STM 165

“……I don’t have one. I’m just worried about the future.”

I gave him a bitter smile, as he didn’t believe me when I gave him a simple reason.

“I didn’t know the Adeye residence would burn down so suddenly. My sister almost died.”

There was no response. Instead, I felt a different reaction. He still held my arm, tightening his grip. It was so painful that I grimaced and raised my eyes, but this time, a sweet smile graced his lips.

“She’s weak to begin with. Death could come to her at any time. Accept it.”

His cold advice was hurtful.

“But not now.”

“Aren’t you worried about me? I’m hurt too.”

I quickly looked over his body at the unexpected words.

“Where?”

“Here and there.”

Really? He looked fine.

“I’m also very weak.”

He claimed to be weak, but his hand stroked down my waist. Right, if you didn’t act like a swindler, you wouldn’t be Kun. I was so stunned that I didn’t even want to push his hand away. I liked it too.

“Did you defeat all those monsters despite being so weak?”

“I have to finish quickly so I can meet you.”

He whispered with a smirk.

“Then you will replenish my weakened energy.”

His hand moved down to my butt.

I actually had a lot to say to him. Even without that, Even without that, I shouldn’t have intercourse with him without even having the time to calm my mind. But my willpower was infinitely weak to resist the temptation right in front of me.

“Lu, look at me.”

“I’m looking.”

“Your thoughts are elsewhere.”

He pointed it out with that cold smile.

“Erase everything, future or past. I told you, focus on the present.”

If it were as easy as it sounds, why would people be plagued by regrets about the past and anxieties about the future? But I soon realized it wasn’t that difficult.

He pulled my waist and thrust his hardened member against me. A thrilling tingle ran up my tailbone.

Any anguish of conscience or reason was easily trampled by instinct. I gazed into his eyes for a moment. The heat trapped within those beautiful golden eyes seemed to cry out, “I want you.”

Memories of the moments we shared breaths and bodies flashed through my mind. It was like a honey trap.

The memory of that sweetness made my body tingle, my blood racing. The heat paralyzed my mind, and now there was no way to escape this trap.

The last shred of reason I had left stopped me in a last-ditch effort. It was barely enough to keep me still.

My lack of response made him smile. But his eyes were fierce, and his cold voice betrayed impatience.

“Is it hard to only look at me? Even though your body is in heat for me?”

He grabbed my buttocks and pulled me closer to him. Just as he said, my lower body responded.

“You know very well. Isn’t being in heat enough?”

“It’s not enough.”

“Well, be satisfied with this. I can’t throw everything away and only look at you, Grand Duke.”

His smile deepened.

“Why not? I’m already only looking at you.”

He tilted his head and leaned in to kiss me. But instead of touching my lips, he whispered.

“I can throw everything away if you want. The divine beast, this family, my duties, everything.”

t was a confession, and a threat. Suddenly, I came to my senses.

“Why would you throw away the divine beast’s power when enemies are everywhere? What about the family curse? That’s the most important thing. You’ll just let go of it?”

“If you want me to.”

“Why would I want such a thing? Don’t make ridiculous excuses.”

“Then what do you want? Isn’t it what’s stopping you right now?”

His wit was truly uncanny. He tightened his grip on me and spoke through his teeth.

“Lu, I’m begging you right now because I want to drive myself into you. Tell me what you want. I’ll even abandon Tubain for you.”

“……”

“Should I abandon Tubain?”

I couldn’t answer, as if my lips were glued shut. Now could be my chance.

I want to close the Eye of Hell. If I succeed, monsters might overwhelm Tubain. But I will demand it of you, and even if you hate me, there’s nothing I can do about it.

……I guess that last part was the reason I hesitated. Now that I realize it, I feel so ridiculous. There’s no such thing as a deal without a price.

“It’s similar.”

I responded calmly and told him what I wanted.

“Close the Eye of Hell.”

“Is that all?”

“Is that all?” He shouldn’t act like it’s nothing.

“I’m not joking. You know what the Eye of Hell is?”

“How could I not know my master’s grave?”

A dark light flashed in his eyes.

“I’ll gladly close it for you. Just ask me properly.”

“……Do you want to hear me say ‘do it for me’?”

“Because you need to know.”

He reached up and gently brushed my bangs aside. Feeling awkward about his gentle touch, I unconsciously pulled away, and heard a cold laugh.

“See, you still don’t know.”

“……”

“I can do it for you. I would’ve done it even if you told me to become a dark mage.”

Crazy. A dark mage? Having experienced Dorgo, I was immediately terrified.

“Please speak with reason. I won’t ask you to do such a thing.”

“If I can’t close it with the divine beast’s power, shouldn’t I use black magic?”

My eyes shook. His hand touched my hair again and tucked it behind my ear.

“Do you understand now?”

“……”

“I’ll close the Eye of Hell for you.”

The promise I’d long for came from his lips, but it took my breath away. Instead of joy, a chill gripped my heart. But the most terrifying part was something else.

I didn’t hate those mad eyes staring at me. His hardened member pressed against my abdomen, sending a tingling sensation through my lower abdomen. Fuck, I’m the craziest one. I raised my arm and grabbed his collar, pulling him down.

“The divine beast’s power will be enough to close the Eye of Hell. So stop the nonsense about using black magic.”

I watched his lips curl, bringing them to mine. Soon, trapped in his excited embrace, I thought, I guess I’ve fallen into a sweet trap claimed to be “for me”

The two days I spent at Borhum Castle, I embarrassingly remember only one thing: sex. Those two days of instinct, filled with nothing but sweat, heat, and heavy breathing lasted only two days because Tairok was a busy Grand Duke.

Before the sun rose, I realized through my half-asleep consciousness that he got up from the bed and disappeared when a subordinate visited.

Click. My eyes flew open as soon as the door closed quietly. I sat up and let out a silent scream at the same time.

Ugh, my whole body aches. I held my waist with my mouth open. A moment later, I barely managed to get out of bed.

That damn bastard. He shouldn’t show off his stamina like that. I cursed Tairok inwardly, put on some clothes, and went out to the terrace.

A blue light covered the world as dawn ruled it. It was a time when both humans and animals should be asleep. I had someone I wanted to meet. The divine beast. I had no way to call it, and there was no guarantee it would come even if I did.

But I felt like I could see it now. Maybe it was because I was still obsessed with the “time.” As I stared at the open terrace door, a blue snake flew gracefully through the sky. I asked instead of a greeting.

“Did you brag a lot?”

[Of course.]

The snake’s raised head seemed to boast. It also wagged its tail. It’s a relief if it’s in a good mood. It might answer my questions. I got straight to the point.

“Can you close the Eye of Hell?”

The small head nodded soon after. It looked cute, but I only saw its moving tail. It was a disappointing answer.

[But it’s not my duty.]

“Then whose duty is it? Kun’s divine beast?”

Two tails expressed “Yes.” Well, at least there is a divine beast that can close it. A few days ago, I would’ve asked where Kun’s divine beast was, but things were different now.

My priority was still to close the Eye of Hell, but I grew greedy.

“I mean that giant rift connected to the Eye of Hell. I heard your power couldn’t close it a long time ago. So people eventually made the Eye of Hell. Is there no one who can close that?”

The blue eyes just stared at me for a moment. The tail didn’t move. Why isn’t it answering?

I suppressed my impatience and thought from their perspective. The divine beasts usually delayed their answers when I had to find out for myself. It was frustrating at first, but I had a feel for it now.

It felt like they were leading me to find the answer on my own, like teaching a child how to live.

“When the time comes……”

I started to speak, then blurted out a thought even though it seemed impossible.

“Will I find the way?”

I didn’t hear any laughter, but the blue snake looked happy. The divine beast’s tail smoothly formed a word.

[Yes.]

The answer was hopeful, but also desperate.

“What if I don’t know when that time comes? How can I be sure about that ‘time’?”

The blue eyes that were looking at me were like a calm lake. Usually, the divine beast wouldn’t give an answer in this situation, so I was about to give up. The tail moved slowly.

[You already know. Because you’ve experienced it.]

I know? In that moment of daze, a grandmother’s voice rang in my head.

[That’s why we chose you, child.]