BVWG 38

chapter 38

The sinister demon continued to speak with his blood-red mouth, ignoring my reaction.

“The head of the White Dragon clan — that gentlemanly fellow. If either of us unleashes our power and loses control, we fall into a long slumber.”

I nodded, recalling the emperor who had slept for a long time.

“But even if only one of us releases that power, when it’s time to sleep, we both fall asleep together.”

Seeing my confused expression again, the demon grumbled.

“You must have heard the news. The Emperor of the White Dragon clan just woke up. That’s why I, too, woke up only recently after being forced into sleep.”

I stared at the demon, startled.

Then it was true — the sudden appearance of incubi over the past week had been beyond his control.

At last, I began to believe his claim that the incubi were acting independently.

Once I stopped glaring at him so coldly, he flashed his characteristic wicked smile.

“Now we’re finally getting somewhere. Everything you’ve suffered wasn’t entirely my fault, so come on — try to see me in a better light.”

“I never thought I’d say this to a demon… but dream on.”

He burst out laughing at my knife-sharp rejection.

“Talking with you makes time fly. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had such fun? Centuries, maybe.”

The demon kept chuckling for a while before suddenly saying,

“Well, I should be going soon, so let’s get to the point. You meeting a high-level incubus — that was unexpected.”

I tilted my head, listening intently.

“But you handled it pretty well even without my help. I’m impressed — really, good job.”

He clapped his hands like a seal, making everything he said sound like mockery.

“Your praise means absolutely nothing to me.”

He chuckled again.

“When you defeated that high-level incubus, a black orb must have appeared.”

Finally, something useful. Since it had come from the incubus, this demon probably knew what it was.

“That’s the incubus’s core — only the higher ones have it. It’s quite useful. But as for how to use it, you’ll have to figure that out yourself.”

“Since you’re already talking, why not just tell me everything?”

“That wasn’t a very pretty way to ask.”

“So if I ask nicely, you’ll tell me?”

He folded his arms, as if to say, go ahead, try me.

Deciding it was better to swallow my irritation than to waste more energy arguing, I forced my voice to stay calm.

“If this information could be of help to me, please tell me everything you know. I’m asking politely.”

To top it off, I even gave him a small, polite smile — though the corners of my lips trembled from the effort.

The demon burst into laughter so loud he nearly cried.

Was he actually tearing up from laughing? The sight of that infuriating creature only made him seem more loathsome.

“Seeing you like that makes me even less inclined to tell you.”

I clenched my teeth. If I had any power to block his contact completely, I would’ve done so long ago.

But as soon as he saw my expression turn icy, the demon quickly waved his hands.

“Hey, don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I won’t tell you — it’s that I can’t.”

Then why tell me to ask nicely in the first place?

My glare remained fierce, so he hurried to continue.

“The way to use an incubus’s core has to be discovered by the one who possesses it. Otherwise, it won’t work. Study it carefully — only then will it become useful to you.”

If I could, I might have thrown a dagger at him right then.

Of course, he seemed to sense that perfectly — with one last sly grin and a mocking farewell, the demon vanished.

* * *

Klepta sat in the underground treasure vault of the Duke of Desdemona’s estate, holding his head in his hands.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what was wrong with him.

He had only seen her once. True, that woman had been breathtaking — worthy of the title “The Empire’s Most Beautiful Lady.”

Even now, he couldn’t shake the urge to wrap those cascading violet curls around his fingers and bury his face in them.

Or, better yet, to press his lips against those gleaming green eyes and those luscious, rosy lips.

He could savor her like an artist admiring his greatest masterpiece.

Realizing what he was thinking, Klepta roughly ran his hand through his dark green hair. He must have lost his mind.

It wasn’t as if he lacked women.

With his striking looks and the prestige of the Duke of Desdemona’s family behind him, women always lined up for his attention.

Never once had he failed to possess a woman he wanted. Even if she was playing hard to get now, soon she’d fall for his charm — they all did.

After a deep breath, he began examining the jewels in the treasure vault again.

Because of that blasted emperor’s collapse, his meeting with her had been indefinitely postponed.

To ease his disappointment, he’d decided to at least choose some jewels that would suit her perfectly.

He trusted his aesthetic sense as much as his business sense.

The diamonds of House Desdemona would only enhance her beauty — and bring even more fame to his family.

He picked up a necklace, brilliant under the white chandelier’s light.

A heavy, princess-cut diamond — this would be the first gift he’d present to her.

He imagined fastening it around her slender, ivory neck.

Just picturing her nape made his mouth go dry.

Ah, he was truly obsessed. He knew this feeling — it wasn’t new.

Then came a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

At his curt command, a thin, sharp-featured middle-aged man entered — the family butler.

“Young master, a letter has arrived.”

Klepta took the envelope stamped with the seal of the North Star.

He tore it open and read swiftly — his square jaw tightening.

It was another rejection of his invitation to Lady Esperanza.

The emperor had already awakened; there was no reason to delay their meeting any longer. Yet she still refused.

Even if she was a noble of the empire, she was underestimating him too much. His clenched fist crumpled the letter mercilessly.

That woman — Asha Esperanza — he would make her his, no matter what.

Once she was in his hands, he’d tame her so she could never pull something like this again.

He would make her long for his touch alone.

The thought of possessing the empire’s most beautiful woman thrilled him; she would be the ultimate trophy.

Dismissing the butler, Klepta’s golden eyes gleamed dangerously, like a panther setting out on a nighttime hunt.

* * *

I stood at the entrance of the imperial palace garden with my nanny. The palace had sent me an invitation.

A servant from Baekryong Palace — where the Emperor resided — had delivered it.

“His Majesty wishes to meet with you privately, my lady.”

No matter where we went, my poor nanny always got treated like an afterthought.

When I looked at her apologetically, she only gave me a warm, wrinkled smile and a small nod.

Following the servant, I entered the garden, where a tea table was beautifully set.

The thought of meeting the Emperor made my heart race, though I’d learned to accept this reaction from my body by now.

I focused on the flowers instead, hoping that would steady my heartbeat.

There were so many blossoms I’d never seen before.

Did they bring every rare flower in the empire here? By now, the flowers at our duchy should be fading — but here, they’re in full bloom.

While I was lost in thought, a familiar deep voice echoed through the garden.

“Do you like those flowers?”

Turning toward the sound, I saw the Emperor — dressed casually in a shirt and trousers.

His relaxed attire sent a silent message: this was an informal meeting.

Even in a land overflowing with beautiful people, if one had to pick the most handsome man, it would undoubtedly be him.

His silver hair and perfectly sculpted features seemed to emit light of their own.

I found myself staring before quickly regaining composure and bowing.

“I greet the light of the Empire.”

“Raise your head and sit comfortably. In this garden, I’ve planted herbs that bloom all year round.”

Seeing my interest, he continued explaining.

“If you infuse these herbs with a little magic, they make excellent medicine. I planted them so people could enjoy them — feel free to look around.”

As I listened, I inadvertently met his gaze. Maybe I’d grown too comfortable — too mesmerized by his looks.

But he didn’t seem the least bit offended.

His sapphire eyes looked less sharp than usual — softer, even warm.

And the scent of forest that lingered around him mixed with the aroma of herbs, soothing my nerves.

The Emperor I’d seen before — at the palace ceremony, in the audience chamber, and at the ball — had been completely different each time.

I must have thought I’d seen enough sides of him to understand him somewhat.

But looking at him now, I realized how wrong I’d been.

There were still countless sides of him I didn’t know.

The man before me was revealing yet another facet of himself — one that made it hard to believe he was the same “tyrant emperor” the world feared.

“It’s an honor to see the imperial garden, Your Majesty.”

“When we’re alone, you don’t have to be so stiff. As I said before, I want to be your friend.”

The Emperor smiled, effortlessly charming. With his youthful appearance, no one would question it if we called each other friends.

“In both rank and age, you are far above me, Your Majesty. How could I treat you casually?”

“What do rank or age matter between friends? Besides, age means nothing to me. I’ve already said it’s fine.”

I supposed that made sense — after all, he was a man who never aged. Even when I became an old woman, he’d look exactly the same.

That thought made me wonder — perhaps being so different from everyone else was lonely for him.

And somehow, in that moment, this untouchable man before me felt just a little more human.