emperor chapter 18

“Why are you doing this?”

“You still don’t understand, do you? There’s no one here but the two of us.” His hand, which had been gently stroking my hair as if handling a delicate artifact, moved down to cup my cheek. My eyebrows twitched with a suffocating tension.

“Meaning I can torment my wife as much as I please.” A mischievous glint entered his eyes. If this continued, I’d lose my mind. Before that happened, I had to…

“Bite me!” Even I was taken aback by my own words. Lowell’s confusion was understandable. I pointed at his mouth, clarifying my bizarre request.

“Like how… he bit your arm. Bite me, Lowell. I’ll let you.”

“…Ha!” Lowell let out a soft laugh.

“I see no reason to refuse. If you’re so eager to be tormented, who am I to deny you? Where, Miniel? Tell me where you want to be bitten. Your arm, like him, or perhaps your thigh would be easier. A more… intimate location wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.” He surveyed my body, a predatory hunger in his eyes. I tapped the area just below my neck.

“Your collarbone? Is there a particular reason?”

Because then, while you’re biting me, I won’t have to see your face. If I can’t see you, you can’t see me either.

“No reason. Just a preference. Now hurry up and do it.”

“There’s no need to rush.”

“Ngh…!” Lowell leaned in, his face buried near my collarbone. His breath against my skin made me flinch.

“Such a quick reaction. We haven’t even started yet.” Before I could comprehend his words, a sharp, searing pain shot through me, unlike anything I’d ever experienced. The feeling of his teeth pressing against bone through my thin skin was excruciating. I would have promised him anything, made any oath, just to make it stop. My rational mind was gone, replaced by pure, unadulterated instinct. I clawed at his back, desperate for relief, but he continued, relentless in his cruel torment.

“Stop… please… stop!” I finally managed to push him away with the last of my strength. He lingered for a moment, savoring the aftertaste, his tongue darting out.

“Did he really bite you this hard?” I asked, gasping for breath. It didn’t make sense. Why would Helion, terrified of Lowell, have dared to bite him in defiance? If he’d bitten Lowell with the same force I’d just experienced, he wouldn’t be in prison; he’d be dead.

Lowell smirked, amused by my question.

“Of course not. If he had, he’d be a corpse, not a prisoner. This is an old scar. From the hunting festival two years ago, I believe.”

“…What?”

“You’re remarkably uninterested in me,” he said, echoing my words from the Day of the Oracle. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, a picture of casual indifference. I should have examined his arm more closely on our wedding night. I clenched my fists, fighting back the urge to hit him, and presented the pouch of gold coins I’d brought. Now that I’d repaid the supposed debt, there was no reason to stay.

Lowell, however, simply stared at the offered payment.

“Honestly… did you really think I wanted your money? Keep it. I don’t need it.” Despite his words, he made no move to leave, his gaze fixed on me with renewed possessiveness.

“Ah, before you go, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“What is it?”

“This scent… you have this intoxicating, sensual aroma about you.”

“…Ahahaha. There’s… a reason for that.” My worst fears were realized.

Lowell pushed himself off the wall and approached me slowly, each step sending a wave of panic through me.

Boom!

Amidst the internal cacophony of alarm bells, a deafening clap of thunder rattled the room. The sky had been clear when I was outside. Had the weather changed that drastically in such a short time? The thunder was followed by a knock at the door, shattering the already tense atmosphere.

“Your Majesty, it is Raphaerd. I have a matter to discuss with you. I request an audience.”