154. Our Last Moment

Callion’s face showed a hint of confusion.

Adelaide’s unusually assertive request left him staring at her in puzzlement. As their eyes met, she lifted the corners of her mouth. Her slightly parted lips were incredibly seductive.

While he hesitated, a sudden surge of forbidden desire rose within him, and Adelaide made the first move.

A soft peck on the lips—a brief touch, then withdrawal. The sweet scent left him dizzy. In that instant, his barely held patience snapped.

Callion pulled her back and kissed her fiercely. Adelaide naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.

The mingling scents of brandy and jasmine were intoxicating. His tongue traced her palate, skimming her even teeth before entwining with hers.

“Mmm…”

A moan escaped, touching his tongue, as she couldn’t hold it back. Each time his tongue brushed her tender flesh, her body shivered, filling Callion with delight.

Whether due to the brandy or for other reasons, his body felt intensely hot.

Kissing alone wasn’t enough. As he raised his head, a string of saliva connected their lips.

“Ha…”

Adelaide, gasping for breath, wiped her glistening lips with the back of her hand, a simple gesture that drove Callion wild.

“…!”

Her vision spun as he pounced, pinning her to the bed like a predator over its prey. His eyes, filled with desire, bore into her.

Blinking in surprise, her face was pure and beautiful, making him crave her even more.

“Adelaide.”

Blushing, she averted her gaze.

Her disheveled chemise revealed snow-white, smooth skin. Without hesitation, Callion sank his teeth into her neck.

“Ah.”

The sensation sent shivers down her spine, and Adelaide moaned. The subtle tremor passed through their connected bodies.

Callion’s mouth moved downward, leaving deep marks on her flawless skin as he lifted her chemise.

Startled, she instinctively grasped the hem of her chemise. Callion raised her hands above her head, pinning her wrists.

His hands, exploring her smooth skin, grasped her soft br*asts. His gentle caresses soon turned teasing as something wet touched her sensitive spot.

Callion lightly nipped at her n*pple with his teeth, flicking the tip with his tongue.

Unable to suppress it any longer, Adelaide let out a moan.

She felt as if she were floating. She threaded her fingers through his hair.

Her insides tickled, as if something were kicking or tickling her. The relentless waves of pleasure seemed to melt her brain.

Struggling to maintain her composure, she feared losing control and embarrassing herself.

Then an even more intense wave of sensation hit her.

“Agh!”

It felt like a ball of fire had entered her body.

Losing her grip on her sanity, Adelaide clung to him, sobbing.

Every time his large body moved, her vision flickered. With her mind turning white, repeated peaks of unbearable pleasure washed over her.

Yet, whether due to the alcohol or lingering resentment, Callion showed no consideration for her.

Whenever she regained a bit of clarity and opened her eyes, he was still there, tormenting her in the same position.

Despite their numerous physical encounters, this was a first.

“Callion, please, please… huff.”

“You’re the one who asked to be embraced.”

Even her tearful pleas didn’t stop him.

The squelching sounds, the humid air, and the smell of sweat overwhelmed her senses.

Only when she was utterly spent and could no longer resist did Callion finally let her go.

Exhausted, Adelaide stared at the ceiling, then closed her eyes.

Callion, with a loving gaze, kissed her eyelids.

Her face, drunk on ecstasy, was profoundly erotic. Despite a sudden surge of impulse, he restrained himself, knowing she couldn’t endure more.

Callion lay beside her, watching her peaceful face for a while before his own eyelids grew heavy.

The combined strain of work and stress overwhelmed him, and sleep washed over him like a wave.

“We’ll talk… tomorrow,” he thought.

As soon as he finished the thought, his consciousness faded like a candle extinguished. He fell asleep holding her tightly.

***

Adelaide carefully pushed away his encircling arm and sat up. Despite his usual sensitivity to any disturbance, he was deeply asleep.

“…Callion.”

She called his name softly. After observing him for a while and seeing no reaction, she finally relaxed.

Having been overworked without a single day of rest since the day they left for Tiflis, he was now in a rare deep sleep.

Thinking he would sleep until morning after consuming two glasses of brandy laced with a strong sedative, she picked up her clothes from the floor.

However, she couldn’t leave him so easily.

Adelaide stood for a long time, simply gazing down at him.

She wanted to stay by his side for just a little longer, knowing that once she left this room, she would never see him again.

‘I’m sorry for deceiving you, Callion.’

Adelaide smiled sorrowfully through her tears.

“I love you.”

That much was true.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Adelaide took her pocket watch and left the room.

The royal palace, in the deepest hours of the night with the moon hidden, was eerily quiet.

Even the maids who usually followed her around had given them privacy tonight, and no guards were in sight.

Although she wasn’t familiar with the palace layout, her steps naturally led her to her destination.

‘A place I will never forget.’

Who could forget the place where they had died?

Avoiding prying eyes, she entered the guest room where it all happened that day.

The room, uninhabited for a long time, was desolate.

Nothing remained that reminded her of that day.

No red Tolaca wine, no broken glass, no Elkius mocking her as she lay dying.

But the memories of that day still vividly tormented her.

“Did you really think I would make you empress, Adelaide?”

“Have you forgotten, I’m really after him, not you.”

“It’s a fitting end.”

Adelaide closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again, shaking off the haunting whispers in her ears.

Hate and regret were all futile now.

Elkius was dead, and she would soon meet a fate not much different from his.

‘It was around here.’

She placed the cloth-wrapped pocket watch on the floor.

‘Remember, you must finish everything before ‘that day’ comes.’

She had known even before meeting the sorcerer that her time was running out.

With a sorrowful expression, she looked at the watch, then shifted her gaze to her ring.

‘I should have taken it off.’

Seeing the ring brought back the longing she had barely managed to suppress.

She knew this end was cruel and cowardly, more so than just leaving without a word.

Yet, she chose to be a coward.

Because of her selfish desire to hold on to the happy memories of their last moment together.

If she had known it would end like this, would she have loved him?

Adelaide shook her head slightly at her own question.

She would have still loved Callion and given everything for him.

Just as he had done for her.

With a self-deprecating smile, Adelaide drew a dagger from her cloak.

‘…If the spell works and everything returns to its rightful place, may the wounds I’ve inflicted and my sins be forgotten.’

Muttering quietly, Adelaide pressed the blade to her wrist. Her delicate skin split open, and crimson liquid gushed out.

Blood trickled down her wrist, dripping onto the pocket watch. Immediately, the watch began to vibrate. The spell was activating again.

“Agh…”

The blood flowed ceaselessly into the pocket watch, which seemed to absorb it.

Suddenly, the entire space trembled. A tremendous pressure filled the room, and a blinding white light erupted from the watch. It was so bright it was almost blinding.

The light beams split into multiple rays, surrounding her and then converging into one.

Caught in the pillar of light, Adelaide groped at the empty air, then lowered her hands.

Her vision turned white from the blood loss. Overwhelmed by dizziness, she leaned on the floor. But her hand slipped, unable to support her weight.

Thud, her tilted body hit the floor, but she felt nothing.

The light, now soaked in her blood, grew larger, slowly enveloping her body as if submerging her in deep water.

Adelaide did not resist the impending darkness.

As she anticipated the end and was about to let go of her fading consciousness.

“No, Adelaide!”

The door burst open, and Callion leaped into the light.

Just as his hand barely touched her, the light exploded like a flash, engulfing them both.

That was the last thing she remembered.