Episode 4. The Second Ordeal—Outdoors

 

[Don’t ask. Why would you ask that?]

I chuckled as I propped my chin on my hand, staring at the hastily scribbled note. How urgent must it have been to make the handwriting so sloppy?

[Well, because I need to understand why you failed. Maybe next time I can help you relieve your lust, Sir.]

Heliod’s response came just as quickly as mine, keeping the pace of our rapid exchange. Within a single day, dozens of letters had piled up between us.

[That won’t be necessary. In the first place, it seems impossible to remove the curse with aura.]

[Why not? Was the pleasure too intense?]

[That’s… (erased marks)… I can’t tell you, but in any case, it doesn’t matter now. This method won’t work. So please, let’s not mention this again.]

The letter I received late in the evening was longer, as if Heliod wanted to wrap things up. As I flipped through the fluttering pages, I found more information about the curse.

[As expected, it will be tonight. After discussing with the priest, it’s certain that you, Lady Arpen, will enter the dream with me, but if for some reason you don’t, don’t be alarmed. And even if I break free from the curse, please keep this matter confidential.]

Heliod seemed quite worried that I might share this with others. Or perhaps… was the priest the suspicious one?

Tilting my head in thought, I realized it was already late at night. Stretching, I got up from my desk just as Jenny, who had been waiting, approached me.

“Lady Luisha, shall I prepare your bath?”

“Yes. Oh, how’s my dress coming along?”

I was in a bit of a bind since the dress I had ordered for the triumphal ceremony was delayed. The designer had rushed over in the evening with an unfinished piece, measuring and adjusting it hurriedly, so it was supposed to be completed by now.

“It arrived earlier, and it’s perfect. You’ll be able to try it on tomorrow.”

“That’s a relief. Why was it so late?”

“I know, right? With no royal offspring, you are the most noble lady in the empire, after all…”

Jenny’s grumbling eased my frustration a bit.

“Oh, could it be because of Sir Vus?”

“Sir Vus? Why would that be?”

Jenny’s subtle gaze lingered on me.

“Well, since Sir Vus didn’t attend the memorial service, many ladies didn’t get to see him. It seems like they’re all determined to make a grand entrance at the triumphal ceremony.”

“So all the designers in the capital have been busy making dresses?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

I rubbed my chin, lost in thought. This meant I definitely needed to escape from the dream tonight.

Heliod never believed me when I told him how popular he was, how he was the number one choice for a suitor in the empire. I hoped he would finally realize his appeal at this triumphal ceremony. Of course, apart from that, I couldn’t help the petty jealousy bubbling up inside me. It was good for our knight to be aware of reality, but I didn’t like the idea of other women’s eyes on him.

‘But still, I’m the only one who knows his crying face.’

Yes, that was enough. Feeling simple-minded, I hummed a tune as I climbed into bed. Jenny placed a candle beside me and straightened the blanket.

“Lady Luisha, have a good night. You must wake up early tomorrow.”

“Mm-hmm. Got it. Good night, Jenny.”

I closed my eyes, imagining the grand triumphal ceremony.

The procession of Emperor Gaetan stretching from the Imperial Palace to the Seisior Temple, the orderly and solemn Seisior Paladins waiting in their uniforms at the temple, and beyond that, the thousands of cheering citizens.

I was excited. Most of all, I was curious about the reward Heliod would receive. A title would be expected for a war hero, but what choice would the strict Emperor make?

With a sweet sigh, I tossed and turned before slowly drifting off to sleep. The day had been filled with worries about the dress, so I quickly fell into a deep slumber, slipping into the world of dreams.

❖ ❖ ❖

“…Huh?”

I doubted my eyes.

“Waah!”

“Long live the Paladins! Long live His Imperial Majesty!”

“Long live the Barval Empire!”

As I opened my eyes, I saw thousands—no, tens of thousands—of citizens and the Emperor sitting solemnly on his throne, surrounded by various nobles.

Wait, what?

‘Is it already the day of the triumphal ceremony?’

That can’t be right. My last memory was of being in my bed.

I hesitated in confusion, suddenly noticing how unusually light my clothes felt. When I looked down, I was shocked to find myself wearing the thin slip I had worn to bed. And then it hit me.

“Ah.”

This is a dream. I clapped my forehead and glanced around when someone approached me.

“…Lady Arpen?”

At the familiar voice, I turned around.

“Sir Vus?”

It was Heliod, but his appearance was astonishing.

His pure white hair fluttered in the breeze, and he wore a loose white shirt that revealed a graceful neckline contrasted by his strong muscles. He had black trousers that exposed his ankles and bare feet, and his hands were bound behind his back…

As I admired him, Heliod’s gaze fell on me. Upon seeing me, he stepped back. His eyes quickly scanned downward in embarrassment, his eyelashes fluttering before he turned his head away.

“My apologies. My hands are bound, so I cannot offer you anything, Lady Arpen.”

“What? Oh…”

I had recently switched to a lighter slip since spring had arrived and the weather had warmed up, but now it seemed inappropriate. With the light behind me, the lacy lavender undergarments and the outline of my body were clearly visible. I blushed and rubbed my elbows, which only made Heliod’s ears turn even redder.

Seeing his tightly bound wrists, I gestured to him.

“Let me untie you. Turn around.”

“…No.”

“What?”

“It’s one of the conditions.”

What?

Heliod’s face flushed with embarrassment as he gritted his teeth. I furrowed my brows, looking at him and then around us.

“This is the cursed dream, right? You’re saying being tied up is part of the condition?”

“Yes. I’m not certain, but…”

Heliod bit his lip for a moment before speaking.

“It’s mimicking the situation of the triumphal ceremony… so…”

I waited for him to continue, noticing his careful words. Heliod closed his eyes tightly and finally spoke.

“Until the ceremony is over, you must repeat what you did that night, Lady Arpen.”

“That night…?”

“When you…”

Heliod’s face had now turned a deep shade of red. He glanced at me, his breath coming out in hot bursts.

“When you relieved my desires…”

“You have to climax in front of all these people!?”

I shouted in shock, drawing the attention of some people around us. I looked at Heliod, my face flushed with embarrassment. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then nodded weakly.

“…Yes.”

I was horrified. Was I really supposed to perform a solo act in front of all these people?

‘This is crazy, but kind of exciting?’

There’s no doubt that demons receive some special training.

‘Otherwise, they wouldn’t come up with something so outrageous!’

Heliod must have noticed my twitching lips because his eyes, once moist, now narrowed suspiciously.

“…Lady Arpen, what exactly are you thinking?”

“Me? Oh, nothing. Just that demons are really despicable.”

I cleared my throat and tried to play it off, but Heliod didn’t seem convinced.

“How can you be so….”

He hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. As Heliod sighed and lowered his head, his long hair fell forward. I approached him with a subtle smile and gently tucked his hair behind his ear.

“Why? Do you think I’m indecent?”

“…That’s not it.”

“It doesn’t seem like it isn’t.”

“I just feel that you’re different from ordinary noble ladies.”

Heliod tried to take a step back, avoiding my steady gaze. But I caught hold of his sleeve, keeping his attention fixed on me. His blue eyes wavered slightly.

“Are you really sure about that?”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems to me that you don’t know much about ordinary noble ladies.”

I carefully caressed Heliod’s cheek and neck, then slipped a couple of fingers between the loosely fastened buttons of his shirt, touching his collarbone. Heliod stiffened as if doused in cold water, swallowing hard and twisting his body.

“Please, don’t do this.”

“Do you know how many noble ladies dream of possessing your body, Sir?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“You’re handsome, well-known, and you have a great physique….”

I traced the strong bones of his collarbone and moved my hand up to his neck. Heliod gritted his teeth as if holding back something, his jaw clenching. His nape flushed red, and his moist eyes, full of anticipation, turned towards me.

“Every single one of them probably wishes they could sleep with you, at least once.”

Including me, of course.

Our eyes met, and Heliod’s chest rose and fell with deep breaths. A heavy, heated silence lingered between us.

Finally, just as Heliod was about to speak with trembling lips,