“Don’t close your eyes. I told you to open them.”
His hand caressed the corner of my eye.
Just the touch of his fingertips sent a tingling sensation through my entire body.
It felt as if every bodily function had lost its purpose, waiting only for his touch.
“What do you do... watch?”
“Haa... Your Majesty.”
“Name, call my name.”
“Linel...!”
I couldn’t keep my eyes open...
My toes began to curl under his gentle touch.
Despite his careful movements, I couldn’t maintain a noble expression.
My tightly shut lips kept parting.
He was relaxed, but that only made me more impatient.
“Even if we hold each other so tightly, there must still be a gap between us, right?”
Linel asked quietly.
Every inch of my skin where his lips touched and then left seemed to bloom like a red rose.
“My body may be like that, but my heart is completely filled.”
Were the words he whispered feathered?
His voice tickled every nook and cranny of my body.
“Every time I held you, I wanted to tell you...”
Linel finished speaking, but his eyes still spoke volumes.
I stared at his face in silence, wanting to cherish this lingering feeling.
The sound of his kisses filled the silence.
The light kiss deepened.
He slowly began to pour out his passion.
I was left to wallow in ecstasy. I suddenly wondered how much time had passed, how long he would torment me, what words had escaped my lips just now. Then, he raised his head again, met my gaze, and looked down at me.
He gazed into my eyes for a moment, then whispered softly,
“I won’t rush.”
What?
His voice was sweet, but his words were harsh.
I could rush, right?
“I’ll take it slow...”
Was there really any need?
“But, I can’t stop.”
Ah, I like that.
My head, which had been tilting sideways, followed a slight crooked line, nodded contentedly at his last words.
He had revealed his immense ambitions, but his face quickly returned to that of an innocent boy.
Was he perhaps waiting for my answer?
“Don’t stop,”
I said shyly, but his eyes darted out, threatening to leave me alone if I stopped.
He slowly covered my lips, and I hugged his waist.
I could feel the curves of his shirtless body in my hands.
We were completely close, embracing each other.
My heart raced, but his love flowed calmly into me.
His eyes, sparkling with love, were focused solely on me. Perhaps my gaze was too blatant, but he smiled shyly.
My arms tightened around him.
His expression remained calm, but his actions were gradually changing.
He finally held me for a long time, as if he had to go somewhere urgently.
In his comfortable and peaceful embrace, I received an endless outpouring of his love.
“I love you...”
I blurted out, feeling like I was going to cry if I continued like this, and it just so happened to be “love. ”
I held back my tears, but it seemed to have touched his tear ducts.
Linel shed tears.
“Do you love me?”
He asked, still wiping away the tears that were streaming down my face.
“Yes, I love you.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words, but like someone who couldn’t control the emotions they evoked, he began to frantically explore my lips.
This night, our love, everything was deepening.
“I love you, I love you, I really love you...!”
The same words came back to me over and over again.
Linel was like a broken doll.
But that broken doll was so wonderful and lovable that I had no intention of fixing it.
“Enough,”
I playfully covered his mouth.
“Speaking? Or what you were doing?”
He seemed upset if either was interrupted.
I tapped my lips with my index finger and said what I wanted.
“Why don’t you just kiss me and tell me how much you love me?”
“Then conversation is out of the question.”
His lips brushed mine as he spoke his final words.
I tried to reply, but my voice seeped into his, drowned out by the soft sensation of his presence.
Our breaths strangely tangled.
There was nothing between him and me that wasn't love.
Prince Tesla arrived at the annex and, without a moment to catch his breath, found Grand Duke Martins's room.
"Are you coming from the Empress's Palace? Where is Princess Resilia?"
Grand Duke Martins was already waiting for Prince Tesla.
"She didn't take her away because she ruined Zelda's wedding dress."
"Yes? Then why did the Empress take the Princess..."
Grand Duke Martins, who already knew everything from Zelda's note, feigned surprise as if hearing it for the first time.
"The rumors you heard were true. Empress Roxana had the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword!"
"Did Empress Roxana herself confess that?"
"Yes."
"Surprising? To say something like that so easily."
Grand Duke Martins pretended not to know anything, keeping up with Prince Tesla's conversation.
"She suspects us."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword went missing last night."
"Yes?! Does Empress Roxana really think we stole them?"
"Yes, that idiot, Resilia, did something suspicious in front of the Empress's vanity yesterday. Damn it!"
"This..."
Grand Duke Martins sighed, turning his head slightly to the side, one corner of his mouth raised.
It was expected.
That's why he had deliberately mentioned the cosmetics of the Principality of Aklatto to Princess Resilia.
"It's going to be a bad day. Empress Roxana is convinced we stole them and is using Resilia to threaten her."
Prince Tesla slammed his teeth on the table and ground his teeth.
“Ruining Zelda’s wedding dress and taking her to the Empress’s Palace was just an excuse, and she's taking Princess Resilia hostage.”
“That’s what I mean.”
“This has become so unfair. If we had known this would happen, we should have acted sooner.”
“That’s what I meant! Who the hell stole it?”
At that moment, a knock was heard on Grand Duke Martins’ door, and his knight escort, Sir Rolf, entered.
“What’s going on?”
“I have urgent news to tell you, Grand Duke.”
“Excuse me for a moment, Your Highness.”
Grand Duke Martins approached Sir Rolf, who was standing at the door.
The two exchanged glances, and as they had agreed beforehand, Sir Rolf began to report in a hushed voice.
Prince Tesla glanced at the two, wondering what was going on.
When the name ‘Zelda’ was mentioned in the conversation, Prince Tesla frowned.
“Your Highness.”
Archduke Martins dismissed Sir Rolf, then approached quickly with a serious expression.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but... I think I’ve found out the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword.”
“Is that true? Where, where the hell is it right now?! Yes?!”
Prince Tesla asked, glaring.
“I think it’s probably Her Highness Zelda.”
“...What? Who? Are you saying Zelda stole the Incarnation Sword?”
Prince Tesla asked with a hollow laugh.
“She wouldn’t have done it herself, would she? She probably used the Magic Tower Master or Commander Macrom?”
“Well, how could someone like her have infiltrated the Empress’s Palace herself? But how did you find out? You have to have some basis for your claim.”
“Just in case, I planted someone in Her Highness Zelda’s new residence. She saw the sword in the dressing room while she was tidying up the bedroom. She said she saw a red jewel embedded in the hilt... I think that could be...?”
His hand caressed the corner of my eye.
Just the touch of his fingertips sent a tingling sensation through my entire body.
It felt as if every bodily function had lost its purpose, waiting only for his touch.
“What do you do... watch?”
“Haa... Your Majesty.”
“Name, call my name.”
“Linel...!”
I couldn’t keep my eyes open...
My toes began to curl under his gentle touch.
Despite his careful movements, I couldn’t maintain a noble expression.
My tightly shut lips kept parting.
He was relaxed, but that only made me more impatient.
“Even if we hold each other so tightly, there must still be a gap between us, right?”
Linel asked quietly.
Every inch of my skin where his lips touched and then left seemed to bloom like a red rose.
“My body may be like that, but my heart is completely filled.”
Were the words he whispered feathered?
His voice tickled every nook and cranny of my body.
“Every time I held you, I wanted to tell you...”
Linel finished speaking, but his eyes still spoke volumes.
I stared at his face in silence, wanting to cherish this lingering feeling.
The sound of his kisses filled the silence.
The light kiss deepened.
He slowly began to pour out his passion.
I was left to wallow in ecstasy. I suddenly wondered how much time had passed, how long he would torment me, what words had escaped my lips just now. Then, he raised his head again, met my gaze, and looked down at me.
He gazed into my eyes for a moment, then whispered softly,
“I won’t rush.”
What?
His voice was sweet, but his words were harsh.
I could rush, right?
“I’ll take it slow...”
Was there really any need?
“But, I can’t stop.”
Ah, I like that.
My head, which had been tilting sideways, followed a slight crooked line, nodded contentedly at his last words.
He had revealed his immense ambitions, but his face quickly returned to that of an innocent boy.
Was he perhaps waiting for my answer?
“Don’t stop,”
I said shyly, but his eyes darted out, threatening to leave me alone if I stopped.
He slowly covered my lips, and I hugged his waist.
I could feel the curves of his shirtless body in my hands.
We were completely close, embracing each other.
My heart raced, but his love flowed calmly into me.
His eyes, sparkling with love, were focused solely on me. Perhaps my gaze was too blatant, but he smiled shyly.
My arms tightened around him.
His expression remained calm, but his actions were gradually changing.
He finally held me for a long time, as if he had to go somewhere urgently.
In his comfortable and peaceful embrace, I received an endless outpouring of his love.
“I love you...”
I blurted out, feeling like I was going to cry if I continued like this, and it just so happened to be “love. ”
I held back my tears, but it seemed to have touched his tear ducts.
Linel shed tears.
“Do you love me?”
He asked, still wiping away the tears that were streaming down my face.
“Yes, I love you.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words, but like someone who couldn’t control the emotions they evoked, he began to frantically explore my lips.
This night, our love, everything was deepening.
“I love you, I love you, I really love you...!”
The same words came back to me over and over again.
Linel was like a broken doll.
But that broken doll was so wonderful and lovable that I had no intention of fixing it.
“Enough,”
I playfully covered his mouth.
“Speaking? Or what you were doing?”
He seemed upset if either was interrupted.
I tapped my lips with my index finger and said what I wanted.
“Why don’t you just kiss me and tell me how much you love me?”
“Then conversation is out of the question.”
His lips brushed mine as he spoke his final words.
I tried to reply, but my voice seeped into his, drowned out by the soft sensation of his presence.
Our breaths strangely tangled.
There was nothing between him and me that wasn't love.
***
Prince Tesla arrived at the annex and, without a moment to catch his breath, found Grand Duke Martins's room.
"Are you coming from the Empress's Palace? Where is Princess Resilia?"
Grand Duke Martins was already waiting for Prince Tesla.
"She didn't take her away because she ruined Zelda's wedding dress."
"Yes? Then why did the Empress take the Princess..."
Grand Duke Martins, who already knew everything from Zelda's note, feigned surprise as if hearing it for the first time.
"The rumors you heard were true. Empress Roxana had the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword!"
"Did Empress Roxana herself confess that?"
"Yes."
"Surprising? To say something like that so easily."
Grand Duke Martins pretended not to know anything, keeping up with Prince Tesla's conversation.
"She suspects us."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems the wyvern egg and the Avatar Sword went missing last night."
"Yes?! Does Empress Roxana really think we stole them?"
"Yes, that idiot, Resilia, did something suspicious in front of the Empress's vanity yesterday. Damn it!"
"This..."
Grand Duke Martins sighed, turning his head slightly to the side, one corner of his mouth raised.
It was expected.
That's why he had deliberately mentioned the cosmetics of the Principality of Aklatto to Princess Resilia.
"It's going to be a bad day. Empress Roxana is convinced we stole them and is using Resilia to threaten her."
Prince Tesla slammed his teeth on the table and ground his teeth.
“Ruining Zelda’s wedding dress and taking her to the Empress’s Palace was just an excuse, and she's taking Princess Resilia hostage.”
“That’s what I mean.”
“This has become so unfair. If we had known this would happen, we should have acted sooner.”
“That’s what I meant! Who the hell stole it?”
At that moment, a knock was heard on Grand Duke Martins’ door, and his knight escort, Sir Rolf, entered.
“What’s going on?”
“I have urgent news to tell you, Grand Duke.”
“Excuse me for a moment, Your Highness.”
Grand Duke Martins approached Sir Rolf, who was standing at the door.
The two exchanged glances, and as they had agreed beforehand, Sir Rolf began to report in a hushed voice.
Prince Tesla glanced at the two, wondering what was going on.
When the name ‘Zelda’ was mentioned in the conversation, Prince Tesla frowned.
“Your Highness.”
Archduke Martins dismissed Sir Rolf, then approached quickly with a serious expression.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but... I think I’ve found out the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword.”
“Is that true? Where, where the hell is it right now?! Yes?!”
Prince Tesla asked, glaring.
“I think it’s probably Her Highness Zelda.”
“...What? Who? Are you saying Zelda stole the Incarnation Sword?”
Prince Tesla asked with a hollow laugh.
“She wouldn’t have done it herself, would she? She probably used the Magic Tower Master or Commander Macrom?”
“Well, how could someone like her have infiltrated the Empress’s Palace herself? But how did you find out? You have to have some basis for your claim.”
“Just in case, I planted someone in Her Highness Zelda’s new residence. She saw the sword in the dressing room while she was tidying up the bedroom. She said she saw a red jewel embedded in the hilt... I think that could be...?”
“It’s the Incarnation Sword. It’s the Incarnation Sword!”
Prince Tesla was excited, recalling the hilt of the Incarnation Sword he had seen at the hunting competition when the Demon Lord possessed it.
“I’m not sure,”
Grand Duke Martins said, deliberately emphasizing it once more.
“No. It must be the Incarnation Sword. It is!”
Prince Tesla shouted as if he had seen it with his own eyes.
“What if it really is the Incarnation Sword?”
“We’ll have to steal it from her.”
Prince Tesla smiled wickedly.
“Hmm, that’s the only way to get Princess Resilia out.”
“Are you in your right mind?”
Prince Tesla looked at Grand Duke Martins with a dumbfounded expression.
“Yes?”
“What kind of lunatic would get his hands on the Incarnation Sword and then offer it to the Princess of an island nation!”
“But if that happens, Princess Resilia...”
“Martins, look at the bigger picture.”
Prince Tesla said coldly, cutting off the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke Martins had some idea of how Prince Tesla would react, but he sighed involuntarily when he chose the Incarnation Sword over his sister’s safety without a second thought.
'As expected, Tesla, you are an incorrigible piece of trash.'
“If I kill Zelda, all suspicion will naturally turn to the Empress’s Palace. Then, even Roxana won’t be able to kill Resilia so carelessly.”
Prince Tesla’s face was already flushed with triumph, as if the Incarnation Sword had already come into his hands.
“This is a golden opportunity for me. I can get rid of two thorns in my side, and I can also obtain the Incarnation Sword.”
“Her Highness Zelda is Emperor Linel’s favorite. If my plan fails... what will you do about the consequences?”
When Grand Duke Martins spoke with a feigned seriousness,
“I, this Tesla! Am I not capable of subduing a woman with such swordsmanship?”
Prince Tesla flared up.
With a face of hurt pride, he shouted and began to mutter quietly as if making a promise.
“Zelda, I will kill her with my own hands. With the Avatar Sword...”
“When will you move?”
Grand Duke Martins asked in a low voice.
“The sooner the better. Empress Roxana might smell it first and make her move. Tomorrow night would be good.”
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Your Highness to move yourself? You should have another knight do it just in case...”
“Listen, what if someone else gets their hands on the Avatar Sword and runs away? It’s safest for me to move myself.”
Prince Tesla said firmly.
'Your distrust will ultimately be your downfall, Tesla. I have definitely given you one last chance.'
Grand Duke Martins nodded silently at the prince.
“How about targeting Emperor Linel before he finds his quarters?”
“I agree. There will be plenty of eyes watching during the day, and late at night, he’ll definitely find his quarters.”
“We should scout the area around the quarters as soon as the sun sets tomorrow.”
“Yes, we should take it down early in the evening if possible.”
Confidence crept into Prince Tesla’s face.
“So that Emperor Linel can see our Zelda horribly torn to pieces.”
I opened my eyes in the same bed as Linel.
I felt a sense of camaraderie, like soldiers who had fought together in a fierce battle.
It made sense after our fierce nights together.
After breakfast and before he returned to the main palace, I held him for a long moment.
He thought I was just whining because I didn’t want to leave.
“We’ll see each other again tonight, that’s all.”
Linel patted my back like soothing a child.
“Yes, later tonight... see you.”
I placed his hand on my heart and smiled.
“Are you okay? Is there anything bothering you?”
Rosie asked, looking me up and down with concern.
That afternoon, Rosie and Melanie visited my quarters.
From the moment they entered my new bedroom, they complained about its location.
“I heard this building was abandoned after the blacksmith shop was expanded. How could they have chosen a place like this?”
Melanie grumbled, looking around the room before shaking her head at the clear view of the blacksmith shop outside the window.
“Did you bring what I asked for?”
I had asked Rosie yesterday to procure a ruby, a gem similar to the one embedded in the hilt of the Incarnation Sword.
“Of course!”
Melanie answered, her chin raised.
It seemed Melanie had heard from Rosie, and she had also joined in the hunt for a ruby.
They placed the ruby on the table side by side.
“The ruby you mentioned, the one that Her Highness Melanie brought seems to be more in line with Her Majesty’s wishes than the one I got.”
Rosie assessed the ruby Melanie had brought, touching it.
“I asked my father for it specifically,”
Melanie continued with a smug expression.
“And it’s not a diamond, and finding a ruby that’s smaller than your fist is no easy task. Even Her Highness Catherine’s family would struggle to keep up with ours when it comes to gems.”
Melanie’s smug demeanor made me laugh out loud and say that it was cute, and her cheeks flushed.
“You must have been pressed for time, but thank you all so much.”
I expressed my sincere gratitude.
“But why did you need this?”
"What are you going to do with the ruby?"
Rosie and Melanie asked curiously.
"To make a sword similar to the Avatar Sword. We need this."
I said, picking up the ruby.
Prince Tesla was excited, recalling the hilt of the Incarnation Sword he had seen at the hunting competition when the Demon Lord possessed it.
“I’m not sure,”
Grand Duke Martins said, deliberately emphasizing it once more.
“No. It must be the Incarnation Sword. It is!”
Prince Tesla shouted as if he had seen it with his own eyes.
“What if it really is the Incarnation Sword?”
“We’ll have to steal it from her.”
Prince Tesla smiled wickedly.
“Hmm, that’s the only way to get Princess Resilia out.”
“Are you in your right mind?”
Prince Tesla looked at Grand Duke Martins with a dumbfounded expression.
“Yes?”
“What kind of lunatic would get his hands on the Incarnation Sword and then offer it to the Princess of an island nation!”
“But if that happens, Princess Resilia...”
“Martins, look at the bigger picture.”
Prince Tesla said coldly, cutting off the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke Martins had some idea of how Prince Tesla would react, but he sighed involuntarily when he chose the Incarnation Sword over his sister’s safety without a second thought.
'As expected, Tesla, you are an incorrigible piece of trash.'
“If I kill Zelda, all suspicion will naturally turn to the Empress’s Palace. Then, even Roxana won’t be able to kill Resilia so carelessly.”
Prince Tesla’s face was already flushed with triumph, as if the Incarnation Sword had already come into his hands.
“This is a golden opportunity for me. I can get rid of two thorns in my side, and I can also obtain the Incarnation Sword.”
“Her Highness Zelda is Emperor Linel’s favorite. If my plan fails... what will you do about the consequences?”
When Grand Duke Martins spoke with a feigned seriousness,
“I, this Tesla! Am I not capable of subduing a woman with such swordsmanship?”
Prince Tesla flared up.
With a face of hurt pride, he shouted and began to mutter quietly as if making a promise.
“Zelda, I will kill her with my own hands. With the Avatar Sword...”
“When will you move?”
Grand Duke Martins asked in a low voice.
“The sooner the better. Empress Roxana might smell it first and make her move. Tomorrow night would be good.”
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Your Highness to move yourself? You should have another knight do it just in case...”
“Listen, what if someone else gets their hands on the Avatar Sword and runs away? It’s safest for me to move myself.”
Prince Tesla said firmly.
'Your distrust will ultimately be your downfall, Tesla. I have definitely given you one last chance.'
Grand Duke Martins nodded silently at the prince.
“How about targeting Emperor Linel before he finds his quarters?”
“I agree. There will be plenty of eyes watching during the day, and late at night, he’ll definitely find his quarters.”
“We should scout the area around the quarters as soon as the sun sets tomorrow.”
“Yes, we should take it down early in the evening if possible.”
Confidence crept into Prince Tesla’s face.
“So that Emperor Linel can see our Zelda horribly torn to pieces.”
***
I opened my eyes in the same bed as Linel.
I felt a sense of camaraderie, like soldiers who had fought together in a fierce battle.
It made sense after our fierce nights together.
After breakfast and before he returned to the main palace, I held him for a long moment.
He thought I was just whining because I didn’t want to leave.
“We’ll see each other again tonight, that’s all.”
Linel patted my back like soothing a child.
“Yes, later tonight... see you.”
I placed his hand on my heart and smiled.
***
“Are you okay? Is there anything bothering you?”
Rosie asked, looking me up and down with concern.
That afternoon, Rosie and Melanie visited my quarters.
From the moment they entered my new bedroom, they complained about its location.
“I heard this building was abandoned after the blacksmith shop was expanded. How could they have chosen a place like this?”
Melanie grumbled, looking around the room before shaking her head at the clear view of the blacksmith shop outside the window.
“Did you bring what I asked for?”
I had asked Rosie yesterday to procure a ruby, a gem similar to the one embedded in the hilt of the Incarnation Sword.
“Of course!”
Melanie answered, her chin raised.
It seemed Melanie had heard from Rosie, and she had also joined in the hunt for a ruby.
They placed the ruby on the table side by side.
“The ruby you mentioned, the one that Her Highness Melanie brought seems to be more in line with Her Majesty’s wishes than the one I got.”
Rosie assessed the ruby Melanie had brought, touching it.
“I asked my father for it specifically,”
Melanie continued with a smug expression.
“And it’s not a diamond, and finding a ruby that’s smaller than your fist is no easy task. Even Her Highness Catherine’s family would struggle to keep up with ours when it comes to gems.”
Melanie’s smug demeanor made me laugh out loud and say that it was cute, and her cheeks flushed.
“You must have been pressed for time, but thank you all so much.”
I expressed my sincere gratitude.
“But why did you need this?”
"What are you going to do with the ruby?"
Rosie and Melanie asked curiously.
"To make a sword similar to the Avatar Sword. We need this."
I said, picking up the ruby.
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