Chapter 11.1 – Warning

Liat pushed Alvin into the next room and washed her body, sticky with fluids. When Alvin tried to follow her into the bath, she had to use all her strength to stop him, leaving her shoulders aching. Rotating her stiff shoulders and sitting on the bed, Liat spotted a letter on the nightstand.

“What’s this?”

It hadn’t been there before their lovemaking.

She called Delin to ask if anyone had come into her room, and Delin said a few maids had come to change the sheets, but at that time, only a water cup had been on the nightstand.

‘Then who…?’

A chill ran through her. Liat couldn’t shake the feeling someone was in the room.

She was so scared she forgot to open the letter, just trembling. She covered her nape with her palm, trying to block the cold that crept in. It felt like she’d been thrown into the snow with only a blanket.

“Alvin, Alvin…!”

She staggered into the next room and threw herself into his arms. Alvin welcomed her warmth as always.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you couldn’t do any more?”

“You idiot! That’s not why I’m here!”

His weak reply drained her energy. Her trembling legs found strength in anger.

“Is that all you ever think about?”

Liat lifted her face from his chest and snapped in a shrill voice. Alvin, acting cutely out of character, gave a deflated little sound.

“You think that’s all I think about? I was joking because you looked upset. What happened?”

Once Liat calmed down and explained, Alvin’s face changed instantly. Liat stopped him from tearing up the letter, and with a steady heart, she opened it.

[I’ll come for you soon.]

The handwriting was elegant, but the words didn’t register in her mind.

They stared at the letter for a long time. Like statues, their bodies were frozen until finally Alvin came to his senses first, wrapped Liat in blankets, and laid her down beside him. Then he took the letter out and burned it immediately before returning.

Back in the room, Alvin sat the cocooned Liat on his thigh, gently rocking her like a human cradle as he spoke.

“Crazy b*stard.”

“…That’s exactly what I wanted to say.”

The man’s eyes, which Liat had been able to forget for a moment during her time with Alvin, now floated again in the air. That disgusting sphere of vision never stopped vibrating through her body.

Was he watching her even now?

He was that kind of person. Like a voyeur, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. That unpleasant gaze. Even when she lay helpless on his bed, panting, he would never miss the moments she opened her eyes, always appearing before her.

‘Ah, you’re really beautiful. Can’t you keep your eyes open forever? Don’t close them.’

In those staring eyes, the innocence of a child and a madness not found in children coexisted.

“What if he’s watching right now…”

The fear she’d kept locked away rattled its chains. For once, Liat spoke her true feelings, putting her anxiety into words. When she made her hidden feelings concrete and let them out, her emotions became even clearer. It was cold and dark.

“He’ll come for me. That man, he won’t give up on me.”

‘You’re mine now.’

He would grab her by the neck and treat her like an animal. He would degrade her into a mere possession.

“Me, I…!”

‘Is this what love is?’

Her mind turned pitch black. She couldn’t see anything. Her once steady breath became rough, her vision clouded as if with fog.

She heard screams, and the source of the sound staggered toward her, blaming her.

She thought she was the one chasing, but in reality it was the opposite—she was still being toyed with in his grasp.

“Liat…”

Unless she submitted beneath him, this cycle would never end.

“Liat.”

It would have been better never to have found these memories.

The pillar she’d pretended to be strong with cracked, and she collapsed in an instant.

What had she done wrong?

Was it wrong to take Alvin and leave the fence out of curiosity? Was it her fault for not holding back her curiosity? No, it was her fault for catching that man’s eye…

‘Ah, it’s my fault.’

Dark clouds gathered.

Drip, drip, drip. The sound of rain shaking her head and screams blended into a symphony of despair.

“Liat!”

Alvin’s shout startled her, and he grabbed her hand tightly.

“You’ll be fine.”

“…”

Even the comfort of her only confidant couldn’t reach her muddled mind.

“You know I’m good at hide-and-seek, right? It’s one of the few games you always lose to me.”

“…Why bring that up now?”

It wasn’t something to say to someone in despair. She wanted to try for Alvin’s sake, but she couldn’t summon the strength.

The enemy was a skilled magician, able to use high-level magic. Spatial movement was one of the highest-level spells, requiring immense magical power.

The abyss surged to the edge of her vision again.

“No matter where you are, I’ll come find you.”

“…What?”

“I hate to even imagine it, but… even if you disappear from my sight for a while, I’ll find you.”

His eyes were full of confidence.

“When we played hide-and-seek, did I ever fail to find you?”

“That’s not the same as this.”

“What’s the difference? Even if a rule-breaking seeker messes up the game, I’m sure I’ll find and win you.”

“Hah…”

“No, I’ll definitely find you and bring you back in front of me.”

The look she’d seen in his eyes before returned—no, even thicker now, a suffocating obsession and possessiveness. On the verge of crossing the fence, those shadows, lacking her permission, would sometimes linger in Alvin’s gaze.

“You’ll never be separated from me.”

As a child, Alvin would follow her, crying, and cling to her clothes. Even now, grown up, he wouldn’t let go. By duration, her lover’s obsession was even more intense.

‘I didn’t need to be afraid.’

Alvin’s obsession was at least as heavy as that man’s, if not more.

“…Yeah. You’ll follow me well, won’t you?”

“So don’t be afraid. Let’s not waste time thinking about that man. He’s just a common criminal.”

“Hearing it like that… it really does feel lighter.”

It was different from when she’d unilaterally supported Alvin in the past. Back then, she’d protected the small, sensitive Alvin, but now they could support each other.

The man who used to be more sensitive about the past than she was—now, the Alvin comforting her was incredibly reliable.

He waited for her to settle, rubbing his nose against Liat’s forehead as she peeked out from the blanket. His body, warmer than the culprit’s, melted her tense body.

Embarrassed at being scared of things that hadn’t happened, Liat joked.

“Still, Alvin, you could have talked about me not getting caught instead.”

“Ah… That would’ve worked, huh.”

“Dummy.”

He spoke foolishly to reassure her, but Alvin knew better than anyone that the man’s obsession with Liat wouldn’t disappear unless he died.

He and Himbrid were fundamentally the same at their emotional core.

She couldn’t forget the look in that man’s eyes. If she looked in the mirror now, she might see the same look in her own.

“Liat, I’m scared to sleep alone—will you stay with me?”

If he left her alone, she might have nightmares. To protect Liat’s pride, Alvin asked to sleep together first.

“You just want to do something naughty.”

“That too. But if you’re not here, I won’t sleep tonight. Is that okay?”

Actually, Liat had wanted to suggest the same before Alvin did. But showing weakness felt so unfamiliar, she held back her words.

She decided to accept his consideration with gratitude.

“I guess I have no choice. But!”

“But?”

“Promise you’ll hold me tight. Then I’ll protect your night.”

“That’s easy.”

The bed was big enough for two grown adults to roll around, but they didn’t use any space, sticking close together.

Their bodies, pressed together, heated up from each other’s scent. They wanted to connect immediately, but Liat’s stamina was already spent.

‘Hold back, hold back.’

Thinking the same, they hugged tightly. It only fueled their desire, but neither seemed willing to separate.

With Liat’s sticky wetness and Alvin’s growing size, they tangled their legs, trying to show awkward consideration while suppressing their desire.

Alvin, with his large member, awkwardly pulled his hips back so he wouldn’t touch her—a pitiful pose.

Struggling against their desire, Liat finally succumbed to sleep, weariness outweighing l*st.

“Ah, this is tough.”

Alvin tried to distract his aroused self by touching Liat’s long lashes or her curled lips, but his engorged shaft demanded attention, so he had no choice but to lower his pants.

‘Sorry, sorry.’

Alvin silently apologized, careful not to wake her as he stroked himself.

As he recalled the feeling of being inside her, he slowly worked his shaft up and down.

He’d recently cl*maxed inside her, so m*sturbation felt lacking, but thinking of her insides brought him closer to the edge.

“Huff, ha, mm.”

As he stroked his swollen shaft, he suddenly remembered the day she caught him m*sturbating.

Who could have guessed that would lead to them becoming lovers? If anyone asked how they got together, he’d have to keep quiet—it was such an embarrassing start.

He could laugh about it now, but back then Alvin only wanted to die. Even though he knew she’d reject him, going to her and knocking took courage, and her rejection cut sharply.

He’d even considered walking in the rain.

“Haa, Liat, hm, Liat…”

But it worked out. If she’d rejected him for good…

The thicker the liquid wetting his hand, the heavier his breathing grew.

“Ugh, mm, hm.”

At first, he worried she’d wake, but when she didn’t, he grew bolder and touched her directly.

Once asleep, Liat never woke, even when an intruder tickled her back—she only smacked her lips. Alvin, seeing this, pressed his shaft to her soft thigh, marking his territory. The fluid from his tip soaked her pale skin, filling him with satisfaction.

“Ah…”

The heat warmed her soft skin, making Liat moan in her sleep.

Alvin paused, wondering if she’d woken, but her golden eyes were still closed.

Liat shifted, maybe uncomfortable or avoiding his touch, turning her back to Alvin. His hand, which had been on her back, ended up near her chest.

Alvin debated whether to finish quickly and greet morning with her, or use her sleep to satisfy himself.

‘Isn’t it fine to do whatever while she’s asleep?’

His greed, as big as his lover’s, chased away sleep.

He pushed up the edge of her thin negligee with his thumb, crawling up like a snake toward his prey. As her clothes rode up, her soft skin was exposed.

‘I didn’t mean to go this far.’

He should have thought before touching, but his hand betrayed him, already rubbing her n*pple.

‘Just don’t wake her, right? That’s fine, Liat?’

Liat was generous.

After teasing her n*pple, he lifted her hair from the back of her neck. The snow-white skin, mottled so you couldn’t tell its original color, hid her scar.

Every servant who saw their mistress’s nape became Alvin’s enemy. To others, these lovely marks were unwelcome.

‘But they’re so pretty.’

Tracing his marks over her neck, Alvin smiled.

‘You’re mine now.’

He’d given himself to her long ago, so didn’t he have the right to claim her?

‘Mine, my Liat…’

He breathed wetly behind her as she slept. His movement toward his shaft grew urgent.

“Hm, Liat, Liat.”

Even rolling her name on his tongue felt so lovely. That ticklish feeling made his shaft surrender, spurting white fluid.

“Huff!”

Letting out a rough breath, Alvin kissed her earlobe as he enjoyed his afterglow behind her. The sensation made Liat’s lips curve in a happy smile.

“You’re mine. I won’t lose you.”