“Illeon. I don’t really know who I am.”

Who is it that speaks to me like this?

“I… am afraid.”

In the midst of confusion, her words were vividly understood.

“And I don’t know how to do anything.”

Could something so unimportant have robbed her of her composure to such an extent?

“So, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not knowing. Sorry.”

Illeon felt a sense of pity.

“I hope you’re happy.”

As if this were her last, she kissed him on the forehead, and suddenly, sleep completely abandoned him.

“Sigh.”
However, as if it were an illusion, the door was closed, and the surroundings were quiet.

Click.

At that moment, he discovered a compass hanging around his neck.

“Where you’re going is the path I must take. So, you have it.”

“Now, we’ll always be together, no matter where we go.”

The words I spoke with sincerity, as if making a pledge, vividly came to mind.

A compass.

I had given this to Elysia…

At that moment, it felt like a grating sound, like metal rubbing against metal, echoed in his ears.

“…Elysia!”

Illeon hastily followed her.

But contrary to what he thought was an awakening consciousness, it was long after Elysia had left that he regained his senses.

When he arrived at the port, the ship she had boarded had long since departed. Illeon vaguely remembered that there were several Imperial warships in the harbor.

He chose the most agile and fastest ship and set out to chase the ship Elysia had boarded.

While they were chasing each other, Elysia’s original ship had moved quite far away.

Illeon led Elysia to the cabin.

The cabin, decorated with luxurious furniture, had a large sofa, a table, and a glass cabinet with bottles.

Thump.

Illeon, who had brought Elysia halfway, gently placed her on the sofa.

When the sea breeze that had been rushing toward them from the distant sea disappeared, Elysia felt an awkward atmosphere.

Thump, thump.

She was confused about whether the pounding sounds were from the crazy act of jumping off the ship or because of Illeon.

As Elysia was about to get up to see if there was something to drink, her shadow darkened.

“Thirsty…”

Illeon pressed Elysia onto the sofa.

“Ugh.”

Without warning, Illeon’s deep kiss, which she accepted unprepared, made her feel breathless.

“Illeon…”

“Your throat is dry.”

Well, I need to drink water.

Illeon seized Elysia’s lips as if the source of water was erupting.

Her lips, which were dry and parched, gradually turned red and moist under Illeon’s movements, coiling around hers.

The soft sofa spread even deeper as the two entwined bodies pressed against each other.

Elysia couldn’t move as if trapped under his body.

Illeon, who had been kissing her lips absentmindedly, lifted his head.

His gaze was so intense that Elysia felt frightened.

“Don’t be scared.”

Illeon whispered softly, kissing her ear, her temple, and the back of her ear.

“I won’t hurt you.”

“Ugh.”

Illeon’s breath against her cool ear felt much hotter.

Elysia felt a dizzying sensation.

Once, when she kissed Illeon, she had provocatively challenged him.

“Do I have to be afraid? Of you?”

“I told you to run if you think I’m going to attack you.”

“Welcome.”

“I wish I could turn back time. I never thought I’d say that to the Duchess.”
“I’ll keep it a secret if you don’t keep your promise to your mother.”

There had been a time like that.

Now, feeling the heat emanating from Illeon’s body, she realized how much he had looked after her back then.

Due to the sea breeze, there was no restraint in the hands that roamed over the thickly layered clothes.

“Illeon, wait a moment.”

“I can’t wait.”

“H-Here… Are you sure about this here?”

As Elysia, who barely managed to part her lips from him, nervously asked, he responded with a kiss instead.

Illeon, who disembarked from the ship, took Elysia to a nearby inn near the port.

His intentions were too nuanced, and she didn’t know what to do.

As Illeon, with Elysia hanging loosely on his broad shoulders, walked confidently down the corridor, there was no hesitation in his steps.

“I-Illeon, wait a moment.”

Elysia was bewildered.

Today wasn’t the day.

It was the day when she had given herself to Illeon to do as he pleased.

But for some reason, on a day like today, when many things happened, it didn’t seem right to do something like this.

Between them, much had happened.

A conversation.

Didn’t they need to talk? It seemed like there was a lot to say to each other.

Illeon, who was in a great hurry, seemed to have sacrificed his soul for the conversation shared through their bodies.

“Why? This side is faster.”

No, there was no need to go to the room so quickly.

Elysia wanted to speak, but her body shook, and she almost bit her tongue.

As soon as the door to the room closed, Illeon pressed his body against hers.

“Ugh.”

It seemed like the kiss they had in the cabin on the ship was just a joke.

He kissed Elysia’s lips more forcefully and passionately.

“Ah… Haa.”

“Why are you dressed so provocatively?”

Illeon, feeling the robe with dull and plain colors, whispered into Elysia’s ear.

“W-What are you talking about? I just wanted to wear something comfortable.”

Elysia felt perplexed watching him get overly excited.

“It’s easy to take off.”

The next moment, the belt around her waist loosened, and the robe, which had become loose, flowed down from her shoulders to below her feet.

“Ah.”

Elysia shivered.

The moment her bare shoulder was exposed, she faced Illeon’s eyes, and something rational seemed to disappear.

In the dimly lit room, his red eyes shone vividly.

He looked like a beast, wanting to freely tear and rampage, with only the instinct to devour prey remaining.

Terrified, Elysia unconsciously pushed him away.

She never imagined that such an action would only fuel Illeon’s desire, both in the past and now.

Thud.

Illeon grabbed her cheeky wrist, attempting to push her away, and pressed it against the wall next to her shoulders.

Elysia trembled like a butterfly pinned to a wing, looking up at him.

“Don’t you know you can get bitten when trying to tame a beast?”

His low voice penetrated her ears.