Chapter 79
“Your Highness, I will take my leave now…”
As Elia tried to stand, Cyrone grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down to sit beside him. Elia stumbled slightly, powerless to resist, her entire body as fragile as a withered twig.
“What’s going on?”
Only then did Cyrone turn to Nielsen and ask. Nielsen avoided the gaze of those still-unfamiliar, blood-red eyes as he replied.
“Your Highness, an official notice has come from the temple stating that further negotiations are impossible. They warned that if demands continue, they will not hesitate to resort to military force.”
“Is this the Pope’s will?”
Cyrone calmly stroked Elia’s hair as he spoke. Nielsen nodded, struggling to conceal his despair.
“…Yes, it bore the Pope’s seal.”
Over the past year, tensions between the temple and the imperial court had reached a boiling point. Cyrone had openly expressed his ambition to overthrow the temple’s authority and conquer Daigana, the temple’s sovereign territory and the empire’s only extraterritorial zone.
Daigana was the most sacred and glorious land within the empire. A rule all past Kelyon Emperors had accepted without question. Naturally, the temple and its clergy opposed the imperial will, leading to a dangerously precarious standoff.
Fortunately, open conflict had not yet erupted, but that was no longer guaranteed.
“Your Highness, Daigana has been the temple’s holy ground for generations. Especially in these turbulent times, confronting the temple places a great burden on us as well…”
Nielsen paused repeatedly, overwhelmed by the weight of his thoughts.
“Moreover, this war lacks any justification. Regardless of the outcome, the very foundation of the empire will be shaken. Please, Your Highness, reconsider.”
Nielsen felt despair over how the past year had passed and what the future might hold. Yet, concealing his inner turmoil, he bowed respectfully.
“You speak as if you truly believe in God. Do you, Sir?”
Cyrone looked down at Nielsen silently and asked. For a moment, Nielsen hesitated, unsure how to respond. Then Cyrone let out a low chuckle and looked bored. Despite Nielsen standing right before him, Cyrone unceremoniously placed Elia back onto his lap.
“Y-Your Highness…”
Elia squirmed uncomfortably as she was hastily pulled down onto his lap. Ignoring Nielsen, who stood right in front of them, Cyrone slid his hand under her skirt. His fingers were sweeping her thigh persistently.
“…Haaah.”
Her face burned with shame. She clenched her body, holding back the moans escaping from her teeth. By now, her body had grown so sensitive that even the slightest touch from Cyrone made her wet.
Overwhelmed, Elia forced her gaze downward, as if blaming herself for her own helplessness.
“This isn’t just some trivial matter, Your Highness! This concerns the Empire…!”
“Hahh—!”
Nielsen’s expression twisted in disgust as he watched the scene unfold. But Cyrone was now shamelessly toying with Elia’s lower body. Trembling, she clutched at his shirt, desperately stifling the lewd sounds threatening to spill from her lips. Yet his touch only grew more persistent.
“P-Please, Your Highness… Not here… Nngh—!”
Her pleading fell on deaf ears. Cyrone’s fingers slipped past her damp underwear. The obscene wet sounds came out of her lower body. Cyrone gave a low chuckle as he felt just how wanton her body had become under his touch.
“Ah, ahn…”
Elia’s vision blurred. As much as she hated being exposed like this in front of others, she couldn’t bring herself to resist. Cyrone gently stroked her hair as she leaned weakly against him, then finally spoke.
“I don’t believe in God.”
Unlike the flushed face of Elia, Cyrone’s expression as he looked at Nielsen was utterly emotionless.
“Of course, if I don’t believe, I don’t worship either.”
Cyrone whispered this while kissing the spot between Elia’s shoulder and neck. Elia clung to Cyrone’s shoulder, exhaling a shaky breath.
“So we must trample and destroy them.”
Cyrone gave a brief, firm command as if telling them to stop resisting. Watching this, Nielsen could only tremble with clenched fists.
“…Your Highness, why on earth?”
Nielsen wanted to ask why Cyrone was acting this way, but Cyrone, as if tired of listening, held Elia and laid her down on the desk.
As Cyrone began to lift her skirt seriously, he glanced at the stunned Nielsen.
“How long do you plan to keep interfering?”
Biting his lip, Nielsen turned and stormed out.
With every step he took, Nielsen felt as if he was falling into an abyss. Though many called Cyrone a bloodthirsty murderer possessed by the devil’s soul, Nielsen, who had sworn his life to Cyrone, could never believe such things.
But now, even his lifelong loyalty and devotion were reaching their limit.
With a loud slam, the door shut.
“Cyrone, not here, please…”
Elia pushed Cyrone away, pleading. She was gasping for breath, unable to form clear words. Then, with a sharp smack, Elia’s head was turned forcibly.
“Say it again, call me Cyrone.”
“…!”
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.