TVOWW 115

Chapter 115

Did You Hate Me That Much

Johan rubbed the mark with a satisfied expression. Even in the lightness of his touch, a deep possessiveness seeped through. Yet that possessiveness wasn’t frightening at all.

‘It just means Johan wants me.’

Was it normal to think such strange things when you fell in love?

A dangerously beautiful face, a sharp, elegant nose bridge. His lips and jawline looked cold and severe, and that decadent aura spread throughout his entire body—

‘I keep having nothing but hopeful thoughts.’

At that moment, Johan’s large hand that had been caressing the nape of my neck began to move. The solid hand of a man traced the hollow of my spine and slid down to my waist.

The forest was cool in the middle of the day. Heat spread through the thin summer fabric of my clothes.

“Madam. Stop looking at me like that.”

Johan lifted my chin with one hand, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“…How am I looking at you?”

“You really don’t know?”

He whispered sweetly in a voice dripping with desire.

“With your whole face flushed red.”

“……”

“Like you’re begging to be eaten.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as if he were forcibly suppressing the desire threatening to burst free.

“Wearing marks this red…”

My body was tinged here and there with a peach-colored blush.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind us.

“Husband. Someone’s coming.”

I swallowed dryly, on guard as the presence approached. Johan lazily curved his lips upward and brushed my cheek.

“Someone’s coming?”

“They’re coming, so if we stay like this—”

“Then they can enjoy the view and spread the rumors.”

Johan was calm, but I was mortified. When I hesitated, unable to continue speaking, his fingers sensually rubbed my earlobe and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“If you’re embarrassed, should I make it so you can’t think of anything at all?”

My waist twitched every time his hand grazed my skin.

“I’ll make it so you don’t care about other people’s gazes.”

“W-What are you planning to do?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

His low voice stirred my imagination. My head filled with dangerous thoughts.

“But no matter what you imagine, I’ll make it fun.”

“……”

“So? What’ll it be?”

I quickly shook my head. Fortunately, Johan pulled away easily.

“That’s a shame.”

Soon, the rustling stopped.

‘Liandro?’

Liandro stood there with a dazed expression, prey lying at his feet as he stared at Johan and me. The deer pierced by an arrow thrashed for a moment before escaping.

But Liandro didn’t chase it. He just stared at us.

More precisely, at my neck—at the mark Johan had left.

Disheveled hair from our frantic movements, a face flushed peach-pink, clothes wrinkled in places by Johan’s rough hands—

Everything about the situation was obvious.

And it seemed Liandro already knew exactly what had happened here.

His lips trembled as he spoke.

“What were you doing in this forest—”

“Is it really fine to get distracted while hunting?”

Johan asked casually, glancing at the fleeing deer.

“If you want to achieve your goal, you should be moving diligently.”

“…We’ll see how long that arrogance lasts. You’ll regret it deeply.”

“And remember—no matter what you do, my wife will never look at you.”

As expected, Liandro was no match for Johan. He turned away and went after the deer again.

At the very last moment, it felt as though Liandro looked at me desperately—but I ignored it.

‘Does he think just looking is enough?’

No matter how helpful Liandro might be, I had no intention of accepting it. After watching him disappear, Johan pulled me into his arms and rested his head against mine.

“See? It was good we left him alone.”

“But is it really okay to let Liandro keep hunting like that?”

No matter what, Liandro was the original male lead. Even if Johan was superior, he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

“What, are you worried he’ll take first place in the hunting competition?”

“Yes. Johan doesn’t have to be first, but I’d still hate it if you lost.”

“Good.”

Johan whispered unexpectedly in a languid voice.

“So someone’s cheering for me like this.”

“…That’s not an answer to my question.”

“Don’t worry about the hunting competition.”

He chuckled softly, rubbing his nose against my neck as if savoring my scent.

“I’ve already caught something he could never dream of touching.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

“How am I supposed to endure until our first night?”

Johan growled, pressing moist kisses against my exposed skin.

“I want to have you right here.”

The sense of danger of offering my neck to a beast mixed strangely with a thrilling allure. Blushing deeply, I barely managed to push Johan away.

“Don’t joke like that.”

“Does it look like a joke?”

No—that’s exactly the problem.

If this continued, things would really spiral out of control. I hurriedly changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, weren’t there other noble ladies trying to get close to you?”

“There’s no one like that.”

“But there was the saintess.”

“She’s the crazy one.”

Johan answered bluntly.

“Most noble ladies would have to be insane not to fear me.”

“Why would they fear you?”

“Why do you think? Because I’m only gentle with my wife.”

He tempted me in that lazy voice.

“If you’re that worried, should I carve one on you too?”

His red eyes gleamed vividly.

His thick Adam’s apple and sharp, firm jawline stood out. Those masculine lines ensnared my gaze.

Just looking at his sensual features made my head spin—it felt like I might be the one devoured instead.

Johan stared intently at my lips, waiting for my answer.

Ding—

Thankfully, a bell rang in the distance.

“See? It’s time to go.”

“…I really don’t like that.”

The sky was already tinted with crimson twilight.

The hunting competition had ended. We slowly made our way back to the ballroom.

The ballroom was eerily quiet.

‘Have they already begun the purification ritual?’

From what I’d heard earlier, the ritual was supposed to begin after announcing the hunting competition’s winner. But the atmosphere said otherwise.

A nearby imperial knight guided us.

“The Saintess sensed an unusual power in the Peskalos Forest and immediately began the purification ritual.”

A ceremonial altar lavishly decorated with lilies.

Before it stood the Saintess, hands clasped quietly as if in prayer. Cardinals stood around her, guarding her as they prayed together.

“O Goddess Athea, bestow glory upon the Empire.”

Her prayer filled the space like a melody. Pure white holy power surged from her in waves, enveloping the entire forest.

“My goodness… such astonishing power.”

“Oh, Goddess Athea…”

Some believers began praying with tears streaming down their faces.

Even knowing the true nature of that power, I couldn’t help but admire the sight. Still, I stayed vigilant.

‘Something is definitely going to happen.’

No matter how exceptional the Saintess was, purifying the entire Peskalos Forest would be an enormous strain.

‘Even if she’s been draining my power for a long time, it’s likely she’ll weaken.’

At present, all routes for her to siphon my power were blocked. That meant there was only one thing she could do through this ritual.

‘Take my power again and refill herself.’

Her holy power formed a luminous barrier that enveloped the forest.

Grrrr—

A grotesque reverberation echoed from the forest. Dark power surged upward, resisting the holy force.

“…Hah.”

The Saintess, who had been praying gracefully, staggered slightly.

“Saintess, are you all right?”

“What kind of corruption could still be lurking in that forest—”

Even the cardinals seemed unprepared for such darkness as they rushed to shield her. But the Saintess ignored them and knelt with a noble expression.

“Please, don’t worry.”

Her clear voice spread outward.

“Darkness will never defeat mee.”

Still kneeling, she resumed her prayer. The darkness that threatened to tear through her holy power ultimately failed to overcome her.

“S-Saintess…”

The nobles gazed at her with renewed admiration. Cold sweat drenched her body, her slender shoulders trembled, her breathing grew ragged.

At a glance, she was clearly fighting a desperate battle.

Yet true to her title, she straightened her back and faced the darkness—and at last, it dissipated completely.

A brief silence followed.

A holy knight approached her.

“Saintess, are you all right?”

She turned toward the nobles and smiled faintly.

“…Yes. With the help of Goddess Athea, I was able to finish everything.”

“Ah… at last.”

Priests and holy knights alike cried out in relief. At that moment, the Saintess—who had been holding onto a priest’s hand—nearly collapsed.

The holy knight supported her anxiously.

“Saintess, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Saintess, now is not the time for that. Please go rest. You must have expended far more strength than expected due to the sudden darkness—”

Then the holy knight frowned as he grasped her wrist.

“The Saintess’s sacred bracelet…”

There was nothing on her wrist.

Starting with the holy knight, the cardinals guarding her erupted in shock.

“Why isn’t the sacred bracelet on the Saintess?”

“Then does that mean she overexerted herself trying to purify the forest without its aid…?”

“The sacred bracelet… has it disappeared?”

“How are we to report this to His Holiness…?”

The priests’ anxiety quickly spread to those nearby.

“So the Saintess pushed herself because the sacred bracelet was gone… How could such a holy relic—”

“This is an unforgivable sin before the gods.”

Some believers even burst into tears. High-ranking priests hurried to calm the most agitated among them.

At that moment, Stella—who had been surrounded and tended to—quietly stood up.

“There is something I must tell everyone.”

She looked around with a face tinged with sorrow.

“In truth, I did not lose the sacred relic. I intended to bring it with me.”

Her blue eyes flicked briefly toward me, seeming to brush over the mark on my neck.

‘Perhaps punishment will give you a chance to repent for your life… Don’t regret it then.’

After a moment of silence, one of the high priests spoke.

“Saintess. Then are you saying someone stole your sacred bracelet?”

“Regrettably.”

Stella’s damp lashes trembled pitifully.

“I actually knew who the culprit was.”

“Y-You knew the culprit?”

“Yes. I saw them steal the relic with my own eyes.”

At last, tears slipped from her eyes as she spoke.

“I hoped they would realize their sin and return it themselves… but it seems they had no such intention. As a Saintess, I can no longer stand by while others worry and suffer.”

Her fragile whisper only fueled the growing uproar.

Someone asked,

“Who was it?”

“The culprit is…”

Shaking her head weakly, Stella closed her eyes as if overcome by tragedy. Her pale, delicate finger trembled as it pointed at a single woman.

“The Duchess of Blanchet.”

“……”

“Did you hate me that much?”

People gasped. Stella’s eyes reddened as tears streamed down her face.

“…But since the sacred bracelet does not belong to me alone, I cannot remain silent any longer.”

All eyes turned toward Estelle—the supposed thief of the Holy Kingdom’s sacred relic—filled with contempt and fury.

“So it was the Duchess of Blanchet?”

“How could she commit such an outrageous act?”

“She must have wanted the Saintess to fail the purification ritual…”

Exactly the situation Stella had hoped for.

As if she couldn’t hear the murmurs at all, Stella gazed at Estelle with a gentle, sorrowful expression.

“Let’s stop now. You and I.”

Lifting her long lashes once more, Stella spoke sadly through tears.

“Everyone already knows of your lack of virtue.”

All that remained was to show that shameless thief the price of her depravity.