Chapter 192
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In other words, if he was the culprit, they’d make excessive demands of the temple.
The Empress might even accuse Eldis and the entire priesthood of conspiring against the Crown. She was someone who could—and would—do such a thing.
“A carriage will be prepared for you. We’ll ensure your return is comfortable.”
“No. I’ll stay here.”
“…Pardon?”
“Priest Yeshion is someone… the temple…… No, he’s a priest I hold in high regard.”
The Empress’s expression turned strange at Eldis’s words.
But deciding it was of no consequence, she ordered a servant to prepare a room for him as well and left the scene.
Yet Eldis remained rooted to the spot for quite some time.
‘Yeshion……’
Eldis quietly closed his eyes and focused on Yeshion’s presence beyond the door. If he sensed even the slightest disturbance in Yeshion’s life force, he would immediately send power to restore it.
So that if he was harmed, his body could heal at once.
‘Please…’
That he may come out safely after three days.
Even though he knew it would be fine, a strange unease crept up his spine.
* * *
Standing near the bed, Yeshion blinked slowly.
The moment the door shut, Adelio, who had been about to lunge toward him, suddenly threw himself into the corner of the room. Even in his cursed, unstable state, some instinct had moved him to protect Yeshion.
Yeshion looked at Adelio, as he crammed himself into the corner, panting heavily. Drool dripped from his mouth as he trembled in pain, and the sight was unbearably pitiful.
‘Why would you…’
Yeshion bit down hard on his lower lip.
Adelio had once said he took people’s feelings too lightly, but did he deserve to suffer this much for it?
“Your Highness.”
Yeshion slowly walked toward him.
Adelio growled, pushing himself further into the corner as if he was afraid to look at Yeshion’s face. Afraid, perhaps, that if he did, he would lose control and make a mistake he couldn’t undo.
Without a word, Yeshion extended his hand toward him. Adelio, curled up in fear, shuddered hard.
As the heat surged through his body and his eyes began to lose their focus, Yeshion gently stroked his hair.
‘I don’t want you to suffer.’
As he wished with all his heart that the curse would stop tormenting him, Yeshion’s divine power stirred faintly.
The small glow sank deep into Adelio’s body. The moment it touched him, Adelio shot up from his curled position and lunged. He wrapped his arms around Yeshion’s waist, lifted him in one swift motion, and carried him to the bed.
“…W-wait, Your Highness! Are you okay? Are you… have you come to your senses—urk!”
Before Yeshion could finish, Adelio threw him down onto the bed.
Huff, huff.
His lips were slightly parted, and his breaths came fast and uneven.
“Your Highness, are you—hngh…!”
Thump, thump, thump.
Before he could get the words out, Yeshion’s heart began pounding violently. It was just like the time he had subdued Adelio’s curse.
As his lips parted and he began gasping for air, Adelio leaned down and thrust his tongue between Yeshion’s open lips.
“Mmgh…!”
Yeshion grabbed his shoulders in panic, the sensation of suffocating overwhelming him.
It was meant to push him away, but Adelio, still not fully conscious, seemed entirely consumed by his rising thirst.
At the same time, something heavy pressed and ground against him below. The thick, searing weight through Adelio’s trousers made Yeshion’s body tense.
“…Were you hoping for this?”
The low, hoarse voice slipped from Adelio’s mouth. His mind had returned, but his face was still flushed with lingering heat.
Yeshion’s lips trembled. He could feel himself unraveling under the growing sensation that threatened to tear his reason apart.
He could guess everything that was about to happen, but not an ounce of him was afraid. Yeshion wrapped both arms around Adelio’s neck and smiled.
“…Yes.”
And the moment that word left his lips, the two shadows merged into one.
