I Stole the Emperor's First Night - Chapter 106

Ariel straightened up in surprise but soon bent down again.

What is happening? Is dark magic devouring Noah Diaz’s corpse?

It sounded like the noise of a bug gnawing on a leaf.

It was bizarre. The Demon King’s malice is just a type of divine power; it shouldn’t have a personality. Yet it instinctively gnawed at the host’s corpse.

‘But, what happens after it devours everything? What will it do then?’

No way.

Will it search for a new host until it is sealed?

Ariel let out a short groan and stood up again. Her expression hardened.

‘If my guess is right this time……. Then it’s highly likely that it will choose me as the next host.’

She was a being imbued with the Demon King’s power and possessed a massive and solid mana core.

It was inevitable that the malicious power would choose her.

“……Ah.”

A chill ran down her spine.

The malice that had completely consumed Noah Diaz wriggled like a snake and flew towards Ariel.

‘I have to run. To where the mages are.’

Noah Diaz was dead, and the host for the dark power was gone.

So, it should be possible to seal it.

Ariel channeled the mana regenerated from her core to her legs and kicked off the ground. She ran across the ruined courtyard of the castle and out through the castle gates.

She had to run faster than the malicious power.

Ariel gripped her sword tightly and ran, looking only ahead.

Fortunately, the dark power was chasing her at a relatively slow pace. However, she couldn’t relax as she didn’t know when it might speed up.

‘Ah, there. I see Leopold.’

Ariel’s drooping lips gradually curved upwards.

Running to him wouldn’t solve the problem, but just the presence of the person she loved gave her strength, making her realize what it meant to feel energized by someone’s mere existence.

Ariel sheathed her sword at her waist and jumped towards him.

***

“Be ready to seal the dark power at any moment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Ariel’s words, Leopold had the knights evacuate everyone near the imperial palace.

He set up a barrier near the palace and waited for any sign, but it was so quiet outside that he couldn’t tell what was happening inside.

He had his burnt right arm healed first. When Liese Willington’s healing power touched him, new flesh grew without scars, and the pain disappeared completely.

Leopold gripped his sword tightly, ready to wield it at any moment. But suddenly, his brow furrowed as he quietly watched the castle.

Ariel, wielding golden mana, soared into the pitch-dark sky, followed by the dark aura of Noah Diaz.

The two opposing lights collided, and the golden light plummeted downwards.

And the black light followed once again.

“Ahhhhhhh-!”

Noah Diaz’s faint scream was heard. Soon, the ground beneath their feet began to shake.

“Something must have happened. Everyone, stay alert and prepare.”

Leopold commanded with an anxious tone. Something unusual was definitely happening.

The magic prepared by the mages utilized Liese Willington’s holy power.

Since even the malice of the Demon King is considered holy, Lumiere’s holy power alone could not neutralize it.

Therefore, the mages combined mana and holy power, which could destroy non-physical entities, to seal the sinister force.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The mages began their final checks. They ensured that Liese’s holy power and Leopold’s mana were properly infused into the spell.

Leopold clenched his sweaty fists and paced around.

He prayed and prayed that nothing would happen to Ariel.

“Liese Willington. How is your holy power?”

“It is prepared in a pure state. It can heal any pain or injury.”

Leopold turned to look at the mages.

“Are you ready to seal it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is prepared.”

They had laid out the magic circle. The magic circle they drew had not yet been activated. It was prepared by the mages to seal the Demon King’s power.

“We must not fail. We have to succeed in one go.”

The mages nodded solemnly at Leopold’s words.

But then.

A faint light appeared below the castle wall. The light gradually grew stronger.

‘It’s Ariel. Ariel is running towards us.’

Her golden hair, tied high, fluttered in the darkness.

Leopold exhaled heavily.

His exhalation mixed with the relief that she was alive and the burden of having to seal the sinister force.

His face, which had been filled with happiness, instantly hardened.

The dark force was chasing Ariel.

Although the distance between them still seemed far, Leopold swallowed dryly, not knowing when it might close.

‘Ariel, just a little more strength.’

Leopold’s throat moved up and down.

Fortunately, the dark force couldn’t keep up with Ariel’s running speed. Such was the strength of her mana.

Soon, Ariel’s face came into his view.

She was exhausted. Yet ironically, she looked happy.

‘Is she smiling? Am I imagining things…?’

But he soon realized it was no illusion.

Clang-!

The sword in his hand clattered to the ground.

When Ariel’s face was right in front of his nose, he too, with a bright smile, spread his arms wide, ready to embrace her.

“Ariel!”

At his call, Ariel’s eyes widened, then curved beautifully.

Woosh-!

She fell into his arms as if being wrapped up. The warmth of her body and her fragrant scent stimulated all his senses. Leopold gladly tightened his grip to receive her.

Leopold’s smiling lips quickly hardened.

“Seal it without missing a beat.”

Leopold wrapped his arms around Ariel’s trembling shoulders.

She would have accepted her fate calmly, knowing that no one else could do it.

But even the great Ariel Diaz would have been afraid of the immeasurable holy power and the unknown future.

As this thought crossed his mind, Leopold felt pity for Ariel. The guilt of placing all the burden on her swept over him like a wave. Leopold buried his face in her shoulder.

Whirr-!

The magic circle activated. White light shot up from the ground.

The Demon King’s power penetrated the protective barrier. At that moment, the white light enveloped the sinister force.

A great wind arose. The people, including the mages, lay flat on the ground. However, Ariel and Leopold watched the sealing process vividly.

The magic imbued with Liese’s holy power finally enveloped the pure darkness.

The Demon King’s holy power, the malice, disappeared.

Silence fell upon the unstable air. The arms embracing Ariel tightened around her.

***

Leopold’s breath fell like a feather on the nape of Ariel’s neck, exposed by her tied-up hair. The tickling sensation made Ariel hug Leopold’s neck tightly.

They had finally done it.

In fact, while running here, she had briefly worried about what she would do if the sealing preparations were not complete. But, as expected, Leopold had been fully prepared.

Evan quietly led the people away from the two’s deep embrace.

The courtyard of the castle, where the battle had taken place, was probably in shambles and would need people’s attention.

Liese also followed Evan. She endlessly repeated to herself how fortunate it was that Her Majesty the Empress had returned unharmed.

“Thank you for coming back alive…”

“I was a little scared. What if I was wrong? I don’t have the power to overcome divinity…”

Ariel, leaning against Leopold’s chest, straightened up and looked at his face. Her white, small hand, though scarred, cupped his cheek.

His eyes were wet.

He must have been anxious.

‘Leo’s afraid of losing me. Just as I was afraid of losing him…’

A fluttering sensation scratched at her insides. The hand cupping Leopold’s cheek tightened. She pulled his face closer to hers.

Her jade-colored pupils fixed on his lips. His crimson pupils, capturing her image, trembled slightly.

‘Ah… It’s finally over. Now, really…’

Ariel swallowed his lips. Leopold closed his eyes. Tears streamed down his cheeks. The salty taste of tears spread faintly in his mouth.

As if to make even his breaths her own, Ariel desperately held his lips.

Leopold strongly supported her hips with his solid arms to keep her from staggering in his embrace.