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Chapter 16
‘As long as I don’t get completely drunk, it should be fine.’
What the dark mage had repeatedly warned him about was not to disturb the balance of his body.
As a Swordmaster, he normally didn’t suffer much pain or fatigue. But drinking was different.
‘Hmm. A little should be fine… I can detoxify some of it with mana.’
Normally, he wouldn’t take such a risk. But the offer was far too sweet.
With that money, they could give several times more compensation to the families of the fallen.
They could repair the border walls. Develop new weapons…
“So, what will you do?”
Kelien wiped the moisture from the glass he was holding.
Fine. If it comes to it, I’ll circulate mana and detoxify it.
Kelien, who had been watching his eyes, seemed to sense his decision and smiled leisurely.
“…I’ll drink.”
To hell with it. Let’s drink.
He stepped closer to Kelien and downed the wine in a single gulp.
“This time…”
Kelien refilled the empty glass with wine. Wasn’t he a devil?
Ah, right. He had the blood of a demon.
“Clause 3.”
The corner of Kelien’s lips curled upward.
Under the faint orange light, his sharp features looked strangely alluring. He slowly pushed the glass forward.
Clink.
That made two glasses.
“Clause 5.”
“I’ve finished it. Is that enough?”
“Clause 7.”
“How many problematic clauses are there?”
The wine was stronger than expected.
With blurred vision, he glanced at the document Kelien was holding.
It was the very one he had reviewed just before coming. Some of those clauses—he had personally inserted them.
“Your advisors are quite greedy. There are twenty clauses, and nearly half of them are poison.”
“…This is for Clause 8.”
At Kelien’s teasing, he had no choice but to lift another full glass.
Wine spilled from the rim and ran down his chin. He hurried to wipe it away—
“You’ve got some on you.”
Kelien’s hand came close, almost cupping his jaw.
Before that hand could touch him, he tried to pull his face back.
“That’s enou—”
But he staggered, unable to overcome the alcohol.
His head tilted back. Through his blurred vision, Kelien’s dark, deep-set eyes came into view.
He felt Kelien’s hand supporting his lower back.
“Duke.”
Ah. How disgraceful. A Swordmaster, no less.
Embarrassment and the rising heat made him bite his lower lip.
As if to draw blood and sober up, he bit down harder—
“…You’ll hurt yourself.”
Kelien’s long fingers stopped him. His thumb brushed away the wine from his lips.
“If you’re angry, then bite my lips instead.”
Kelien pressed the wine gathered on his thumb to his own lips.
As he leisurely tasted it, a red gleam flashed briefly in his eyes.
“You would suit red blood better than wine.”
With his thumb still resting against the Duke’s lips, Kelien smiled dangerously.
At the same time, alarms blared in his head.
Danger.
‘No wonder Shabiyan developed Stockholm syndrome. He’s deliberately trying to enchant people.’
The warning bells made him struggle to regain his senses.
Right. Circulate mana and detoxify the alcohol quickly.
He tried to move his mana—
‘It’s not working…?’
It felt blocked. The mana that should have flowed freely hovered uselessly.
Instead of the refreshing sensation unique to mana, an oppressive pressure weighed down on his body.
The mana inside the tent had practically evaporated.
“…It seems we’ve finished adjusting everything. I’ll be going now.”
Even the last thing he had relied on was gone. Panicked, he tried to stand.
What if the black magic breaks?
It was his own fault for being tempted by the compensation money.
“Then I’ll—”
As he tried to rise, his arms lost strength, and he leaned deeper into Kelien’s embrace.
What’s wrong with my body?
“If you’re tired, you may sleep in my bed.”
A short laugh sounded above his head.
Kelien, who had been supporting him, sat on the bed. His body collapsed with him.
Nearly lying down now, he felt even more exhausted. His consciousness blurred, as if there wasn’t enough air.
‘…Maybe I’ll just sleep.’
Ah. His eyelids were growing heavier.
Dark. Bright. Slowly blinking.
Whether from the alcohol or the stuffy air, his thoughts grew sluggish. Everything felt bothersome.
“Ha…”
A heated breath escaped him. The warmth rising in his body and the weight of his armor—things he normally wouldn’t notice—pressed down on him.
It was sweltering inside.
“….”
As if sensing his discomfort, a cool hand touched the back of his neck.
Cool. So cool.
Ah, so this is why…
Only then did he understand Shabiyan’s feelings. Why Shabiyan had clung to him like that.
“Ha ha.”
The memory made him laugh lightly.
The tipsy warmth. That flustered moment.
‘But our positions are reversed now?’
He grinned foolishly at the trivial thought—
“If I were to ask why you’re laughing…”
Kelien’s low voice reached him. He opened his eyes.
“Would you tell me?”
Kelien’s red eyes reflected his completely disheveled state.
Why he was laughing…
For a moment, the scene from that time resurfaced in his mind.
‘…Ha… Good.’
It was a secret that must never be revealed.
It was Shabiyan’s shame, after all.
But the moment he met Kelien’s red gaze—
‘More… touch me more.’
‘Hold me… please hold me.’
Something stirred inside his head, dragging out the memory.
The obscene scene replayed vividly—
From entirely his own perspective. Scenes that would easily be misunderstood by anyone watching.
“…You may leave now.”
After a long silence, Kelien gave the order to leave in a low, deep voice.
His clenched jaw trembled as if restraining anger. What’s wrong with him all of a sudden?
“I’ll sign immediately.”
As soon as he finished speaking, refreshing mana swept through the tent like a cool breeze.
Like a thirsty man, the Duke absorbed it and hurriedly detoxified the alcohol in his body.
“…Yes. I apologize.”
Ah. How embarrassing.
As clarity returned, embarrassment nearly killed him. He straightened his back stiffly.
“….”
Kelien merely handed over the signed agreement. The hurried signature was unusually jagged.
“Then.”
Even at his farewell, Kelien remained turned away.
Unlike his earlier playful tone, he was frighteningly quiet.
“…Duke. I am not a very patient man.”
That was the only thing Kelien said as he walked out of the tent.
The moment Lewin completely left the camp, Kelien unleashed the demonic energy raging inside him.
“Your Highness!”
Black aura formed from demonic power tore through the tent fabric, smashing furniture and bedding to pieces.
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
Despite his immense strength and terrifying ability, Kelien was only an unofficial Swordmaster.
Because his aura was not ordinary.
He did not use mana, the life force of nature—but demonic energy.
“Please calm yourself!”
Even the shield-bearing knights could only watch from a distance, unable to approach.
When even their shields were sliced cleanly in half, they finally summoned the dark mage.
But instead of stopping him, the dark mage wore a faint smile.
“Look. That is his true power.”
“At this rate, the entire camp may be destroyed!”
“What does a mere camp matter? The entire continent could tremble.”
Only after the knights begged desperately did the stubborn mage raise his hands in resignation.
Just as he gathered his fluttering robes and prepared to step into the black storm—
Kelien walked out of the swirling darkness, sword in hand.
“Your Highness!”
“Are you unharmed?”
His eyes were completely red.
The iris, the pupil—even the whites—were bloodshot and crimson, as if drenched in blood.
“Your Highness.”
Unlike the flustered knights, the mage stood calmly before him.
“…I feel like I’m going mad with anger.”
“….”
“Why am I so angry?”
Suspicion clouded Kelien’s furious gaze.
He twisted his mouth, covering his lower face with one hand, but his wide eyes betrayed him.
“I want the Duke. If so, this is going well. That child Shabiyan could charm the Duke and bring him to Bahart.”
His eyes wavered.
“But my head feels like it’s going to explode with rage. I want to kill that child.”
“Your Highness, what exactly are you angry about?”
The dark mage studied him carefully.
“I read the Duke’s memory.”
The mage’s eyes widened.
Reading memories—that was an ability of demons. One Kelien had never been able to use.
“C-Could you explain in detail?”
Joy flickered across the mage’s face.
“I simply saw it. He was laughing, and I truly wondered what he was thinking. Then I saw.”
Kelien’s eyes darkened.
Veins bulged along the arm holding his sword as black aura slowly rose again.
“And in his memory… I saw Shabiyan.”
His expression turned savage.
With a cruelly hardened face, Kelien stepped forward.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
“To kill him.”
I must kill that child.
Not the Duke. Never the Duke. I need him by my side for a long time.
But that child… that one can die.
“Your Highness, if you truly want the Duke, you must not kill the 8th Prince.”
Kelien halted.
Not because the words frightened him.
But because he remembered—
A knight must respect and revere his lord.
The Duke’s upright expression flashed in his mind.
If I kill Shabiyan, he’ll hate me. No—he’ll despise me.
Clang.
Kelien dropped his sword.
“I want the Duke. I want him beside me. What should I do…?”
He covered half his face with his hand.
The dark mage looked at his lord, who trembled like a child overcome by emotion.
‘Pitiful.’
Because of his miserable childhood, Kelien lacked many things.
Having never received love, he confused affection with possession.
‘But, Your Highness… this is all for you.’
The mage intended to use this.
So that Kelien would awaken.
“You must endure. Lower yourself and wait for the right opportunity.”
“Endure that sight…?”
Kelien reached for the sword again.
The mage sighed inwardly, realizing he could no longer restrain him—
“Your Highness!”
A messenger arrived.
“Your Highness, the Tohor tribe is moving toward the capital!”
Another messenger followed.
“The Grand Duke has awakened. His army is advancing toward the capital!”
Damn it!
That Hailen bastard!
This had to be the Hailen Emperor’s scheme.
Kelien violently threw the sword down again.
“Gentle? Ha.”
He let out a hollow laugh.
Soon, he seized the messenger’s horse and mounted it. The knights picked up his greatsword and respectfully offered it—
“Throw it away.”
Kelien snatched a thinner blade from a knight instead.
“This will suffice.”
The knights who knew his usual fighting style were stunned. Normally, he would sweep everything away with aura.
“And you—tell Shabiyan this. If he lays a hand on the Duke, he will not remain unharmed. No matter how I think about it…”
Kelien paused, holding his breath.
“I cannot stand that sight. So have him seduce the Hailen Emperor and distance the Duke from him. Deliver that message clearly.”
The dark mage bowed deeply.
Kelien trusted the mage who had cared for him since childhood and rode off.
But—
‘Your Highness… I cannot obey that command.’
The mage intended to twist the message.
So that Kelien would be consumed by possessiveness.
So that jealousy would drive him mad.
That was his plan.
