The Red Witch - Chapter 45

TN: "Rayne" -> "Laine"

Ael’s eyes narrowed, gaze flicking toward her with suspicion. But Kiara, unaware of the sudden chill in his expression, was still carefully examining his injury. So focused, in fact, that her cheeks were flushed pink.

‘No… that can’t be it.’

He exhaled slowly and shook his head. If the Crown Prince had set this bait, then he’d done a remarkably sloppy job of it. Frankly, Ael felt almost grateful she’d been locked away in that tower for so long. Any time she stepped outside, he half-expected her to miss a stair and go tumbling down.

The tower’s staircase was narrow. Steep. And with that delicate little frame of hers, a single wrong step would absolutely break something.

And if she broke something, then so would I.

Ael winced just thinking about it. As her bound soulmate, he’d feel it too. All those years surviving through blood and blades, and now he had to worry about her tripping over her own feet?

…Hold on.

Ael’s hand shot out to grab her shoulder, as if something urgent had just struck him. Kiara blinked up at him in confusion, only to yelp as he suddenly started tugging at the front of her clothes like he meant to tear them apart.

“W-What are you doing… Ah!”

She scrambled to clutch the fabric, trying desperately to stop him. The dress she wore was a traditional Altnebra indoor garment — thin, unstructured, and frankly too flimsy to be called a dress at all. It didn’t cinch at the waist or flare at the hips. Long and plain, it resembled something between underwear and sleepwear. A negligee, if one were being generous.

Technically, one was supposed to wear an overdress and a waist cord on top of it. But Kiara rarely bothered. She hardly ever left the tower, and anything beyond this thin slip was a luxury she could seldom afford.

At least a proper negligee had lace or embroidery. Her garment had none of that — just a single leather tie at the chest to hold it shut. The same leather tie Ael was now unfastening in a manner that resembled more tearing than untying.

“You’ll ruin it!”

Too late. With a sharp snap, one of the seams gave way. Ael didn’t even flinch. His hands moved with rough determination, not bothering with clasps or knots — just ripping through them. Kiara wasn’t worried about modesty so much as the state of her clothing. This was one of the few dresses she owned.

“Haa…”

Ael finally managed to wrench it open and let out a sigh like a man halfway through a war.

Kiara’s cheeks flamed red. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, shielding herself.

But even that, apparently, wasn’t acceptable.

“Move your hands.”

“W-Why are you doing this…?”

“I said move your hands.”

“T-Tell me why. What… what did I do wrong…?”

She stammered, clutching herself even tighter instead of obeying, despite his repeated orders. In the end, Ael grabbed her wrists and forcibly pulled her arms away from her chest.

Kiara’s bare brxxsts were exposed in full view, and she flinched in shame. Her wide eyes darted around, as though she could look anywhere but directly at him.

Not that it mattered. Ael, eyes narrowed, scanned her exposed body swiftly and in utter silence. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just stood there, staring.

It felt less like being examined and more like being interrogated.

Her shoulders stiffened with tension, but she couldn’t move. He still held her wrists firmly, leaving her unable to cover herself or even shift. The oppressive weight of his presence filled the room like a blade pressed against her skin, making every inch of her prickle.

How long had it been? Seconds? Minutes?

“…Haa.”

At last, Ael let out a breath and released her hands.

Only then did Kiara slowly draw her arms back over her chest. As she bent forward slightly, a sharp jolt of pain shot through her side, and she let out a small cry.

“Ow.”

The sudden throb in her ribs made her grimace deeply. Ael clicked his tongue and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

“Tch. So you really didn’t know.”

“D-Didn’t know… what…? H-Hnnk—”

Kiara didn’t even get to finish her question before a sharp gasp escaped her lips.

As soon as she became aware of it, the pain surged so violently it was almost absurd she hadn’t noticed it before.

“W-What is—what… is this…?”

“Easy now. Are you okay?”

“Ah, it hurts.”

“…You’ll be okay. Probably. Just hang in there a little longer.”

She couldn’t even speak properly, gasping through ragged breaths. Ael gently pulled her into his arms, murmuring soft reassurances as he held her. Whether it was his steady warmth or the calm rhythm of his hand stroking her back, the pain began to subside, little by little.

Kiara looked up at him — at Ael, who now held her so carefully.

“W-What… what is this…?”

Her eyes, wide with fear, met his.