(165) It's mine (1)
Soon, those eyes will be filled with shock, suspicion, and wariness. Just as they did when she made a slip of the tongue before, they will turn their backs and push her away.
Ariana clenched her fist and waited for the cold response he would send.
As time passed, which felt incredibly long, there was no change in his gaze. Eventually, the question that flowed from his lips was far removed from what Ariana had expected.
"Then did you live longer than me?"
Ariana's lips parted at the unexpected words. Cyrus watched her eyes widen with a look of slight amusement.
“Is that... important right now?”
"Of course, it doesn't matter. It's just that you seem too nervous."
“I. I caused many people to die because I needed love and wanted to be acknowledged.”
"That’s a relief, then."
Cyrus stroked Ariana's cheek.
"Now, even if you do not want to, there are plenty of people who give you love and acknowledge you."
The gentle comfort actually made her heart ache. She does not deserve to hear such kind words.
"You don't know what I've done."
"Does knowing make a difference?"
Ariana was speechless at the question that came back to jer.
Of course, nothing changed. It was already in the past, and it hadn't even happened in this time.
"You don't even know what I am."
"I know."
Cyrus's face drew closer.
“Ariana White. The Princess of the Eastern Territory, the precious daughter of the Eastern Lord, and the woman I adore.”
“I am not worthy to be my father’s daughter...”
Their lips met again, as if to stop her from speaking. Having accomplished their purpose, the lips pulled away immediately, and Ariana punched him in the chest.
“Why do you keep kissing me, Lord of the North?”
"Because this is the only way that comes to mind to stop such nonsense."
"It seems the Northern Lord kisses whenever you interrupt others."
“There is no need for that. I’ve never been bothered by what others say.”
"So, does what I said bother you?"
"Even the sound of your breath."
He kissed Ariana under the eye.
"Even the trembling of the pupils."
On the eyes, too.
The spasms at the corners of the mouth, too.
Even on the chin.
"Everything is on my nerves, Ariana."
The whispering voice as he kissed meticulously was sweet. Sweet enough to make her harbor the very sweet illusion that she could be forgiven for the sins she had committed.
"I, I've come back in time."
"It seems so."
“I died at 28, but I came back to life. As 16.”
"Yes."
“Isn’t that too strange? Don’t you suspect my true identity? That I might have borrowed the power of a demon, that I might use this power to strangle you... Ugh.”
This kiss was intense.
So cold that she felt like she would get burned by those lips.
She could not regain her senses from his scent flowing in through her parted lips. A moan entwined on her tongue at the sensation she had never experienced before. He swallowed even that, covering Ariana with his own scent.
She clutched the clothes on his chest. Then, even though she scratched him with her fingernails, he paid no attention.
Their breaths intertwined sensually. Her mind, which had been stirring with various thoughts, was filled with deep colors.
Just as she could think of nothing but his intense red eyes, his lips parted. He stared at Ariana with deep eyes as if to devour her and spoke.
“If you’re a devil, I’m a devil, Ariana.”
His palm lingered as it brushed down Ariana's neck and shoulder, then gripped her slender wrist.
“If you are anything, I will be that too.”
Ariana's eyes swelled up. She barely managed to move her lips, glistening with saliva.
"You have something to protect."
"That's you."
His breath overwhelmed her again. Pushed by that force, her upper body was thrown back. With their lips intertwined, he spoke.
"You are the one and only in my life."
He didn't mean to do this. This shouldn't be happening.
Even though he knew it was hasty, Cyrus couldn't stop.
Even though he knew there was nothing more cowardly and disgusting than lusting after a woman steeped in sorrow and pain, his body moved on its own accord. He had wished Ariana would at least curse and struggle, but she was quietly surrendering herself to him.
She was pitiful and lovely as she trembled slightly every time a red mark was imprinted on her tender, transparent flesh. His lips, having traced down her nape and shoulder, passed her forearm and headed toward her fingertips.
Each and every finger was precious, so he carefully kissed and licked them. Each time, Ariana let out a moan filled with heat.
She did not resist even as the clothes covering her were removed. On the contrary, she gazed at Cyrus with her blue eyes as if yearning.
The heat contained in those sky-blue eyes drove Cyrus mad. He had to exercise patience to restrain his body, which was moving roughly like a man consumed by madness.
Hot bodies and cold bodies entangle. Annoyed by the rolling blanket, he pushed it away with his legs and went deep inside her.
"Ah."
She tilted her head back.
As he carefully kissed her luscious face, her slender arms wrapped around Cyrus's head. His heart raced, as if he had received her permission.
No, his heart had been beating for a while.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His whole body beat as if it had become a heart. He couldn't tell if that regular, loud resonance was his or hers.
His heart swelled as he saw the hair scattered on the pillow, swaying like water.
He meant it.
He could have been anything for this woman. This woman, gazing at him with teary eyes, was the one and only thing in his life.
When we acknowledged it, the world became brilliant.
Your sins, too. Your sorrow, and even your pain.
Leaving his scent on her, Cyrus whispered.
"It's all mine, Ariana. I'm taking it."
I must be crazy.
With her face buried in his firm chest, Ariana thought.
I must have really lost my mind.
I came to know the truth about the past. I found out what my father did in such agony after I died.
But what am I doing right now?
She is being held in the man's arms.
His body, which had always been so cold, was strangely hot. His scent was imprinted all over his body, and it felt like he wouldn't be able to escape it even if he returned home.
A hot hand gently stroked her side. She flinched at the tickling sensation, then burrowed deeper into his chest. With her face buried there, Ariana whispered.
“This is madness, Northern Lord.”
"Call my name, Ariana."
“This is really crazy. You and I are crazy.”
"It's been quite a while since I realized that fact."
Ariana let out a small sigh. As she squirmed again, tickled by the way he stroked her back, he chuckled softly.
"You're really cute."
She had never heard anything like that before. Her face was burning, so she felt relieved that she was burying her face in his chest.
“Why aren’t you asking anything?”
“What should I ask?”
“You always live with doubts and suspicions. Don’t you have a lot to ask me?”
"Will you answer if I ask?"
She has to. Now that things have turned out this way, and she's already announced that she's returned to the past, she should tell everything.
Ariana nodded.
He remained silent for a while, then asked cautiously.
"Do you love me?"
Ariana thought that Cyrus had become a little strange.
Asking earlier if she had lived longer than him, and asking in the midst of this if she loved him—it's all the same.
It didn't seem like Cyrus.
"Northern Lord."
"Call my name."
Ariana kept her mouth shut tight, then spoke.
"Cyrus."
“This is nice. Being called by my name. My parents used to call me Sei.”
"I've never been called by such a sweet nickname."
“Right, then I’ll be the first. Rian.”
Ariana thought that she seemed to be acting a little strange this time, too, judging by how her heart pounded at the random nickname Cyrus called her.
"I thought about it for a long time."
Cyrus said.
“Someday, when I am united with you, I wonder what I should call you.”
Ariana was dumbfounded. She thought he had agonized over something significant since he said he had thought about it for a long time, but he was agonizing over what to use as a nickname.
“Cyrus, you seem to have really gone off the rails. Are you okay? Did you hurt your head in the war or something...?”
As Ariana looked up at Cyrus's head, he smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
“I’m fine, Rian.”
At the sound of the pet name again, her ears burned this time. It was hard to meet his eyes, so she lowered her head again.
“Don’t call me that. It’s strange.”
“What?”
"Such a tender call."
“Then get used to it now. You are so lovely that I cannot take this affection away.”
His whisper tickled. Ariana never dreamed that the Iron-blooded Lord was someone capable of whispering such words.
She recalled the Northern Lord she had seen in her dream. He had been incredibly cold when speaking to Russell about his daughter's death. As if the pain of a father who had lost his child didn't matter at all, he plunged a knife into Russell's heart with a stern voice.
She didn't think that person and this man were the same.
Have you changed, too? Just as my existence changed the future, did I make you change as well?
She doesn't think she has the power to change people, but if that were truly the case, she would be a little happy. Because it felt like she had pulled out at least one shard of ice, that sharp piece, that was stuck in his heart.
His hand stroked Ariana's back. Only then did Ariana realize that she was wearing nothing.
Since Cyrus was just like her, there was no reason to be embarrassed, yet her face suddenly flushed. As she pulled the blanket over herself and cautiously tried to slip out of his embrace, he pulled her back with his strong arms.
"Don't go."
“I’m not going. I just need some clothes...”
"Just stay put."
The languid voice was pleasant to hear, but she couldn't do that. It wouldn't be good for rumors to spread that she had stayed at a man's house for several days in the Empire, neither Northern nor Eastern Territory.
"Let go of me, Lord of the North."
"If you call me Sei."
She didn't dislike Cyrus's childish behavior, but on the other hand, it reminded her of the times she had been heartbroken because of it, so she found him a little annoying. So, Ariana coldly pushed him away and spoke.
“I don’t know why you’re acting like lovers. I haven’t even accepted the Northern Lord’s feelings yet.”
The strength drained from his arm. He looked at Ariana with slightly hurt eyes and asked.
“Then what is this now?”
“Since I am the Princess of the East, wouldn’t it be alright for me to have a couple of partners with whom I can share only physical pleasures?”
"This."
Cyrus narrowed his eyebrows slightly, then soon smiled.
"Isn't it too much for a monarch of a country to deal with such a person?"
“It is surprising that you are evaluating yourself so highly. To me, I appear to be nothing more than a man infatuated with a woman who neglects his own country.”
"You're seeing me for sure."
He lifted Ariana's chin and kissed her. The heat that she thought had cooled rose up densely from her toes.
“Then please enjoy me a little longer, Princess. I will do anything for your pleasure.”
Isaac, who had gone to Cyrus's bedroom, worried about whether Ariana had woken up, and was blocked by Louis, who was guarding the hallway. Shaking her head quietly at Isaac, who was looking at her as if asking why, Louis thought.
The successor may be born soon.
Soon, those eyes will be filled with shock, suspicion, and wariness. Just as they did when she made a slip of the tongue before, they will turn their backs and push her away.
Ariana clenched her fist and waited for the cold response he would send.
As time passed, which felt incredibly long, there was no change in his gaze. Eventually, the question that flowed from his lips was far removed from what Ariana had expected.
"Then did you live longer than me?"
Ariana's lips parted at the unexpected words. Cyrus watched her eyes widen with a look of slight amusement.
“Is that... important right now?”
"Of course, it doesn't matter. It's just that you seem too nervous."
“I. I caused many people to die because I needed love and wanted to be acknowledged.”
"That’s a relief, then."
Cyrus stroked Ariana's cheek.
"Now, even if you do not want to, there are plenty of people who give you love and acknowledge you."
The gentle comfort actually made her heart ache. She does not deserve to hear such kind words.
"You don't know what I've done."
"Does knowing make a difference?"
Ariana was speechless at the question that came back to jer.
Of course, nothing changed. It was already in the past, and it hadn't even happened in this time.
"You don't even know what I am."
"I know."
Cyrus's face drew closer.
“Ariana White. The Princess of the Eastern Territory, the precious daughter of the Eastern Lord, and the woman I adore.”
“I am not worthy to be my father’s daughter...”
Their lips met again, as if to stop her from speaking. Having accomplished their purpose, the lips pulled away immediately, and Ariana punched him in the chest.
“Why do you keep kissing me, Lord of the North?”
"Because this is the only way that comes to mind to stop such nonsense."
"It seems the Northern Lord kisses whenever you interrupt others."
“There is no need for that. I’ve never been bothered by what others say.”
"So, does what I said bother you?"
"Even the sound of your breath."
He kissed Ariana under the eye.
"Even the trembling of the pupils."
On the eyes, too.
The spasms at the corners of the mouth, too.
Even on the chin.
"Everything is on my nerves, Ariana."
The whispering voice as he kissed meticulously was sweet. Sweet enough to make her harbor the very sweet illusion that she could be forgiven for the sins she had committed.
"I, I've come back in time."
"It seems so."
“I died at 28, but I came back to life. As 16.”
"Yes."
“Isn’t that too strange? Don’t you suspect my true identity? That I might have borrowed the power of a demon, that I might use this power to strangle you... Ugh.”
This kiss was intense.
So cold that she felt like she would get burned by those lips.
She could not regain her senses from his scent flowing in through her parted lips. A moan entwined on her tongue at the sensation she had never experienced before. He swallowed even that, covering Ariana with his own scent.
She clutched the clothes on his chest. Then, even though she scratched him with her fingernails, he paid no attention.
Their breaths intertwined sensually. Her mind, which had been stirring with various thoughts, was filled with deep colors.
Just as she could think of nothing but his intense red eyes, his lips parted. He stared at Ariana with deep eyes as if to devour her and spoke.
“If you’re a devil, I’m a devil, Ariana.”
His palm lingered as it brushed down Ariana's neck and shoulder, then gripped her slender wrist.
“If you are anything, I will be that too.”
Ariana's eyes swelled up. She barely managed to move her lips, glistening with saliva.
"You have something to protect."
"That's you."
His breath overwhelmed her again. Pushed by that force, her upper body was thrown back. With their lips intertwined, he spoke.
"You are the one and only in my life."
***
He didn't mean to do this. This shouldn't be happening.
Even though he knew it was hasty, Cyrus couldn't stop.
Even though he knew there was nothing more cowardly and disgusting than lusting after a woman steeped in sorrow and pain, his body moved on its own accord. He had wished Ariana would at least curse and struggle, but she was quietly surrendering herself to him.
She was pitiful and lovely as she trembled slightly every time a red mark was imprinted on her tender, transparent flesh. His lips, having traced down her nape and shoulder, passed her forearm and headed toward her fingertips.
Each and every finger was precious, so he carefully kissed and licked them. Each time, Ariana let out a moan filled with heat.
She did not resist even as the clothes covering her were removed. On the contrary, she gazed at Cyrus with her blue eyes as if yearning.
The heat contained in those sky-blue eyes drove Cyrus mad. He had to exercise patience to restrain his body, which was moving roughly like a man consumed by madness.
Hot bodies and cold bodies entangle. Annoyed by the rolling blanket, he pushed it away with his legs and went deep inside her.
"Ah."
She tilted her head back.
As he carefully kissed her luscious face, her slender arms wrapped around Cyrus's head. His heart raced, as if he had received her permission.
No, his heart had been beating for a while.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His whole body beat as if it had become a heart. He couldn't tell if that regular, loud resonance was his or hers.
His heart swelled as he saw the hair scattered on the pillow, swaying like water.
He meant it.
He could have been anything for this woman. This woman, gazing at him with teary eyes, was the one and only thing in his life.
When we acknowledged it, the world became brilliant.
Your sins, too. Your sorrow, and even your pain.
Leaving his scent on her, Cyrus whispered.
"It's all mine, Ariana. I'm taking it."
***
I must be crazy.
With her face buried in his firm chest, Ariana thought.
I must have really lost my mind.
I came to know the truth about the past. I found out what my father did in such agony after I died.
But what am I doing right now?
She is being held in the man's arms.
His body, which had always been so cold, was strangely hot. His scent was imprinted all over his body, and it felt like he wouldn't be able to escape it even if he returned home.
A hot hand gently stroked her side. She flinched at the tickling sensation, then burrowed deeper into his chest. With her face buried there, Ariana whispered.
“This is madness, Northern Lord.”
"Call my name, Ariana."
“This is really crazy. You and I are crazy.”
"It's been quite a while since I realized that fact."
Ariana let out a small sigh. As she squirmed again, tickled by the way he stroked her back, he chuckled softly.
"You're really cute."
She had never heard anything like that before. Her face was burning, so she felt relieved that she was burying her face in his chest.
“Why aren’t you asking anything?”
“What should I ask?”
“You always live with doubts and suspicions. Don’t you have a lot to ask me?”
"Will you answer if I ask?"
She has to. Now that things have turned out this way, and she's already announced that she's returned to the past, she should tell everything.
Ariana nodded.
He remained silent for a while, then asked cautiously.
"Do you love me?"
Ariana thought that Cyrus had become a little strange.
Asking earlier if she had lived longer than him, and asking in the midst of this if she loved him—it's all the same.
It didn't seem like Cyrus.
"Northern Lord."
"Call my name."
Ariana kept her mouth shut tight, then spoke.
"Cyrus."
“This is nice. Being called by my name. My parents used to call me Sei.”
"I've never been called by such a sweet nickname."
“Right, then I’ll be the first. Rian.”
Ariana thought that she seemed to be acting a little strange this time, too, judging by how her heart pounded at the random nickname Cyrus called her.
"I thought about it for a long time."
Cyrus said.
“Someday, when I am united with you, I wonder what I should call you.”
Ariana was dumbfounded. She thought he had agonized over something significant since he said he had thought about it for a long time, but he was agonizing over what to use as a nickname.
“Cyrus, you seem to have really gone off the rails. Are you okay? Did you hurt your head in the war or something...?”
As Ariana looked up at Cyrus's head, he smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
“I’m fine, Rian.”
At the sound of the pet name again, her ears burned this time. It was hard to meet his eyes, so she lowered her head again.
“Don’t call me that. It’s strange.”
“What?”
"Such a tender call."
“Then get used to it now. You are so lovely that I cannot take this affection away.”
His whisper tickled. Ariana never dreamed that the Iron-blooded Lord was someone capable of whispering such words.
She recalled the Northern Lord she had seen in her dream. He had been incredibly cold when speaking to Russell about his daughter's death. As if the pain of a father who had lost his child didn't matter at all, he plunged a knife into Russell's heart with a stern voice.
She didn't think that person and this man were the same.
Have you changed, too? Just as my existence changed the future, did I make you change as well?
She doesn't think she has the power to change people, but if that were truly the case, she would be a little happy. Because it felt like she had pulled out at least one shard of ice, that sharp piece, that was stuck in his heart.
His hand stroked Ariana's back. Only then did Ariana realize that she was wearing nothing.
Since Cyrus was just like her, there was no reason to be embarrassed, yet her face suddenly flushed. As she pulled the blanket over herself and cautiously tried to slip out of his embrace, he pulled her back with his strong arms.
"Don't go."
“I’m not going. I just need some clothes...”
"Just stay put."
The languid voice was pleasant to hear, but she couldn't do that. It wouldn't be good for rumors to spread that she had stayed at a man's house for several days in the Empire, neither Northern nor Eastern Territory.
"Let go of me, Lord of the North."
"If you call me Sei."
She didn't dislike Cyrus's childish behavior, but on the other hand, it reminded her of the times she had been heartbroken because of it, so she found him a little annoying. So, Ariana coldly pushed him away and spoke.
“I don’t know why you’re acting like lovers. I haven’t even accepted the Northern Lord’s feelings yet.”
The strength drained from his arm. He looked at Ariana with slightly hurt eyes and asked.
“Then what is this now?”
“Since I am the Princess of the East, wouldn’t it be alright for me to have a couple of partners with whom I can share only physical pleasures?”
"This."
Cyrus narrowed his eyebrows slightly, then soon smiled.
"Isn't it too much for a monarch of a country to deal with such a person?"
“It is surprising that you are evaluating yourself so highly. To me, I appear to be nothing more than a man infatuated with a woman who neglects his own country.”
"You're seeing me for sure."
He lifted Ariana's chin and kissed her. The heat that she thought had cooled rose up densely from her toes.
“Then please enjoy me a little longer, Princess. I will do anything for your pleasure.”
***
Isaac, who had gone to Cyrus's bedroom, worried about whether Ariana had woken up, and was blocked by Louis, who was guarding the hallway. Shaking her head quietly at Isaac, who was looking at her as if asking why, Louis thought.
The successor may be born soon.
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