Translator: Nox

Chapter 29

29

The Red Dragon was perfectly etched onto Maria's back. Her red blood pooled wherever the red lines passed. Stone, saying he had done his part, quickly left. This was because Gunther didn't want Maria to know that Stone had become a grown man.

"Ugh..."

As Maria groaned softly, Gunther kissed her back. No, he licked the blood from every place where it welled up and flowed.

"Ah...!"

As he gently and warmly licked her stinging wounds, Maria involuntarily exclaimed. Although she didn't deliberately turn around, she could clearly picture his actions. His lips and tongue covered her entire back, wiping away the blood. It was truly amazing. The stinging wounds didn't hurt at all. Rather, a tingling sensation ran through her body wherever his lips touched, causing her to flinch.

Gunther was now overjoyed, as if he had finally achieved his wish. The thing he had only vaguely imagined in his head was now a reality before his eyes, and he looked forward to the future he would live with Maria.

'You and I are one.'

The branding of Maria Stuart as his woman. It had a stronger bond than a wedding ring, which could be easily removed. His chest swelled at that moment. He wanted to boast to everyone on the continent. Gunther took the bottle Stone had given him and slowly poured it onto Maria's back. The yellow oregano oil flowed down her curved body.

"!"

"It's oil. It will heal the wounds quickly."

Gunther spread the oil all over Maria's back and then gently massaged it. From her round shoulders, past her shoulder blades where angel wings might have been, to her sleek waist. He massaged her, sliding from top to bottom, then from bottom to top. Soon, a soft moan escaped from Maria's lips. As her tense muscles relaxed, she completely entrusted her body to Gunther.

"Hoo!"

Gunther exhaled faintly. The sensation of her skin on his fingertips fueled his desire. His oil-soaked hand caressed her bulging breasts, which it shouldn't have, and then slid down to her navel. Unable to bear it any longer, he laid Maria down on her back.

"This is quite the ordeal."

Gunther said through gritted teeth. Her oil-slicked body was so sensual that it hurt his eyes. It was an ordeal that he could look at and touch her, but he couldn't satisfy his desires inside her body.

Maria covered her breasts with both arms and crossed her legs. Gunther had already seen her naked, but she was still embarrassed to reveal everything head-on.

"I will endure."

Gunther said, releasing her arms that covered her breasts. Unlike his words, his eyes were full of seething desire. Frankly, he didn't want to endure. Even as he spoke, he was constantly fighting against the surging desires.

"I'm not that ignorant."

He wasn't so reckless as to satisfy his lust on a woman whose back was covered in blood. The moment he couldn't bear it and touched Maria, her back would be rubbed raw and hurt. However, he couldn't give up feeling her like this, so Gunther poured oil all over Maria's breasts, belly, and legs.

Gunther's hands naturally swept Maria's arms upwards and gently massaged her white breasts that teased his eyes. Soon, she slowly closed her eyes.

'Maria, don't you have any shame?'

She asked herself. She was surprised at how uninhibited she was with every action she shared with Gunther Paisley, this man. No, his actions were bold and primal. What was even more surprising was that she found herself subtly enjoying it every time he touched her body. Not only that, but she wanted him not to stop, to awaken sensations she had never known. It was then. Gunther's hand touched Maria's most intimate and sensitive nerve.

"Ah...!"

Maria reflexively flinched and groaned. She didn't dislike his hand, which stimulated the peak of pleasure. She tried to stop his hand, telling him not to do it anymore, but it was futile. His hand became a tool of desire, relentlessly digging into her secret place.

"Ah... Ugh!"

Gunther's patience was running out as he felt the sensation of a seductive creature moistening and wriggling in his hand. He was about to bring out the desire crouching inside Maria, but the more he touched her, the hotter his body became.

"Hoo!"

Even as he tried to control his breathing and endure, he was filled with the desire to fall into the swamp hidden in her legs and thrash wildly. Soon, Gunther's hand movements quickened, leading Maria to the peak of pleasure. Maria threw her head back and groaned, overwhelmed by the sensation of white flashes before her eyes. Soon, a thrilling shiver struck her entire body, and her body trembled uncontrollably against her will. After floating in the air and writhing in ecstasy, the pleasure that had not yet escaped washed over her once again like a wave. Maria didn't even know. That she was also a woman who writhed in desire and craved even more pleasure.

* * *

Maria looked at her back in the mirror.

"I'm sorry. Because of me..."

Ero apologized with tears in her eyes. How could such a hideous Red Dragon Tattoo be on Maria's fair back? She couldn't believe what she was seeing with her own eyes and was speechless for a while.

"Isn't it an honor?"

Nora seemed to think differently. Because she would be the only woman in the world who could have the same tattoo as the Great King. That meant that Maria was Gunther's woman, and although they weren't married yet, Maria would soon be the Queen Consort of Helland.

"Aing, really! What honor is that?"

Ero grumbled as if Nora's words were unfair.

"You frustrating thing, it means Maria will soon be the Queen Consort of Helland."

"Queen Consort? Is that how the story goes?"

Maria took Ero's hand and gestured that she was okay. Ero burst into tears again.

"Enough, you bitch. Thanks to Maria, you have a man and can live as a woman... All you do is cry. Urazil!"

"I'm doing it because I'm happy. I'm wondering if I can be this happy."

Maria nodded at Ero's words.

'Ero, you can be happy.'

Although she couldn't say it, she could convey her meaning by smiling brightly at her.

"By the way, the situation in Lastonia seems to be very bad."

Nora muttered to herself as she knitted. Then, she looked at Maria and was startled, as if she had realized something.

"Aigoo, I shouldn't have said such a thing carelessly."

She shouldn't have said that in front of Maria, who was once the Empress of Lastonia, but she had inadvertently said it without realizing it. But Maria's expression was indifferent. That's why she was even more surprised. Rather, Maria went to Nora's side and nudged her, urging her to speak.

"The Emperor's mistresses are fighting every day, the woman called the former Empress is calling men into the palace almost every day, and the Emperor is pressuring the nobles to collect more taxes."

Maria couldn't hide her bitter smile at Nora's words. Although it was something she had already expected, she wasn't very happy to hear that her homeland was in such a mess.

"By the way, I heard that people who escaped from Lastonia will be coming to Helland soon?"

Ero also conveyed the news she had heard from Solskjaer.

"Some of them were once nobles, and some were knights. Not to mention the commoners and serfs."

"What's the point of saying that when Maria, who was the Empress, is here too?"

Nora shouted loudly, and Ero gave her a look. Soon, Nora tapped her mouth with her thick hand.

"This damn mouth."

Maria hoped that there would be someone she knew among the people of Lastonia who were immigrating to Helland. In case she could hear news of her parents. Although they were officially executed, Stone said they were definitely alive, so she hoped to hear hopeful words. Just then, Maria's maid came to find her.

"Maria, the Great King is looking for you."

Maria already knew why Gunther was looking for her. It must be to say goodbye to Stone, who would be going into hibernation from today. Of course, she thought she should see Stone. Maria gestured to the two that she would be back soon and left the room.

"Nora, I heard something strange."

Ero said with a darkened face as soon as Maria left.

"Did you hear it from the adjutant?"

"Yes. But it's a bit strange."

"What is?"

Ero recalled what Solskjaer had said. When the Witches came to the palace for the Winter Rite, he told her to take special care of Maria.

[Please tell me more. Will there be a problem with Maria when the Winter Rite begins?]

[It's not like that. Spend the night with Maria on the day of the Rite.]

[Why? I don't think the Great King will ever allow it...]

[There's a reason.]

"What does 'there's a reason' mean?"

Nora's expression wasn't good either when she heard Ero's words. Gunther had Maria sleep in his tent even when he was in the mine. But what was so special about the Winter Rite that he would separate Maria from him? Could it be...?

Nora looked at Ero with a face that had found the answer.

"That's right. After the Winter Rite, he spends the night with the Great Witch."

"This! Urazil!"

Nora jumped up and down in anger. He even carved a hideous Dragon Tattoo on her back, saying she was his woman, and now he was going to spend the night with another woman.

"That's how it's been done until now."

"What kind of nonsense is that? I can't accept it!"

Coincidentally, the door opened at that moment and Maria appeared. Ero and Nora were flustered as they hurriedly changed their expressions.

'Maria must not have heard.'

Ero hoped that Maria hadn't heard her words.