Chapter 75

What, where and how did it get so twisted? Perhaps the problem started with me holding onto you like a lifeline?

As the intense climax subsided, Elise, who had clung to Rezette with unwavering strength, surrendered to the sheets, seemingly drained of energy. The bedroom echoed only with the sounds of their labored breathing.

Rezette, the first to break the silence, cautiously opened his eyes to assess the aftermath. A subtle hint of blood hung in the air, and as he examined the scene, his gaze fell to the white bedsheets, revealing a trace of crimson. A faint furrow appeared on his forehead.

While the relief of finding no visible wounds washed over him, the lingering scent of blood ignited an uncontrollable heat within his body. Even his wife recoiled at the mere odor.

“Elise,” Rezette murmured.

She, breathing shallowly, struggled to lift her eyelids. Her golden eyes, still clouded by the aftermath of ecstasy, gazed faintly in his direction. Rezette tenderly touched her chin and inquired softly, “Are you in pain?”

“Not exactly in pain… it’s strange,” she murmured.

“What is?”

“Everything.”

Elise, who had been staring into emptiness, suddenly contorted her face, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Everything feels strange.”

Rezette instinctively understood it wasn’t due to the intensity he had exerted. A sense of guilt spread in her golden eyes, as if she had committed an unforgivable act. Elise turned her head, tightly closing her eyes. Unlike the lingering passion in her unsatisfied body, Rezette’s mind rapidly cooled down.

He disliked it. There was nothing between them that shouldn’t have happened. He had warned countless times, yet the blame seemed to rest on her for persisting.

Just a few days ago, it was like that. No, just until this afternoon.

I shouldn’t have waited until tonight, Rezette thought, the span of just a few hours since noon now casting an unsettling shadow over him. Contentment had dissipated like fleeting gusts of wind, leaving impatience in its wake.

Driven by a need to fill the void, Rezette refused to pull away, lunging himself even deeper. Elise, taken aback, pushed against him, her voice trembling with urgency. “Rezette, it’s over now, it’s over, it hurts…”

Although her body appeared more at ease, her words belied a different truth. Rezette chuckled, his amusement cutting through the tension. “You should have said that sooner.”

“W-what?” Elise stammered.

“If you had, I might have pretended not to notice even obvious lies.” It was only then that Elise grasped her error; she shouldn’t have honestly responded when he asked about her pain. But it was too late; she found herself once again captivated by him.

The stimulation overwhelmed her, every sensation provocative. Gradually, the pain dissolved into the background. Elise’s hurried breaths transformed into something hot and sweet. Rezette, with a forceful gesture, inserted his fingers between her lips, parting them.

“Elise, just a bit more. Look at me,” he commanded.

“Haah, huh, how much… longer…”

“Just once.” Unintended words slipped out effortlessly. The moment he discovered another’s traces on her body, any inclination to yield to her pleas vanished completely.

“Just once more.”

Yes, this was undeniably more than just a surge of instinctual desire. Rezette was convinced that, in this moment, he was more rational than ever. With a clear and sharp consciousness, he was asserting his claim on his wife—the woman he believed, if gods took on female form, would undoubtedly bear a face like hers. Even as he raised his head, he couldn’t ascend to the level of the princess he imagined, so he pulled her down to lie beneath him.

Had there ever been anything more worthwhile in his life than this?

Despite the awareness of potential miserable consequences, Rezette was driven by an unwavering determination to imprint his mark on her body at this very moment. Thus, he found himself more impulsive and irrational than ever before, acknowledging that, despite considering himself rational, he was being mercilessly swept away by the current of instinct.

Elise extended her hand, suppressing her sobs. Yielding to her desperate plea to halt, Rezette willingly descended. Clinging to him with all her strength, Elise remained oblivious to the fact that she was immersing herself in the embrace of a beast poised to consume her.

Sensing the tender fingertips digging into his shoulders, Rezette erupted in sounds saturated with satisfaction. Pathetic, beautiful Elizabeth. The coveted blessing of Grandel, sought after by numerous inhabitants of Argan, had unquestionably become his woman.

And thus, Rezette had her at last.

***

Galeus’s Raven. 

This term encapsulated the entity known as Rezette Kyrstan before he acquired a name.

Galeus represented the name of the third-rate arena that shaped his early years, as well as the surname of the couple who owned and managed the establishment. The husband was the one who stumbled upon the lifeless mother and the dragon cub nestled beside her in the worn-down hut on the village outskirts.

“Good grief, we’ve hit the jackpot.”

The man swiftly delved into his pocket, revealing something glimmering—a gold cross dangling from a string attached to his finger.

“As the Lord is above all creation, grant us the grace and mercy to preserve this humble life for one more day….”

Uttering prayers, the man shook the cross, seeking divine intervention when confronted with perilous entities such as dragons or monsters. Despite his seemingly harsh nature, he was a believer, motivated by a desire to avoid perishing and descending into hell for reasons other than the Lord’s will.

As the man withdrew, carrying the cross with him, a sense of unease crept over him. “…Hmm, something feels off.” What Galeus stumbled upon did not display hostility, unlike other dragon cubs, nor did it mindlessly attack. It simply stood there, unmoving, fixated on the lifeless form of the woman.

Galeus found the creature captivating. Newly hatched dragons, lacking mastery over magic, typically assumed animal forms rather than human ones. The one beside its deceased mother bore no resemblance to a human infant; it was diminutive and more akin to a crow, adorned with rigid scales in place of feathers.

Curiosity piqued, Galeus experimented by looping a noose of thorn vines around its head. To his surprise, the creature remained passive, allowing itself to be pulled without resistance. 

“What is this? Is it lifeless?” Galeus muttered to himself.

Yet, when he tossed a fig from his pocket, an immediate response ensued. The fledgling dragon eagerly devoured the fruit, concealing its actions as if guarding the moment from the world.

With juice smeared around its mouth, the creature lifted its head, its sky-blue eyes locking onto the human who dared to make contact. Despite its resemblance to its deceased mother, there was no foul odor emanating from it, and no dark, sticky blood clung to its form. This marked the first encounter with another being since its birth.

Sensing the intense scrutiny, Galeus released a sigh. “Oh-ho. Found something too precious to be left as mere merchandise, eh? Young dragons don’t typically bother with such inspections.”

The dragon cub’s gaze fixated on the cross hanging from Galeus’s waist. The modest cross, adorned with a faux crystal, shimmered in the sunlight. The creature’s blue, bead-like eyes followed the cross’s movements. Seizing the moment, quick-witted Galeus tossed the cross before the dragon cub could make a move.

“Here, take it. A gift to commemorate our first meeting.”

The dragon cub remained silent, its attention fixed on the sparkling object. Galeus, pulling on the vine like a makeshift leash, coaxed the creature forward. Enchanted, step by step, it emerged into the sunlight for the first time, following the human who had both discovered and gifted the captivating item.

An enticing object. An intriguing human. 

The creature desired both. 

Galeus chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips as he shook his head.

“Indeed, there’s a brain in there, recognizing its owner. Yes, little raven. If you desire something, present it to your master. Politely, with courtesy. If you behave yourself, I’ll give you what you want.”

In Rezette’s recollection, it marked the day he first uncovered both submission and a burgeoning sense of greed within himself.

***

The sharp aroma of potent herbs lingered at the edge of Elise’s nose, disturbing her sleep. Startled by the alluring fragrance, she awoke suddenly, recognizing it from somewhere in her past. Blinking her heavy eyelids, she found herself in a warm environment. Nestled against a man’s chest, she seemed to be seated on his thigh.

Her body, limp and unresponsive like soaked cotton, resisted her attempts to move, as if firmly anchored. Realizing this, tears welled up in her eyes.

Isn’t this… isn’t this too much? Even if he’s a dragon, even if he’s not human…

With a soft sob, Elise turned her head. Faint light seeped through the thick fabric covering the window, hinting at either dawn or sunset; time had become elusive.

Even if an entire day had slipped by, she had no recollection of the man ever leaving her completely. Yet, a large hand gently rested on Elise’s trembling waist.

“Not yet.”

Only then did she notice that he, too, was awake. Rezette’s hand pressed against her waist, securing her in place.

“Just a little longer like this,” he murmured, his voice still carrying warmth.