Chapter 28
28
Henry spent the entire day pacifying Laurent, who was whining and complaining. It was all because he hadn't taken Laurent's side in the argument with Nancy.
"Your Majesty, is your love waning?"
"Not waning, just cooling."
"Has it really cooled?"
"No, that's not it. I'm just saying Laurent's phrasing was wrong."
"Whether it's waning or cooling, it's not important right now, is it?"
Laurent burst into tears. She had even given birth to his child, but why did he always side with Nancy? Of course, she knew all too well. That's why she was annoyed by the reality she had to endure. But she had to act foolish, like a woman who knew nothing.
"Nancy isn't alone."
"Then who is the Empress?"
"Why, it's Laurent, of course."
Henry said it as if exhaling a held breath. He had abandoned Maria because he loved Laurent so much. He thought that if Maria just disappeared from his sight, a flowery path would unfold, but the situation was unfolding unexpectedly, leaving him bewildered. Maria had always favored Laurent but had never expressed any dissatisfaction. Instead, she steadfastly carried out her duties as Empress without wavering.
But Laurent and Nancy made a fuss, fighting as soon as they opened their eyes. Moreover, the discipline of the Inner Palace had collapsed, and rumors were rife that the palace staff were smuggling Imperial Palace goods out to make money. If things continued like this, the country would be ruined.
"Come on, I'll give you a pillow arm tonight, so let's sleep together."
"No, not that."
Laurent smiled seductively and took off her white gown, revealing her naked body through the loosely woven lace lingerie. As expected, he couldn't resist Laurent's coquetry. Soon, the two were passionately entwined, as if their conflict was insignificant. In fact, even though he often slept with Nancy, he couldn't touch her because she was pregnant. So, it was necessary to relieve his sexual desire around this time.
Henry tore Laurent's sexy lingerie in one swift motion and tried to thrust his raging self in. At that moment, he sensed a presence outside the bedroom. Someone urgently knocked on the bedroom door, causing the two to stop what they were doing.
"Who is it?"
At Henry's voice, the bedroom door opened, and the Chamberlain peeked his head in.
"Your Majesty, you must come out for a moment."
"What is it?"
"Madam Akman's maid has arrived."
"Nancy's maid?"
Henry immediately grabbed a gown to put on, but Laurent blocked his path.
"Don't go."
"Laurent, it'll only be a moment."
After soothing Laurent, Henry went out of the bedroom and asked Betty, who was crying in the hallway, in an annoyed tone.
"Why are you crying?"
"Madam Akman is hemorrhaging… It seems she might be having a miscarriage."
"What?"
Henry headed straight to Nancy. At the same time, the door burst open, and Laurent ran out.
"Your Majesty!"
The man ran without looking back, even though she was calling him.
'Ugh, I can't stand this anymore. I need to get rid of Nancy first.'
To do that, killing the deposed Empress Maria was urgent. Only then would the hope that Henry had for Nancy be shattered.
* * *
Gunther smiled wryly as he looked at the two people standing before him. Solskjaer was holding Ero's hand tightly, with a determined look on his face. Moreover, Laurent looked like a woman in every way. But her voice wasn't perfect. Come to think of it, he had hardly spoken to Ero in the mine. Even if he had, it was only him giving orders unilaterally, so he hadn't had a proper chance to hear her voice.
"I think I should formally tell you."
"Go ahead."
"Ero is my woman. So, there will never be anything for the Great King to worry about."
"I no longer have any doubts about that."
"Thank you, Great King."
"Ero, was it? The one who called Maria clumsy?"
"Yes? That's right. But it was just a joke."
"You must never betray Maria."
"I will keep that in mind."
"Good. I acknowledge the relationship between the two of you."
At Gunther's words, the two rejoiced as if they would jump for joy, then looked at each other and made deep eye contact. Watching them share the emotion of achieving their goal, Gunther waved his hand with an awkward expression.
"Go on out."
Even though he had given permission and confirmed it with his own eyes, he still found it difficult to fully accept. That was because Solskjaer, as he knew him, was someone who liked women, not men. So, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed watching their affectionate display. He would gradually have to feel that Ero was completely a woman so that it wouldn't be awkward.
But this was the first time he had seen this side of Solskjaer. He had never expressed whether he liked or disliked any woman he met. No, there had never been a woman he truly loved. But the look in Solskjaer's eyes when he looked at Ero was clearly different from before. It was serious to the point of being uncomfortable.
'If you're happy, that's all that matters.'
Gunther decided to grant his people what they wanted. Because Maria would gain a precious friend, and Solskjaer would gain a lover.
"Great King, you must prepare for the Winter Rite. Stone will soon be hibernating."
"I know. What about the Witches?"
"They will come on schedule."
When Ero heard the word Witch and was surprised, Solskjaer explained in a gentle voice. Helland had very harsh winters, so they called Witches every year to perform the Winter Rite. In winter, the Spirit Stone fell asleep, so the Witches performed a ritual to wish for the prosperity and good fortune of Helland instead.
"But to call Witches and hold such an event…"
Ero was quite puzzled. In other countries, Witches were defined as evil, and they were burned at the stake whenever they were found, or even if they had to be created. But in Helland, she wondered why they were trying to hold a rite using evil women.
"Not all Witches are bad people."
Gunther answered Ero's doubts. If he told her in advance, Ero would soon explain it well to Maria too.
"They are sacred and beautiful women. They are also skilled in astrology and magic."
Ero nodded as if she understood Solskjaer's explanation, but she wasn't completely convinced. Frankly, she didn't really want to understand. She didn't want to see her man praising other women. Then Ero chuckled.
'People's emotions are so fickle. I resent being swayed by prejudice, but…'
She herself was just like ordinary people. So, Gunther's doubts that she wasn't a woman were very normal. Even she was trapped in the prejudice that Witches could not be sacred and beautiful. But now she decided to believe Solskjaer's words.
"The divination must come out well this time."
Gunther said, stroking his chin.
"It will come out well. Our Helland has been developing for ten years."
"Solskjaer, prepare enough gold to give to the Witches."
"Understood."
* * *
Maria finished all the preparations only when it was night. She hadn't been able to meet Ero and Nora all day. She had to prepare from morning to perform the Oath Ritual that she had promised with Gunther. After washing her body cleanly, she combed her hair neatly and applied fragrant oil to her body. She didn't wear underwear, only a gown, and waited for Gunther to come.
Finally, the door opened, and Gunther appeared. He stopped for a moment when he saw Maria standing by the window, basking in the moonlight. Maria, bathed in the moonlight, strangely attracted people's attention. Also, her features were even more beautiful today. In particular, her sky-blue eyes reflected the moonlight and sparkled mysteriously like silver beads. Gunther slowly approached Maria and took her hand.
"Are you ready?"
Maria nodded at his question.
"A fierce Red Dragon will be engraved on your clean, white back."
'Just like you did to me.'
Of course, she wouldn't remember. It was difficult to easily bring out the memories of himself that were deeply buried in her heart. Unlike Maria, who was nervous, Gunther was excited. He believed that this physical act would firmly keep the promise. It also clearly defined the relationship.
Gunther took off Maria's gown and kissed her white neck and shoulders. Maria trembled slightly whenever his lips passed over her skin. For some reason, his lips felt as hot as a branding iron today. Before she knew it, Maria was lying face down on the bed. Gunther covered Maria's lower body with a silk gown after covering her eyes with a cloth. Only her back had to be exposed. At that moment, the door opened, and a man appeared.
"Have you come?"
It was Stone, not a child, but a man.
"Engrave it exactly like mine."
"Engraving with light will cause severe bleeding."
"Can't you heal it?"
"I can't inflict wounds and heal them at the same time. Once the engraving is finished, Your Majesty must take care of the rest."
"I understand."
Stone handed Gunther a large bottle. It meant to apply the medicine properly if there were any wounds. Maria was curious about the man who would engrave the dragon on her back. Judging from the conversation with Gunther, it was clear that they knew each other well. But even these doubts soon disappeared beyond a distant consciousness. The stinging light cut into Maria's back, painfully.
"Ah…!"
Now she was only feeling pain. Maria groaned each time the light touched her skin. It felt like needles were pricking her.
Gunther trembled with elation at the moment when the mark of his ownership was being engraved on the white snowfield that no one had ever stepped on. Also, bestial lust surged whenever Maria groaned in pain. The lascivious sound that leaked out between her parted red lips. It was just when the engraving reached its peak.
Maria groaned loudly with her head thrown back, as if in pain. Soon, Gunther pushed his tongue between her parted teeth.
"Ah… Ugh!"
Maria did not reject Gunther, who was devouring her lips. Rather, she tried to endure the pain by sucking on his soft tongue, which gently stirred inside her mouth, like a mother's breast. Maria realized for the first time that when her vision was blocked, the nerves in her body became more sensitive and she became aroused.
"Ugh."
Rather, she prevented Gunther's lips from leaving hers, and this time she pushed into his mouth and savored it to her heart's content. A thrilling shiver ran down her spine.
'I mustn't get swept away.'