CHAPTER 127: OBSESSION

"Exactly at noon tomorrow," Maria said, brushing his hair off his forehead with practiced ease, "I’ve made arrangements for you to be moved. I can’t use spatial magic directly—my mother’s hypersensitive to it."

Yuriel let out a long, tired sigh. His hands were held apart by her, and she was comfortably seated on his crotch like she owned the space between his legs. Which, frankly, she kinda did.

Yuriel tilted his head, his expression scrunching with genuine confusion.

"So what? It’s not like the palace doesn’t use it all the time."

She then leaned forward to lie of his chest, her weight light but deliberate, hands resting on his shoulders, legs curled under her like a satisfied cat.

"It’s not that simple, El," she replied, biting her bottom lip. "The queen... she’s been searching for you."

He frowned. "Why?"

"That’s what I want to know," she said, eyes narrowing. "Why is my mother always so interested in you? What do the two of you even talk about when she summons you?"

Yuriel tilted his head, frowning deeper.

"I... I don’t remember."

That answer made her blink. And then frown. Hard.

"What do you mean you don’t remember?" she asked, voice edging toward something sharp.

"Well... every time I meet her, it’s like I blink and suddenly I’m walking out. I don’t recall the conversations at all. But..."

"But what?" she asked, leaning closer, her tone growing colder.

Memory wipe.

That was the first thought to come to her mind and it sounded plausible in all sense. Why wouldn’t he be able to remember a discussion that always took days whenever he was summoned.

That only means the queen was doing something she didn’t want any body to be aware of, not even the person she was doing whatever she was doing to.

’Don’t tell me mother is also after my El,’ she thought darkly already considering her options.

She wouldn’t let anyone, ANYONE at all, take him away. Noe after everything she had suffered to reach this stage. She had to hold back her emotions for years tormenting him and making him hate her, she often recalled times when she would find him talking to maids or even Katherina, the dreamy looks those bitches always had.

She often lost control at times and found even the smallest flaw she could to eliminate that maid, not wanting to let any relationship he had go too far before she would lose him.

He was has now.

After all this years, and she wouldn’t let him go.

Never.

"I... once woke up in her chambers. On her bed. I was terrified. I ran. I didn’t know what the hell was going on."

The atmosphere changed. Fast.

Maria’s eyes were no longer curious.

They were black.

Cold.

Still.

"...Did you feel like anything was done to you?" she asked, quietly, calmly—too calmly.

He met her eyes. His chest rose and fell slowly.

"I... I don’t know. It was right before everything happened."

Silence.

Long and heavy.

Then—

Chu~

Her lips pressed against his forehead, then dragged slowly down until they reached his lips. She kissed him deeply, hungrily, her hips grinding ever so slightly against his groin.

"El," she whispered against his mouth, "what do you say we do it right here, right now?"

He swallowed hard.

But shook his head.

"No," he said, voice low. "This isn’t the right place. Not for you. A place like this isn’t fit for a princess."

She smiled. Not sweetly. Not shyly.

But smugly.

"And yet, I’m not complaining."

She kissed him again.

"Haah," he sighed, exasperated, then shifted their positions, flipping her beneath him and pinning her to the bed. Her breath hitched.

"I want you, Ria," he said, voice barely above a growl.

"Then take me," she whispered, arms wrapping around his neck.

"...No. I can’t."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why? Am I not attractive enough?"

He chuckled, brushing her cheek. "You are, in fact, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. The only princess I admire. The only person I trust."

"...Then why?" she asked again, this time more softly.

"Because of that very reason," he said. "You’re special. And I want your first time to be special too. Not... here. Not like this."

He touched her face, and slowly, a smile spread across hers.

"Why does it sound like it’s not your first time either?" she teased, a glint in her eye.

He hesitated. "It is."

Then flicked her forehead.

"Ow!" she pouted.

"Now go on with your plan."

"You dare to hurt me?" she said dramatically. "No one’s ever done that before."

"Then I guess I just took your first," he smirked.

She punched him in the chest—playfully, but still.

"That kiss before... was that your first?" she asked.

He looked away for a moment, then nodded.

"I don’t trust you, El. Are you lying to me?" she pressed.

He just laughed. "Come on. The plan."

"Fine, fine." She huffed. "You’ll be moved out with a shipment of goods tomorrow. You won’t have to do anything. I’ve considered every risk, planned for every scenario. Just be a good boy and keep the ring I gave you on at all times."

"Where will I end up?"

"Astria."

His eyes widened.

"That’s another kingdom."

"Yes," she sighed. "That’s why I said we’d be apart for a while."

She reached for his hand and squeezed it, hard. Possessively.

"The early entrance exams for royals and high-ranking nobles start in a few days. The official ones begin a month after that. You have to get to the academy before then. The ring has your registration fee, and more than enough money to last you. Just don’t lose it."

"...Ria?" he said after a pause.

"Yes?"

"What’s your favorite color?"

"Pink," she answered without hesitation.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

She reached out, gently running her fingers through his hair.

"Because I like your hair."

He chuckled. "I somehow expected that."

Her hands started to wander, slow and curious, slipping under his clothes.

He groaned. "Stop trying to seduce me. I said no."

She clicked her tongue, annoyed.

"Fine. I won’t force it anymore," she said, voice sultry. "But the next time I see you at the academy..."

She leaned in close, lips brushing his ear.

"...I won’t wait for you to do it. I’ll fucking rape you."

He swallowed.

Hard.