EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 193

Chapter 193

 

At my question, Clara’s eyes, which had been trembling with confusion, were soon filled with rage.

“You, you…!”

As Clara twisted her face in anger and raised her hand, I glanced at it and asked coldly,

“Can you handle the consequences? You might really end up in a monastery this time. Or face even worse punishment.”

“…!”

She looked completely unhinged just a moment ago.

But whether she hadn’t fully lost her senses, or simply couldn’t bear the thought of going to a monastery, Clara, shaking all over, slowly lowered her arm at my words.

At that moment, imperial knights, prompted by Nicholas’s signal, stepped forward and began restraining Clara from both sides and leading her away.

Watching her retreating figure, now reduced to such a pitiful state, I lightly waved my hand.

‘Knowing Clara’s arrogant personality, she probably wouldn’t even remember what she once said to a young maid at the palace ten years ago. She likely wouldn’t recognize me as the same person…’

Still, just in case, I decided it would be best to place a magic of silence on her—just a precaution.

There was no way the petty Emperor would forgive Clara, so she’d be stuck in her territory now. And I didn’t think I’d ever see her again either. Just as I was turning to leave, the dizziness hit me.

Using magic in my already weakened state made me lightheaded.

“Are you all right?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

Nicholas, who had rushed over in surprise at the sight of me, extended his arm as if to support me.

“Let’s go at once. I had a carriage prepared, so we can leave right…”

“Ah, wait.”

I cut Nicholas off and gave an awkward smile.

“There’s no need for you to escort me personally, Your Highness. You can go ahead.”

“Excuse me? That won’t do. Your complexion is very pale… And His Majesty personally asked me to see you off.”

‘That ****ed Emperor. Always so helpful, except when it matters.’

With no other choice, I swallowed my embarrassment and said,

“It’s not that. I just… have something to take care of at the palace.”

“The palace? What… Ah!”

Nicholas, who had looked confused, suddenly nodded and smiled knowingly.

“The Foreign Affairs building is this way.”

“…Thank you.”

How did he know I’m going to see Lucio? I turned quickly to hide my flushed ears, annoyed by Nicholas’s unnecessary kindness.

In my haste to reach the palace, I hadn’t brought the communication orb Lucio gave me.

If I had, I could’ve contacted him right away.

‘He’ll be thrilled, right?’

Maybe he’d even be too shocked to speak.

After absorbing the powerful magic and demonic energy from the demon artifact, I felt queasy and was sweating cold sweat. But just imagining Lucio’s delighted face made the discomfort disappear.

Rather, I wanted to get the news to him as soon as possible so I quickened my steps.

 

***

 

Meanwhile…

At that moment, Lucio was also hurrying out of his office after hearing that Lia had visited the Imperial Palace.

Originally, he was supposed to attend lunch today with the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess and the former Marquis, per his father’s request. But he couldn’t make it due to work concerning the Kingdom of Riven.

He had finally obtained critical intel that the new king of Riven was preparing for war.

They had even discovered the secret location where smuggled weapons and soldiers were being trained. With this knowledge, they could prevent unnecessary sacrifices caused by war.

And just as he was wrapping up work to attend the lunch belatedly, one of his agents stationed at the imperial palace rushed in.

With unbelievable news: the grand princess had come to see the Emperor herself, pleading her innocence after being falsely accused.

Without knowing the full details, Lucio was heading down the stairs to go to the palace himself.

“Uh? Youn…Young Lord Elard!”

He froze at the sound of a voice he hadn’t expected to hear here.

There stood Lia, just inside the central entrance, waving at him.

Seeing her at his workplace—Lia, who had come to see him—a swirl of surprise, concern, and joy churned in his chest.

Lucio immediately rushed to her and took her hand.

“What happened? I heard you were falsely accused. Who did this to you? And your hand is so cold. Your face is pale too…”

“W-Wait. Ask one thing at a time.”

Lia gave a helpless laugh, watching Lucio’s flurry of questions, so unlike his calm demeanor.

She glanced around.

This was the Foreign Affairs building, and with her recent heroics during the founding festival, it seemed everyone passing by recognized the Grand Princess of Belus. They were all glancing her way.

Lucio, finally noticing that Lia was feeling self-conscious, quickly looked around, then took her hand and started leading her away.

The Foreign Affairs office often welcomed diplomats, so there were many rooms for receiving guests. And since Lia was an imperial VIP, there was no issue in using one of the private meeting rooms.

They moved quickly, leaving the curious onlookers far behind, far enough that no one could overhear their conversation.

And just as they reached a safe distance, Lia, who was even more desperate than Lucio, spoke first.

“You know what? It’s all taken care of.”

“…What?”

“I may have pushed myself a bit, but everything’s been resolved.”

Lucio, mindful of potential eavesdroppers, noticed she hadn’t mentioned the ‘demon artifact’ directly and asked,

“You mean the false accusation?”

“No! Not that…”

Frustrated by Lucio’s confusion, Lia clasped both hands together and rose onto her tiptoes.

Lucio quickly caught on and lowered his body, and Lia leaned in to whisper into his ear.

“The demonic artifact. The Duke’s contract has been completely broken, and the artifact was destroyed too.”

Now that she had said everything she needed to, Lia gave a bright smile, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

“So there’s nothing to worry about anymore!”

She added, looking up at Lucio with sparkling eyes.

The truth was, when she had detoxified the Duchess in the past, Lia had hoped—though she hadn’t shown it—for Lucio to praise her. But he hadn’t said a word back then, and deep down, Lia had kept that disappointment in her heart.

This time, if he brushed it off again, she was determined to say something.

“Re… really?”

After a moment of silence, as if at a loss for words, Lucio slowly asked.

Lia nodded eagerly.

Though his reaction wasn’t as enthusiastic as she had imagined, she felt a bit pleased seeing him so visibly stunned. Lifting her chin a little proudly, Lia said,

“What did I tell you? I said to just trust—mmph!”

Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her, fiercely, as if to devour her.

The impact of their lips colliding brought a stinging pain, and she tasted blood.

But then came the soft, moist sensation as his lips quickly traced her lower lip, and her mind went blank.

Startled, Lia opened her lips slightly, and his hot tongue immediately slipped in.

It was a desperate, hungry kiss, as if he had thrown away all his usual calm and restraint.

Without thinking, Lia grabbed onto Lucio’s collar, and in response, he pushed in even harder.

Unable to withstand it, she stumbled backward, expecting to hit a wall any second.

But at some point, the door had opened, and as their steps continued, she saw the door slam shut behind Lucio with a loud bang.

Even then, his relentless kiss continued, as if he had been waiting forever for this moment, and just as her mind was starting to go hazy, her body collapsed backward.

Luckily, she fell onto the soft couch in the reception room, and Lucio firmly supported her head and waist, so she felt no shock at all.

What truly left her breathless was the unmistakable desire burning in Lucio’s blue eyes.

She couldn’t bear to meet that gaze any longer and squeezed her eyes shut, only for the kiss to deepen even further.

Lucio was now experiencing what it truly meant to lose control—to feel ecstasy so intense it made him dizzy.

Fireworks were going off in his mind, and bells were ringing in his ears.

He suddenly understood why the world was filled with romantic poems and songs of love; all the years before this moment felt meaningless.

Even to himself, it felt insane.

Just hearing that the contract made through the demonic artifact had been broken was enough to shatter the walls he’d built in his heart.

He realized that perhaps the only reason he had managed to stay away from Lia for nearly ten years… was because of that contract.

And now, with no fear left that he might lose her to the emperor, nothing was holding him back.

Lucio didn’t want to be apart from Lia even for a moment anymore. If possible, he wanted to be with her every second.

Driven by that overwhelming desire, he relentlessly closed in on her—until Lia, breathless and flushed, gently pushed him away.

To her surprise, Lucio, who had seemed like he’d never let go, obediently backed off and lifted his lips from hers.

Lia panted and stared at him with dazed, misty eyes.

Lucio’s own breath and gaze were just as disordered, and a deep blush stained the skin under his eyes.

But the intensity in his eyes didn’t fade. If anything, he seemed even more unhinged than before.

Seeing him so far from his usual composed self, so fevered and shaken, sent chills down her spine.

She had wanted praise, yes… but not like this.

Trying to regain her senses through the numb tingle left on her lips, Lia opened her mouth to speak.

“Um…”

“I love you.”

And at the sudden confession whispered in her ear, she froze.

As she stared up at him in shock, Lucio said it again.

“I love you, Lia.”

Truthfully, it was a completely impulsive confession, bypassing his brain.

But the moment he said it, Lucio realized he had wanted to say those words for a very, very long time.

He had been holding them back, fearing that once spoken, there would be no going back.

But now, he couldn’t hold them in any longer.

Lucio pressed his lips gently to Lia’s once more and murmured,

“I love you, so much that I can’t imagine a life without you.”