Chapter 1

Sara mumbled, trembling wildly beneath Declan.

“What is this, I lifted the curse, so why…”

“My c*ck isn’t calming down, what do you expect me to do?”

Declan whispered roughly into Sara’s ear as he moved his hips.

“It looks like the curse isn’t completely gone yet. So hang in there a little more, okay? You said you’d save me, didn’t you?”

Even his breath brushing her ear was stimulating, and Sara shook her head.

“Ugh, s-so, ahh, how long, haaang, do I have to keep doing this…”

She wanted to scream, ‘I’m going to die saving you!’ but just then, another climax hit.

“Haa—”

Sara arched her back, stiffening. Fireworks exploded before her eyes.

“Ugh.”

Declan, thrusting quickly, hugged Sara tightly as if he would break her, trembling all over. He had lost count of how many times he had cl*maxed. After a moment, Declan slowly withdrew. As his c*ck slid out, scraping against her tightly contracted inner walls, Sara gasped and let her head fall to the side.

Declan exhaled in satisfaction, then gently rubbed Sara’s saliva-slick n*pple with his finger, whispering sweetly.

“Just one more time.”

“You, y-you madman…”

Sara lost consciousness, the last thing she saw was the ceiling of the stone chamber turning yellow.

***

“Sara Prodil, we received a report that a cursed item was found in the Southern region.”

“Ah, again?”

Sara grabbed her head with both hands. Chief Mage Joseph, his head bald and shiny, giggled at her.

“Declan Garnet was your pair, right?”

The Empire had once suffered an invasion from the demon realm. Fortunately, protected by the love goddess Matilda, the Empire defeated them, but traces of heretic black magicians remained everywhere, still threatening lives. So the temple paired mages and Holy Knights to eradicate heretical black magicians and witches, and to destroy the sacrificial items used for black magic.

“They say witches appeared in the west, but why does he, a Holy Knight, never join the fight? The citizens’ taxes are just melting away.”

When Sara grumbled, senior mage Marilyn, sitting next to her, spoke up.

“And Sara’s the one melting them so deliciously. Childhood friends, huh? Even in this, you’re just the same.”

“I told you not to say things like that!”

Sara roared, and laughter bloomed throughout the Mage Tower. Sara, the youngest mage, was usually indifferent and calm, but whenever Holy Knight Declan was involved, she became hot-tempered. The senior mages knew this and always brought up Declan to tease her. Look at her now, trembling—how cute.

Suddenly, Sara, fuming, pulled out her communication artifact and began pressing it fiercely. Marilyn leaned over and asked,

“Who are you contacting?”

“The Holy Knight Order. Someone must be off duty.”

“Oh, trying to change your pair?”

“Yes! I can’t work with him.”

“Well, last time you went to retrieve illegal artifacts, you collapsed a mountain, right? The local Earl sent so many complaints… The chief mage’s bald head is all your pair’s fault.”

“T-that’s what I mean…”

Sara rolled her eyes with a guilty look. She didn’t want to, but whenever she was with Declan, her temper flared. He seemed to feel the same; the way he looked at her was almost hostile. How could they ever work together?

Sara pouted and grumbled.

“If you change my pair, that’ll fix everything.”

“You don’t know? Everyone in the Holy Knight Order except Declan Garnet refused to be paired with you, ever since you dropped him from ten stories up.”

Sara clenched her fist in protest.

“There was a lake below, so it was fine!”

“And then you blasted him with fire magic meant for the witch? It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”

“I healed him right away and made his skin baby-soft…”

“Yeah, and while you did that, the witch you two chased escaped. Don’t tell me you forgot?”

Sara bit her lip, then blurted out,

“It wasn’t just me! What about him? He just stood there, didn’t block the black magician flying at me, and I ended up with injuries that put me out for five weeks!”

“Yeah, that happened.”

She was healed quickly with magic, but Marilyn wisely kept that part to herself. Sara, hands shaking, added,

“And on top of that? He didn’t even notice I was kidnapped by goblins, so I was rescued three days later.”

“In the end, Declan Garnet was the one who saved you.”

Sara ignored Marilyn and continued her rant against Declan.

“Do you know how bad the goblin nest stinks? Just thinking about it makes me gag. And he sometimes pinches his nose and grimaces when he looks at me, like I still smell like goblin!”

Behind her, Chief Mage Joseph shook with laughter, his head buried in his desk. He wasn’t the only one in the Mage Tower trying not to laugh. Marilyn bit her lip, unable to laugh in Sara’s face.

Just then, the artifact flashed red and a low voice was heard.

—This is the Capital Holy Knight Order. Connection is good.

Sara’s face brightened and she grabbed the artifact.

“Hello? Is this the Holy Knight Order? This is the Mage Tower. Who’s off duty today?”

The senior mages exchanged glances. Pair change? No pair change? Bets were quickly made. The outcome was almost certain; even in the Holy Knight Order, Sara’s reputation was infamous.

As expected.

—……

The other side was silent as a mouse. Sara tilted her head and repeated, “Hello? Can you hear me?” but still no answer. The mages watched, barely breathing.

After a long silence, finally, the Holy Knight Order responded.

—Bad connection, bad connection.

Then with a click, the artifact’s light went out. Sara stared blankly at the artifact in her hand. The senior mages’ shoulders shook even harder.

***

Declan shook his head.

“Are you dumb? You should’ve asked someone else. Is there any Holy Knight in our order who doesn’t recognize your voice?”

“……You could’ve told me that sooner!”

In the end, unable to change pairs, Sara and Declan stood before the portal leading to the far southern region. Both wore equally sour expressions.

Declan rubbed his face, looking exhausted.

“And… Isn’t it time to give up? We can’t break our pair. The higher-ups blocked both of us from rotating out. The old folks are having a blast, aren’t they?”

“That’s because you’re Garnet.”

“That’s because you’re Prodil.”

Sara and Declan glared at each other.

In the Empire, the Garnet and Prodil families were famous. When the love goddess Matilda descended to this land a thousand years ago, she blessed and prophesied that every third generation, a couple from these two families would have a love that would shine for the ages.

Exactly three generations ago, their ancestors turned the Empire upside down with their romance and married; now it was Sara and Declan’s turn.

Sara clenched her fists.

“I’d rather enter a convent than marry you.”

“A mage becoming a nun? The world must be ending.”

“If we marry, it’ll be the end of the world.”

“I agree.”

Suddenly, Declan grabbed Sara’s shoulders with both hands. Sara glared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Declan spoke seriously.

“I’ll find a convent with good facilities for you.”

Sara felt unjustly treated. Why only her?

“You lunatic, you should go to the monastery!”

“Thank you for your sacrifice.”

“You go! Who are you to ruin my life!”

Sara flailed her arms and legs, and the portal manager poked his head out, shouting,

“Quiet down!”

The two shrank and replied,

“Yes…”

Soon, it was finally their turn, and Sara and Declan stood in the center of the portal. The manager’s gaze was still fierce.

“Stand in the circle, hold on tight to each other, you might end up somewhere else.”

Sara hesitated as she reached for Declan. Her face twisted.

‘Maybe I can just grab his clothes?’

Then Declan’s thick arm wrapped around her waist. Suddenly pressed chest-to-chest with him, Sara looked up in shock. Declan’s eyes gazed down at her from close range.

“Wh-what are you…”

Sara stuttered in confusion, and Declan’s gaze slowly traveled from her face down her neck and chest, then back up. When their eyes met again, a spark flashed in his dark eyes.

‘!’

Sara’s heart dropped, and just then, the manager shouted,

“Portal activating!”

Before the words finished, her vision spun. Sara squeezed her eyes shut, and Declan’s arm tightened around her waist. Then his large hand gently pressed the back of her head. Sara endured the dizziness and nausea, her head resting on Declan’s chest.