Chapter 126

Elise shuddered at the hot breath that brushed against her skin. “Let go… Let me go,” she pleaded, her voice trembling.

The strong arms that wrapped around her shoulders and back felt like tightly bound ropes, constricting her ability to breathe. He uttered not a single word beyond the command to come closer. Fear began to swell within her, growing larger and more suffocating.

Elise struggled against his grip, but her efforts seemed laughable to him. Still, she fought with all her strength, trying to push him away. “L-let go…,” she gasped. 

The expression on Rezette’s face twisted in a way that sent chills down her spine as he buried his face in her nape, inhaling deeply. Elise screamed in surprise as an intense pain pierced her skin. He had suddenly bitten down on her tender flesh.

Though it didn’t draw blood, the act felt barbaric enough to terrify her. His tongue brushed against the mark he had left, igniting another wave of dread within her.

Rezette moistened his lips with the flesh he had bitten and sucked, a ritual as familiar as his breath. As soon as he trapped her in his embrace again, he instinctively marked her with his claim, his need to confirm her existence a desperate act to stave off the threat of snapping.

This scent, this warmth, this voice… How long had it been?

Elise’s waist gradually bent backward, a soft moan escaping her lips.

“Ah… Hah.”

A damp tongue slid across her skin, followed by hot, humid breaths. Her accustomed senses welcomed the familiar stimulation, her breath becoming ragged against her will. This man always initiated intimacy in this way…

I can’t get swept away like this!

Rezette seemed unaffected by her defiance. Elise, like a fragile prey, offered her neck while casting a desperate glance at Genovia, who watched the whole situation from the doorway. The only one who could help her now was the master of this place.

Before long, soldiers from Irrien entered the chamber, their hands resting on their scabbards, ready to draw their swords at the slightest sign of trouble.

Rezette quickly sensed the presence of the trained elite knights. The tightening encirclement was bothersome, threatening to fray the thread of his sanity. Nevertheless, he would not be deterred from sinking his teeth into her lips.

“Hah….”

After several kisses that crushed the pulsing vein in her delicate neck, Rezette finally let out a long sigh and pulled Elise close as if to crush her. The gentle caress of his hand stroking the back of her head and nape was steeped in the longing and suffering of the past twenty days.

Unfortunately, Elise, unable to move, could not see the expression on his face. The hot breath of the man on her nape only amplified her fear, as if she might suffocate under the strength of his embrace.

What’s going to happen now…? Elise thought.

It was the worst-case scenario she didn’t even want to imagine. Did he know she was pregnant? Would he be angry? Given his cold, blunt remarks up until now, it seemed likely…

As Elise trembled with anxiety, Rezette suddenly scooped her up. Now that he had found his woman, he had no reason to stay here any longer.

Genovia shouted, whimpering, “Don’t let him out!”

As he turned toward the doorway without hesitation, Irrien’s soldiers rushed toward him. Just as Elise tensed at the sound of the knights drawing their swords in unison, Rezette boldly stepped forward.

Heavy footsteps sliced through the air like a hammer. At the same time, a black fog surged into the air, violently pushing everything around away.

With a tremendous crashing sound, knights clad in iron armor toppled like autumn leaves. Genovia, who had been watching the situation from the back, was also unable to avoid the impact and fell.

Elise’s eyes widened in shock at the overwhelming scene.

Oh my God.

Rezette carried the pale Elise across the chaotic chamber. As he reached the entrance, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Where are you going with her?” Genovia demanded, her eyes flashing with anger.

Rezette ignored her. However, her words were not lost on him.

“In this biting cold, dragging a bleeding wife all the way to Rotiara?” Genovia continued. “With the princess barely able to stand, do you think she can make the journey safely? She’s been running a fever, hasn’t eaten, and hasn’t slept. And I’m sure you know who’s to blame for that.”

Rezette flinched at the mention of Elise’s wounds and looked down at her. She had clutched the mark he had left on her neck, her head lowered in submission.

Genovia sneered. “Since the prince has finally found the princess, I won’t interfere in your marital affairs. But I cannot allow you to leave my mansion in this state. Have you forgotten how harsh a northern winter night can be? If you take a sick person outside, she’ll freeze to death in less than half an hour.”

Taking advantage of his silence, Genovia chuckled as if she’d realized something.

“Oh, well, since it’s not like she’ll recover in a day or two, you’re not too worried, right? Whether she lives or dies on the way,” she said.

He didn’t respond. 

She knew he wouldn’t leave immediately. After rambling for a while, Genovia hastily fled the chamber with her maid’s support.

That’s enough. I’ve helped her as much as I can, she thought. Taking Elise away from the Grand Duke now would lead to her demise.

The man glanced through the closing door, ignoring her and leaning closer to the woman in his arms.

Genovia finally released the breath she had been holding. “Wrap enough thorn vines around the entrance, and report any commotion immediately,” she ordered.

“Yes, miss. Should I inform the lord right away?” her maid asked.

“No, if my father gets involved, things will get complicated. What about the information I asked you to look into?” Genovia replied.

“For now, I’ve released the servants at the port and passed the orders to the information guild. We should receive some useful news within today. Additionally, I’ve delayed the departure of the merchant ships. With the heavy snowfall, the port is frozen, so no ships will be able to leave until the weather clears up,” her maid reported.

“Good, that works,” Genovia said.

The first snowfall in Norella during this time of year usually lasted from ten days to two weeks. That meant they had to settle things within that time frame.

Who, indeed, would God choose to support?

After Genovia and her knights retreated, a chilling silence descended upon the chamber. The aftermath of the magical storm left the room in complete disarray, and faint magical energy continued to swirl around Rezette’s feet.

In the unnervingly quiet atmosphere, Elise endured Rezette’s lingering gaze. How much longer must I endure this… she thought to herself, her heart pounding so loudly that she could hear it in her ears.

Only when the dark energy dissipated without a trace and the flames in the fireplace had nearly dwindled did Rezette begin to move. He directed Elise to sit on the bed, apparently having concluded that leaving the Irian mansion immediately was not a wise course of action. This was a small relief amidst the misfortune.

Despite having her right in front of him, Rezette still did not let go of his suspicion. He covered her wrists and hands with his own and pressed them down onto the bed. Her wrists, exhausted from days of strain, seemed on the verge of snapping. Her small, translucent hands, veins visible beneath the skin, appeared even more fragile against the man’s powerful grip.

***

After Genovia and her knights retreated, a chilling silence descended upon the chamber. The aftermath of the magical storm left the room in complete disarray, and faint magical energy continued to swirl around Rezette’s feet.

In the unnervingly quiet atmosphere, Elise endured Rezette’s lingering gaze. How much longer must I endure this… she thought to herself, her heart pounding so loudly that she could hear it in her ears.

Only when the dark energy dissipated without a trace and the flames in the fireplace had nearly dwindled did Rezette begin to move. He directed Elise to sit on the bed, apparently having concluded that leaving the Irian mansion immediately was not a wise course of action. This was a small relief amidst the misfortune.

Despite having her right in front of him, Rezette still did not let go of his suspicion. He covered her wrists and hands with his own and pressed them down onto the bed. Her wrists, exhausted from days of strain, seemed on the verge of snapping. Her small, translucent hands, veins visible beneath the skin, appeared even more fragile against the man’s powerful grip.

Though only her hands were captured, her entire body felt weighed down by lead. The air surrounding them was precariously thin, like glass on the verge of shattering. Neither dared to speak first.

Their gazes continued to clash. One side seemed ready to devour the other, while the other side steadfastly avoided the gaze. Elise didn’t even lift her head to meet his eyes. Since being discovered in the corner of the wardrobe, she hadn’t looked him in the eye once.

“Elise,” Rezette eventually broke the silence, his voice filled with anxiety.

With their hands bound together, Rezette lowered himself, kneeling on one knee to get a closer look at Elise. He pulled her left hand closer and pressed his lips firmly against her palm.

Now that the distractions had vanished and they were finally alone, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Throughout their journey to this point, he had been half out of his mind, but now fresh blood was flowing to his head. The scent, reminiscent of wildflowers, flooded in, dizzying him.

Rezette let out a sigh of relief and raised his head. Elise had kept her head lowered, so he hadn’t seen her face. Given his rough demeanor, he assumed she must be terrified or close to tears.

However, his expectations were shattered. Her delicate eyelashes were half-closed, but her golden eyes were dry. Her gaze was sharp and unwavering, a far cry from the trembling woman he had held moments ago. It was a look he had never seen on her before.

While there were no visible injuries, a sense of unease washed over him. This wasn’t over.

Her silver hair, now significantly shorter, fluttered at her chest. Rezette couldn’t help but look down at her abdomen.

Even as he looked, it was hard to believe that life was growing inside her petite frame. His child. It was a feeling he couldn’t quite comprehend.

Her small hand, held in his, twitched repeatedly. A tightness gripped his throat, almost like choking, and he asked the question that needed to be said.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

Her response was astonishing.

“Why did you come?”