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Chapter 66
“I just need you not to leave me.”
“Why are you trying to run away again?”
“Run… away?”
Regina tried to protest, but something warm touched her lips. She closed her eyes slightly and let him kiss her, flinching at the tongue that slid into her mouth.
By now, she wasn’t even surprised anymore. She had grown used to Conrad’s constant displays of affection.
“Ugh!”
Their tongues intertwined, and the sound of their lips meeting echoed through the office.
Breathless, Regina grabbed Conrad’s shoulders tightly as saliva mixed between them.
In response, he lightly traced her flushed lips with his hand.
“Even if your magic is low, there are plenty of ways to replenish it. You just need to stay close to me. So why do you think about leaving?”
Conrad’s teasing tone, as if it were fine to start something right here, made Regina clench her lips. She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t—he was right.
Conrad recalled the events before they arrived at the Empress’ office as he kissed her once more.
The Fredericks Empire organized quarterly expeditions to the monster zones because failing to do so caused monster populations to grow dangerously.
At this moment, Conrad was reviewing reports from Mir.
“Those who appeared in the monster zone past the magic barrier are definitely knights from the Permang Empire.”
“Who?”
“Daniel Wallace was leading them.”
“The one said to be close to the Permang Crown Prince.”
“They seemed to be looking for someone. It seems like they were searching for the former commander of the Permang Magic Corps.”
Conrad had guessed from the moment he heard Daniel’s name. If they came this far to search for something, it was undoubtedly Regina.
“Did they find anything?”
“…They passed through the barrier carrying a blood-stained robe.”
“So, they know a way to cross the barrier.”
“Yes.”
This was a serious problem.
If the other side could cross freely while their side couldn’t, whatever they tried, Conrad and his forces wouldn’t be able to respond properly.
“What should we do?”
“Do what we do best.”
Sweep away the monsters.
If they wiped out the monster population, imperial citizens could move freely in the zone. Increased surveillance over the barrier would make it easier to detect anyone coming from the Permang Empire.
“Then…”
“First, send people to watch the place they disappeared from.”
“At least knights of Sword Expert level are needed.”
Conrad agreed with Mir. Anyone less skilled would just die in the monster zone.
“Find volunteers.”
“Understood.”
If there were no volunteers, they would be drafted, but Conrad trusted his knights. Their loyalty to the empire meant they wouldn’t refuse the mission.
After Mir left, Conrad was alone to think quietly.
“How will Regina react if she finds out that crossing to the Permang Empire is possible?”
Would she still honor their contract, or try to escape?
If Regina had no other options, she would cooperate. But now with new choices, everything could change.
“I don’t like this.”
She had made a way to cross the barrier even without magic.
‘Well, that explains how Regina managed to reach here.’
Conrad paused, realizing a troubling thought.
“Does she know how to cross without magic?”
She had been found in the Fredericks monster zone with her magic sealed.
He clenched his fists, anxious. Could Regina have figured out a way to cross without magic? Had it all been part of her plan to use him?
“No… she wouldn’t need me then.”
If that were the case, she could have just waited for a chance to escape.
“She probably doesn’t know.”
Conrad exhaled lightly, opening and closing his fists, staring at his sweaty palms.
“If she figures out a way to cross without magic, what happens to our contract?”
The quiet question planted a seed of unease in his heart.
Regina couldn’t take her eyes off Conrad.
His shifting blue gaze reminded her of the sea she loved most, making it hard to look away.
“Regina.”
His voice was heavy, almost burdened. Watching his trembling eyes, she suddenly understood his feelings.
‘Why does he look so uneasy?’
She had given him the cravat and nothing unusual had happened. She had met with her retainers as before—nothing wrong. So why did he look like that?
“What’s wrong?”
Her heart fluttered at his unease, and she asked with concern.
“It might be something I can tell you, or maybe not.”
“Something you can’t tell me?”
“Not right now.”
Feeling his hand tense, Regina rested her head against his chest and whispered,
“Then tell me when you get the chance.”
“…I might never be able to.”
It was clearly a complicated matter that couldn’t be solved easily. Sometimes it was better to pretend not to know than to pry.
“That’s fine.”
“Even if I hide something you should know?”
“Secrets always come out eventually. Make sure you hide them better.”
She smiled gently.
Regina couldn’t discover what Conrad hadn’t told her… yet. But time and magic could reveal what she wished to know.
“Then I’ll take your advice.”
Conrad smiled, lighter than before, and Regina returned the smile.
“Shall we continue what we were doing?”
“Hmm? Heh!”
Conrad pulled down Regina’s dress. His heated lips captured hers, stealing her breath.
The suffocating kiss ended briefly, leaving her flushed from the kisses across her face.
“Ah!”
Sweet.
A small moan escaped, and Conrad licked the spot he had just bitten before moving on.
“Did it hurt?”
“No, just surprised.”
Satisfied with her answer, Conrad’s lips explored further. His soft lips traced her neck, and Regina clenched her hands.
Where his lips touched, red flowers bloomed across her body, marking her skin more vividly than her flushed face.
“Ugh!”
She trembled, embarrassed yet anticipating more. Conrad gritted his teeth, unable to resist his rising desire.
His magic and skin contact flowed into pleasure, driving their bodies together.
