Chapter 96

“If only you told me you me, perhaps things would have been different,” Elise murmured, her protest tinged with a sense of powerlessness that even her self-reproach couldn’t mask.

Rezette sensed the impending surge of emotion but pushed down the strange tension within him to continue. “Would it have been easier?”

“That’s not the point,” Elise replied with a mixture of frustration and resignation. “Some days are a struggle, and on others, I just long for respite from it all…”

Silence hung heavy between them as Rezette absorbed her words. “I know it sounds foolish, but my heart refuses to comply,” Elise confessed, her chest rising and falling rapidly with emotion.

Rezette gazed at her as if under a spell, then suddenly posed a question that pierced through the air. “Am I the sole cause of your turmoil?”

“There’s no one else for me,” Elise admitted, her voice heavy with the weight of her confession. “You made me say that in front of everyone.”

Unable to bear the tension any longer, Elise began to fidget nervously, her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability beneath her facade of defiance.

“…Even though you don’t love me…”

The tremble in her golden eyes held more than just reproach for her indifferent husband; it also smoldered with a fiery desire. Her quivering voice and desperate embrace seemed to envelop and overwhelm him, suffocating him with a potent mix of longing and despair.

Elise’s feelings for him were a tumultuous blend of resentment and desire, a torment that gnawed at her relentlessly. As for Rezette, her presence in his life was both exasperating and strangely endearing.

His heart raced uncontrollably at the mere thought of her. How had this monstrous woman entered his world? With her captivating beauty and honeyed words, she possessed the ability to ensnare and unsettle even the most composed individuals.

Rezette had never entertained thoughts of love, considering it a concept detached from his reality. Yet, the overwhelming emotion surging within him defied explanation, compelling him to search for human words to articulate its intensity.

It seemed this was a love far more potent and merciless than anything he had encountered before.

Despite her desires, he had no intention of succumbing to her wishes. Instead, he found a strange satisfaction in the notion that her melancholy could become his own.

As realization dawned, a wave of ecstasy washed over him. Rezette silenced her unspoken tears with his lips, his tongue entwining with hers in a dance that seemed to melt away all barriers.

Even with the climax still looming ahead, it felt as though his eyes were already ablaze. Rezette seized Elise’s warm body, gripping her waist fiercely as he lifted her.

“I’m glad you remember,” he remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of satisfaction.

Elise gasped in response, her breath catching in her throat. “Love, I still have no intention of yielding to your desires,” Rezette declared firmly.

Pleasure mingled with desperation in Elise’s eyes as she squirmed under his touch. “What must I do to make you…?” she trailed off, her voice trailing off into uncertainty.

Rezette’s response was unwavering. “You just have to want me. Continuously, endlessly,” he stated with conviction.

At that moment, Rezette finally grasped the elusive piece of the puzzle that had eluded him—his possessiveness toward Elise. He served her like a devoted king, yet his desires ran counter to her wishes. He was a predator, fueled by the fiery blood of a dragon, a conqueror in his own right.

But dragons could never be knights of men. Rezette wanted to be Elise’s sole ruler, her undisputed king. And so, he would never yield to her desires, knowing that it would only fuel her longing for him, whether it brought her joy or anguish.

With renewed determination, Rezette resumed his thrusts, the sound of their rough breaths and cries echoing through the silent stone stairs. He forcibly tilted Elise’s head backward to meet her gaze.

“Cry more,” he commanded, his voice charged with excitement. “Much more than now, Elise.”

Without hesitation, his words became her catalyst. Elise trembled as she reached her climax, every detail captured by Rezette’s intense gaze. With calculated precision, he pushed her body deeper into his existence, fulfilling his desires with a fervor matched only by her own longing.

“Ah…!” Elise’s voice wavered as she surrendered to the overwhelming sensations, losing herself in the moment. In that instant, she seemed to forget everything about herself, consumed by the ecstasy of the experience. Her writhing and sobbing created a melody more beautiful than any divine voice or angelic chorus.

Rezette, engulfed in a profound sense of fulfillment, felt his primal desires surge within him like a tidal wave. Succumbing to the raw intensity of the moment, he left indelible marks upon her body, their passion leaving no corner untouched.

***

Several days later, Elise found herself in the midst of a peculiar dream. In it, a black scale descended from the heavens, landing softly upon her outstretched palm. Glittering like obsidian yet as delicate as a feather, it shattered into countless particles upon closer inspection. The fragments transformed into a swirling mist that enveloped Elise, seeping into her skin and suffusing her with a comforting warmth that radiated throughout her entire being.

Startled awake, Elise found herself cradled in a wide embrace, the familiar presence of her lover comforting her. Although he remained silent as always, his gentle closeness reassured her. Gazing up at him, she attempted to rouse him from his slumber.

“Are you asleep?” she whispered, lightly shaking his face.

His handsome features twitched slightly, and with closed eyes, Rezette murmured in a sleepy voice, “Please sleep more.”

Elise sighed softly, content to remain in his embrace a little longer. As she nestled closer, inhaling his familiar scent, she felt her worries melt away. Gradually, his breathing steadied.

There was no indication that he would awaken anytime soon. Rezette lay there with closed eyes and lips sealed in a serene slumber, appearing remarkably composed.

Elise stole a glance at her husband before gently pressing her ear against his bare chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat resonated clearly in her ears. It was the first time she had seen Rezette asleep by her side.

…Have I finally earned his trust? Elise pondered silently. She couldn’t discern what had brought him solace, but understanding Rezette had long been an exercise in futility. What mattered was that the formidable wall of his doubts seemed to have softened, if only slightly.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Elise’s lips. Whatever she had done seemed to have made an impact. That was enough for now. Once cracks appeared in the wall, it was only a matter of time before it crumbled entirely.

Elise’s intuition proved correct before long.

***

Ten days passed, and the Harvest Festival commenced. Elise stood atop the outer ramparts of Rotiara Castle, meticulously adjusting her crimson cloak to conceal her figure. Beside her stood Rezette, a suggestion of his that she reluctantly followed. Though the cloak hid her slender form, Elise wasn’t entirely comfortable with the arrangement. Yet, she acquiesced to avoid any actions that might rebuff Rezette’s overture.

Below, the square bustled with activity as crowds gathered to celebrate the season of harvest and plenty. Countless eyes were fixed upon Elise, awaiting her appearance.

Rezette gently guided Elise to face him, pausing to adjust the strap of her hood. Despite her reservations, she allowed herself to be guided by his touch.

“Should you… reveal your face?” Rezette hesitated, his uncertainty palpable.

Would it be wise to unveil her countenance?

Elise appeared more radiant than ever today. At Lady Pettison’s insistence, she had adorned herself for the first time since arriving at Rotiara. Her complexion glowed with health, and her enigmatic silver hair was adorned with glistening pearl ornaments. Beneath the cloak, she wore a golden dress symbolizing abundance, with a silver-embroidered tunic fluttering beneath.

Rezette’s impulse to reach out and remove her hood was undeniable. However, he ensured only a glimpse of her exquisite profile and the beauty of her locks would be revealed.

“Rezette? What…?” Elise’s voice held a hint of confusion.

“Just a moment,” Rezette replied, gently restraining her hands as he adjusted her hood. “Just a moment, so everyone can witness your beauty today.”

As Elise’s long silver hair cascaded like waves against the crimson sky, she turned her head in astonishment, realizing her profile was on display to the crowd. Even with just a fleeting glimpse of her half-revealed face, admiration rippled through the onlookers.

That was enough.

Just as it seemed sufficient, Rezette wrapped her once more in his cloak. Elise nestled into his embrace as if seeking refuge. “Don’t. It’s scary…” she murmured softly, her eyes wide like a startled squirrel.

Her unexpected reaction elicited laughter. And as Elise’s expression transformed from one of annoyance to something softer, the tension between them dissipated.

Ah…

The man’s face bore no trace of doubt or wariness, only an unabashed vanity that matched his desires. Lazy satisfaction lingered in the neatly curved lines of his eyes, signifying one thing unmistakably—freedom. Released from the chains that bound her, unshackled at last.

Elise couldn’t contain her elation as laughter and sighs mingled on her lips. “What’s with that expression?” he inquired.

Elise buried her face in his chest, muttering thoughtlessly, “You seem to enjoy seeing me in trouble? You’re mean, really.”

I’m glad you seem to trust me, she thought silently, her heart swelling with determination. Because of that, I now have a chance to break free. I won’t miss this opportunity.

Below the castle, the people cheered for the lord of Rotiara. A voice began to sing the folk songs of the land, carrying the hopes and dreams of generations:

“May the era of peace come,
Where Tenne and Grenthern’s spirits roam,
Amidst harsh winters, verdant pastures thrive…”

Rotiara, once plagued by the invasions of neighboring countries, had found itself in the hands of Rezette. Despite his identity as a dragon and Elise’s origins as a princess of an enemy nation, the people cared only for the promise of peace.

The song, initiated by a few, swelled into a resounding chorus that reverberated through the air:

“May peace come to this blessed land,
Where the scars of old are laid to rest,
Sing of the eternal seasons of gold,
May the era of peace come.”

Rezette tenderly caressed his wife’s hair as they gazed down at the castle below. It had been ages since he’d felt this sense of tranquility within his own domain. Here, in his own secluded kingdom, he found solace knowing that nothing could be wrested away from him.

Meanwhile, Elise’s eyes, hidden beneath her hood, darkened with a touch of melancholy. “It feels like returning to Argan,” she murmured softly to herself. Whenever there was a royal event, the people beyond the palace walls would sing songs of love and reverence for her. She recalled the lyrics that bore her name, the voices of the multitude swelling into a chorus of adoration:

“The child soon to be born shall grace us as a princess fair!”

“May divine love and blessings shower upon thee!”

Turning away from the countless adoring gazes, Elise felt a pang of unease mingled with the overwhelming emotions stirred within her.

As the harvest season drew to a close after fortnights of celebration, Rezette’s only remaining task before the onset of winter was to lead the expedition with the punitive force.