“You don’t need to listen to him.”
Sys’s tone was so cold it startled me. I snapped out of my thoughts about Count Lionel and looked at him. The warmth in his face was gone, replaced by a chilling intensity.
“The battlefield is dangerous. Take Lionel with you.”
“You’re in more danger. You know that, don’t you?”
“Sys.”
“Even with Daysha dead, the Inayari are still out there. Who knows when they’ll come for you again?”
He was right. Daysha’s death hadn’t eliminated the Inayari threat. As long as I lived, they’d likely keep targeting me.
Unless every Inayari was eradicated, I’d never be free of them. I’d have to stay vigilant until the day I died.
But I refused to live in fear. Cowering from the Inayari would be like refusing to make pickles because of maggots.
I had no intention of diving into danger, but I wouldn’t be a hothouse flower either.
“There are plenty of people protecting me. I can keep myself safe without Lionel.”
“I almost lost you!”
His shout echoed, startling even himself. He clamped his mouth shut briefly before a low sigh escaped.
“I have nightmares every night.”
“Sys?”
“If we’d arrived even a moment later that day… just thinking about it makes my heart drop.”
Lant wasn’t the only one scarred by that day.
Seeing his pained, contorted face, I struggled to find words to comfort him.
“Look at me. I’m perfectly fine. Why dwell on useless thoughts?”
“It’s not over. When I’m gone, what if they come for you again? What if something happens to you? Even checking on you multiple times a day doesn’t ease this fear.”
He covered his face with one hand. Was that why he’d visited me every spare moment despite his hectic schedule?
I gently pulled his hand down.
“If you’re that worried, end the war quickly and come back.”
His face was etched with anguish. I caressed his cheek, as if to wipe it away.
“I’d rather have you protect me directly. I don’t need anyone else, Sys.”
“Haa, I really can’t win against you.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.
“One word from you sends me into despair or drowns me in happiness.”
He pressed his lips to the crown of my head.
“I’ll never beat you in a lifetime.”
“Hm, so you’ve been hoping to win against me? That’s a futile dream.”
I shot him a teasing look, raising an eyebrow. He burst out laughing.
“That expression is unfair, Bee. You’re too beautiful.”
Still chuckling, he brushed his fingers across my eyes.
Between managing the Emperor’s duties, preparing for war, and cleaning up Daysha’s mess, Sys barely had time to sleep. His face had grown gaunt in just a few days, cheekbones sharp. I frowned at the sight.
As if to soothe me, he gently traced my eyes with his fingers.
“Even your furrowed brow is beautiful. Something must be wrong with my eyes.”
He grinned, lips curling.
Whatever was affecting his eyes seemed to have caught me too—his sharp, lean features looked strikingly attractive.
I’m the one who’s hopeless.
“Even when wrinkles line your eyes, you’ll still be beautiful to me.”
He lifted his other hand, stroking my hair.
“Even when this golden-brown hair turns white, it’ll still dazzle me. Every wrinkle on your face will be precious.”
His lips brushed my forehead carefully.
“I want to be by your side, witnessing every beautiful moment of your life.”
His eyes curved like crescent moons as he smiled. His hand slid from my hair to clasp mine, fingers intertwining.
“Let’s share all those moments together, Bee.”
His golden eyes sparkled like molten honey. He lifted my hand, kissing between my fingers.
“I wanted to propose in a way that moved you as much as you moved me, but it ended up like this.”
“This…”
I noticed a ring on my finger, slipped on unnoticed. It fit perfectly on my fourth finger, gleaming elegantly.
“It’s the only thing my mother left me.”
His fingers tightened around mine.
“Stay by my side forever. I’ll give you everything I have.”
His face drew closer.
“Anything you want, even my remaining time—it’s all yours.”
I closed my eyes, and his slightly rough lips met mine. Warmth spread as our lips pressed together.
With a soft sound, he sucked my lower lip hard. After lingering, he teased my lips with his tongue, persistent until they parted. His soft tongue slipped inside, exploring every corner, coaxing mine to follow. I let him guide me, greedily savoring his warmth.
How much time passed?
When my breath grew short, he pulled back, cradling my face.
“Marry me when the war ends, Bee.”
Unlike his calm smile, his hands trembled slightly.
Had he always trembled like this when confessing to me? I placed my hands over his, rubbing my cheek against them. His trembling stopped, and a radiant smile bloomed.
I unbuttoned his sleeve, revealing the golden cufflink that symbolized him.
“Bee?”
He tilted his head, puzzled. Without answering, I rolled up his sleeve, exposing his muscular forearm, veins prominent. I lifted his arm to my lips.
He stared, clueless about my intent, as I smiled at him. He mirrored my smile reflexively.
Keeping my eyes on his, I opened my mouth.
“Ugh!”
I bit his forearm, and a groan escaped him.
Releasing him, I saw my teeth marks clearly imprinted. Satisfied with the neat mark, I smiled.
“Bee… ngh!”
I licked the mark slowly, soothing it. A different, sensual groan slipped from his lips, sweet to my ears.
I kissed the mark, sucking gently. His scent filled my senses. When I pulled away, a red welt had formed over the bite, like a brand.
“Bee?”
“No one else should mark your body but me.”
I touched the welt carefully, meeting his gaze. His eyes were now flushed with desire.
“No other wounds are allowed. Come back to me exactly like this, unmarked, before this fades.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face to his broad chest. His heartbeat thudded loudly.
“If you promise me this, I’ll give you all my time too.”
“If that’s your will, gladly.”
He hugged me tightly, his embrace warm and secure.
A month had passed since he left for the battlefield.
The Leisha flower buds had bloomed fully, swaying in the breeze. Soon, their petals would fall, replaced by green leaves.
News from the front reached me daily through the Pison Trading Company. The empire was steadily pressuring Canaan, and if things continued, the war might end before winter.
“Sys.”
I whispered his name, half-expecting a response.
Today, I missed his face more than ever.
“Lady Elient, His Majesty summons you to Baharot Palace.”
A maid approached as I strolled through Bisard Palace’s garden, bowing. I followed her to the Emperor’s palace.
