Chapter 16: BWCGD

Chapter 16

Even though it had already been a month since their wedding, the two of them had yet to share a physical relationship.

It wasn't because either of them had intentionally refused.

Kallian had been leaving for expeditions every other day to subjugate the monsters appearing throughout the North.

On top of that, the disaster that had swept through the Empire had entangled him in unpleasant rumors, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted.

Evelyn wasn't shameless enough to cling to such a man and beg him to fulfill a husband's duty.

Then one day—

On a night when the snowstorm was especially fierce, a commotion broke out inside the Grand Duke's castle.

It came from the underground fortress beneath the annex.

Having waited only for his return, Evelyn rushed there the moment she heard he had come back, throwing a thick cloak over her nightgown.

But Victor, the blue-eyed commander of the Blackwood Knights, firmly blocked her path.

"His Grace is not in good condition. Until further orders are given, no one is permitted to enter."

A report soon followed.

During the battle against the monsters, Kallian had been driven into a corner and used excessive power to protect his knights from being sacrificed, causing him to lose control.

"His Grace also ordered that Your Highness not use your healing power. He said it would put too much strain on your body."

Whenever demonic energy accumulated beyond its limit, Kallian would spend several days bound by restraints and chains until the episode passed.

She knew he would recover completely afterward.

But Evelyn wasn't rational enough to simply turn away from the man she loved.

"Graaaah!"

Kallian lay on a bed inside the underground fortress, his arms and legs tightly restrained.

Just seeing him in that state made her heart ache.

Wiping away the tears streaming down her cheeks, Evelyn shook her head desperately.

"I'm fine. Please... let me stay by his side."

She pushed past the knights standing like a wall and rushed to him.

Every touch of her hand against his face, every look she gave him, was filled with sorrow.

"I won't hold anyone responsible for this. So... please, all of you, leave."

After dismissing the hesitant knights, she carefully removed his armor.

As the thick blood that had pooled inside the armor dripped onto the floor, the tears filling her own eyes finally spilled over.

"Just endure a little longer. I'll help you... without letting it hurt."

A strange light flashed in his crimson eyes.

Intoxicated by demonic energy, he was no different from a monster.

Having completely lost his reason, he didn't even recognize that the person before him was his wife and struggled violently.

After being thrown to the floor several times, Evelyn finally managed to embrace him.

Closing her eyes, she poured every bit of healing power she had into him.

A faint white glow wrapped around their entwined bodies.

Her entire body burned as though she had swallowed blazing fire.

It felt as if her organs were melting.

But she didn't care.

From the moment he had saved her from the abyss of despair, he had already become more precious to her than her own life.

If saving him meant offering up her own life in return, there could be no death more worthwhile.

A love that expected nothing in return.

It was that pure affection that kept her beside him until every trace of heat left his burning body.

"Ha... haa..."

Having exhausted every ounce of strength she possessed, Evelyn collapsed unconscious on top of him.

How much time had passed?

"...Lyn."

She slowly opened her eyes as gentle fingers brushed through her hair.

Behind the flickering torchlight stood her husband.

"Why... are you here?"

The restraints and iron chains that had bound his body had already been removed and lay scattered across the floor.

It meant the demonic energy had subsided.

"How are you feeling?"

Relieved, she tried to sit up.

But suddenly, Kallian planted both hands beside her head and leaned over her.

"I'm fine. But, Lyn... you..."

"I'm fine too. I told you, didn't I? My life isn't meant for myself."

Evelyn gently caressed his cheek.

Only then did he seem to relax, rubbing his face against her palm.

The sight was so pitiful that it made her heart ache.

"Haa..."

As he let out a relieved sigh, his warm breath slowly brushed across her eyes and lips.

What do I do? My heart feels like it's going to burst.

Feeling trapped beneath his imposing frame, she looked up.

His golden eyes captured hers as if they had been waiting for that very moment.

Their gazes locked at close range, and the tension between them became almost suffocating.

Finally, when their noses were nearly touching, he gently brushed her lips with his thumb and murmured,

"I fought so desperately to protect you... and yet if you do this, it'll all be meaningless."

Protect me...? What does he mean?

Before she had time to ask, he tilted his head and claimed her lips in a single motion.

"Mmph..."

His tongue slipped between her parted lips before she even had the chance to stop him.

It moved without hesitation.

Though demanding, every movement carried unmistakable tenderness, soft enough to melt away her tension.

Their dry lips gradually became wet with mingled saliva.

The quiet underground fortress echoed with the sticky sounds of their lips brushing together.

"If you don't want this... we can stop here."

Without breaking the kiss, he gave her one final chance.

But she had no reason to refuse.

For the first time in her life, Evelyn felt safety, warmth, and profound affection through another person's touch.

No one had ever taught her what love was.

But if this wasn't love...

Then what could love possibly be?

Without hesitation, she shook her head.

"How could I possibly not want this? You'll never know how long I've waited for today."

At those words, determination filled Kallian's eyes.

His gaze carefully searched every subtle change in her expression, as though he intended to remember them all.

"You won't regret saying that?"

"Never."

"The chance to walk away from me... you're the one throwing it away."

It was a strange thing to say.

But Evelyn was too overwhelmed to even notice.

"Even if I regret it, it won't matter. I could never let you go now... not even if I died."

Her reason had already vanished, leaving no room to wonder what he truly meant.

Their breathing grew heavier.

As she experienced such intimacy for the first time, her thoughts slowly drifted into a hazy blur.

Even if she could return to this moment...

It was a night she could never have refused.

Even if, now, she alone was the only one who remembered it.

"If I offended you, then I apologize. I never meant to misunderstand Your Grace's intentions."

The memories threatened to drown her in sorrow, so Evelyn forced herself back to the present.

"And... I wasn't trembling because I was afraid. I was tormented by a terrible nightmare... that's all."

Kallian set the bundle of medicinal herbs on the bedside table, his expression subtly hardening.

"A nightmare?"

"Yes. I suppose what happened today affected me more deeply than I realized."

"You mean the curse."

"Yes. So please..."

Forcing an awkward smile, she took a deep breath before swallowing nervously.

"Please purify it."

Fortunately, he didn't press the matter further.

As though he had been expecting this, he simply nodded.

"If you feel uncomfortable or notice anything unusual with your body, tell me immediately."

Then he slid his thick fingers between her slender ones until their left hands fit together without a single gap.

"There's no need to be afraid. It'll feel strange and uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it soon."

Though her fingers throbbed from the pressure, Evelyn said nothing and quietly met his gaze.

"Then let's begin."

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the two of them sitting face to face.

Blocking that light with his own shadow, Kallian lowered his head toward her.

The moment the soft warmth of his lips completely covered hers, Evelyn let out a quiet moan.

"Ah..."

Then the thick demonic energy flowing from him poured over her like a crushing weight.

Ha... what's happening?

It felt as though someone were pouring pitch-black darkness over the top of her head.

Her breathing suddenly became labored.

"Hng...! Hah...!"

Feeling as though her airway had been blocked, Evelyn struggled desperately, her painful cries disappearing into his mouth.

But he didn't stop.

As if breathing life into her, he exhaled into her mouth before gently pushing her backward and covering her body with his own.

Then her limbs suddenly stiffened, as though she had sunk into the depths of a restless sea.

No matter how much she turned her head, all she could see was darkness.

Is this... the hallucination people experience when they're first consumed by demonic energy?

Fear flooded her mind.

At this rate...

She felt as though she might drown inside that darkness.

"...Lyn."

She heard someone calling her.

But the voice sounded distant, as though she were underwater.

Then—

"It's alright. Don't be afraid. Relax your body."

At his quiet command, her shattered senses somehow returned.

"Gasp!"

Evelyn's eyes flew open.

Desperately searching for the lips that had been giving her air, she instinctively kissed him again.

"Haa...! Haa... ha..."

She released the breath trapped inside her into his mouth.

Their tongues tangled once more.

She sucked softly at his tongue, let out broken moans, and trembled helplessly.

Supporting the back of her neck with one large hand, Kallian patiently drew on her lips as though soothing her.

The wet sound of their mingled breaths and saliva echoed softly in the room.

At last, he pulled away and gently brushed aside the sweat-soaked strands of hair clinging to her forehead.

"Breathe."

"Hng... haa... ha..."

Still breathing heavily, Evelyn clutched tightly at the front of his clothes.

Kallian gazed quietly at her flushed face, softened like perfectly ripened fruit.

Then he gently removed her hand from his robe, took off his outer garment, and tossed it beside the bed.

It was likely an attempt to lessen even the slightest burden on her.

Yet the result only made it harder for Evelyn to breathe.

Because the flawless body before her was so breathtaking it could only be called beautiful.

His broad, inverted-triangle frame...

His thick chest...

The sharply defined muscles of his abdomen looked as solid as a marble statue displayed in a temple.

The longer she stared at him, the more uneven her breathing became.

Ha... what's happening to me?

He hadn't done anything.

And yet it felt as though every inch of her body had been stirred, a growing heat spreading beneath her navel.

Unfortunately...

She knew all too well what that restless anticipation meant.

Please...