Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“You can’t do that! If you’re going, then let’s go together!”

“But you won’t be able to escape if we get caught, Dad.”

“Yes. Yes, I know, but still. You can’t go. There are so many bad things that could happen to you!”

With a white face, my father firmly said this. I knew why he was so concerned. Because of this war, the Spiruna Kingdom had been destroyed. Smoke filled the streets and the gates had been blocked. It was clear how people of the ruined country would be treated now, even more so with the women.

But I wasn’t being stubborn for no reason. I was really confident about running away by myself. Because of my stance, my father teared up.

“No. No, you can’t. Never. If something bad were to…”

“But what if something happens to Dad or Mom if you come with me? I’ll be careful not to be seen by others, and I promise I’ll run away at the smallest sign of danger. So please go on ahead first. If I don’t have that ring…”

“…Darling. Don’t worry about our daughter, let’s leave first. You know how precious that ring is to Lily, right?”

“Mom…”

Even though her face was ashen just like Dad’s, Mom forced herself to smile as she said this. A cold hand stroked my cheek. Ah, I’m an idiot. Why didn’t I take care of that important ring properly? While biting my lips, I blamed myself over and over.

“Lily, please… you have to come back safely, okay? We’re going to Celta, Argon, then Delphinium. Understand? It’s Celta, Argon, Delphinium. After that, Evan.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be with you again before you even get to Celta.”

“Lily… My baby, unless you don’t want to drive a stake through your father’s heart, you have to come back without fail.”

I nodded, then watched as my parents left reluctantly. The carriage, which had been held up for a long time, began to move. I waited until my parents were gone, then I entered the palace.

Anguished cries could be heard everywhere. As I moved through the shadows, I covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve to avoid inhaling the acrid smoke that filled all the roads.

“Don’t touch the civilians!”

“Those who want to surrender, throw away your weapons and get down on the ground!”

I paused at the words that the Ciel Empire’s knights said. ‘Don’t touch the civilians.’

Most of the horrors in the wars that I read in books said that even women and children were brutally slaughtered even when they were helpless. However, in this war, it seemed like the soldiers still had a conscience.

Even so, I rushed through the streets without showing myself, going back the path I ran through with my parents earlier. And under the half-shattered square fountain, I found the ring that glistened even under the rubble.

What a relief. I pretended to be relaxed in front of my parents, but to be honest, my heart had been pounding with nervousness to the point that it hurt, but now that pain was gone. I took a deep breath.

“What’s this? A ring?”

“Did someone drop it while running away?”

“Do you think it’s worth something? I don’t think the owner would look for it again since it was lost here of all places.”

A knight clad in blue armor picked up the ring. While lifting the ring up under the dim moonlight, he clicked his tongue and pocketed it. In an instant, I felt my body growing cold. What do I do now?

At that moment, the bell from inside the palace rang loudly.

“Oh, that was quick.”

“Maybe it’s because all the Knight Orders have gathered again. In the first place, I was wondering why it was necessary to deploy all four of the Knight Orders to conquer such a small kingdom.”

“The sooner it ends, the better. Let’s head back.”

The bell must have been the signal of the kingdom’s defeat, but I agonized more about the fact that those two people were walking further and further away from me.

I’d never used magic on a person before. When I was alone in my room, I even conjured winds or flames. I learned through reading a book that succubi could also manipulate the mind and people’s memories.

However, it was still difficult for me to use magic on living beings, such as animals and people.

I followed the knights restlessly, but they soon joined the main army.

They were all wearing helmets, so if I just turned away once, I might lose him in the crowd. It would be too much for me to try and overpower several trained knights, but I didn’t know what else to do. I decided to just follow around the knight who picked up my ring.

I waited for him to be left alone, but he was always with the other knights as though they were used to moving in groups. Before I knew it, dawn was already coming, and I grew even more nervous. What should I do? My parents must be waiting anxiously.

The surroundings began to brighten up. The knight who picked up the ring yawned and went into the tent followed by two other men. It was clear that they were about to sleep.

Okay. Let’s get it while they’re sleeping. I bit my lips, but then… suddenly, my lower abdomen started to throb.

“…Hngh.”

I quickly covered my mouth to stifle the moan that leaked out of me unconsciously. No matter how much I hid myself in the shadows, I could still be heard by people nearby. My body slowly heated up as I gasped heavily. I knew this feeling very well.

Tears burst through my eyes. My hips twitched as I felt a blazing heat within my lower body, which was beginning to yearn for something. As I tightened my thighs, even the feeling of my underwear rubbing against myself was pleasurable.

Hold it in. Hold it in, come on. I just have to wait a little bit. This instinct would have disappeared immediately if I had my ring, but because the urge had been suppressed for years, it was all coming out at once, making me dizzy with want.

It was too hot and narrow here. The moment I thought that, I stepped out from the shadows and appeared on the ground.

No, I can’t do this. I’d be in trouble if someone saw me. I tried to hide in the shadows again, but it was like my strength had left my body.

“Hngh, haa, haa…”

My head was spinning and my breathing was rough, but I tried to hold it back by biting my lips. I twisted my lower body while hugging my shoulders. Oh no… What should I do? Anyone is fine. Please just do something about this.

“Hey, are you okay? Why are you here?”

Oh, a man. My pupils turned red. I drooled unbearably.

I only heard his voice, but it was enough to excite me. I stuck my tongue out to lick my lips, then turned around. After barely making eye contact in the dim darkness, I sucked in a breath, then—

I rushed over to him and covered his lips with mine. It’s sweet. It was a wonder how another person’s saliva tasted sweet to me. I was so happy and thrilled that I was crying. I rubbed my anxious body vigorously.

“Wait, you, what!”

His white shining hair was also pretty. And how can his eyes be so beautiful? Everything about him was so pretty that I just wanted to swallow him whole.

Immersed in a taste of a man’s essence for the first time, suddenly, the knight who picked up my ring came out from the tent.

“Lily, please… you have to come back safely, okay? We’re going to Celta, Argon, then Delphinium. Understand? It’s Celta, Argon, Delphinium. After that, Evan.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be with you again before you even get to Celta.”

“Lily… My baby, unless you don’t want to drive a stake through your father’s heart, you have to come back without fail.”

I suddenly thought of Mom and Dad. Ah, right. I need to get the ring back. And I have to go back.

I struggled to pull myself away, then I gathered mana in my hands and flung it towards the man, whose face was terribly red as he watched us, and a sharp blade of wind reached him.

“Argh!”

“Heuk!”

But just before the sharp wind stabbed the knight, a cool mana rose from the man I had kissed, and his mana collided with mine.

Our surroundings were instantly thrown into chaos. The knight who I attacked was on the ground.

“Just what are you doing.”

“But he took it. My ring. It’s important, but that person took it.”

I felt myself getting defensive because of the man’s sharp voice. That guy was the one who did something wrong here. Why was he doing this to me? The eyes of the man turned to the knight.

“Is that true.”

“Ye-yes, Commander! I picked it up. I picked up the ring, but…”

“See, I’m right. Quickly give it to me.”

I can finally go back. I started to feel the oncoming signs between my legs, so I had to hurry. It was obvious that this man would be ready to attack me as soon as he wanted to.

“Talk about what you want to talk about later. Hurry up and give it back.”

“It’s… It’s… I’m sure I put it in my pocket…”

I saw you taking it. I saw you putting it in your pocket. But why won’t you give it back? In my mind, Dad and Mom’s faces were gradually getting blurred. I bit my lower lip.

“…It’s gone……”

My face turned white. I knew I had to find the ring—it was precious to me, but at this moment, I was slowly forgetting why exactly it was important. I just needed to resolve this desire. Right now.

This guy must be feeling sorry for me because of his mistake. He can pay for it by giving me his essence.

As I stumbled forward, dark red magic trickled out from me. I held it in for too long. I could feel my mouth watering. I wanted to take off his clothes, tie him up, and pleasure myself over and over with him… Something was throbbing in my stomach fiercely, but I couldn’t get close to the man.

“Stop there, woman. I’ll cut you down at once if you get any closer.”

A sword overflowing with blue mana touched my neck. You’re going to slice my throat? Why? I was only a little upset a while ago, but now, I was starting to get angry.

“He lost it. My ring—my treasure!”

“I apologize about that, but you can’t harm my men.”

“C-Commander…!”

The man’s firm words moved the other soldiers. How admirable it was to see his love for his subordinates.

Come to think of it, when I kissed him earlier, it felt so sweet that I was out of breath. I gathered mana on my fingers and pushed the sword away, smiling.

“Then, shouldn’t you take responsibility?”

“Alright. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Commander!”

“Then let’s form a contract, hm? If you don’t properly fulfil your obligations, you don’t know what I’ll do to your men.”

With a complicated expression, the man nodded and shook my hand. The mana that I had gathered earlier quickly wrapped it around the knights. The knights couldn’t prepare for the sudden attack, so they slowly collapsed one by one to the ground. The man in front of me wielded his sword.

“You—!”

“Oh, I just put them to sleep so they can forget everything after they wake up.

Of course, it was my first time manipulating people’s memories, so there might be some problems later, but I didn’t care enough about that. I just didn’t want anyone to disturb me.

As I said this, the man glared at me, then checked the condition of the knights who fell asleep. He sighed, then spoke in a calm voice.

“I am Odil Cygnus, Knight Commander of the Ciel Army.”

“So you’re Odil. That’s a cute name. Then, Odil. It’s time to keep your promise, right?”

“…Huu. Sure. I won’t hold myself back.”

I tilted my head to the side as I saw him sharpening his aura and gathering mana. This guy… What are you talking about?

As I stared blankly, my lower abdomen started throbbing again, and I gasped while my hands shook. I need something—something to tie this man up.

“Hey. What do you think I am?”