The Saintess Returned to the Emperor's Arms

From now on, you will be my woman

 

At that moment, Herhan’s eyes flashed like a beast.

 

“I mean….I won’t talk about Fabian or the princess anymore today.…”

 

“I know.”

 

As soon as Herhan answered, he came closer.

 

The bed shook as the mattress caved in where he placed his knees.

 

Riella naturally grabbed Herhan’s shoulders, and Herhan wrapped his arms around Riella’s waist.

 

Soon, Riella’s heart began to race at the feel of his heavy body on top of hers, and the warmth of his body.

 

Looking up from her lying position, Herhan’s face was shadowed, his fine lines more pronounced than usual.

 

His eyes were slightly flushed with emotion, and she met his gaze shyly, waiting for him to embrace her.

 

“Is it just for tonight?”

 

Herhan asked in a low voice and leaned closer.

 

Herhan’s hot breath touched the bridge of Riella’s nose.

 

He intentionally didn’t kiss her, which made Riella anxious.

 

“Can’t you continue to be my woman from now on?”

 

“That…I will think about it….”

 

The two people’s lips barely brushed against each other, moving slightly as if they were speaking.

 

It was an impatient touch, more arousing than any intense kiss.

 

“What are you thinking?”

 

“I’m thinking about the way you’re doing.…”

 

Herhan’s lips formed a beautiful curve and smiled.

 

“Then I will have to do even better tonight.”

 

Herhan snuggled into Riella’s arms with a mischievous smile on his face.

 

“ah…!”

 

As the kisses touched every inch of her body, Riella moaned without realizing it and then covered her mouth.

 

“You can make as much noise as you want. This is my bedroom anyway.”

 

At that time, Herhan muttered. The area around Riella’s breasts that he had been kissing and he nibbled on the white, thick flesh.

 

“You know, you shouldn’t….”

 

“Why, Riella. I thought you liked to talk, and I thought we were supposed to be honest about everything so there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings?”

 

“Yeah, but not now…!”

 

Herhan laughed, and a red, vibrant hot flower blossomed where he had just kissed her. Riella squeezed her eyes shut at the dizzying sensation of being touched by fire.

 

The act of caressing her made Riella’s skin crawl, and that was the end of Herhan’s shallow joke.

 

“I love you.”

 

After that, between the passionate movements, Herhan took a deep breath and spit out the words as if he were exhaling every time.

 

‘You already said it. Tonight. Already countless times, many times.’

 

Riella swallowed her answer.

 

Her mind was going white and her body was growing hotter and hotter, and all she could do was snuggle against a hard body that was boiling at the same temperature as hers.

 

* * * 

 

Early morning that day.

 

Riella was tossing and turning in her damp, sweaty body, but soon a very cool energy came in and it felt good.

 

Riella opened her eyes from sleep and realized that Herhan was holding her and fanning her.

 

“Pfttt…”

 

“Are you laughing? Do you find it ridiculous?”

 

“Noo. It feels so great and good.”

 

Riella mumbled and snuggled into Herhan. She pressed every inch of her bare skin against him, not wanting any part of her to be separated.

 

As if that weren’t enough, she wiggled her toes and slid them between his calves, causing him to flinch and stop fanning.

 

Riella didn’t even know what kind of despicable thing she had done, and her eyes widened with a new realization.

 

“Now that I think about it, I don’t faint anymore, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I guess I’m completely strong now. It was rewarding to eat well and exercise.”

 

“You exercise so you wouldn’t faint when you’re with me?”

 

“Oh…that….”

 

Riella, who was boasting with a very proud face, quickly lowered her gaze in shame.

 

“I just do gymnastics……”

 

Herhan’s fists clenched in adoration.

 

Just imagining Riella swinging her arms and legs wildly in secret in her room to try to increase her physical strength was cute.

 

‘You didn’t have to do that. All those times you fainted were probably because you were trying too hard to purify me, adjusting to my power.’

 

There had been nights when he’d resented himself, for not realizing it.

 

When Herhan stared at her, unable to express his regret and gratitude, Riella looked up again.

 

“I will exercise harder.”

 

Even though she hadn’t completely shaken off her shame yet, she had a determined look on her face.

 

“Riella. You don’t need—-”

 

“No. I will become stronger. So maybe you can…”

 

“…….”

 

“You can love me a little more.”

 

Riella may have been embarrassed, but as soon as she finished speaking, she unnecessarily curled the toe she’d pushed between Herhan’s legs.

 

Herhan slowly let out a sigh that had been boiling.

 

There was still time for the sun to rise. Which meant there was still time for Riella to fulfill her promise to be his woman.

 

‘Of course, I have no intention of stopping even if the promised time is over.’ 

 

Herhan raised his upper body again and placed his lips on Riella.

 

* * * 

 

On a leisurely morning, Loriel hummed as she went to work at the Lake Palace.

 

“Lady Loriel. Good morning. I heard you went to your parents’ house last night, and you seem to be in a good mood?”

 

“Hmph. Is that so? Maybe it’s because I got to see my family.”

 

Loriel smiled sweetly.

 

In fact, there was another reason why she was in such a good mood.

 

‘Riella, you got rejected when you sent Lou to His Majesty yesterday, right? Heheh. His Majesty too. I had no idea that you would lose interest so quickly after treating Riella like you were dying to have her by your side. Our Riella What should I do because I feel sorry for your situation? Are you left in a state of despair after receiving an ambassadorial post that is nothing at all?’

 

If Riella loses the emperor’s favor, her position as Riella’s maid will also be at a disadvantage, but even despite that, she feels refreshed.

 

‘I would rather take this opportunity to transfer to another place.…or should I try to get closer to His Majesty?’

 

When she thought about it, it didn’t seem like such a foolish plan.

 

Rather than a woman who came from a foreign country as a mercenary, she would be a hundred times more suitable to be the emperor’s mate because she was raised in an honorable family who worked for the imperial family of the country.

 

In the first place, it made no sense for her, a nobleman, to take care of that commoner woman.

 

“Oh. Lady Loriel! Let’s go to the main palace quickly. It’s a call from His Majesty.”

 

“Yes? His Majesty? Me?”

 

“Yes. He specifically asked for you.”

 

‘As expected!’

 

Loriel was overjoyed and immediately ran to the mirror to adjust her clothes and style her hair.

 

‘That’s right. I saw him several times on my way to the Lake Palace, and as expected, His Majesty was paying attention to me.’

 

Loriel thought it was a good thing to stick by Riella’s side and pretend to be a servant to something lowly.

 

Loriel, who was fully prepared and wearing her favorite perfume, immediately headed to the main palace.

 

The emperor’s inner room had a different feel from the quiet and cool lake palace. Shiny, shiny hallways, and knights standing in each hallway.

 

As Loriel confidently passed by them, she felt an indescribable pleasure.

 

‘If I become the emperor’s woman, will I always live with a sense of superiority, as if I’m floating on a cloud?’

 

“I meet Your Majesty the Emperor. This is Loriel Igdnis. I heard you called me.”

 

Herhan was sitting at the table in the living room, wearing a white shirt, drinking tea.

 

“Oh. Lady Loriel.”

 

“Yes. Your majesty.”

 

Loriel’s face heated up at the emperor’s languid call.

 

‘What should I do? What should I do now? What should I say? Or should I just wait patiently for His Majesty to do something?’

 

Loriel was just lowering her head, not knowing what to do, until when the emperor asked in confusion.

 

“What are you doing there?”

 

“Yes? That is…Your Majesty called me…”

 

“No. It’s true that I called, but why are you just standing there? Riella is in there.”

 

The place the emperor pointed to with his chin was a bedroom on the right side.

 

Loriel turned her head towards that place, and Lou, who saw Loriel, waved her hand and laughed. It was her laughter that hit Loriel hard on the back of the head.

 

It was only then that Loriel realized how the situation was going and her back started to feel hot.

 

“Oh…Miss Riella….”

 

“Yes! She slept here last night. Oh, Lady Loriel left work early yesterday so you didn’t know!”

 

Lou, who came out to the living room for a moment, looked as bright as ever.

 

“His Majesty told me to prepare Lady Riella this morning, but I am still inexperienced in touching her hair.….But Lady Loriel is the best at tying hair!”

 

Loriel did not answer.

 

Loriel was just about to enter the bedroom, trying hard to hide her crumpled expression, when the emperor added a word.

 

“By the way, Lady Loriel. Your perfume seems a bit strong. You can wear whatever you want, but I don’t want the scent to rub off on Riella.”

 

“Yes… I will be careful in the future.”

 

Loriel went inside and silently combed Riella’s hair.

 

Just as the emperor said, Riella’s body did not emit any artificial scent. Just the smell of white soap and the strong body odor from rubbing against someone last night.

 

“Loriel. Can you tie my hair half way forward today?”

 

At that time, Riella asked softly.

 

“Why? It’s a hot day, I’m sure you’d be more comfortable with all your hair tied up.”

 

“Just…I want to do that today.”

 

Riella frowned as if she was embarrassed.

 

Loriel lifted Riella’s hair and saw red marks blooming there deep under the nape of her neck.

 

Her stomach twisted. Her hand was trembling as she tightly held Riella’s hair.

 

After that, even though Riella was fully dressed, she did not go outside. 

 

After listening to her conversation with the emperor, it seemed that they had decided to have a private breakfast together in the inner room.

 

Lou also stayed in the emperor’s inner room, saying she would take care of Riella.

 

Loriel, who was done with her job, stomped back to her bedroom, but suddenly turned around in the lake palace lobby.

 

“Aide. Are you there?”

 

The place Loriel insisted on stopping by was the embassy office.

 

As expected, El was there, sitting at his desk, working.

 

“I’ve heard from Miss Riella. The princess and her fiance are out of town, and she has left without telling us where she is going. Don’t you think the embassy is in trouble because the princess left without informing the embassy of her destination?”

 

“I’ll take care of that. What do you want?”

 

“Of course, I’m here to get the business documents that Miss Riella needs to see today.”

 

El was more sarcastic than usual. The more he did, the more innocent Loriel looked.

 

“Phew. I’m getting a workout today since I have to take the documents to the main palace.”

 

“The main palace?”

 

“Yes. Last night, Riella was at His Majesty’s bedroom, and it looks like she’s planning to stay in the inner room all day today as well. I’m surprised you didn’t know, you’re her aide, I thought you’d know.”

 

“I see…”

 

“Yes. They are so good together, I guess they don’t want to be apart for a moment, hahah. I wonder if Miss Riella will actually wear the Empress’s crown, oh dear. That would mean Sir El would be promoted to be the Empress’s aide.”

 

All Loriel could see was the way El’s eyes drooped to the blank papers, deliberately trying to hide his agitation. 

 

‘You have a crush on Riella. It was a shame about his less-than-stellar family name, but more than that, he was an attractive man. Good looks, good brain.’

 

Then El says,

 

“….Leave it alone. I’ll deliver today’s documents to the ambassador myself.”

 

So what if he was being honest about his ambitions?

 

“Yes. Please do.”

 

Loriel smirked.

 

Hopefully, it will be a very interesting fight.

 

* * *