Volume 6 part 2
Crash!
This time, the massive armor crumbled with an ominous noise, and the decorative sword it held, unable to withstand the impact, snapped in half and flew into the air.
Fear gripped everyone’s chests.
Ixor’s swordplay felt as if it could mercilessly slice through flesh and bone.
“I’ll make this clear.”
Anna flinched reflexively at his voice. His eyes gleamed with fury and murderous intent, yet his expression and tone remained as cold as ever.
He violently tossed the broken sword blade to the ground near Anna’s feet as if issuing a warning.
“No matter who it is—human or beast—if anyone so much as lays a finger on this woman, I will kill them.”
Anna ground her teeth and retorted, “That sounded like it was meant for me.”
Ixor smirked as he rolled up his sleeves, revealing the thick veins in his muscular forearm.
“That’s right. I’m glad you caught on quickly.”
Finally, Princess Anna’s patience snapped.
“I have no desire to compete with a mere slave.”
“Hah.”
Ixor chuckled hollowly before outright scoffing.
“Compete? That’s laughable. How would that even be possible?”
With deliberate mockery, he continued,
“Dear Princess Anna, I find you utterly unattractive.”
Anna’s face turned bright red, then immediately twisted in anger. Unable to contain her wounded pride, she gave a sharp order.
“Ixor! Gwin Ixor Malkuth! Kill that woman! You wouldn’t dare defy a royal command, would you?”
“You are not my king.”
“But I am the king’s daughter. You know full well that my words carry my father’s authority.”
“Don’t be insolent. This is my land.”
“All land in this continent belongs to the royal family. No matter how reckless a rogue you may be, don’t forget that. Just because I speak politely doesn’t mean you should underestimate me. Gwin Ixor Malkuth, bow your head!”
Ixor, without hesitation, inclined his head in a flawless, elegant bow.
His impeccable manners only served to further twist her mood.
They had been in the middle of a heated argument—he could have refused, and it wouldn’t have been out of place. Yet, acting as if nothing had happened, he simply obeyed, leaving her at a loss for words.
Anna’s face flushed in frustration.
From the doorway, Rob, who had been standing with his arms crossed, suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
One day…
Anna shot him a sharp glare, committing his mockery to memory.
Then, she quickly composed herself.
She had ignored the warnings to stay away and dressed for the journey, expecting something like this.
Smiling gracefully, she revealed her trump card.
“Ixor, I came here because my father personally instructed me to deepen our relationship before our engagement.”
“Engagement?”
Ixor’s voice turned rough and strained.
She would break him.
Looking him straight in the eyes, she continued,
“Yes, engagement. My father wishes for us to be betrothed next spring and married before winter. He is growing old and fears he may pass before securing a match for his only daughter. The royal decree will arrive soon, so prepare yourself.”
Ixor did not reply.
Was he at a loss for words? Of course. If he refused here, it would be outright treason.
Glancing briefly at Daon, Anna found her expression as unreadable as a doll’s.
Savoring her victory, Anna sauntered closer and stopped before Ixor, brimming with confidence.
“I don’t mind if you have affairs, until our engagement, that is. But if you so much as glance at another woman after we are married, I will not stand for it.”
“…”
“You should start behaving like a member of the royal family. You can’t live as a reckless outsider forever.”
“Beating people’s faces at will…is that what it means to be part of the royal family?”
Ixor twisted his lips in sarcasm.
Anna shot back with a sharp voice.
“The only people here are you and me.”
“Of course. By your standards.”
“By yours as well, Ixor. I refuse to live in a backwater place like Orlank. It’s inconvenient for hosting balls, and there’s nowhere fun or interesting to go. You don’t want to grow old in a place like this either, do you?”
“Orlank is small, that’s true.”
Ixor responded lightly, his tone playful, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
One thing was certain, though—this marriage would benefit Ixor greatly.
He wasn’t a fool. He knew it.
Yet, his reaction was completely unexpected.
“A man who needs a woman to secure power… well, with that level of ability, his future is quite predictable.”
“So you’re rejecting a royal decree? Is this an insult to me?”
When she raised her voice in anger, Zephar suddenly intervened.
“Princess, you must be tired from your long journey. Perhaps it would be best to rest for now. This is not the right setting for serious discussions. No one can refuse a royal command, you, of all people, should understand that best.”
Anna clenched and unclenched her fists before sharply turning on her heel.
Zephar immediately followed, guiding her to her quarters.
Anna quickened her pace irritably.
Her heart pounded.
Ixor had always been cunning and wild, but he had never been this openly aggressive.
Daon—
That girl had turned him into a lion, fiercely roaring to protect his mate.
As soon as she entered the room, she shouted, “Get out!” and drove everyone away.
After even the maids had left and she was alone, her anger surged uncontrollably. At times like this, if her brother, Prince Dirk, had been by her side, it would have been comforting.
Whenever she got angry, her father or brother would always handle things for her. Since childhood, they had always fought for her, gotten angry on her behalf.
She had never needed to worry because they were always close. But now that she was alone, she didn’t know how to deal with such rage, and it made her frustrated and irritated.
Princess Anna bit her lip as she stared at the green frog figurine on the cabinet. She had always been able to get whatever she wanted. She had never lacked anything—except for Ixor.
From the moment they first met until now, whether he was in front of her or not, he had always provoked her nerves to the extreme. Just like that frog.
She first met him in the royal palace’s garden while playing near a pond with a golden ball. At the time, she was only six years old, and besides her father, she had never met another man.
She had only learned of her brother, Dirk, much later. So, when she first saw Ixor, she didn’t even realize he was a boy.
To her, he was just a child in a black suit adorned with gold embroidery, short-haired and strikingly beautiful. And he had the most mesmerizing eyes she had ever seen, before or since.
[I want those eyes]
She whined, throwing down her golden ball.
She had never been denied anything she wanted. But when she ordered the courtiers to pluck out his eyes, they hesitated in distress, pleading with her that he was a boy who had just lost his father and was grieving.
[What about his mother?] she asked again.
When she was told that he had none, she muttered with a pout,
[Just like me.]
[So, you won’t get my eyes?]
Ixor chuckled, bending one knee as he looked at her. His dazzling eyes were so beautiful that she instinctively reached out to touch them.
He stared at her without blinking. When she pressed lightly against his eye socket, he reflexively shut his eyes before chuckling and locking gazes with her again.
[Want a gift?]
Princess Anna jumped excitedly, but Ixor carefully pulled something out of his pocket—a strange object she had never seen before.
[What’s this?]
She asked, unimpressed.
[A frog.]
[A frog? What’s that?]
[A magical item that makes you happy when you kiss it. Try it.]
[Happiness? What’s happiness?]
[Here. If you’re curious, you should try it yourself.]
Her maids looked horrified, not knowing what to do. When Ixor shot them a sharp glare, they all averted their eyes at once. That thrilled her—the fact that the ever-fussing maids, who constantly nagged her about what not to do, were scared silent.
Ixor’s eyes were sharp, like a blade cutting through people. And she had touched those eyes. That gave her a strange sense of triumph.
Finally, gathering her courage, Princess Anna lowered her head toward the frog. At that moment, Ixor released his grip on it.
The frog leapt, landing right on her forehead before hopping down her shoulder and vanishing into the bushes.
The slimy, cold sensation was horrifying.
With a shriek, Princess Anna burst into tears.
[Waaahhh!]
By the time she had cried herself hoarse, Ixor had already disappeared.
A few days later, she learned about his situation—his stepmother was trying to take away his title and fortune. People whispered that he had no connections and was too young to protect what was his.
The next time she saw him, he was a seventeen-year-old young man, already the Lord of Garion after inheriting his father’s title.
Everyone had said it was impossible, yet he had taken his rightful place as if it were only natural.
Somehow, he had managed to enter the women’s quarters and was sitting by the garden pond when he casually greeted her.
[Oh, it’s the Frog Princess.]
[I am NOT a frog!]
Infuriated, Princess Anna burst into tears. By then, she had already learned that everyone in the world had to speak to her with respect. The royal family was second only to the god, that was the absolute truth.
But Ixor had no regard for common rules. Respect, politeness, integrity, none of these meant anything to him.
And yet, despite being an arrogant, reckless brute, he was somehow more noble than anyone else.
Even her father loved him deeply for his audacious aristocracy and rarely interfered with his actions.
Sniffling, Princess Anna pouted in anger.
[Fine. I apologize.]
[Go away!]
She shouted, and he went without hesitation.
That infuriated her even more. Princess Anna raised her voice.
[Wait! Let me touch your eyes again, and I’ll forgive you.]
[No. We’re not kids anymore.]
He rejected her outright, folding his arms. Then, with a smirk, he offered a compromise.
[How about I braid your hair instead?]
Before she could refuse, he plopped down beside her and grabbed a handful of her hair, dividing it into three strands.
Ixor had always been the type to dominate those around him. Being with him made it impossible to think straight—he had an overwhelming presence.
[You want a lot of braids?]
She pouted and nodded reluctantly.
[Ten?] he suggested.
[A lot.]
[Ten is the most.]
[Then ten.]
With deft hands, he wove her hair into thin braids, tying the ends with flower stems.
[Done. You’re too pretty to be a Frog Princess now.]
[Play with me!]
[Nope.]
When she started sniffling again, preparing to cry, he quickly stood up and waved a hand dismissively.
[I’m busy today. See you later.]
When? When would she see him again?
The braids he made smelled sweet, like flowers.
Now, standing by the window, Princess Anna tiptoed to peek into the ballroom.
It didn’t take long to spot Ixor.
He shone like gold, just as always.
Even among the elegantly dressed adults, Ixor was the one who effortlessly captured every gaze.
Seeing him stand out so naturally filled her with both pride and a fierce possessiveness.
[Who’s that?]
Princess Anna narrowed her eyes in displeasure.
A skinny boy clung to Ixor’s side like a shadow. He seemed about the same age but was clearly not a noble.
Worried about being caught spying, the maid glanced around nervously before suddenly recognizing him.
[Oh, that’s the beaten child from the duke’s household,] she said. [I’ve heard people gossiping about how he drags that child around like an attendant.]
[What’s his name?]
[I believe it’s Zephar.]
Anna, pouting, grumbled,
[He’s lucky. He gets to be with Ixor every day.]
[Are you jealous?]
Anna thought for a moment before answering.
[I hate him.]
Just then, Ixor suddenly punched a nearby noble in the face.
Anna let out a startled scream.
As the king, sitting at the highest seat, erupted in anger, Ixor simply gave a casual bow and walked out of the ballroom. His movements were so crisp and effortless that they felt almost refreshing to watch.
Lifting the hem of her lace-adorned dress, Anna tiptoed along the wall.
Before she could turn the corner of the building, she heard Ixor’s annoyed voice.
[See? I told you it would be boring.]
[That doesn’t mean you should resort to violence,] Zephar grumbled.
[He started it,] Ixor muttered.
[You need to learn patience.]
[Aha! So, you mean I should learn to blend into society?]
[If you keep behaving this way, you’ll end up isolated.]
[Well, at least we don’t have to fake a smile and stay in that ballroom all night. Why don’t you just thank me for that?]
[A lion without allies, no matter how much it roars, can’t stand against a crocodile swarm. My lord, you—]
Zephar was about to continue when he instinctively looked around and locked eyes with Anna.
Immediately, he stepped between Ixor and her, blocking her view.
Anna clenched her fists tightly in anger.
[You’ve said enough. Let’s go,] Zephar said firmly.]
Strangely enough, the usually stubborn and unruly Ixor listened to him without complaint. With a dramatic swirl of his black cloak, he disappeared into the night.
Anna took quick steps forward, only to suddenly hiccup.
Just as he was about to vanish behind the fountain in the garden, Ixor stopped and turned around, his gaze landing directly where Anna was hiding.
Under the moonlight, his eyes were terrifyingly intense yet impossibly captivating.
With a slight smirk, Ixor gave her a cold nod before turning away for good.
Anna’s heart pounded violently.
She wanted him.
She wanted to lock him inside a golden cage, feed him, give him water, adorn him with jewels—just like a doll.
She would take him out sometimes, go on walks together, nap beside him, show him off…
He was the most exquisite doll she had ever seen.
The mixture of cold warnings, mockery, and seductive playfulness in his gaze that night ignited a fierce desire within her to possess him.
Anna pulled aside the double-layered satin curtains, pressing her hands against the frost-covered wooden window frame to push it open.
A crisp wind rushed in, striking her chest.
She gripped the curtain so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Down below, Daon was walking leisurely across the castle’s front courtyard.
She wasn’t born noble, nor did she hold any status that could help Ixor.
And yet—
Love?
Was that supposed to be love?
Don’t make me laugh.
How ridiculous.
That lowly thing.
Anna bit down hard on her molars, glaring at Daon’s retreating figure.
***
“We need to talk.”
At Ixor’s commanding voice, the maids quickly gathered their things and fled the scene.
Daon, left alone by the well, calmly finished pulling up the bucket of water.
She poured it into a jar, then rolled down the sleeves she had previously tucked up to her elbows.
Ixor sat on the edge of the well, watching her.
Her expression was always so composed.
The moment Anna arrived, Daon had coldly and decisively returned to her rightful place…
As if whatever had happened between them meant nothing.
As if they had reverted back to the days when she was just a slave and he was the lord.
Daon suddenly smiled.
As if everything was settled.
As if words weren’t necessary.
Ixor let out a sigh, reaching out to grasp her hand.
Her fingers, cold from labor, irritated him. But right now, there was something more important than work.
“Talk to me.”
“Speak, my lord.”
“No, I need to hear from you. Why did you lie about falling?”
“I wasn’t hurt. So it wasn’t really a lie.”
“I heard you were struck in the face with a riding crop.”
“…”
“That should hurt. Unless you’re a corpse. You’re not a corpse, are you?”
“But truly…”
“Are you afraid?”
Ixor tightened his grip on her hand.
As always, Daon hesitated before answering.
He was sharp, he could read between the lines in an instant.
Ixor spoke again.
“What’s between us is between us. I’ll take care of the issue with Anna, so don’t be afraid. If you start feeling uneasy, I’ll only become more reckless—because I’ll need to make you feel secure.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Let me make one thing clear: nothing should happen between you and Anna. Got it? If there’s going to be a conflict, it should be between me and Anna, not you two.”
With a careless tone, Ixor turned her face toward him, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Look, women tend to direct their anger at each other instead of the man. And they’re careful not to get caught doing it. That’s why I might miss it if something happens.”
“You’re telling me not to hide anything from you?”
“Exactly.”
“…”
“If anything happens between you and Anna, and I get involved, then it turns into a real love triangle. So if she ever lays a hand on you, don’t hide it. Don’t lie about it.”
Ixor pulled her arm, drawing her closer as he spoke in a firm, serious tone.
“This isn’t about pride. It’s not tattling.”
“But…”
“Listen to me.”
“…”
“You better not just endure it if you ever get whipped like that again. You know I’m not just saying that. You also know that when I get angry, I show no mercy.”
She was a woman with pride and a tight-lipped nature, so he was warning her in advance. If she were someone who knew how to take advantage of opportunities, she could have used old Drewbury or his eldest son, Alvin, to live a much more comfortable life.
Daon, who had been looking at him with pained eyes, lowered her gaze and avoided his eyes. She silently stared at Ixor’s hand, which was worriedly holding hers. When she looked up again, her face was the very definition of coldness.
“People have their places, and they also have suitable partners.”
“What?”
“It’s time for us to return to our everyday lives. I to my place, and you to yours.”
Ixor’s expression turned cold.
“My life has always been the same. You are my everyday life.”
“So am I. But we can’t live like this forever.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.”
“No, we can’t.”
Daon, with her emotionless doll-like gaze, firmly contradicted him.
“A man born to rule is a man too exceptional to simply be an ordinary vassal in this chaotic era. You cannot waste your time in Orlank.”
“You’re making me sound way too impressive.”
He twisted his lips into a smirk, but his eyes darkened dangerously.
However, Daon remained unwavering as she finished her point.
“More than anything, if you refuse the princess’s offer, you’ll be the royal family’s enemy for life.”
“So you’re telling me to obediently marry Anna?”
“Yes.”
She wasn’t just saying it. She had already made up her mind.
After a long silence, Ixor spoke firmly.
“If I hadn’t met you, I might have married Anna. But I met you. So I can’t.”
“I am a slave—”
“Shut up.”
“…”
“Don’t ever say that in front of me again.”
Ixor grabbed her arm roughly and cut her off coldly.
Daon took a deep breath, then, for the first time, softened her tone, revealing her true feelings, ones she had hidden deep inside.
“I won’t leave. No matter what you do or where you go, I will remain here in Orlank, guarding our memories.”
“Do people date just to create memories?”
“No. Because I love you… I want to preserve them.”
“Memories? You love me, so you’re holding onto memories? No. I don’t want to just live in your memories.”
“Then what can I do?”
Caught off guard by his sharp response, she hesitated. Then seizing the moment, Daon lashed out, her voice trembling. She pushed his hand away and took a step back.
“Besides this worthless body, what else can I possibly give you or your retainers?”
“This worthless body?”
His temper flared, and he grabbed her again. When she forcefully pulled away and turned her back to him, he rose from the well, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her towards him.
Wrapping his arm tightly around her waist, he lifted her, pressing her against him. Daon pushed against his chest, trying to stop him, but he forced a kiss onto her.
“Mm!”
She turned her head away in refusal, but he gripped her face and neck, keeping their lips locked.
Splash!
As she struggled, her elbow knocked over the bucket, sending it crashing into the well and splashing cold water everywhere.
Panting heavily, they continued their heated battle of lips. Their tongues tangled, the kiss deepening. Finally, Daon raised her arms and clung to his neck with desperate longing.
Only then did Ixor break the kiss, exhaling a rough breath.
Their chests heaved as they remained pressed against each other, body heat radiating even through thick winter clothes.
Ixor rested his chin atop her head and pulled her tightly into his arms. A hoarse voice slipped from his lips.
“This is a funny time to say this, but I feel pretty **** good right now. You told me to marry another woman… I thought you didn’t have any feelings for me.”
As if that were impossible, Daon placed her palm on his back.
His voice was desperate.
“You asked what you could do for me? You are my soul, my light. What more could I need?”
“I am a slave. And you are a noble.”
“There you go again.”
His voice dropped in irritation. He clenched his teeth, let out a sigh, and pulled her away, gripping her shoulders as he looked down at her.
Of course, she was right. It was a fact as solid as a seal on a document.
The world wasn’t something they could change. A noble rejecting a princess and loving a slave would only lead to two possible fates: either he’d be hanged or beheaded.
He let out a quiet chuckle.
“But sailors don’t abandon a voyage just because of a storm.”
“Your future…”
“My past has been nothing but storms. I’ve never had a moment of peace, and I doubt I ever will. You’re the same, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Trust me.”
Convincing his subordinates would be his problem. Fortunately, most of them loved adventure—except for the nagging Zephar.
Daon, who had been watching him quietly, moved. With her characteristic cold elegance, she reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a soft kiss to his head.
Then, as if trying to suppress sadness, she remained still.
Finally, she whispered,
“The night Count Drewbury died, I told Alvin to flee.”
“I know.”
“I knew his stepmother would kill him. And that eventually, Orlank would fall.”
“…”
“But he didn’t leave. He was worried about me… afraid I would get hurt. At the most crucial moment of his life, he made the wrong choice.”
“I am not Alvin.”
“But the situation is the same. Only bigger, only more dangerous.”
Daon placed another gentle kiss on his head and then lifted her gaze.
Her voice was like her handwriting, feminine yet resolute, soft yet unwavering.
“If something happens between me and Princess Anna, don’t get involved.”
“Did you forget everything we just talked about?”
“If you step in, the princess will be even more displeased. But if you stand back and do nothing, I may be a little uncomfortable for a while, but the problem won’t escalate or drag on.”
“Uncomfortable? Just a little?”
“Yes. A little. When you take someone else’s man, you have to accept some level of discomfort.”
Daon’s eyes flickered with a touch of possessiveness as she gazed at him.
It slightly eased the twisted feeling in his gut.
Though he didn’t like hearing her call him ‘someone else’s man,’ he decided to let the conversation drop for now.
Daon was stubborn and had already made up her mind. Arguing would only go in circles.
Instead, he picked up the water jar.
“Do I take this to the kitchen?”
“Leave it. That’s not something a lord should be handling.”
Again, that lord. I’ll have to sort out the titles soon.
Ixor effortlessly lifted the large jar and cheerfully demanded,
“If not as your lord, then at least as your lover, I should be allowed to help. Now, shall we go, my lady?”
After placing the jar in the kitchen, Ixor made his way to the castle wall. He had yet to discuss the issue with Princess Anna with Zephar.
Zephar hadn’t approached him either, likely thinking any discussion would be pointless. It was also a sign that he would follow whatever decision Ixor made.
The situation was undeniably serious. It was a moment that required a life-altering decision… one that could cost him his life.
Rejecting a marriage with the treasured princess for the sake of a foreign slave was equivalent to insulting the royal authority. The royal family would become a laughingstock among the nobility, and the king would not take it lightly. Especially not in these times when he was striving to solidify his power.
Crunch.
A clump of snow crumbled under his feet. Ixor ascended the steep stairs and stood atop the castle wall.
Cold air rushed deep into his lungs. It was a wind so bitter it felt like it could freeze him from the inside out.
The sky, heavy with an ashen gray, stretched endlessly above.
He slowly turned his head.
The knights gathered on the castle wall immediately stood up in unison, making way for him. Ixor walked toward them at a leisurely pace.
Though the air was filled with laughter, the clinking of mugs, and lively conversation, he knew they were waiting for his decision.
No one, however, rushed him.
Draping a gray wolf pelt over one shoulder, Ixor tilted his head arrogantly and asked,
“If we must charge through the storm, what choice do we have?”
Renaud was the first to respond.
“We hold the reins tight, lower our helmets, and ride toward where our lord commands.”
Rob chuckled and took his turn.
“A storm is nothing. Once it passes, it’s just a gentle breeze.”
Ixor smirked coldly and asked another question.
“And when we have nothing to do and grow bored?”
“We eat, drink, and get drunk! And then we dance!”
Rob sprang to his feet, singing as he spoke. The other four knights immediately drew their gleaming swords, clashing them together as they skillfully sparred in an almost rhythmic dance.
Sparks from the roaring bonfire shot into the night sky like the pulse of wild blood. The young warriors fought fiercely, moving like entangled beasts, their skills exceptional, their teamwork seamless.
Just watching them stirred excitement.
Ixor sipped his drink, enjoying their sword dance as if it were an appetizer.
Amid the clash of blades, Renaud exhaled a puff of white breath and asked,
“When do we set sail, my lord?”
“It’ll be hard to ride in winter. The soldiers will suffer.”
Princess Anna had mentioned that her engagement ceremony was scheduled for spring.
Since it was a royal engagement, nobles from across the continent would flood into Orlank, bringing gifts.
If they locked those nobles inside and swiftly seized the unguarded castles, the only remaining stronghold would be the royal capital itself.
As long as they could prevent rebellions in the captured territories, victory was certain.
Zephar would have to handle internal affairs. And Daon as well.
Both were meticulous, competent, and reliable.
The five knights, having paused their sparring, now stood in a tense semicircle, waiting for his response.
The cold winter wind made the wolf fur around his neck and face flutter.
Ixor raised his cup arrogantly.
“When spring begins, shall we ride across the continent as if we were out for a flower-viewing excursion?”
thanks for chapters)))
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