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CHAPTER 57…………..
Through the opened front of his shirt, his firm, solid chest was revealed.
Every spot her hand brushed sent shivers through him, hot as if burned, a dizzying sensation that made his brow tighten in an instant.
“If, in this contest, you become my fiancé…”
Ugh. A low groan escaped him faintly.
“…I will forgive all the things you’ve done to me in the past.”
“!”
“So make sure you win this contest and desire me to your heart’s content.”
“!!”
His golden eyes, gazing at her, trembled violently.
“It’s an order.”
Her soft, white hand slid along Asterios’s open collar, over his broad chest, and deeper still. She leaned her upper body forward, pulling him closer.
“…Ugh!”
Hot lips pressed against his, swallowing the words he wanted to say. Flustered, he parted his lips, and her small, pliant tongue boldly slipped in.
Roziana pinned Asterios down on the bed as though all the authority in the kiss and the mana flowing through it were atonement for the past.
The large, solid body collapsed onto the bed could not push away her delicate frame.
“Hngh!”
Soon, his eyelids weakened and closed.
Her love bound him in a way he did not desire: a relationship with only the allowed time and contact.
Still, atoning for past wrongs in this manner was, for him, an acceptable circumstance. He had no choice but to accept her lips and give her everything he possessed.
Because that was the only desire permitted to him.
Mmm.
Through their entwined tongues and touching lips, mana was drawn out powerfully. Her small, soft tongue traced insistently, slowly licking upward.
Dizzy and faint, Asterios let out a soft moan.
Every time her heated flesh stirred inside his mouth, he felt lightheaded and weak.
Ugh.
If this continues, he might not be able to get up tomorrow.
He should have asked her to stop—but contrary to his thoughts, his body moved.
He stretched his large hand to cup the back of her head, pulling her tightly toward him. Even though giving up more mana now meant he would likely collapse tomorrow.
Her kiss was that soft and sweet, yet intense enough to feel like it stole his very soul.
Their heated breaths mixed even deeper.
“Hng.”
Even Roziana’s voice carried a faint, breathy note.
Not just her lips, but her body pressed against his partially bare torso burned hot.
Even with her in a bathrobe, her scent and heat reached him fully. The world seemed to spin as Asterios felt his vision flicker.
Engulfed in darkness, yet the exquisite, overwhelming sensation weighed upon his entire body.
Roziana did not stop kissing until Asterios lost consciousness.
The next day, late at night, Asterios finally opened his eyes.
Mari, who had been waiting beside him, whispered:
“You slept through the entire day.”
Ugh!
He quickly sat up, his head pounding sharply.
“Hah…”
Overwhelmed by weakness, he collapsed back onto the bed and spoke with difficulty.
“And Your Highness?”
“She completed today’s schedule safely, accompanied only by the three of us. All external appointments were postponed. It seems she wanted to avoid anyone noticing your absence.”
Mari’s concerned face showed in her question.
“Your Highness, did you overexert yourself to the point of collapse?”
Mari knew that Asterios’s recovery had been incomplete since his return from the Demon Realm, partly because Roziana continued drawing mana from him. Still, the princess had always considered the state of her knight and duke carefully.
But what had happened yesterday?
“I disturbed her mood.”
“…But Your Highness, don’t you know her heart?”
Through Mari, he had once learned of the princess’s wishes—that she wanted him as a contestant.
At the time, he thought it was just a superficial reason to justify his participation. As her guard and a contestant, it would be easy to supply her mana whenever needed.
But what she said yesterday clearly reflected her true feelings:
“So make sure you win this contest and desire me to your heart’s content.”
Could he really?
Could he be honest with this desire and lust, even hotter than before?
The lock he had placed on himself and the boundaries of his restrained desire were now being shattered directly by her.
Although the sensation of her lips and tongue made him dizzy, the sudden surge of desire made his heart race explosively.
Even knowing it was shameless, he still dared to hope.
For her forgiveness and her chance.
‘Honestly, it would be madness to let this slip.’
He had expected that she would be alone, and might resent surviving by herself.
Having lost everyone she loved first, the emptiness and despair she felt must have been immense.
The reason her anger toward him felt far from resentment, and why he could not ask for forgiveness, was precisely that.
Yet he longed desperately to be forgiven and to desire her freely again.
Though ugly and base, it was his true self and corrupted desire.
‘Forgiveness I could never have imagined, even in dreams.’
If he could atone and compensate for his past mistakes by her side—then, the entire contest was worth it.
Even the opportunity to be forgiven made his chest swell with overwhelming emotion.
‘But…’
Asterios pressed a hand to his dizzy forehead.
‘My body is still so frail.’
He had lost consciousness after just a prolonged kiss.
He worried he might collapse before even obtaining a proper chance, and the embarrassment made it difficult to lift his head.
‘I need to retrieve the broken cup from Edwin as soon as possible.’
Only when the remaining relics were restored could he have a chance in the contest. No matter how the contest would determine a winner, he needed full strength to compete properly.
The problem was that Edwin had not yet brought the “broken cup” back, using the contest as an excuse. Asterios had yet to obtain it.
“Have you received the item from Edwin yet?”
He asked Mari as he sat up.
“No. Rather than waiting, I should go to the Magic Tower with Your Highness’s permission. Half a day will suffice.”
Using the wind’s power, it was possible. Mari worried about Asterios’s condition.
Having collapsed so close to the contest’s start was naturally concerning.
‘Is this really necessary?’
He pushed the thought aside, shaking his head. Now was not the time to debate; he had to acknowledge his frailty.
He was in a state as helpless as a sunfish.
“Yes, Mari. I’ll leave it to you.”
He decided it was better to act quickly before the contest.
Unexpectedly, a voice came from nearby.
“No. Mari, don’t leave Asterios’s side for now.”
“Your Highness?”
Roziana appeared through the door opened by the attendants.
“Of course, Asterios isn’t allowed to go out either. Stay by my side.”
“Y-Your Highness.”
Mari and Asterios bowed to the princess, sharing a troubled expression, but soon yielded to her command.
“Nox hasn’t been by your side lately, right?”
“!”
She approached lightly, placing her hand on his forehead without noticing.
Her soft, warm hand brushed over him, making Asterios recall last night:
Her soft, damp lips entwined with his tongue.
Her warm, pliant torso pressed against him.
“I knew it. No wonder Asterios’s recovery was slow. You weren’t at his side.”
Roziana clicked her tongue, looking at his flushed face.
“I’ll send Jezef to help you rest more. If there’s anything to retrieve from the Magic Tower, I’ll speak directly to its master. What is it you need to get?”
The perceptive princess realized Mari was the only one who could stay with Asterios, and she intended to forbid Mari from leaving.
Resigned, Asterios spoke.
“…The broken cup.”
“An interesting name. Very well.”
She lowered her gaze, then nodded.
“And Asterios.”
Her gem-like violet eyes returned to him.
She looked him squarely in the eye.
“Rest today. Tomorrow, you’ll come to my room.”
At those words, Asterios’s body involuntarily stiffened.
