“My dear?”

“What should I do?”

I whispered in a voice so subtle it was like a trap set by an antlion.

Shahar lowered his head to hear me better, and I seized the opportunity to kiss him. Surprised by the sudden *ssault, he froze, forgetting to push me away.

‘Not rejecting means he… he consents, right?’

Thinking as I pleased, I pressed my body closer.

However, my bold start was short-lived, and I soon hit a snag.

My lack of experience led to a drop in confidence.

But I couldn’t back down now.

A clumsy attempt would only reinforce Shahar’s already formidable defenses, and I might never get a second chance.

Moreover, the anxiety that our time together might be running out spurred me on.

I somewhat rudely and hastily opened his lips. Only after feeling his significantly lower body temperature did I realize how hot I was. It felt like savoring fragrant ice, making my head spin.

Lost in the kiss like a drunken person, it took me a while to realize that he wasn’t responding at all. Gradually, my reason returned.

‘Is he angry?’

A sudden worry gripped me.

I finally pulled away.

Hesitantly looking up, his face was as unreadable as ever.

I suddenly remembered the time I had stolen a kiss from him in the darkness. Back then, I seemed braver than I was now.

“Shahar…”

Embarrassed by his cold reaction, I forgot we were on a high cliff and leaned back. I lost my balance.

Without even a scream, I froze, and Shahar swiftly caught me, placing me on his lap.

“If you’re angry, I’m sorry.”

“Why do you think I’m angry?”

“Because I acted on my own…”

“You’ve acted on your own countless times. What’s different now?”

I slowly lifted my head, which I had bowed like a sinner. Our eyes met. Before I could discern the emotions swirling in his gaze, he gently kissed me. But the gentleness lasted only a moment.

Compared to my earlier kiss, his was so intense that mine seemed gentlemanly.

In an instant, he seized control, and all I could do was cling to him tightly.

“Wait…!”

I was out of breath as if I just went on a run. As he blew air into my open mouth, seeking air, he delved deeper.

“Ugh…”

Unconsciously, I kept making moaning sounds, which seemed to make him even more aggressive.

Only after a long while did he let me go.

I buried my flushed face in his shoulder. Unlike the still composed Shahar, my breaths were ragged.

My heart pounded like a fish out of water. Through our connected bodies, the rhythm was clearly transmitted to Shahar.

“My dear, are you angry?”

“Of course not.”

It felt like getting back more than I gave, but I didn’t mind. In fact, I was overjoyed.

“I’m not angry either.”

‘Honestly, after doing all that, it would be shameless to get angry.’

“Even if I were angry, it would all be Shahar’s fault.”

“Why?”

“Because you seduced me first.”

“Me?”

“You seduced me with that handsome face.”

I forced myself to act stubbornly to hide my embarrassment.

“Then you also did something wrong to me.”

Shahar lightly kissed my lips once more.

“Let’s go back now.”

In the meantime, the monster seemed to have given up its hunt and left, as the surroundings were quiet.

I obediently nodded.

In truth, I was half-dazed from what had happened earlier.

Then I realized I missed something important.

Before I could stop him, Shahar jumped off the cliff.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

My scream, proving that one cannot distinguish between love and fear, was as desperate as a love confession.

* * *

After that day, Shahar’s guard noticeably lowered.

But human greed knows no bounds.

I couldn’t be satisfied with just getting closer than before. I was eager to break down the remaining walls as soon as possible.

I prepared a second attack to completely conquer him.

It was jealousy.

“Hmm…”

But this was the Underworld, teeming with pale, blue-faced ghosts.

‘Isn’t there a handsome soul around here…?’

For the first time, I took my eyes off Shahar and observed the souls being judged.

Unfortunately, most of them were old people who had died of old age.

Occasionally, young souls appeared, but they all had heartbreaking stories.

Seeing souls drinking the waters of oblivion, forgetting their emotions and memories, and calmly facing their sins often brought me to tears.

I concluded that unless Pinion or Gined died young, it was impossible to find a suitable romantic interest in the Underworld.

After pondering, I picked up a stone lying around. It was about the size of a fist, small and shiny, somewhat resembling Shahar in the past.

“Ah, ah… It’s, it’s pretty.”

Stroking the unresponsive stone made me feel like a pathetic human.

Was I really doing this just to get his attention?

“What is that?”

Shahar’s gaze was fixed on my hand. I couldn’t believe he fell for such an obvious trick.

“This is my new mate stone. Isn’t it cute? What do you think, Shahar?”

Shahar picked up the stone and examined it.

“It’s ugly.”

“What? I picked a stone that looks like you…?”

“Are you saying I looked like that?”

“Well, Shahar was shinier, but there’s not much difference.”

“…….”

He seemed too shocked to speak for a moment.

“Give it to me.”

After a while, he extended his hand.

Was he going to check how much it resembled him?

Without much suspicion, I handed him the stone. And in a few seconds, the stone turned to dust and scattered.

“Huh…?”

“It wasn’t on purpose. It was a mistake.”

He seemed to put extra emphasis on ‘mistake,’ but maybe it was just my imagination.

“Oh, anyone can make a mistake.”

Yes, he was strong, so it was possible for him to make such a mistake…

Stones were everywhere anyway.

Before long, I found another stone that resembled Shahar even more.

This time, I decided to add a ribbon.

I cut a precious silk ribbon, rare even for the Emperor to touch, and tied it around the stone.

And the result was…

“A pearl necklace on a pig…?”

Did others see Shahar like this too?

Now I understood. The trend of raising stones in the capital wasn’t because Shahar was lovely.

I was deeply shocked. I couldn’t believe I had subjected Shahar to such humiliation.

“Did you pick up another stone?”

I couldn’t bring myself to show this stone to Shahar and hid it behind my back.

But Shahar easily snatched the stone from me.

“…….”

“Isn’t it cute?”

Shahar answered with actions instead of words.

The stone disappeared without even leaving dust, and only the ribbon remained in his hand.

And I was convinced. If someone else had brought that stone, it would have met the same fate.

“Now that I think about it, no stone suits a ribbon better than you, Shahar.”

I rambled and tied the ribbon around Shahar’s wrist.

I worried that his cold, intimidating aura might clash with it, but once tied, it looked as beautiful as Pinion.

“I’ll try harder to make a prettier ribbon next time. If Shahar doesn’t mind.”

‘Why does he look so pleased…?!’

Unconsciously, I patted his head as I used to.

Realizing it was rude, I quickly withdrew my hand. There was a glimmer of some desire in Shahar’s eyes.

It wasn’t l*st. I realized Shahar was recalling the past when I used to pamper him.

“Do you want me to pet you?”

There was no need to ask for permission.

I stood on tiptoe and rubbed his head and cheeks.

What started as innocent playfulness quickly turned into something more. Shahar pulled my hand and kissed my fingertips.

[Ahem, ahem. Your Majesty.]

I turned to see a soul standing awkwardly.

The subtle tension between Shahar and me dissipated instantly.

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Our exchange felt oddly like that of a married couple.

After he left, I imagined myself married to Shahar.

‘Queen of the Underworld?’

It didn’t seem bad. At least it was much better than being Pinion’s Empress.

* * *

“Lou…”

Iscallion called me with eyes full of expectation.

“What? Do you want to play cards again?”

“Yeah…”

He had almost regained his full form. He could now speak simple words, albeit clumsily. Just one or two more fragments, and he would return to the Iscallion I knew.

It was something to be happy about, but the closer we got, the heavier my heart felt.

When all the souls are gathered, my biggest excuse to stay by Shahar’s side will disappear, and it will mean that Iscallion’s time to pay for his sins is approaching.

And there was one more thing. I hadn’t told Shahar yet.

For some time now, my physical condition had been deteriorating.

At that moment, a nosebleed dripped onto the cards. It was already the sixth time today.