Ilwooz was finishing his day's work and was quietly enjoying some tea time alone.
Today, Ilwooz spent the whole day treating the wounded and hearing confessions from the believers of Ines. Since the precious priest of Ines had come to the border, people who wanted to receive blessings gathered like clouds.
In addition, the rumor about the miracles performed by Ilwooz spread so widely that even people who were not believers in Ines flocked to see him.
It was a tiring day, but he didn't feel tired. It was a rewarding time to spread Ines' name widely. Ilwooz had just taken a sip of tea.
Knock, a somewhat rough knock was heard, and the door opened. Ilwooz tilted his head slightly at the person who appeared. It was Shan Cirxus. Ilwooz looked at him and spoke softly.
“What an unexpected visit...”
Shan walked over to him without saying a word and sat down across from him. It was rude of him to drag a chair without permission, but Ilwooz didn't complain much. This was the normal level of relationship between him and Shan Cirxus.
Ilwooz brought out another teacup and placed it in front of Shan. Then he poured some tea and asked.
“Is it Elze’s business...?”
Shan answered, raising his eyebrows.
“I know. It seems that Ines tells you all about that too?”
“This is more of a guess than foresight... What else would Lord Cirxus need to come to me for in person...”
“That’s true, though.”
Shan gave a short answer and then picked up a teaspoon that was on the table.
“First, I have something to show you.”
The round teaspoon had no sharp edges. But from the moment it was in Shan’s hands, it was a sharp weapon.
Shan slashed his arm with a teaspoon. The skin along the cut was torn. Ilwooz squinted. It was shocking that Shan had cut his flesh with a teaspoon, but what happened next was even more shocking.
“The wound...”
The wound on the teaspoon bled for a while and then began to heal. Ilwooz was astonished to see the blood vessels reconnecting and the skin regenerating. Shan spoke to him in a calm voice.
“My body is no longer human. I drank poison a while ago, but all I felt was a brief moment of pain.”
“...”
At Shan's words, Ilwooz bit the flesh in his mouth. As the millennium approached, Shan was becoming less human. Although he had not manifested any evil, his body was changing to match his original nature.
Shan must have guessed these facts to some extent. However, he wondered why he had come to him to tell him. Ilwooz was in a position where he could not help but be hostile to Shan, so there would be no benefit in telling him these things.
Shan told the puzzled Ilwooz about the problem Elze was worried about. The topic of infertility was sensitive and not something to be talked about lightly. However, there was a reason Shan had come to see Ilwooz.
“I was wondering if I might be the cause...”
He muttered with slightly darkened eyes.
“I came to ask you because I thought you might know something.”
Shan came to Ilwooz because he was worried that the physical changes that had come to him might be a problem. He had to swallow his pride. Ilwooz was so surprised that he forgot to drink his tea and just stared blankly at him.
This man really doesn't care about anything when it comes to things involving Lady Elze. Ilwooz blankly held his teacup in his hand for a while before coming to his senses and answering.
“I guess both of you are special cases... There could be many variables..."
Then he put the teacup down on the table and spoke calmly.
“I will contact Inesian and have the priests look up the records...”
"Thank you."
Shan, who had given a polite thank you, finally took a sip of tea. Then he immediately frowned.
“You really are good at drinking such tasteless stuff.”
Ilwooz just laughed at his grumbling. Shan put down his teacup rudely in front of the smiling Ilwooz and said.
“I will tell my subordinates to send you some delicious tea leaves. Yes, that’s all for now.”
Shan then stormed out. After he left, Ilwooz smiled to himself for a long time. Anyway, he was a person who was self-centered and unpalatable, but he was someone you couldn't completely hate.
Targayel stayed with Count Mafell for about a month.
The reason it took longer than expected was that it took a long time to stabilize the territory while communicating with the royal family so that Hayden could inherit the title of Count Mapel.
Hayden, who suddenly became a Count, had many shortcomings. Hayden had prepared diligently, but he was still weak in practical matters. As Elze taught him how to run his territory and communicate with other lords on the border to strengthen his power, time flew by.
Hayden was partly to blame for this. Targayel liked staying in Mapel, so he secretly encouraged him to stay.
For various reasons, a month passed, and spring was approaching.
Elze, Shan, and Hayden sat in the living room, having tea and talking about their plans for the future.
“When the weather clears, Targayel’s second contingent will arrive, so we should tour the other territories along the border.”
“Is that so? You’re leaving Mapel... It’s such a shame.”
Hayden answered gloomily in front of Shan, who was thinking of leaving Count Mapel when the second troop arrived. Hayden's appearance was cute, but he could not stay in Mapel any longer.
The lords of the border were united around Count Mapel, but there was a world of difference between simply exchanging contacts and Targayel personally visiting and confirming his power.
In addition, the imperial court was also keeping a close eye on Targayel's movements. Targayel, who had fled under the pretense of patrolling the border, had to at least make a show of moving. While Targayel patrolled the border, Mapel would now act as Targayel's central force on the border.
The three were discussing the way forward.
A maid's scream was heard from outside. Then the door burst open with a loud crash.
“Count! Urgent news!!”
Liv burst through the door and delivered the shocking news with a stiff face.
“His Majesty the Emperor has passed away...!”
It was the sudden death of the Emperor.
It was truly an emergency. The urgent news that had just arrived was from Marle in the capital. An official document would soon arrive from the imperial court.
When the official document arrives, Targayel is summoned to the capital for the funeral of the late Emperor. Excluding his vassals, only Count and Countess of Targayel, Shan, and Elze are summoned.
She couldn't bring her men up with them. Since they were moving troops, she knew that even if she reported that she was going with them, they would be stopped as a subversive act.
The knights of Targayel who remained in the capital were unable to escort Shan and Elze. They were so outnumbered that Duke Seraph could easily push them back if he wanted to. In fact, it was a situation where they were being dragged to a deadly place.
All of Targayel gathered urgently to discuss the current situation. As everyone gathered with serious expressions, Shan opened his mouth.
“I guess it would be right to assume that it was Seraph’s doing.”
Liv took Shan's words and said:
“That’s right. It’s a stretch to think that the Emperor, who had been holding on so well until now, would die at such a precise time.”
After Liv finished speaking, everyone fell into silence. Everyone was thinking the same thing.
Time. Time was absolutely lacking.
If only they had a little more time, they could have gone ahead with their original plan. When the weather cleared and Targayel's second contingent arrived, they would calmly increase their forces on the border and reorganize their military.
So they were planning to move when everything was perfectly ready... but suddenly the tables turned. Duke Seraph also knew that it would be difficult to defeat Targayel once he became a full-fledged being, so he had come to take advantage of the weak point. Shan said, shaking the letter from Marle in his hand.
“In the current situation, we have no choice but to go along with Duke Seraph’s wishes. Marle also expressed that opinion.”
He put the letter down on the table and spoke slowly, looking around the room.
“There is only one way left.”
Everyone's faces became tense the moment they heard Shan's words. Hayden, who had joined the meeting absentmindedly but still had no idea what was going on, was the only one who rolled his eyes here and there. And Hayden's eyes widened at Shan's subsequent words.
“The funeral day is the day of the event.”
Unless he's an idiot, there's no way he wouldn't know what Shan is talking about.
Hayden had not yet been told about the betrayal, so Hayden was learning of Targayel's betrayal for the first time here.
"Ah..."
Hayden, flustered, let out an incomprehensible sound without realizing it. He quickly covered his mouth. But his face was pale. Elze sighed lightly and spoke to him.
“Hayden, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance. I was planning on explaining it to you slowly...”
Because the incident happened so suddenly, she couldn't tell Hayden. She was really embarrassed, thinking about how much of a surprise it was. But unlike Elze, who was worried, Hayden shook his head.
“Oh, no. I was just a little surprised.”
He said, clenching his fists.
“I can handle it. I am a vassal of Targayel.”
Astin naturally came to mind when she saw his young appearance and his passionate appearance. Elze smiled with a much more relaxed heart. Shan, who saw Elze smile, frowned for a moment without showing it and then said.
“We should also look at neighboring countries.”
“For one thing, wouldn’t Britain be friendly to Targayel?”
Shan nodded in agreement with Elze's opinion.
“First of all, it is highly likely.”
The Prince of Britain was a huge fan of Shan. If not, there was also a time when the King, Prince, and Shan had a meeting without Baluar's knowledge.
At that time, Shan was attacked by Heglatan. However, to avoid making a big deal out of it, Shan and the royal family of Britain joined forces to keep the incident a secret from Baluar. From then on, the meeting between the three became a kind of chain that bound Targayel and the royal family of Britain.
In this situation, when Targayel showed his intention to rebel, it was not easy for Britain to expel Targayel. Even if he did not actively help, he would at least pretend not to know.
Ilwooz, who was sitting in his seat, spoke in a soft voice.
“The Kingdom of Ryeo has promised to aid Targayel...”
He said with a faint smile.
“Her words are my guarantee... so you can rest assured...”
There was no need to doubt it since it was Ilwooz's words. Everyone had an expression that seemed to have overcome a crisis. Only Hayden and Liv, who did not know that he was Ilwoox, looked curious. Liv tilted her head for a moment, then raised his hand and expressed his opinion.
“Then let’s say that’s what happens... Currently, Heglatan is the biggest obstacle.”
Blahar's original plan would have been this. Join hands with Duke Seraph of Baluar, continue to dig up secrets of the Baluar Empire, and prepare for war. Then, started the Prince's Rebellion and became the Emperor of Heglatan.
After settling the civil war, he starts a war with Baluar. Baluar, who is accustomed to peace, is unable to properly fight back. Furthermore, he has an internal spy named Duke Seraph, so he is sure to lose.
After Heglatan took over the empire, he probably agreed to give Duke Seraph the position of governor of the colony. However, a sudden variable arose.
Targayel's Rebellion.
Heglatan had been keeping an eye on Targayel but had not yet considered that they would rebel. From here, a fierce battle of wits between Heglatan and Targayel began.
The moment Heglatan intervenes in Targayel's rebellion, the risk and probability of failure skyrockets. Heglatan is in a situation where he cannot afford to miss the opportunity of Targayel's rebellion. It is advantageous to attack while Valuar is in chaos.
However, Blahar had not yet become Emperor. At this point, if he had taken it upon himself, he might have won the war. However, after waging war and swallowing up even Baluar, there was a possibility that he would have ended up doing someone else a favor.
In addition, they had to consider the possibility of a shortage of troops in the Prince's Rebellion that would occur later or the risk of a backlash from Baluar. In this situation, there was only one ideal way for Targayel and Heglatan to be satisfied with each other.
Targayel swallowed Baluar, Heglatan started a civil war, and Blahar became Emperor. Then, they fought each other head-on.
“...Should we have a conversation?”
Shan muttered softly. Then, Rapine asked a question in a worried voice.
“But would Blahar like to talk to us?”
Everyone's expressions darkened at Rapine's words. Blahar could not have been unaware that he was in an advantageous position.
In fact, the one who was most regrettable in the current situation was Targayel. If Heglatan had invaded during the rebellion, it would have been a fatal blow to Targayel.
If they didn't keep a close eye on Heglatan's movements, Targayel would have to act like they were holding a bomb during the rebellion. Naturally, their movements would be restricted, and it would be difficult to plan their operations. Shan said with a frown.
“There’s a high chance that he’ll refuse to talk. It’s to Blahar’s advantage to not reveal his position.”
Liv said, grimacing as he followed Shan.
“But shouldn’t we at least try?”
“Of course, we will try. But the problem is that if we send a messenger, he might be killed or taken hostage.”
It was a basic courtesy to send a messenger as a vassal at the very least. However, if Heglatan refused to talk to Targayel, the safety of the person sent as a messenger could not be guaranteed.
The already serious atmosphere became even more serious. Everyone was seriously contemplating how to overcome this situation. At that moment, Elze, who was watching, intervened and said a word.
“Well... maybe we can talk?”
Everyone looked at Elze. They seemed to be wondering what on earth made her so certain. Elze spoke with a trembling expression.
“Because I’m here.”
Somehow, Rapine's face suddenly became one of understanding. He looked at Elze with eyes full of sympathy, then patted her shoulder and said.
“Cheer up, Captain.”
“....”
Elze let out a big sigh at Rapine's consolation.
The place where they had made an appointment to meet Blahar was the border. Heglatan would set up camp there and notify the location, and Targayel would go to find them. They even decided on the number of knights they would bring as escorts and made thorough preparations.
Since both groups had clear goals, the conversation didn't seem like it would last long, but as expected, you don't know until you talk to them directly.
Although the weather had warmed up considerably, it was still cold, perhaps because it was in the area bordering Heglatan. Elze ended up wearing several layers of clothing, as Shan had dressed her up in various things. As a result, she went to the conference room looking fat, like a hibernating bear.
Entering the barracks was normal. It was the moment when Elze entered the barracks first, confirming that there were no weapons.
“Wow!”
Blahar burst out of the barracks with a bang. He tried to hug Elze, but Elze, who had already sensed the presence from outside the barracks, easily dodged Blahar. Blahar almost fell over but barely managed to catch his balance. Elze looked at him with a pitiful face and scolded him.
“What are you doing?”
Elze's informal speech stirred the surroundings. Elze, who had unintentionally spoken informally, also felt sorry. Since she had been speaking informally to Blahar since their first meeting, it came out unknowingly.
But Blahar waved his hand. The knights on Heglatan's side immediately shut their mouths at the signal to not pay attention. Blahar smiled broadly and spoke to Elze.
“Oh, I thought a surprise attack would have been successful. What a shame.”
He muttered, “As expected, you have good reflexes,” and smiled as he belatedly greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Elze. And...”
Blahar's gaze slowly moved backwards. The face that had been calm just a moment ago suddenly changed into a bug-bitten expression. He called the name.
“Shan Cirxus.”
Shan responded to Blahar with a twisted smile.
“It is an honor to meet you again, Your Highness.”
Blahar's eyes lit up at the word 'Your Highness'. Shan had hit him squarely on the word he hated the most.
Shan's eyes were filled with pleasure as he saw Blahar feeling bad. In any case, Blahar was not in his right mind, but Shan also had a rather bad taste. If you look closely, every time they met, Blahar would get on his nerves. Elze grabbed Shan's arm and spoke softly.
“Come in and talk.”
Under Elze's guidance, the group finally settled into the barracks. The number of people inside the barracks was small. Blahar and Serev represented Heglatan, while Elze and Shan represented Targayel.
Although there were only four of them, the spacious barracks didn't feel empty at all. Rather, it felt cramped. This was because only people with distinct personalities and strong presence were gathered there.
“Yes, sit down.”
Blahar acted uncomfortably. He pulled out a chair for Elze to sit on and even volunteered to be her servant. He looked very excited. He laughed with a faint blush on his face, and at first glance, he looked really innocent.
But Elze, who knew that there were hundreds of snakes living inside, was simply disgusted. Elze coldly drew a line at him.
“Don’t pretend to be friendly.”
At Elze's words, Shan couldn't hide his laughter and smiled broadly. However, Blahar stubbornly clung to Elze.
“What formality is there between us? Speak informally, speak informally.”
He said with a wink.
“We’ve known each other so closely, even in our most intimate places, right?”
“...”
Elze was about to say something to Blahar but stopped. The more she dealt with him, the more he got involved. Shan also knew that Blahar was doing it on purpose, so he didn't get involved and just hung up. Shan pulled up a chair and said.
“How about we stop here, Your Highness?”
And the four of them sat down and faced each other. They faced each other across the square conference table and remained silent for a moment. Blahar smiled faintly, and Shan was expressionless. But their eyes, as if they were going to devour each other, were the same.
And Elze, who was stuck in it, felt like she was going to die. Being stuck between Shan and Blahar, she felt like her life was being shortened in real time. Elze was determined to end this meeting as quickly and swiftly as possible, for her own sake.
Blahar folded his hands and rested them under his chin. He asked with a grin.
“So, why did you come to me?”
The gaze was naturally directed at Elze. Elze glanced at Shan, then spoke to Blahar.
“Have you heard the news that His Majesty the Emperor of Baluar has passed away?”
But instead of answering, Blahar pouted his lips and said.
“If you don’t speak informally, I won’t answer you.”
It was the way of a person who was sorry to dig a well. Elze made a sound and then changed her tone to informal speech.
“...Did you hear?”
Then Blahar smiled brightly as if he had been waiting for that moment.
"Yes!"
Anyway, that damn idiot... Elze cursed Blahar ten times in her mind. Blahar chuckled, then opened his eyes and whispered languidly.
“Is that what you want? For me to remain quiet while you rebel.”
As expected, Blahar was watching everything. Elze answered his words neatly without adding much.
"That's right."
“Huh... So?”
Blahar nodded and asked.
“Then what are you going to give me? Will you give me Elze?”
It was a playful tone. However, there was a dark desire in his red eyes. As they stared at each other, Elze felt a chill in her chest, so she blinked for a moment.
She had to get her wits about her. If she made a single mistake, either Blahar or Shan would explode. Then, it wouldn't be a big deal to blow up a barracks. Elze spoke as if she was walking on a tightrope bridge over a cliff.
“I tell you over and over again, I am a person, not an object.”
“Haha!”
Although she said it seriously, Blahar seemed to find it funny. He laughed alone for a long time while no one else was laughing. He laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. Blahar wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes and said.
“But what should I do? I promised my friend in Baluar.”
Friend? It was an inappropriate word. Elze wondered if the word appeared out of nowhere, and as expected, Blahar leaned back in his chair and spoke.
“Heglatan said they would protect Baluar.”
It was obvious what he meant by protecting them. He meant that he would invade Baluar and make it a colony. And as for the talk about friends...
“Are you talking about Duke Seraph?”
Shan said softly. Blahar said with wide eyes.
“You know? Oh, well, it’s strange not to know. Anyway!”
Blahar, who had been muttering to himself, waved his hand and said.
“It will be difficult to just watch Targayel’s rebellion. If you don’t want me to move, then pay a fair price. I am prepared to take risks here.”
Blahar added in a quiet voice.
“Am I a thrill seeker again?”
...He was a pervert, after all. Elze linked Duke Seraph and Blahar together in her head. If only these guys disappeared from the continent, the world would be a much better place to live. As Elze thought about this, she listed several alternatives she could suggest to Blahar. At that moment, Shan opened her mouth.
“If Your Highness intends to move, we will move too.”
“Huh?”
Blahar narrowed his eyes at Shan's words. Shan lifted his chin slightly and spoke leisurely.
“Targayel will surrender to Heglatan.”
“!!”
The words were spoken in a relaxed tone, but the content was not relaxed at all. Elze, Blahar, and Serev all turned their heads at the same time and looked at Shan. Shan smiled crookedly as his gaze was fixed on me. He said with an evil smile.
“Not to Prince Blahar, but to the King of Heglatan.”
"...Ha?"
Blahar let out a ridiculous laugh. He immediately threw down the mask he was wearing. A deep, muffled voice flowed ominously from Blahar’s lips.
“Are you saying that we should all get screwed right now?”
The light falling from his bright red eyes sparkled. Shan smiled and responded.
“That’s pretty much it.”
Shan ignored Blahar and continued speaking.
“If you interfere with Targayel...”
Shan spoke slowly, pressing down on each word.
“At least Prince Blahar will never become the King of Heglatan.”
“...”
Silence fell in the barracks. Blahar glared at Shan without saying a word. His gaze was terrifying. But Shan was extremely calm in front of Blahar, who was blushing.
Blahar, who realized that getting excited here would only harm himself, quickly controlled his emotions. He muttered in a tone that sounded like he was spitting out curses.
“How shameless...”
Then he smiled again and said,
“Anyway, you’re interesting people, Targayel. I told you I can’t quite follow your train of thought.”
But only his lips were smiling, and there was not a hint of a smile in his eyes. Blahar looked around for a moment. He could see Serev exchanging glances. It seemed as if he was checking which of the several things he had discussed before coming here he would bring up.
After finishing his exchange with Serev, Blahar rested his hand on the table. He spoke bluntly.
“Then let us do this. Overthrow Baluar and create the Targayel Empire.”
His fingers tapped the table a few times. Then Blahar spoke.
“And don’t kick out Duke Seraph, but leave him on the Duke’s throne.”
At Blahar's words, Shan let out a hollow laugh. Shan looked at him and said.
“...You are openly telling us to leave the spy alone.”
“Ah. Wouldn’t I feel more at ease if there were some restrictions like that? This is the maximum concession we can make.”
Blahar asked with a sly grin.
“You’ll accept it, right?”
Elze looked at Shan. And Shan answered.
"Great."
“...!”
Elze tried not to show her surprise. Blahar leaned back, smiling contentedly.
“Yes, negotiation complete.”
Blahar regained his original, bright smile. He pretended to twist his body for no reason as he spoke.
“Now that we’ve pretty much finished talking, shall we have a chat? There’s a lot I want to talk about with Elze.”
Of course, Elze had no intention of chatting with him, so she got up right away. And so did Shan. Shan just threw out some excuse.
“It’s stuffy inside the barracks.”
With a strong will not to stay in the same place as Blahar even for a second, the two of them rushed out of the barracks. As soon as they got out of the barracks, Elze whispered to Shan.
“Are you really going to leave Duke Seraph alone?”
What he has done so far is unforgivable. It would be absurd to leave Duke Seraph alone. But why did he accept Blahar's offer...? Elze looked at him with an expression that seemed incomprehensible, and Shan whispered in return.
“Of course it’s a lie.”
"What?"
Elze, who almost shouted out loud without realizing it, quickly hushed her voice. Shan smiled faintly at Elze’s appearance and whispered.
“After the successful rebellion, why would I listen to Heglatan? There is no need, right?”
“Is that so...?”
“They probably expected this to happen, too. They’ll probably prepare alternatives as well.”
There was a rustling sound and voices from inside the barracks. Blahar's grumbling voice was also heard. It was the sound of Elze and Shan grumbling that they had left without notice. Before Blahar could come out of the barracks, Shan quickly spoke to Elze.
“Anyway, I swore that I would tear off Duke Seraph’s limbs and kill him.”
It was a terrifying statement. Of course, considering Duke Seraph's karma, it was only natural that he would be torn to pieces.
But if Shan had made such a great oath, he should have remembered it, but he couldn't remember it at all. She wondered if he had gone somewhere and said it secretly, but that was ridiculous in its own way. Elze asked Shan slyly.
“When did you say that?”
Shan glanced back at the barracks for a moment and then spoke softly.
“When you were injured in the hunting competition.”
"...Ah."
Elze was badly injured during the hunting competition. She was injured by a poisoned claw while trying to protect Crown Princess Iarin from the hunting dogs. Elze received emergency treatment and passed out from shock.
“I carried you, who had fainted, and announced it to those attending the hunting competition.”
Shan's eyes sank. He spoke slowly to Elze with darkened eyes.
“I will find the mastermind behind this... and in the name of Targayel, I will tear that bastard limb from limb.”
The murderous intent in that voice was desperate and heavy. A chill that penetrated deep into the bones enveloped the body and returned. Shan never forgets his grudge. Elze muttered to him.
“...I can’t live my life sinning against you. I’ll be careful from now on, Shan.”
Shan smiled and took Elze's hand as he spoke.
“You are okay.”
Shan clasped his hands together tightly, his fingers digging in and out, gripping Elze’s hand.
“You can do as many bad things to me as you want and hurt me as you want.”
The purple eyes looked at Elze. The pretty violet eyes were bright and clear, yet dark. The contrasting appearances had a mysterious magic that attracted people. Elze forgot where she was and stared into his eyes absentmindedly.
“I will love you even for that aspect of yourself.”
Shan's eyes slowly drew a line. He gently lifted Elze's hand and brought it to his mouth.
“So, even if someone like Blahar shakes you, don’t fall for it...”
Soft lips touched the back of her hand. With a light kiss, Shan spoke sweetly, as if seducing her.
“Just stay by my side, Elze.”
Today, Ilwooz spent the whole day treating the wounded and hearing confessions from the believers of Ines. Since the precious priest of Ines had come to the border, people who wanted to receive blessings gathered like clouds.
In addition, the rumor about the miracles performed by Ilwooz spread so widely that even people who were not believers in Ines flocked to see him.
It was a tiring day, but he didn't feel tired. It was a rewarding time to spread Ines' name widely. Ilwooz had just taken a sip of tea.
Knock, a somewhat rough knock was heard, and the door opened. Ilwooz tilted his head slightly at the person who appeared. It was Shan Cirxus. Ilwooz looked at him and spoke softly.
“What an unexpected visit...”
Shan walked over to him without saying a word and sat down across from him. It was rude of him to drag a chair without permission, but Ilwooz didn't complain much. This was the normal level of relationship between him and Shan Cirxus.
Ilwooz brought out another teacup and placed it in front of Shan. Then he poured some tea and asked.
“Is it Elze’s business...?”
Shan answered, raising his eyebrows.
“I know. It seems that Ines tells you all about that too?”
“This is more of a guess than foresight... What else would Lord Cirxus need to come to me for in person...”
“That’s true, though.”
Shan gave a short answer and then picked up a teaspoon that was on the table.
“First, I have something to show you.”
The round teaspoon had no sharp edges. But from the moment it was in Shan’s hands, it was a sharp weapon.
Shan slashed his arm with a teaspoon. The skin along the cut was torn. Ilwooz squinted. It was shocking that Shan had cut his flesh with a teaspoon, but what happened next was even more shocking.
“The wound...”
The wound on the teaspoon bled for a while and then began to heal. Ilwooz was astonished to see the blood vessels reconnecting and the skin regenerating. Shan spoke to him in a calm voice.
“My body is no longer human. I drank poison a while ago, but all I felt was a brief moment of pain.”
“...”
At Shan's words, Ilwooz bit the flesh in his mouth. As the millennium approached, Shan was becoming less human. Although he had not manifested any evil, his body was changing to match his original nature.
Shan must have guessed these facts to some extent. However, he wondered why he had come to him to tell him. Ilwooz was in a position where he could not help but be hostile to Shan, so there would be no benefit in telling him these things.
Shan told the puzzled Ilwooz about the problem Elze was worried about. The topic of infertility was sensitive and not something to be talked about lightly. However, there was a reason Shan had come to see Ilwooz.
“I was wondering if I might be the cause...”
He muttered with slightly darkened eyes.
“I came to ask you because I thought you might know something.”
Shan came to Ilwooz because he was worried that the physical changes that had come to him might be a problem. He had to swallow his pride. Ilwooz was so surprised that he forgot to drink his tea and just stared blankly at him.
This man really doesn't care about anything when it comes to things involving Lady Elze. Ilwooz blankly held his teacup in his hand for a while before coming to his senses and answering.
“I guess both of you are special cases... There could be many variables..."
Then he put the teacup down on the table and spoke calmly.
“I will contact Inesian and have the priests look up the records...”
"Thank you."
Shan, who had given a polite thank you, finally took a sip of tea. Then he immediately frowned.
“You really are good at drinking such tasteless stuff.”
Ilwooz just laughed at his grumbling. Shan put down his teacup rudely in front of the smiling Ilwooz and said.
“I will tell my subordinates to send you some delicious tea leaves. Yes, that’s all for now.”
Shan then stormed out. After he left, Ilwooz smiled to himself for a long time. Anyway, he was a person who was self-centered and unpalatable, but he was someone you couldn't completely hate.
***
Targayel stayed with Count Mafell for about a month.
The reason it took longer than expected was that it took a long time to stabilize the territory while communicating with the royal family so that Hayden could inherit the title of Count Mapel.
Hayden, who suddenly became a Count, had many shortcomings. Hayden had prepared diligently, but he was still weak in practical matters. As Elze taught him how to run his territory and communicate with other lords on the border to strengthen his power, time flew by.
Hayden was partly to blame for this. Targayel liked staying in Mapel, so he secretly encouraged him to stay.
For various reasons, a month passed, and spring was approaching.
Elze, Shan, and Hayden sat in the living room, having tea and talking about their plans for the future.
“When the weather clears, Targayel’s second contingent will arrive, so we should tour the other territories along the border.”
“Is that so? You’re leaving Mapel... It’s such a shame.”
Hayden answered gloomily in front of Shan, who was thinking of leaving Count Mapel when the second troop arrived. Hayden's appearance was cute, but he could not stay in Mapel any longer.
The lords of the border were united around Count Mapel, but there was a world of difference between simply exchanging contacts and Targayel personally visiting and confirming his power.
In addition, the imperial court was also keeping a close eye on Targayel's movements. Targayel, who had fled under the pretense of patrolling the border, had to at least make a show of moving. While Targayel patrolled the border, Mapel would now act as Targayel's central force on the border.
The three were discussing the way forward.
A maid's scream was heard from outside. Then the door burst open with a loud crash.
“Count! Urgent news!!”
Liv burst through the door and delivered the shocking news with a stiff face.
“His Majesty the Emperor has passed away...!”
It was the sudden death of the Emperor.
***
It was truly an emergency. The urgent news that had just arrived was from Marle in the capital. An official document would soon arrive from the imperial court.
When the official document arrives, Targayel is summoned to the capital for the funeral of the late Emperor. Excluding his vassals, only Count and Countess of Targayel, Shan, and Elze are summoned.
She couldn't bring her men up with them. Since they were moving troops, she knew that even if she reported that she was going with them, they would be stopped as a subversive act.
The knights of Targayel who remained in the capital were unable to escort Shan and Elze. They were so outnumbered that Duke Seraph could easily push them back if he wanted to. In fact, it was a situation where they were being dragged to a deadly place.
All of Targayel gathered urgently to discuss the current situation. As everyone gathered with serious expressions, Shan opened his mouth.
“I guess it would be right to assume that it was Seraph’s doing.”
Liv took Shan's words and said:
“That’s right. It’s a stretch to think that the Emperor, who had been holding on so well until now, would die at such a precise time.”
After Liv finished speaking, everyone fell into silence. Everyone was thinking the same thing.
Time. Time was absolutely lacking.
If only they had a little more time, they could have gone ahead with their original plan. When the weather cleared and Targayel's second contingent arrived, they would calmly increase their forces on the border and reorganize their military.
So they were planning to move when everything was perfectly ready... but suddenly the tables turned. Duke Seraph also knew that it would be difficult to defeat Targayel once he became a full-fledged being, so he had come to take advantage of the weak point. Shan said, shaking the letter from Marle in his hand.
“In the current situation, we have no choice but to go along with Duke Seraph’s wishes. Marle also expressed that opinion.”
He put the letter down on the table and spoke slowly, looking around the room.
“There is only one way left.”
Everyone's faces became tense the moment they heard Shan's words. Hayden, who had joined the meeting absentmindedly but still had no idea what was going on, was the only one who rolled his eyes here and there. And Hayden's eyes widened at Shan's subsequent words.
“The funeral day is the day of the event.”
Unless he's an idiot, there's no way he wouldn't know what Shan is talking about.
Hayden had not yet been told about the betrayal, so Hayden was learning of Targayel's betrayal for the first time here.
"Ah..."
Hayden, flustered, let out an incomprehensible sound without realizing it. He quickly covered his mouth. But his face was pale. Elze sighed lightly and spoke to him.
“Hayden, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance. I was planning on explaining it to you slowly...”
Because the incident happened so suddenly, she couldn't tell Hayden. She was really embarrassed, thinking about how much of a surprise it was. But unlike Elze, who was worried, Hayden shook his head.
“Oh, no. I was just a little surprised.”
He said, clenching his fists.
“I can handle it. I am a vassal of Targayel.”
Astin naturally came to mind when she saw his young appearance and his passionate appearance. Elze smiled with a much more relaxed heart. Shan, who saw Elze smile, frowned for a moment without showing it and then said.
“We should also look at neighboring countries.”
“For one thing, wouldn’t Britain be friendly to Targayel?”
Shan nodded in agreement with Elze's opinion.
“First of all, it is highly likely.”
The Prince of Britain was a huge fan of Shan. If not, there was also a time when the King, Prince, and Shan had a meeting without Baluar's knowledge.
At that time, Shan was attacked by Heglatan. However, to avoid making a big deal out of it, Shan and the royal family of Britain joined forces to keep the incident a secret from Baluar. From then on, the meeting between the three became a kind of chain that bound Targayel and the royal family of Britain.
In this situation, when Targayel showed his intention to rebel, it was not easy for Britain to expel Targayel. Even if he did not actively help, he would at least pretend not to know.
Ilwooz, who was sitting in his seat, spoke in a soft voice.
“The Kingdom of Ryeo has promised to aid Targayel...”
He said with a faint smile.
“Her words are my guarantee... so you can rest assured...”
There was no need to doubt it since it was Ilwooz's words. Everyone had an expression that seemed to have overcome a crisis. Only Hayden and Liv, who did not know that he was Ilwoox, looked curious. Liv tilted her head for a moment, then raised his hand and expressed his opinion.
“Then let’s say that’s what happens... Currently, Heglatan is the biggest obstacle.”
Blahar's original plan would have been this. Join hands with Duke Seraph of Baluar, continue to dig up secrets of the Baluar Empire, and prepare for war. Then, started the Prince's Rebellion and became the Emperor of Heglatan.
After settling the civil war, he starts a war with Baluar. Baluar, who is accustomed to peace, is unable to properly fight back. Furthermore, he has an internal spy named Duke Seraph, so he is sure to lose.
After Heglatan took over the empire, he probably agreed to give Duke Seraph the position of governor of the colony. However, a sudden variable arose.
Targayel's Rebellion.
Heglatan had been keeping an eye on Targayel but had not yet considered that they would rebel. From here, a fierce battle of wits between Heglatan and Targayel began.
The moment Heglatan intervenes in Targayel's rebellion, the risk and probability of failure skyrockets. Heglatan is in a situation where he cannot afford to miss the opportunity of Targayel's rebellion. It is advantageous to attack while Valuar is in chaos.
However, Blahar had not yet become Emperor. At this point, if he had taken it upon himself, he might have won the war. However, after waging war and swallowing up even Baluar, there was a possibility that he would have ended up doing someone else a favor.
In addition, they had to consider the possibility of a shortage of troops in the Prince's Rebellion that would occur later or the risk of a backlash from Baluar. In this situation, there was only one ideal way for Targayel and Heglatan to be satisfied with each other.
Targayel swallowed Baluar, Heglatan started a civil war, and Blahar became Emperor. Then, they fought each other head-on.
“...Should we have a conversation?”
Shan muttered softly. Then, Rapine asked a question in a worried voice.
“But would Blahar like to talk to us?”
Everyone's expressions darkened at Rapine's words. Blahar could not have been unaware that he was in an advantageous position.
In fact, the one who was most regrettable in the current situation was Targayel. If Heglatan had invaded during the rebellion, it would have been a fatal blow to Targayel.
If they didn't keep a close eye on Heglatan's movements, Targayel would have to act like they were holding a bomb during the rebellion. Naturally, their movements would be restricted, and it would be difficult to plan their operations. Shan said with a frown.
“There’s a high chance that he’ll refuse to talk. It’s to Blahar’s advantage to not reveal his position.”
Liv said, grimacing as he followed Shan.
“But shouldn’t we at least try?”
“Of course, we will try. But the problem is that if we send a messenger, he might be killed or taken hostage.”
It was a basic courtesy to send a messenger as a vassal at the very least. However, if Heglatan refused to talk to Targayel, the safety of the person sent as a messenger could not be guaranteed.
The already serious atmosphere became even more serious. Everyone was seriously contemplating how to overcome this situation. At that moment, Elze, who was watching, intervened and said a word.
“Well... maybe we can talk?”
Everyone looked at Elze. They seemed to be wondering what on earth made her so certain. Elze spoke with a trembling expression.
“Because I’m here.”
***
Elze's remark was by no means an exaggeration. Just as Elze had expected, Blahar was moved by Elze.
It was Rapine who went as the messenger of Targayel. Rapine, who had been to Heglatan, shook his head and told Elze his thoughts.
“At first I was indifferent, but as soon as I heard that the captain was coming, I was very happy...”
When Rapine first went to see Blahar, he was openly arrogant.
"I don't know what I should regret to talk to Targayel."
But Blahar's attitude completely changed when he heard that Elze was coming.
"Elze is coming?"
Then, he made a fuss, saying that he would run at any moment and tell them the date and place quickly.
“The aide beside me had a displeased expression. But I know that he has nothing to lose by talking to Targayel. I received a clear answer without a hitch.”
Elze thought of Serev Kamish, Blahar's aide. It was not hard to imagine him furrowing his brows at Blahar's commotion. Rapine, talking about this and that, looked at Elze for a moment. He hesitated and then asked Elze.
“But how can you be so sure?”
The question was vague, but Elze knew what was being asked. Elze shrugged and answered.
“Prince Blahar looked at me with the same eyes.”
"Yes?"
“The way Duke Seraph looks at me. And you know what happened because of him, right?”
“Ah... I see.”
It was Rapine who went as the messenger of Targayel. Rapine, who had been to Heglatan, shook his head and told Elze his thoughts.
“At first I was indifferent, but as soon as I heard that the captain was coming, I was very happy...”
When Rapine first went to see Blahar, he was openly arrogant.
"I don't know what I should regret to talk to Targayel."
But Blahar's attitude completely changed when he heard that Elze was coming.
"Elze is coming?"
Then, he made a fuss, saying that he would run at any moment and tell them the date and place quickly.
“The aide beside me had a displeased expression. But I know that he has nothing to lose by talking to Targayel. I received a clear answer without a hitch.”
Elze thought of Serev Kamish, Blahar's aide. It was not hard to imagine him furrowing his brows at Blahar's commotion. Rapine, talking about this and that, looked at Elze for a moment. He hesitated and then asked Elze.
“But how can you be so sure?”
The question was vague, but Elze knew what was being asked. Elze shrugged and answered.
“Prince Blahar looked at me with the same eyes.”
"Yes?"
“The way Duke Seraph looks at me. And you know what happened because of him, right?”
“Ah... I see.”
Somehow, Rapine's face suddenly became one of understanding. He looked at Elze with eyes full of sympathy, then patted her shoulder and said.
“Cheer up, Captain.”
“....”
Elze let out a big sigh at Rapine's consolation.
***
The place where they had made an appointment to meet Blahar was the border. Heglatan would set up camp there and notify the location, and Targayel would go to find them. They even decided on the number of knights they would bring as escorts and made thorough preparations.
Since both groups had clear goals, the conversation didn't seem like it would last long, but as expected, you don't know until you talk to them directly.
Although the weather had warmed up considerably, it was still cold, perhaps because it was in the area bordering Heglatan. Elze ended up wearing several layers of clothing, as Shan had dressed her up in various things. As a result, she went to the conference room looking fat, like a hibernating bear.
Entering the barracks was normal. It was the moment when Elze entered the barracks first, confirming that there were no weapons.
“Wow!”
Blahar burst out of the barracks with a bang. He tried to hug Elze, but Elze, who had already sensed the presence from outside the barracks, easily dodged Blahar. Blahar almost fell over but barely managed to catch his balance. Elze looked at him with a pitiful face and scolded him.
“What are you doing?”
Elze's informal speech stirred the surroundings. Elze, who had unintentionally spoken informally, also felt sorry. Since she had been speaking informally to Blahar since their first meeting, it came out unknowingly.
But Blahar waved his hand. The knights on Heglatan's side immediately shut their mouths at the signal to not pay attention. Blahar smiled broadly and spoke to Elze.
“Oh, I thought a surprise attack would have been successful. What a shame.”
He muttered, “As expected, you have good reflexes,” and smiled as he belatedly greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Elze. And...”
Blahar's gaze slowly moved backwards. The face that had been calm just a moment ago suddenly changed into a bug-bitten expression. He called the name.
“Shan Cirxus.”
Shan responded to Blahar with a twisted smile.
“It is an honor to meet you again, Your Highness.”
Blahar's eyes lit up at the word 'Your Highness'. Shan had hit him squarely on the word he hated the most.
Shan's eyes were filled with pleasure as he saw Blahar feeling bad. In any case, Blahar was not in his right mind, but Shan also had a rather bad taste. If you look closely, every time they met, Blahar would get on his nerves. Elze grabbed Shan's arm and spoke softly.
“Come in and talk.”
Under Elze's guidance, the group finally settled into the barracks. The number of people inside the barracks was small. Blahar and Serev represented Heglatan, while Elze and Shan represented Targayel.
Although there were only four of them, the spacious barracks didn't feel empty at all. Rather, it felt cramped. This was because only people with distinct personalities and strong presence were gathered there.
“Yes, sit down.”
Blahar acted uncomfortably. He pulled out a chair for Elze to sit on and even volunteered to be her servant. He looked very excited. He laughed with a faint blush on his face, and at first glance, he looked really innocent.
But Elze, who knew that there were hundreds of snakes living inside, was simply disgusted. Elze coldly drew a line at him.
“Don’t pretend to be friendly.”
At Elze's words, Shan couldn't hide his laughter and smiled broadly. However, Blahar stubbornly clung to Elze.
“What formality is there between us? Speak informally, speak informally.”
He said with a wink.
“We’ve known each other so closely, even in our most intimate places, right?”
“...”
Elze was about to say something to Blahar but stopped. The more she dealt with him, the more he got involved. Shan also knew that Blahar was doing it on purpose, so he didn't get involved and just hung up. Shan pulled up a chair and said.
“How about we stop here, Your Highness?”
And the four of them sat down and faced each other. They faced each other across the square conference table and remained silent for a moment. Blahar smiled faintly, and Shan was expressionless. But their eyes, as if they were going to devour each other, were the same.
And Elze, who was stuck in it, felt like she was going to die. Being stuck between Shan and Blahar, she felt like her life was being shortened in real time. Elze was determined to end this meeting as quickly and swiftly as possible, for her own sake.
Blahar folded his hands and rested them under his chin. He asked with a grin.
“So, why did you come to me?”
The gaze was naturally directed at Elze. Elze glanced at Shan, then spoke to Blahar.
“Have you heard the news that His Majesty the Emperor of Baluar has passed away?”
But instead of answering, Blahar pouted his lips and said.
“If you don’t speak informally, I won’t answer you.”
It was the way of a person who was sorry to dig a well. Elze made a sound and then changed her tone to informal speech.
“...Did you hear?”
Then Blahar smiled brightly as if he had been waiting for that moment.
"Yes!"
Anyway, that damn idiot... Elze cursed Blahar ten times in her mind. Blahar chuckled, then opened his eyes and whispered languidly.
“Is that what you want? For me to remain quiet while you rebel.”
As expected, Blahar was watching everything. Elze answered his words neatly without adding much.
"That's right."
“Huh... So?”
Blahar nodded and asked.
“Then what are you going to give me? Will you give me Elze?”
It was a playful tone. However, there was a dark desire in his red eyes. As they stared at each other, Elze felt a chill in her chest, so she blinked for a moment.
She had to get her wits about her. If she made a single mistake, either Blahar or Shan would explode. Then, it wouldn't be a big deal to blow up a barracks. Elze spoke as if she was walking on a tightrope bridge over a cliff.
“I tell you over and over again, I am a person, not an object.”
“Haha!”
Although she said it seriously, Blahar seemed to find it funny. He laughed alone for a long time while no one else was laughing. He laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. Blahar wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes and said.
“But what should I do? I promised my friend in Baluar.”
Friend? It was an inappropriate word. Elze wondered if the word appeared out of nowhere, and as expected, Blahar leaned back in his chair and spoke.
“Heglatan said they would protect Baluar.”
It was obvious what he meant by protecting them. He meant that he would invade Baluar and make it a colony. And as for the talk about friends...
“Are you talking about Duke Seraph?”
Shan said softly. Blahar said with wide eyes.
“You know? Oh, well, it’s strange not to know. Anyway!”
Blahar, who had been muttering to himself, waved his hand and said.
“It will be difficult to just watch Targayel’s rebellion. If you don’t want me to move, then pay a fair price. I am prepared to take risks here.”
Blahar added in a quiet voice.
“Am I a thrill seeker again?”
...He was a pervert, after all. Elze linked Duke Seraph and Blahar together in her head. If only these guys disappeared from the continent, the world would be a much better place to live. As Elze thought about this, she listed several alternatives she could suggest to Blahar. At that moment, Shan opened her mouth.
“If Your Highness intends to move, we will move too.”
“Huh?”
Blahar narrowed his eyes at Shan's words. Shan lifted his chin slightly and spoke leisurely.
“Targayel will surrender to Heglatan.”
“!!”
The words were spoken in a relaxed tone, but the content was not relaxed at all. Elze, Blahar, and Serev all turned their heads at the same time and looked at Shan. Shan smiled crookedly as his gaze was fixed on me. He said with an evil smile.
“Not to Prince Blahar, but to the King of Heglatan.”
"...Ha?"
Blahar let out a ridiculous laugh. He immediately threw down the mask he was wearing. A deep, muffled voice flowed ominously from Blahar’s lips.
“Are you saying that we should all get screwed right now?”
The light falling from his bright red eyes sparkled. Shan smiled and responded.
“That’s pretty much it.”
Shan ignored Blahar and continued speaking.
“If you interfere with Targayel...”
Shan spoke slowly, pressing down on each word.
“At least Prince Blahar will never become the King of Heglatan.”
“...”
Silence fell in the barracks. Blahar glared at Shan without saying a word. His gaze was terrifying. But Shan was extremely calm in front of Blahar, who was blushing.
Blahar, who realized that getting excited here would only harm himself, quickly controlled his emotions. He muttered in a tone that sounded like he was spitting out curses.
“How shameless...”
Then he smiled again and said,
“Anyway, you’re interesting people, Targayel. I told you I can’t quite follow your train of thought.”
But only his lips were smiling, and there was not a hint of a smile in his eyes. Blahar looked around for a moment. He could see Serev exchanging glances. It seemed as if he was checking which of the several things he had discussed before coming here he would bring up.
After finishing his exchange with Serev, Blahar rested his hand on the table. He spoke bluntly.
“Then let us do this. Overthrow Baluar and create the Targayel Empire.”
His fingers tapped the table a few times. Then Blahar spoke.
“And don’t kick out Duke Seraph, but leave him on the Duke’s throne.”
At Blahar's words, Shan let out a hollow laugh. Shan looked at him and said.
“...You are openly telling us to leave the spy alone.”
“Ah. Wouldn’t I feel more at ease if there were some restrictions like that? This is the maximum concession we can make.”
Blahar asked with a sly grin.
“You’ll accept it, right?”
Elze looked at Shan. And Shan answered.
"Great."
“...!”
Elze tried not to show her surprise. Blahar leaned back, smiling contentedly.
“Yes, negotiation complete.”
Blahar regained his original, bright smile. He pretended to twist his body for no reason as he spoke.
“Now that we’ve pretty much finished talking, shall we have a chat? There’s a lot I want to talk about with Elze.”
Of course, Elze had no intention of chatting with him, so she got up right away. And so did Shan. Shan just threw out some excuse.
“It’s stuffy inside the barracks.”
With a strong will not to stay in the same place as Blahar even for a second, the two of them rushed out of the barracks. As soon as they got out of the barracks, Elze whispered to Shan.
“Are you really going to leave Duke Seraph alone?”
What he has done so far is unforgivable. It would be absurd to leave Duke Seraph alone. But why did he accept Blahar's offer...? Elze looked at him with an expression that seemed incomprehensible, and Shan whispered in return.
“Of course it’s a lie.”
"What?"
Elze, who almost shouted out loud without realizing it, quickly hushed her voice. Shan smiled faintly at Elze’s appearance and whispered.
“After the successful rebellion, why would I listen to Heglatan? There is no need, right?”
“Is that so...?”
“They probably expected this to happen, too. They’ll probably prepare alternatives as well.”
There was a rustling sound and voices from inside the barracks. Blahar's grumbling voice was also heard. It was the sound of Elze and Shan grumbling that they had left without notice. Before Blahar could come out of the barracks, Shan quickly spoke to Elze.
“Anyway, I swore that I would tear off Duke Seraph’s limbs and kill him.”
It was a terrifying statement. Of course, considering Duke Seraph's karma, it was only natural that he would be torn to pieces.
But if Shan had made such a great oath, he should have remembered it, but he couldn't remember it at all. She wondered if he had gone somewhere and said it secretly, but that was ridiculous in its own way. Elze asked Shan slyly.
“When did you say that?”
Shan glanced back at the barracks for a moment and then spoke softly.
“When you were injured in the hunting competition.”
"...Ah."
Elze was badly injured during the hunting competition. She was injured by a poisoned claw while trying to protect Crown Princess Iarin from the hunting dogs. Elze received emergency treatment and passed out from shock.
“I carried you, who had fainted, and announced it to those attending the hunting competition.”
Shan's eyes sank. He spoke slowly to Elze with darkened eyes.
“I will find the mastermind behind this... and in the name of Targayel, I will tear that bastard limb from limb.”
The murderous intent in that voice was desperate and heavy. A chill that penetrated deep into the bones enveloped the body and returned. Shan never forgets his grudge. Elze muttered to him.
“...I can’t live my life sinning against you. I’ll be careful from now on, Shan.”
Shan smiled and took Elze's hand as he spoke.
“You are okay.”
Shan clasped his hands together tightly, his fingers digging in and out, gripping Elze’s hand.
“You can do as many bad things to me as you want and hurt me as you want.”
The purple eyes looked at Elze. The pretty violet eyes were bright and clear, yet dark. The contrasting appearances had a mysterious magic that attracted people. Elze forgot where she was and stared into his eyes absentmindedly.
“I will love you even for that aspect of yourself.”
Shan's eyes slowly drew a line. He gently lifted Elze's hand and brought it to his mouth.
“So, even if someone like Blahar shakes you, don’t fall for it...”
Soft lips touched the back of her hand. With a light kiss, Shan spoke sweetly, as if seducing her.
“Just stay by my side, Elze.”
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