Chohee briefly closed her eyes seeing the man reaching out to her with such tenderness. Though his hands were calloused here and there from gripping swords, his caresses were incredibly gentle. After stroking her several times like this, he placed a kind kiss on her forehead.

“I’m sorry for startling you. Karad was doing something dangerous, so my voice got loud while I was stopping him.”

Chohee slightly opened her eyes and looked up at him. He sat beside the bed and gently stroked her head. When the back of his hand slowly touched from her ear to her neckline, Chohee wrapped her arms around his and buried her head against him.

“Elysia…”

A small m*an escaped. Elysia’s breath was so sweet that Claes felt his heart racing with excitement. In truth, posting guards was also a measure to prevent Elysia from escaping from this place.

‘But…’

Though he knew that no matter how much he watched over Elysia, she would disappear in an instant, he wanted to somehow prevent her from vanishing. Of course, Chohee didn’t notice his ulterior motive and simply thought it was to protect her… It wasn’t just to prevent threats from others.

‘It’s about time for the dream to end here…’

Today marked a week since she had arrived. It was good that she got to see Claes’s face one last time before leaving. Chohee treated Karad’s complaints and grievances like they barely mattered, and Claes felt the same way.

“Elysia. Though evening has already come today, I have something to tell you.”

He confessed that he had come before leaving for the subjugation mission.

“Dark Mages are disturbing the empire, so I’m planning to go near the border to suppress them. When you abandon your body here and possess another one, you’ll likely use the corpse of someone sacrificed by their Dark Magic, so it would be good to know in advance.”

“…”

“Wherever you appear, I’ll come looking for you there… Make sure to hide yourself so the Dark Mages don’t discover you.”

He whispered while stroking Chohee’s long black hair.

“Saraum Village, where I’m going for the subjugation, is quite close to the capital for a border location. Not only that, but it also borders Heritail Kingdom, so I’ll be going there to set up electric wire fences and barriers.”

Chohee nodded. Seeing that this was proof she was listening seriously to his words, Claes smiled broadly. Though his heart ached thinking about parting with her again like this, in a few months she would reveal herself as Elysia once more.

“Then I’ll see you when I get back.”

“…”

Chohee smiled gently and nodded.

Claes gave her a tight hug, then slowly released his arms. And he whispered tenderly to her.

“I love you, Elysia.”

The bouquet he gave her had a truly fragrant scent.

* * *

While Claes showed his sincerity to Chohee, there was also someone who harbored resentment at being driven away and wanted to treat her like less than a breeding vessel.

Karad looked down at the young lady sitting in front of him, licking his groin. Her technique was truly skilled. She was someone who had petitioned to sleep with him just once, saying she didn’t need to become an Imperial Consort.

But.

“D*mn, this isn’t exciting at all.”

Karad didn’t hide his irritation as he pushed the young lady’s head away. Remembering how Elysia, who had taken his member in her mouth, had excited him more than this made his c*ck harden, but every time the young lady in front of him touched him with her saliva, his *rection wilted.

“Leave.”

“Did I, what, what did I do wrong? I can do more…”

“Get out!”

When Karad exploded in anger without explaining the reason, the young lady flinched and stood up.

“Get out!”

She arranged the front of her dress and disappeared like lightning. He thought he heard crying sounds when she turned her back and ran out, but Karad only bit his lips and clenched his fists tightly.

“Haa…”

Elysia was vivid before his eyes. But since Lars visited daily to check on Elysia, he absolutely couldn’t approach her. By Claes’s order, his approaching Elysia was forbidden… Karad was going crazy from his unresolved l*st.

‘Isn’t there some way?’

He wanted to make Elysia lick his underside somehow. Though he wasn’t as skilled as Claes, he thought he was pretty good when he actually did it. But that skill was meaningless if there was no one to show it to.

“D*mn…”

Around the time he was running his hands through his hair while wiping his forehead, a knock sounded.

“What!”

When he spoke roughly, a knight’s voice came from outside.

“Duke Serow requests an audience with Your Highness.”

Duke Serow… Wasn’t he the political enemy that even the perfect Claes disliked?

Karad was about to shout that he had no business with him. But the door opened on its own and Duke Serow strode in.

“Do you know where this is, barging in like this? Disappear right now!”

Despite Karad’s rough words, he only smiled broadly.

“I heard Your Highness had concerns, so I came… Will you drive me away like this without even listening to what I have to say?”

‘If Claes finds out that a political enemy came to my room… What kind of trouble is this now?’

Karad ground his teeth and slammed down on the chair’s armrest with a bang. Wood chips fell from the extraordinary force, but Duke Serow gazed at him unconcernedly.

“Did you come to mock me too? If Brother Claes finds out, he won’t stand for it. Disappear from my sight right now!”

“Haha. Your temper is as quick as I heard. I only came to somehow attach Lady Elysia to Lord Karad’s side…”

“What…?”

Karad’s eyes widened slightly and he was left speechless. While he was flustered by the unexpected story, Duke Serow looked around the room.

Though he received worse treatment than Claes, Karad was still a prince of the empire. While Claes was away, he had the authority to control the empire. 

Even though Lars controlled the Imperial Palace interior so he couldn’t exert much power, if he joined forces with him, they could have a loud voice in the state council meetings.

‘I heard that he’s particularly obsessed with Elysia.’

According to information given by one of the maids serving Elysia who received money from him, Karad always dismissed people when Elysia was resting, and if you secretly went near the bedroom, you could hear his moaning sounds through the gap in the open door.

‘But Lady Elysia herself has almost no interest in Prince Karad. The only ones she welcomes are the Crown Prince or Lord Lars, I suppose?’

Recalling the maid’s impertinent words, Duke Serow raised the corners of his mouth. Stimulated by inferiority complex at that smile, Karad frowned and was about to get angry, but the Duke’s words were faster.

“Don’t you want to completely get Lady Elysia in your grasp?”

“…”

“I know you’re suffering because of your longing for Lady Elysia.”

At Duke Serow’s words, Karad bit his lips. His tightly clenched fists looked like they might throw a punch if he misspoke.

“You’re talking like I only desire her. Listen, Duke Serow. I’m not a stallion bound to Elysia and unable to escape. I just feel l*st only for her, but I don’t love her!”

Duke Serow only curved his eyes at his words.

“I fully understand you saying such things. In any case, the point is that Prince Karad wishes to freely take Lady Elysia, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I came to fulfill Your Highness’s wish. Under Third Prince Lars’s surveillance, you can’t properly connect with Lady Elysia. However, there is a way.”

Duke Serow’s eyes curved completely. Between his narrowly opened eyelashes, his pupils gleamed with a fox-like light.

“That is, to fake an oracle.”

At those words, Karad’s eyes widened.

Feeling his gaze pierce his face, Duke Serow continued speaking.