From the Tip of the Tongue of the Lowliest Maid - Chapter 176

This work contains scenes of sadistic coercion and hardcore depictions of BDSM. Reader discretion is advised.

“Ah, My Lord…”

Arzeletta’s mouth, which had crumbled as if it was melting down the bed and was crawling on all fours, was soon covered by something.

Arzeletta groped with her fingertips to confirm what was covering her mouth and nose.

It was Theogrim.

“…Damn it, Rzel.”

His voice, which reached her ear, sounded as if it had been badly scratched.

“Why are you going this far? Why…”

“Hmph…”

“Why are you leaving me to go to Ragnar?”

Outside the curtains, the sound of a distant, closed door clattering was heard. Arzeletta reached out her arm again.

“…Why are you trying to die instead of Ragnar?”

Soon, her outstretched arm fell weakly to the floor.

She could smell a scent from the handkerchief that was covering her nose. It was a scent she had experienced before. That… sweet and intense scent that had made her cry all night in Ragnar’s arms when she had first come to this room.

“Just sleep for a little while, Rzel.”

Theogrim’s voice, whispering in her ear, trembled as if in a dream.

“…Everything will be fine soon.”

That was the last thing. Arzeletta closed her eyes as she heard the familiar sound of Ragnar’s combat boots.

She looked as pitiful as a falling flower.

Theogrim carefully supported Arzeletta’s limp body in his arms.

After roughly wrapping Arzeletta’s naked body with the torn tunic, Theogrim lifted Arzeletta into his arms.

Just like when he had entered this domain 10 years ago.

Arzeletta, who looked terribly hurt. Arzeletta, who looked as if she had nowhere to lean on except for his arms.

Theogrim’s eyes, which had lifted his head in the darkness, were bloodshot. As tense as a beast before its final hunt, he put his lips to Arzeletta’s forehead.

Her sweaty forehead was smooth and fragrant.

“I will protect you, Rzel.”

“……”

“To be mine forever.”

From the moment he had set foot in this domain, Arzeletta and he had been each other’s.

From a single strand of hair to a single drop of blood, even the air she had breathed had all existed only for each other.

…I will never lose you.

Clank, the sound of the door opening was heard. Theogrim bit his lip and opened the curtain.

In Ragnar’s spacious and magnificent bedchamber, he, holding Arzeletta in his arms, stepped on a single tile in front of the huge holy painting. The holy painting, which had looked like a frame, turned, and the space behind it opened.

Theogrim disappeared into the secret door without delay.

Even in the brief moment it was closing, the secret door was smooth and quiet.

In the bedchamber that had been swept by intense emotions, there was nothing left but the moonlight that was hidden by the clouds.

“I am just in time to see you, My Lord.”

Ragnar asked Carmen, who was approaching just as he was about to open the door and enter his bedchamber.

“What is it?”

“The budget plan you requested. You said to bring it even if it was late.”

Ragnar gave a short nod and turned his body.

“You may withdraw for the day, Wolfram. Thank you for your hard work.”

Ragnar’s attendant knight, Wolfram, bowed respectfully. The eyes of the tall attendant knight, who had raised his head, shone with absolute trust towards the Lord.

In his stubborn uniform with the buttons all the way up to his neck, his sternness that did not allow for a single unnecessary word, and his unique straight and cold dignity.

As if to show off his own robustness, Ragnar was as sharp as a newly honed sword.

No one noticed the subtle lingering emaciation.

Ragnar, who had entered the bedchamber, suddenly stopped.

“……”

For a moment, Ragnar’s brow narrowed.

…A familiar scent, a familiar warmth.

The beautiful flow of air that was shaking him uncontrollably.

It’s impossible. There’s no way.

But the trained senses of a Holy Knight were lending credibility to his unbelievable deduction.

“…Arzeletta?”

He opened his hardened lips and called her name. It was a name that stabbed him deeply in the heart the moment he said it.

There was no answer.

He walked to the back of the bedchamber. There was a tray on the table. The plate was empty.

“……”

And a moment later, Ragnar bent down and picked something up from the floor.

It was a black veil that seemed to have fallen from the table.

He raised his hand and put his lips to the transparent veil. Her body scent was clear. There was no mistake.

Ragnar, clutching the veil, walked to the deepest part of the bedchamber where the bed was.

“Arzeletta.”

The bed curtains were drawn.

There was no one inside.

He inhaled and looked around. No presence was felt except for the lingering sweet body scent in the air.

The only thing left in the room was the moonlight that had come in, projected through the red window.

“…Why.”

The veins that had risen on the back of his hand clutching the veil hardened even more. He stood absentmindedly, like a person who had lost his way in his own room, and looked around.