“It seems the lesson you received last time has worn off if you can talk like this…”
With a bright smile, Sylvia conjured bamboo. It was the very same bamboo Felix had used to beat the crown prince.
“Yikes!”
The man shuddered, trembling as he hastily started making excuses.
“No, I just came because I missed you.”
“Missed me, huh? You must have some ulterior motive for coming. Though I don’t know how you found me…”
Sylvia shrugged indifferently and lightly swung the bamboo in the air. The black diamond leaves rustled, producing a beautiful sound.
“Really! Believe me. I was crazy back then. We were so happy together. Let’s go back to how it was. Marry me…”
As the man began to spout nonsense again, Sylvia swung the bamboo sharply to shut him up.
Whack!
“Ow!”
“Don’t go mad so openly, and don’t come looking for me.”
Slapping his back and arms with the bamboo, Sylvia huffed in irritation.
“I’m not naive enough to believe a person like you can change for the better. People don’t change. There must be another scheme.”
“Wait, wait! Ow!”
Skillfully wielding the flexible bamboo, Sylvia caught on to a hint in the man’s words.
“Return to the empire? Who’s going? Why, did the crown prince tell you to?”
Swoosh!
As Sylvia menacingly swung the bamboo, the man staggered backward in panic. Just then, Duke emerged from hiding.
“Whoa, whoa, save the lovers’ quarrel for home.”
Seeing Duke wobbling towards her, Sylvia’s gaze sharpened.
“Sylvia, it’s been a while. Truly a pleasure to see you again.”
As he brazenly offered a handshake, Sylvia’s head tilted skeptically.
“Stop right there?”
Realizing what was going on, Sylvia flicked her fingers at Duke.
She now fully understood how the real owner of this body had died. Although she hadn’t understood everything at the time, now that she saw him, it made no sense to let him off easily.
Meanwhile, Duke, recalling the old Sylvia and underestimating her, smiled slyly, thinking about the mercenaries he had hired surrounding them and the gold he would receive once the job was done.
“I know you care about him. I know he’s caused you trouble. But, beating the man who’s going to be your husband like a dog…”
Watching Sylvia, who had been observing the nonsense being spouted, swung the bamboo she had stopped using. Whishing, the bamboo sliced through the air and struck Duke’s belly sharply.
“Ugh!”
Slap, slap.
Sylvia rhythmically thrashed both the brown-haired man and Duke.
“Either of you. Totally rotten, huh! Treating people like fools.”
She was incredulous at their attitude, thinking she would fall for such absurd talk.
“Aah! Now, come out!”
Duke screamed, holding his head. The hidden mercenaries suddenly sprang out to attack Sylvia. That’s when an ominous energy quickly approached.
“Siri!”
Felix flew in, scattering the approaching mercenaries with wind magic.
“Aaargh!”
Duke swallowed hard, watching the mercenaries being helplessly blown away.
“Feli, is it over already?”
Sylvia asked, thinking it had ended sooner than expected, but Felix was glaring at the two men as if he would kill them, not looking at her. A grinding sound of teeth was heard, and at the same time, he snatched the bamboo from Sylvia’s hand.
And then he mercilessly started beating them. If Sylvia’s beating was ‘slap, slap,’ Felix’s was ‘thwack, thwack.’ The brown-haired man, unable to endure the beating, cried out.
“I’m sorry! I just did what I was told, told to do. Ugh!”
Duke was also unable to regain his senses. He felt stars before his eyes from the beating coming from all directions.
“His Highness the Crown Prince! Made me do it. I’m not at fault, aah!”
No matter their excuses, Felix showed no mercy. Not killing them was mercy enough, he thought. Duke Lucino, Prince Carl, and Duke Sabelisa, who arrived late, all had different expressions upon seeing the situation. Lucino asked the prince in a low voice.
“Did Your Highness orchestrate this? What were you thinking, doing such a thing? If His Majesty the Emperor finds out, you might be punished this time!”
Lucino was seething with rage. It was a reckless act of youthful folly by the prince, and Sylvia was always at the center of such incidents. Lucino glared at the pale-faced prince for a moment before approaching Sylvia and Felix.
“Stop it. I’ll take them to the empire and handle it.”
Lucino blocked the path in front of the two men, who were bleeding from their noses and crying.
Felix glared coldly at Lucino. He had been irritated by the prince’s misdeeds from the meeting and thought about not holding back and destroying the empire.
As Felix’s expression turned colder, Lucino also tensed his eyes. He didn’t want to lose any longer, but he wasn’t in a position to act personally. The Emperor had told him to accommodate as much as possible without significant loss and to foster a friendly relationship with the Kingdom of Capitis.
Easier said than done, given the circumstances, and once again, the prince had ruined a potential friendly relationship.
“I’ll take responsibility and give them the punishment they deserve. Furthermore, I’ll convey the issues discussed in the meeting to His Majesty the Emperor. I’ll give you an answer as soon as possible, so let’s end here for today.”
Felix snorted at Lucino’s words.
“I said we don’t need the permission of Emperor Corpora.”
“But wouldn’t it be easier to transform into an empire by making agreements with neighboring countries?”
“Should I destroy a few cities to keep you from meddling in other countries’ affairs? Then, you’d lose interest in other nations.”
Felix could have acted on it immediately. He was in a particularly foul mood, which suited him perfectly.
Sylvia peeked out from behind Felix, listening to the two men’s conversation. Lucino’s heart raced at the sudden sight of her.
“Sylvia……”
Lucino’s expression softened for a moment. Felix’s gaze sharpened as he sternly spoke.
“Make your position clear. Sylvia Arbor is no longer a citizen of the Corpora Empire. From now on, she will be with me, leading the Capitis Empire as Sylvia Arbor Capitis.”
His words fell heavily but quietly. Lucino’s eyes widened, and the prince in the background was speechless.
Felix’s serious tone made Sylvia’s cheeks flush.
“So, she’s no longer a citizen of the Corpora Empire. And don’t call her name carelessly. It’s annoying.”
Felix reached out and firmly held Sylvia’s hand. The warmth of his touch calmed the turmoil in her heart. Sylvia looked up at him and smiled softly. Felix’s expression softened, mirroring hers.
Lucino, watching the two from the front, felt a sharp pain in his heart and struggled to breathe.
***
Upon returning to the palace, Felix wrapped the already asleep Sylvia in blankets and got up. Wearing just a robe over his pajamas, Felix quietly slipped out through the balcony.
Riding the wind, Felix arrived at the brilliantly golden Corpora Royal Palace. Hovering in the air near the city of Album, he looked down at the palace shining in the same golden hue as the prince’s hair, twisting his lips in disdain.
He couldn’t count how many times they had insulted Sylvia. To speak so lowly of her, calling her a commoner and worse, was unforgivable.
Had Sylvia not stopped him, he would have killed the prince long ago. Remembering this, Felix decided to send a warning. Recalling the dragon magic Aethernum had taught him, he channeled magic into his black diamond ring.
From the sky, countless fireballs began to fall, burning bright red. They avoided Album city but were close enough for its effects to be felt widely.
As the fireballs narrowly missed the city walls, people started coming out of their houses, and the palace lights turned on brightly.
Watching this, Felix clicked his tongue and said softly.
“That’s why you should have been careful with your words.”
Leaving the noisy commotion of Album city behind, Felix flew back leisurely to his own palace.
Thud.
Quietly entering the room, Felix stashed his robe into the void and gently lay down beside Sylvia. Observing her peaceful breathing as she slept, Felix’s lips curved softly.
He wished they could live alone together, ignoring everyone else, just the two of them living peacefully. However…
He couldn’t ignore his own people.
As he tidied her tangled hair, Felix whispered,
“Let’s get married soon, have a child first. Then, after passing on the throne, we’ll travel together. Just the two of us. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
‘Yes, Feli.’
It felt as though he could hear Sylvia’s voice, even in her sleep.
“I love you. Forever.”
Felix cradled her head and embraced her fully, moved by the prospect of a happy future.
***
Felix headed to the dungeon with Duke Sabelisa, accompanied by the dank smell and groans. At the very back, he found Count Lansmorris imprisoned, inspecting his miserable state.
“You’re in better shape than I thought.”
Despite being tortured daily, Count Lansmorris seemed insignificant to Felix.
“Y-Your Highness… I am, unjustly accused…”
Felix sneered at his continued lies, speaking softly,
“Deny it all you want. Your fate is already sealed.”
“Your Highness!”
The count glared at Felix with bloodshot eyes. Felix whipped his back with a wind-made whip.
“Aaah!”
“Experience the despair of being unable to die. You might be glad to be alive now, but eventually, you’ll wish for death.”
Stopping the beating, Felix sneered crookedly, instructing the torturer nearby,
“Increase the beatings.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Passing by the overflowing prisoners in the royal dungeon, Felix stepped outside. The dazzling sunlight momentarily blinded him, but his steps were unwavering.
He intended to punish them as Sylvia had inspired him. Since the walls needed rebuilding, using the prisoners wasn’t a bad idea.
The beautiful and warm emotions inside him existed only for her.
His heart, both a cold judge and passionately beating for her alone, raced at the thought of Sylvia.
He longed for her.
Without hesitation, Felix flew up, heading towards her. The sky, tinted with the evening glow, was beautiful. A sky that once evoked no feeling now seemed as soft and warm as Sylvia’s lips. Felix boldly entered through the balcony into his room.
His room hadn’t changed much. The palace was still in disarray, and he hadn’t even dreamed of bringing anything new into his room. But one thing was different. Now, Sylvia was there, in the room that had once been his solitary refuge. Just the fact that she was there made the atmosphere of the room seem completely different.
“Are you back?”
She too seemed to have just returned to the room, her cheeks flushed. Felix hurried to her side.
“I’m back.”
He never knew having someone to welcome him back could feel so heartwarmingly tender. He enveloped her in his arms, taking a deep breath. Sylvia giggled at his long exhale, saying,
“That tickles.”
Felix looked down at the small head moving under his chin and chuckled. He playfully pressed her head with his chin.
“Stop it.”
“Ha.”
He laughed heartily, a rare burst of laughter Sylvia hadn’t often seen. She looked up at him, their breaths mingling at the close distance, eyes meeting.
Her face reflected in his softly curved, black eyes. As he stared, his laughter suddenly stopped. Felix couldn’t resist the lovely Sylvia.
He pressed his lips firmly to hers. Sliding his tongue between her lips, he explored the warm, moist interior. It seemed to have a scent, fresh and sweet…
Cradling her jaw and ear, he tilted his head. The wet sounds echoed in their ears.
“Hmm…”
Her ticklish moan egged him on. Felix lifted her into the air with wind magic.
“Feli?”
“Hold me, Siri.”
He took her hands to his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist. The sensation of their close embrace was exhilarating.
Sylvia, hanging onto him, found the direct gaze novel. Usually, she looked up at him, but now their eyes met straight on. Curious, she stared blankly, and Felix, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, whispered longingly,
“Stick out your tongue for me.”
“Huh?”
“Come on, Siri. Huh?”
Since they had naturally started kissing, Felix often made such peculiar requests of her. Embarrassed yet shy, Sylvia timidly stuck out her tongue.
As her small, bright red tongue peeked out, sparks seemed to fly from his eyes.
“Ah… as red as a watermelon.”
Felix swallowed a sigh and carefully wrapped his mouth around her tongue. Suck, he drew it in briefly, then nibbled it with his teeth.
“Hmm…”
Exhaling, Sylvia tightened her grip with her arms and legs around him. Felix dispelled the wind magic and supported her buttocks with his hands. He rubbed his tongue against her small one, then enveloped it entirely with his lips, sucking vigorously.
Pushing her tongue with his, he tilted his head. Saliva glistened between their interlocked lips. Responding to his actively moving tongue, Sylvia also moved hers.
The saliva that came with his hot breath tasted sweetly. Sylvia clung to him in a trance. The unusual perspective felt strangely exhilarating.
They explored each other like this until the red sunset faded, and the soft moonlight descended.
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