The kiss was soft but urgent enough to push me back. Even so, Redian didn’t just hold the back of my head protectively; he also controlled the pace.
“You…” It wasn’t until I managed to push his shoulders that our lips parted. “Where did you learn this?” I asked Redian, who was looking down at me.
It was hard to believe he had been locked up in the underground castle for so long. Not only did he kiss with such intensity that it made my head spin, but he also led with skill.
“I may be younger than Master, but…” Redian gave a peculiar smile. “I’m not that young.”
His blue eyes and red lips, shining with moonlight and moisture, were now more alluring than ever.
Well. True, Redian was younger than me, but if you consider his past as an archangel…
“Besides, you taught me everything, Master.”
“…What?”
For a moment, I couldn’t respond. That meant I had taught Redian all these techniques, but when and how did that happen? Did something happen between us in the thousands of years of forgotten past?
“I don’t know what kind of person you’re thinking of me now, Master…”
But my thoughts didn’t last long.
“I’ve only ever had eyes for you, both then and now.”
Redian kissed my wrist where the veins were visible, the touch both ticklish and teasing. It felt like he was deliberately disturbing my memories of other moments.
“Please keep teaching me from now on.”
Of course, seeing that, I couldn’t think of the past anymore.
“Because from now on, you’ll only have me.”
As I held his gaze for a long time, I unconsciously murmured. “Fox…” My inner thoughts slipped out.
“Pardon?”
“You were originally a fox, weren’t you?”
As I looked into his blue eyes through his silver hair, memories from underwater began to resurface. Though my memories as Theia weren’t perfect, the memories of Redian and me were clearer.
At first, Redian was lazy but sharp, like a predator. But as we got closer, I realized that subtle push and pull was natural for him.
“Well…” Redian chuckled, not at all fazed by my sudden statement. “If you say so, it must be true.” Then he paused as if recalling something. “You liked foxes the most back then.”
“…”
“Now, you can just find me the cutest.” He spoke with a remarkably straightforward expression.
Goodness. How could he say such things with such a straight face? Truly, a natural fox is different.
“Ah, but did you really cry because of me?” I lightly touched his bangs and asked. His eyes were still red, and I wanted to tease him since it was the first time I’d seen him shed tears. I definitely wanted to tease this cute thing.
“You didn’t open your eyes even after coming back…”
His composed face showed a slight crack.
“I thought you preferred that place without me over here with me.”
Redian frowned and kissed my shoulder. “You can always leave me behind, after all.”
“…”
“I’ve always liked you more, and I’ve always been more desperate…” His low voice trailed off. “I thought if I begged like this, you might open your eyes…”
Looking at his long lashes in the darkness, only one word came to my mind. A devil with an angel’s face. There was no better way to describe it. His words were so sweet they could melt your ears, and I almost blurted out, ‘Oh, my cute little fox.’
“I guess you’ve been practicing how to say these things while I was asleep.”
But I held back. Instead, I stroked his cheek as a token of my praise and affection.
“You said this is how to seduce someone, right?”
“What?”
Redian nestled his lips into my palm. “I’m glad you came back.”
He looked like a big puppy whining for a pat on the head. It seemed like he had figured out that I’m weak to cute things.
“Even if it took thousands of years… I’m glad I waited.”
Seeing him like that made me think it was a good decision to return. Yes, I was sure I’d have more fun here.
“What if I hadn’t returned?”
“I would’ve waited. Until you did.”
His gaze, always directed at me, could only be described as love. Every moment with him spoke of love. Before entering the Sea of Ananke, before fully regaining my consciousness, none of this resonated with me, but now I felt it all, one by one.
“And your return means you’ve accepted me…”
As the distance between us closed a little more, his shadow loomed large over me.
“No, Your Royal Highness.”
But I pushed his broad shoulders away again.
“The arrogant fools are plotting a rebellion; we don’t have time for this.”
“…”
I got off the bed and went to the vanity to tie my hair.
“I was the one who put you in the position of crown prince, and I was the one who allowed you to be the crown prince of Meteora.”
Redian’s blue eyes followed me softly yet persistently.
“You are the ruler of this continent I built.”
It was my will that made Redian the crown prince and my duty to protect him.
“To start a rebellion would mean daring to challenge the authority of the divine.”
I had no intention of living as a goddess or saintess of the empire.
“I will never forgive them.”
I also wasn’t interested in people’s respect and praise for the goddess. In short, I didn’t have to pretend to be noble…
“Just kill them all.”
If they expected divine mercy and forgiveness, they were mistaken. It was better to be a goddess who was feared for existing than the endlessly benevolent one.
“I need to return to the duchy today.”
“…”
Though I spoke resolutely, it was pointless.
“Why do you need to deal with them yourself, Master? You can leave it to me.”
Of course, Redian could easily handle them. He was self-made and a ruler.
“…I’ll take care of everything, Master.”
But it seemed that my purpose in confronting them was very different from Redian’s.
“So, please don’t go.”
It was hard to resist when he embraced my waist.
* * *
The capital felt eerily calm, like before a typhoon.
“With the founding festival approaching, our Felicite family must take a clear stance.”
At that time, key vassals were gathered in the Duchy Felicite.
“The founding festival is the most important and sacred event in our Meteora Empire. It wouldn’t make sense for our family, which has kept the will of the late royal princess, not to attend.”
When Aeron finished speaking, another vassal shook his head.
“The rumor that Grand Duke Benio will start a rebellion on that day isn’t just a baseless rumor. It’s practically a declaration of war.”
The vassal’s expression was serious.
“If the rebellion ends in failure, that’s one thing, but otherwise…”
History was ultimately written by the victors. Depending on the outcome, Felicite could either become a prestigious noble family or be erased from history.
“We must remain as neutral as possible. We must not lend our strength to either the Rixon imperial family or the Benio family.”
“Well, the Central Nobility Council is already supporting Grand Duke Benio. We can’t ignore that trend.”
It was true that the imperial family’s position had strengthened with Redian Hyu Rixon becoming crown prince. However, this also inevitably led to the emergence of existing forces that harbored resentment against the new power.
“But the Rixon imperial family was established by the goddess. To disrupt this balance is to go against the goddess’s will.”
“That’s a will from an ancient myth. We need to look at the reality unfolding before us.”
As various opinions clashed, a cold silence filled the room. The outcome of this decision would lead to either victory or death, making the issue even more sensitive.
“When will the princess return? As the acting head, her absence has been too long without any news.”
At that moment, an elder vassal spoke up in displeasure. “If you think about it, isn’t it because of her actions that we became estranged from the Benio family?”
“That’s strange to say.” Aeron, frowning, stared at the older vassal. “When you were enjoying the glory of the Felicite as if it was your own, you had no problem with the princess’s achievements. Now you’re blaming her for everything?”
“What?”
As the tension between the old and new vassals was about to escalate.
“I didn’t know you were so dissatisfied with me.”
Creak, the door opened.
“It seems our elders have been eagerly waiting for me.”
“P-Princess!”
Siani, dressed in a black dress reminiscent of her childhood, entered. Everyone except Aeron, who knew of her return, looked at her in surprise.
“Our Felicite family will support the Rixon imperial family,” Siani said, sitting at the center with her hands folded on the table. “We will ensure Redian Hyu Rixon ascends as the next emperor, no matter what.”
“But Princess, this is beyond the rise and fall of our family. It’s about the survival of the empire. You must be cautious!”
“Don’t worry.” Siani raised her hand to stop them, speaking firmly. “This is the will of the goddess.”
“What? What do you mean…”
“Ah, actually, I’ve been absent for a while because I went to meet the goddess.”
It was an utterly absurd statement to anyone who heard it. Nevertheless, Siani’s expression as she gave the order was not just calm but exuded unwavering confidence.
“Are you claiming that the goddess gave you her will? That’s absurd.”
“Why is it absurd?” Siani questioned the elder vassal.
“Our house of Felicite produced the crown prince chosen by the goddess…” She smiled lightly. “There’s nothing saying that goddess’s incarnation can’t appear.” Her eyes reflected the knowledge of all future events.
Happy New Year everyone!ヾ(´︶`♡)ﾉ
