.
At such times, Elze had to let out a sound that came from deep inside her, even if she didn't want to. The moans that burst out were unstoppable.
“Ah, hmph...!”
Saliva flowed out of her mouth, which was still closed. Shan stuck out her tongue and licked it all up.
She didn't even have time to feel embarrassed by her actions. Her mind went blank and her climax came rushing in. Elze hugged his shoulders, grabbed the hem of his clothes tightly, and called his name.
“Shan...!”
Shan called Elze's name with a deep growl in his throat, as he held her hand so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
“Elze...”
The sensation just before spread tinglingly to the tips of her fingers. Shan dug deep and fast into Elze. The sensation of her whole body tingled and her hair stood on end. Feeling the sensation sweeping over her entire body, Elze was completely connected to him.
“Ah, ah...!”
Her body suddenly collapsed. The dizzying climax made all the strength in her body disappear. Elze could barely open her eyes and barely breathed. When she finally released herself from the aftereffects of the excruciatingly long climax, Shan whispered to Else.
"I love you."
His words were slowly scattered in the pitch-black darkness.
After the Queen left, she thought something big would happen at any moment. But nothing happened. The days were very quiet considering what she had said so ominously.
As ordinary daily life continued, an unexpected guest came to Targayel. It was none other than Astin.
“Astin!”
This happened when Shan was not in the palace. Elze was surprised by the unexpected visit. Marle, who guided Astin, also had a look of bewilderment on his face. Astin barged in and checked Elze's arm first.
“Sister! Are you okay?”
Elze pretended not to know for a moment.
“What are you talking about, Astin? What’s wrong with your test right now..."
But Astin seemed to know everything. He glared at Elze and pressed her.
“You got hurt! While trying to protect Her Highness the Crown Princess during the hunting competition!!”
“...”
Elze kept her mouth shut in response to Astin's questioning. She had deliberately not contacted Astin. She didn't want to worry him by contacting him unnecessarily since exams were coming up soon.
However, no one among the subordinates would do anything useless. At least, no one in Targayel could contact Astin. Elze quietly asked Astin.
“...How did you know?”
But Elze's question seemed to hurt more. Astin cried out in frustration.
“Does it matter now? Why haven’t you contacted me...”
Astin took off his glasses. Then he spoke with a reddened nose.
“I, I was so worried when I came back home...”
Astin, who had been trying to hold back his tears, finally began to shed tears from the corners of his eyes. Elze sighed and hugged Astin.
“I’m sorry, Astin.”
Astin looked at Elze with eyes full of resentment. Elze whispered to him carefully.
“I was short-sighted. I didn’t want you to worry...”
At Elze's words, Astin bit his lips tightly. Astin also knew why Elze didn't tell him. She was just upset. Astin quickly wiped away his tears and said.
“No, Sister. I’m sorry for getting angry without thinking about your feelings.”
Elze laughed because he looked like a child trying to look like an adult. Astin also laughed brightly, following Elze's laughter. The siblings immediately hugged each other as if they had never fought before and laughed heartily.
Marle, who had been watching with concern, raised his eyebrows. He stepped back slightly and instructed the maids to bring out some tea.
Elze sat down next to Astin in the living room. They drank tea and chatted. Time passed quickly as she briefly explained to Astin what had happened. Astin, who had been listening to the story quietly, opened his eyes wide at one point and asked.
“The Queen healed my sister’s arm? How?”
“She healed me with the divine power given to her by Ilwooz.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
As Elze blinked in surprise at the intense reaction, Astin explained.
“The divine power bestowed by Ilwooz can only be received and kept by priests. Since priests cannot hold secular jobs, it is unlikely that the Queen of Ryeo would have been ordained as a priest...”
"What?"
Elze didn't know this. Perhaps Shan didn't know either. The religion that most people on the continent follow is the Ines religion, but Elze and Shan didn't believe in Ines and weren't particularly interested in it.
Among Elijah and those who followed Shan, there were no believers in Ines. So, everyone thought that Elze's arm was completely healed and that it was a miracle of divine power and just passed it over.
However, the Queen clearly received the divine power of Ilwooz and used it on Elze. As proof, Elze's right arm was completely healed. She couldn't figure out what happened.
Astin also tilted his head for a long time, looking at Elze's arm, which was not scarred at all.
“There’s so little information known about Ryeo... I wonder if something like that could happen.”
No matter how much they thought about it, it wasn't something that could be resolved here. Astin and Elze made a few guesses and then gave up. Astin later said he would look into it a little more.
The two were talking about something else. Astin made a sound and took something out of his bosom. Astin was holding a neatly folded letter and spoke to Elze.
“I think I should go to Duke Wade’s residence. I have a favor to ask.”
But the slurred words were not heard well. It was only a short fragment from the end that could be heard. At that moment, Elze was about to listen. With rainbow-colored eyes widening, a thunderous voice echoed all around.
"I hereby declare that Shan Cirxus Targayel is the demon who will annihilate the continent!"
***
“...!!”
Elze woke up in shock, her whole body drenched in cold sweat.
“What, what is it...”
It was a truly bizarre dream, a nightmare if it was a nightmare, and a dog dream if it was a dog dream.
Elze picked up the pitcher on the small table next to the bed and poured water into a glass. After emptying a glass of cold water, she finally calmed down.
She looked around the seat next to her and saw that Shan was gone. It wasn’t even dawn yet, so he probably hadn’t gone to the palace. He was probably looking over some piled-up documents in the study.
“...”
Elze, who had been blankly looking down at the empty seat next to her, suddenly got up and got out of bed. Suddenly, she really wanted to see him. No, she felt like she had to see him. Elze put on a shawl over her pajamas and headed straight to the study.
When she reached the study, she saw a faint light coming out from under the closed door. She opened the door quietly without knocking, thinking that she would surprise Shan. However, Shan seemed to have already sensed the presence.
“Who are you?”
A cold voice cut through the silence of the night. But when Elze opened the door and appeared, Shan quickly asked back in a cold voice.
“Elze?”
Elze smiled and entered the study lightly. She liked the way Shan melted away like ice in the spring sunlight as soon as he saw her.
Shan had already gotten up from his desk and was approaching Elze. Elze didn’t even have to go to his desk; she could meet him in the middle of the study. Shan hugged Elze’s waist. Then he stroked her face and asked her affectionately.
“Why did you wake up?”
"Ah..."
ElZe was about to say she had a nightmare, but she just didn't say anything.
“I woke up and you were gone.”
For some reason, to be honest, she felt like it would ruin the good mood they had with him. Shan smiled faintly at Elze's words.
“Oh, I wish you were here.”
Elze leaned over his desk, ignoring Shan's apology that he was busy.
"You're busy?"
As she asked while looking over the desk, Shan brought Elslze over and sat her down on the chair in front of the desk. The chair was made to fit Shan’s body shape and hugged Elze’s body tightly.
The spacious desk was filled with spread-out documents. Looking at the contents of the documents that were visible at first glance, they were of a truly diverse type. There were documents with the imperial seal, documents related to Targayel, documents related to the operation of the Machangs's upper class, and other unknown documents, and the amount was enormous.
Elze, who was examining them one by one, looked up at Shan with a tired face and asked.
“Does this all have to be finished today?”
“It’s okay to take some things a little slower.”
“Still, it’s amazing... Is it hard?”
When Shan did the paperwork, Marle always helped him. Today, she seemed to have a lot of work to do, so it was strange that he was working alone. Shan answered Elsze's question as if it was nothing.
“I just... I feel like working alone today.”
Although he spoke as if it were nothing, a complex and subtle emotion flashed across Shan's face. Elze asked cautiously.
“Shouldn’t I also give up my seat?”
Shan squeezed Elze's shoulder as she wiggled her hips to get up.
“You are the exception.”
Elze smiled faintly. His special treatment always felt good. Shan spoke as if he was passing by, sorting out the documents that Elze had left in disarray.
“The trial of the Count of Epernon is just around the corner. I’m trying to find a way to clear his name with Duke Wade, but it’s not going to be easy.”
"Is it so?"
“It seems like it would be easier to find Duke Seraph’s weakness...”
But it didn’t seem like it would be an easy solution either way. As she listened to Shan’s words and looked through the documents here and there, Elze’s shawl slipped down from her shoulders.
Elze tried to pull up her shawl with her left hand, but Shan, who had been watching, immediately pulled up the shawl again. Elze briefly thanked him and muttered as she lifted and put down the shawl with her right hand.
“Oh, my right hand is okay... I’m not used to it yet, so I keep forgetting.”
Elze handles the mangosh with her left hand, but she used to do everyday things like eating and writing with her right hand. She recently injured her arm badly and has been doing everything with her left hand lately.
Of course, now that her wounds had healed, there was no need to use her unfamiliar left hand. And the person who had healed Elze’s right hand was... the Queen of Ryeo.
“...”
Shan also seemed to be thinking of the Queen. Shan and Elze were both silent for a moment. Since the Queen had left Targayel’s mansion, the two had been consciously avoiding talking about her.
Then, at that moment, both of them simultaneously thought of the Queen. Shan was the first to speak amid the silence, not knowing what to say.
“We received word from the royal family. The Queen has hurriedly returned to the country, using the incident at the hunting competition as an excuse.”
"Yes...."
Why was she so angry at Shan? The Queen acted as if Elze and Shan were never meant to be together. And the Queen's hostility towards Shan was strange.
Elze suddenly remembered the dream from just a moment ago. The sound of rainbow-colored eyes shouting loudly...
The scream that he called Shan a demon still lingered vividly in her mind even after she woke up from the dream. It was a ridiculous dream, but she couldn't understand how it was so engraved in her memory. As Elze was recalling her dream, Shan spoke next to her.
“It’s hard to get information from Ryeo, so it’s hard to figure out what the situation is right now. I’m trying to find out as much as I can, so don’t worry too much.”
"All right."
After awkwardly wrapping up the conversation, they fell into silence again. The two people who had been staying in the quiet silence looked at each other and called out to each other at the same time.
“Hey, Shan.”
“Elze.”
It was the moment when their eyes met. Without saying who would be the first, they reached out to each other. Elze got up from her chair and ran into Shan’s arms, Shan accepted Elze and hugged her tightly. He whispered as he hugged her as if his body would crumble.
“For whatever reason... I can’t let you go.”
Elze frowned. And she pushed Shan away. Shan looked at Elze with shaking eyes as she pushed him away. Elze put strength into her eyes and urged him on.
“Anyway, you... who gives a shit about whether or not you’ll let me go? That’s my decision.”
“...”
“Now that I’ve come this far, I plan to stay by your side.”
Elze whispered, caressing his arm with her hand.
“So don’t let me go... and hold on tight.”
Shan didn't say anything. He just stared blankly at Elze. Elze was starting to feel embarrassed because he didn't answer.
Shan's hand pushed the chair behind Elze away. It fell with a loud crash. Then he roughly swept the desk. The papers flew into the air with a loud clatter and then sank to the floor.
And Shan laid Elze down on the desk. Elze was flustered, but Shan called her name softly.
“...Elze.”
His hand touched the side of Elze's head. He could see her wrist, where the veins were bulging. He looked up, following the blue veins.
His muscular arms, square shoulders, sharp neck, and tightly closed lips came into view.
The last thing she saw was his purple eyes. To suppress her boiling excitement, Shan took a deep breath and exhaled as she spoke to Elze.
“I want to.”
The voice was creepy. It felt like it was digging into her body and scraping out her insides.
“I want you here, right now.”
He whispered as he caressed Elze's body.
“Allow me.”
His breath was hot. His longing eyes groped for Elze. Shan’s hand slowly brushed Elze’s hair back. Their faces came closer. Their noses were lightly touched. Shan waited for Elze’s permission at a precarious distance.
“Shan..."
Elze quietly raised her hand. Then she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pushed it down.
Their lips touched. It started out softly. They were careful to rub each other and even bite each other gently. However, as they moved and mingled, it started to get rougher.
Shan was a bit impatient. He had finally had sex after being abstinent due to Elze's injury, so it was enough to make him anxious. But beyond that, he seemed anxious about something else.
Suddenly, Elze remembered Shan from her dream. As the pleasure she felt in her dream came to mind, her body started to tingle and her bottom got wet in an instant. Shan’s hand dug into her underwear and rubbed her private part. He must have known that she was already wet. Elze could see the corner of his mouth slightly rising.
The hard tip of the nail rubbed the convex part, then soon pushed inward. A wet sound was heard. Shan tried to loosen it sufficiently with his fingers, but Elze gently grabbed his wrist.
“It’s okay to just put it in...”
Shan couldn't stand Elze's whisper. He kissed her roughly and unbuckled her belt. His erect penis touched the entrance and then pushed in.
“...!”
The foreign sensation along with the hot heat gave a thrilling pleasure. Elze's struggling hand slid across the desk. Shan made Elze wrap her legs around his waist and started moving right away. The thick and large thing quickly went in and out of her stomach. Elze moaned without thinking.
“Haah, ah, yeah, haaah!”
The sturdy desk shook dangerously with the violent movement. The smooth hardness of the desk against her bare skin felt cool and unfamiliar. Elze spoke to him with a snicker.
“Shan, it’s too urgent... Slow down, ahhh...”
Shan frowned. He paused for a moment, exhaled, and muttered.
“It’s hard to bear.”
Elze laughed at his words even in the midst of all this. Shan kissed Elze's lips and moved a little slowly. But soon, he became impatient again, and Elze had to let Shan sweep her away.
Shan's eyes were much clearer than usual. The purple eyes shining in the dark study were eerie. Elze felt as if she was being eaten by him.
Her body started shaking slightly, and everything became blurry. It felt like she was wandering through a hazy fog. It felt like she was struggling in a dream, unable to wake up.
Then, from time to time, a hot and sticky feeling covered her body, and a sudden thrill of pleasure ran through her. The sensation that flashed through her hazy state brought her back to reality.
At such times, Elze had to let out a sound that came from deep inside her, even if she didn't want to. The moans that burst out were unstoppable.
“Ah, hmph...!”
Saliva flowed out of her mouth, which was still closed. Shan stuck out her tongue and licked it all up.
She didn't even have time to feel embarrassed by her actions. Her mind went blank and her climax came rushing in. Elze hugged his shoulders, grabbed the hem of his clothes tightly, and called his name.
“Shan...!”
Shan called Elze's name with a deep growl in his throat, as he held her hand so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
“Elze...”
The sensation just before spread tinglingly to the tips of her fingers. Shan dug deep and fast into Elze. The sensation of her whole body tingled and her hair stood on end. Feeling the sensation sweeping over her entire body, Elze was completely connected to him.
“Ah, ah...!”
Her body suddenly collapsed. The dizzying climax made all the strength in her body disappear. Elze could barely open her eyes and barely breathed. When she finally released herself from the aftereffects of the excruciatingly long climax, Shan whispered to Else.
"I love you."
His words were slowly scattered in the pitch-black darkness.
***
After the Queen left, she thought something big would happen at any moment. But nothing happened. The days were very quiet considering what she had said so ominously.
As ordinary daily life continued, an unexpected guest came to Targayel. It was none other than Astin.
“Astin!”
This happened when Shan was not in the palace. Elze was surprised by the unexpected visit. Marle, who guided Astin, also had a look of bewilderment on his face. Astin barged in and checked Elze's arm first.
“Sister! Are you okay?”
Elze pretended not to know for a moment.
“What are you talking about, Astin? What’s wrong with your test right now..."
But Astin seemed to know everything. He glared at Elze and pressed her.
“You got hurt! While trying to protect Her Highness the Crown Princess during the hunting competition!!”
“...”
Elze kept her mouth shut in response to Astin's questioning. She had deliberately not contacted Astin. She didn't want to worry him by contacting him unnecessarily since exams were coming up soon.
However, no one among the subordinates would do anything useless. At least, no one in Targayel could contact Astin. Elze quietly asked Astin.
“...How did you know?”
But Elze's question seemed to hurt more. Astin cried out in frustration.
“Does it matter now? Why haven’t you contacted me...”
Astin took off his glasses. Then he spoke with a reddened nose.
“I, I was so worried when I came back home...”
Astin, who had been trying to hold back his tears, finally began to shed tears from the corners of his eyes. Elze sighed and hugged Astin.
“I’m sorry, Astin.”
Astin looked at Elze with eyes full of resentment. Elze whispered to him carefully.
“I was short-sighted. I didn’t want you to worry...”
At Elze's words, Astin bit his lips tightly. Astin also knew why Elze didn't tell him. She was just upset. Astin quickly wiped away his tears and said.
“No, Sister. I’m sorry for getting angry without thinking about your feelings.”
Elze laughed because he looked like a child trying to look like an adult. Astin also laughed brightly, following Elze's laughter. The siblings immediately hugged each other as if they had never fought before and laughed heartily.
Marle, who had been watching with concern, raised his eyebrows. He stepped back slightly and instructed the maids to bring out some tea.
Elze sat down next to Astin in the living room. They drank tea and chatted. Time passed quickly as she briefly explained to Astin what had happened. Astin, who had been listening to the story quietly, opened his eyes wide at one point and asked.
“The Queen healed my sister’s arm? How?”
“She healed me with the divine power given to her by Ilwooz.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
As Elze blinked in surprise at the intense reaction, Astin explained.
“The divine power bestowed by Ilwooz can only be received and kept by priests. Since priests cannot hold secular jobs, it is unlikely that the Queen of Ryeo would have been ordained as a priest...”
"What?"
Elze didn't know this. Perhaps Shan didn't know either. The religion that most people on the continent follow is the Ines religion, but Elze and Shan didn't believe in Ines and weren't particularly interested in it.
Among Elijah and those who followed Shan, there were no believers in Ines. So, everyone thought that Elze's arm was completely healed and that it was a miracle of divine power and just passed it over.
However, the Queen clearly received the divine power of Ilwooz and used it on Elze. As proof, Elze's right arm was completely healed. She couldn't figure out what happened.
Astin also tilted his head for a long time, looking at Elze's arm, which was not scarred at all.
“There’s so little information known about Ryeo... I wonder if something like that could happen.”
No matter how much they thought about it, it wasn't something that could be resolved here. Astin and Elze made a few guesses and then gave up. Astin later said he would look into it a little more.
The two were talking about something else. Astin made a sound and took something out of his bosom. Astin was holding a neatly folded letter and spoke to Elze.
“I think I should go to Duke Wade’s residence. I have a favor to ask.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment