Chapter 11
She couldn’t bring herself to ask him what his true purpose was. Whenever she met Iver’s eyes, they looked so pure. There wasn’t a trace of darkness in the face smiling at her.
‘He can’t possibly be treating me this well just because I once kept him company when he was a child. There must be some other reason.’
Ever since Annerose had come to Costeria, Iver had brought her gifts every day, things he thought she would like. Jewels. Clothes. Roses.
He had brought enough gifts to fill the conservatory several times over, until Annerose had finally been unable to endure it any longer and quietly pleaded with him.
Please, just bring fewer gifts.
It hadn’t been long since she’d asked him to stop bringing so many gifts, and yet he had brought an entire chest of jewels this time.
Not enough to fill the greenhouse, at least, but he’d restrained himself enough to keep it to a single large jewelry box.
Iver’s behavior, like he was courting her day after day, made Annerose sink into thought. Was he really giving her all of this without wanting anything from her in return?
Annerose, a queen who had long since faded into the pages of history, had no power, no authority, and certainly no impressive magical abilities.
All she possessed was the weak, pure magic that had once been used to govern her kingdom.
Even that was something she could no longer wield, making her little more than a worthless hostage.
If anyone in her family held more value than she did, it was Lamia. As Larre’s descendant, Lamia possessed everything one could want — magic, royal blood, and beauty.
‘If Lamia hadn’t been a tyrant, Iver would have chosen her instead.’
“……”
“Annerose? What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“…If there’s anything you want, just tell me.”
“Anything?”
“Yes. Anything. So please don’t look so sad.”
A Crown Prince fussing over someone who was nothing more than a hostage. Perhaps he had decided that she had some value he had yet to reveal to her.
‘Compared to Costeria, the Kingdom of Parozera is nothing more than a weak little country. How does he intend to use me? Is he keeping me here to extract my magic? No. My magic is too weak to be worth that much. Then why on earth…’
If he intended to use her for ransom, Annerose was simply far too worthless to be of much use, and there was no reason for the Parozera royal family to pay her ransom in the first place.
Other than being immortal, she had nothing particularly special about her. Even Lamia had abandoned her and fled.
‘If it isn’t for political reasons, then perhaps he simply wants my body. Because I’m immortal. Pure curiosity, perhaps. Or maybe there’s some reason I don’t know about. Then again, perhaps I’m using Iver as well. After all, he’s the reason I’m guaranteed safety.’
Did he want to know how to become immortal?
If so, he was mistaken. Annerose knew nothing about how immortality was achieved.
‘In the end, the only thing I can give Iver is this body….’
After thinking for a long while, Annerose looked at Iver, who was watching her. His jewel-like red eyes seemed almost deep enough to drown in. She could feel that she was the only thing reflected in those eyes.
Seeing the way he looked at her with such undisguised desire, Annerose rose with a sad smile and stood before Iver, who was still seated. When their eyes met, she gently stroked his cheek, then his neck.
As her fingertips slowly traveled downward toward his heart, she felt the warmth of his pulse beating quickly beneath them.
When she reached out and embraced him, Iver opened his arms like he had been waiting for her and pulled her into his embrace. His strong arms encircled her slender waist, and he drew her body closer before pressing a kiss to her neck.
Iver’s lips lingered against Annerose’s neck, leaving red marks in their wake. Her pale skin gradually flushed crimson.
Each time his large hands brushed over her body, Annerose’s breathing grew more ragged.
Whenever Iver’s tongue grazed her skin, whenever his fingers roughly explored her body, warmth gathered between her smooth thighs.
A tingling sensation stirred low in her abdomen.
Annerose caressed his rapidly heating body and whispered into Iver’s ear.
“…You said you’d grant me anything I wanted, didn’t you? Then hold me again tonight.”
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