Save Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
“Go back to sleep. It’s still dawn.”
At the soft, melodious voice falling upon her crown, Bianca drew in a small, sharp breath.
That alone was already overwhelming enough.
The moment she felt his hand slowly tracing her spine, Bianca tensed so much she nearly forgot how to breathe.
Good heavens.
She should’ve just stayed wrapped around the hot water bottle until she cooked through.
Or—had she already cooked?
Each time his hand moved along the hollow of her backbone, an entirely unfamiliar heat surged up her spine.
A gentle voice, tender gestures.
‘It’s unusually cold tonight.’
Knowing full well why he was acting this way, Bianca desperately fought not to let out a moan.
But this sensation—entirely new to her—was simply unbearable.
So she curled her body inward, only to suddenly realize something.
If she bent her waist while nestled against him, she’d sink right into his chest.
“……!”
Startled by the feel of her forehead brushing against him, she tried to pull away—but Gillian’s grip on her nape came first.
His large hand lightly held her nape, then gently rubbed the hollow with his thumb. It felt pleasant, yet strangely intimate.
Shivering from head to toe with goosebumps, he apparently mistook it for cold and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
Pressing her cheek firmly against his chest.
Through her cheek came the steady beat of a healthy heart and just the right amount of warmth.
“Sleep well.”
Bianca’s slightly parted lips closed shut right then.
This—she simply couldn’t refuse.
“Sleep well, Gillian.”
Heat bloomed wherever she touched him, making her whole body flush.
She didn’t think she could possibly sleep.
Yet she couldn’t push him away.
‘Sleep well.’
The bedtime greeting—heard for the first time—was so tender it inexplicably sent warmth rushing to her eyes.
Bianca pressed her forehead a little more firmly against Gillian’s chest.
Just until the heat around her eyes cooled.
A whisper, meant for no one in particular, faded silently on her lips.
* * *
The spine that had stood rigidly tense soon softened and relaxed.
As soon as Gillian confirmed Bianca was asleep, he reached for the hot water bottle he’d set aside and tucked it back under the covers.
The heavy bottle radiated quite a fierce heat.
But still, it couldn’t compare to Bianca’s warmth pressed against his chest.
While placing a small hot water bottle behind her nape, Gillian suddenly ran his fingers carefully through Bianca’s hair.
He hadn’t noticed earlier because she’d been so warm—but now he felt dampness in her hair.
The humid sensation at his fingertips made Gillian’s neat brows furrow.
Damp hair in the North? Unthinkable.
Gillian let out a faint sigh.
It was considerate to respect Bianca’s guardedness, but it seemed he’d have to order Hailey to properly attend to her.
At this rate, Bianca might freeze someday.
“I won’t allow that to happen.”
Just the thought twisted his mood so badly that Gillian wore a rather fierce expression.
But only for a moment.
Seeing Bianca, defenselessly relaxed in his arms as though accepting him, gave him a strange sense of fulfillment.
His stern lips had long since softened.
Gillian quietly gazed at the sleeping Bianca.
Her eyes were gently closed, the corners of her mouth relaxed in comfort.
Perhaps it was due to the faint blush gracing her cheeks.
Asleep, Bianca wore an expression so lovely it seemed she was smiling slightly.
How beautiful.
Gillian’s lips curved into a soft smile.
She looked so beautiful he wanted to keep her in his arms forever, cradling her endlessly—if only she’d permit it.
“Sweet dreams.”
After a long while, Gillian pressed a kiss to Bianca’s forehead and rose.
Her small, restless shift—clearly missing his warmth—was so endearing he didn’t want to let her go, but Gillian suppressed his intense impulse and slipped out of bed.
“My lord.”
Since earlier, a knight had been calling him from beyond the door in a voice nearly dead with exhaustion.
He already knew well enough why the knight had come seeking him tonight.
“My lord! Monsters……”
I know.
Muttering irritably, Gillian drew the bed curtains closed—just in case he might wake Bianca—and quickly left the chamber.
“Shh.”
“Shh.”
As he buckled on his armor, Gillian asked the knight, who had instinctively raised three fingers in mimicry.
“The Seven-Star Fortress?”
“No. Near the Ice Wall.”
“The Ice Wall? Is it Wave?”
“No. Far too weak to be Wave. But at this time of year……”
It was at that exact moment Gillian’s pace quickened as if he were running.
“It’s too early for monsters to crawl out from beyond the Ice Wall.”
“So what’s happening now?”
Handmaidens on night duty gathered and whispered quietly.
Though idle chatter while awaiting a possible dawn summons was routine, today felt different.
None of them spoke merely out of obligation to stay awake.
“What’s going on now?”
“His Grace hasn’t left the bedchamber!”
“Oh my!”
The handmaidens’ whispering eyes sparkled like stars.
And no wonder—it was Gillian Valroc and Bianca Termina.
It would’ve been strange if they weren’t the center of attention.
The Empire’s greatest beauty, Princess Bianca, and the stunning Duke Valroc, rumored not even to be human.
Naturally, everyone was excited by this picture-perfect pairing.
But what truly stirred the handmaidens now was something else.
‘Valroc, having finally gained Termina, shall at last be freed from his ancient bonds.’
The marriage between Princess Termina and the young Duke Valroc fulfilled a legend passed down since time immemorial!
Moreover, this union appeared as though the Imperial House had offered the princess in exchange for Sylas Valroc’s life.
Their joining was more than enough proof that Valroc had claimed Termina.
Valroc had always obeyed any request from Termina without question, and Termina had gladly enjoyed his unconditional devotion.
This unnatural relationship wasn’t recent—it spanned an ancient history.
Yet, no matter how willful a Termina might be, there was one thing none had ever done.
Namely, take Valroc as their mate.
In truth, there had been Terminas who desired Valroc.
Not even needing to look far—the previous princess had been utterly obsessed with the former duke, Sylas Valroc.
She’d clung to the Emperor, weeping and pleading, even offering to relinquish all mines under her name if only she could be struck from the Imperial Register.
She’d proposed every possible condition, yet the Emperor never consented.
Instead, he’d sent the former princess as a bride to the kingdom farthest from the Empire.
They called it a diplomatic marriage, but her groom ruled a tiny kingdom with almost no ties to the Empire—
a place so distant it took over a month by ship.
Though never openly opposed, no Termina had ever been allowed to unite with Valroc.
People considered it only natural.
Termina had absolutely no reason to abandon this unnatural arrangement.
Valroc, possessing strength greater than any other, had always shown unwavering, selfless loyalty to Termina—without demanding anything in return.
And that wasn’t all.
Valroc’s mere presence in Termina posed a great threat to neighboring nations.
A devoted duke who alone could repel monsters no ordinary person could ever kill—
what mad nation would dare declare war on such a place?
To Termina, Valroc was as good as a bottomless treasure.
Valroc was far too alluring to risk losing over fleeting emotions.
Past Emperors knew this well.
Thus, even if it meant exiling a member of the Imperial family to the farthest lands, they had always prevented any union with Valroc.
But this current Emperor had shattered a taboo never meant to be broken.
He killed Valroc—who would’ve willingly given his life at Termina’s command—and paid Termina with Valroc’s life.
For the first time in ancient history, a forbidden union had been realized.
Anyone who knew the legend—any citizen of the Empire—couldn’t help but be thrilled.
“Don’t stop—tell us more!”
As the tale seemed to wane, all eyes turned to the handmaiden who’d assisted near the infirmary.
“You were there! Tell us something—anything! I’m dying of curiosity!”
The handmaiden, now under everyone’s gaze, scratched her cheek awkwardly.
She’d only briefly stayed in the chamber and had merely glimpsed the duke holding the princess, wrapped tightly in blankets, while busy with errands.
And even that, she’d already recounted.
“There’s nothing else. That’s all I told you before.”
The handmaiden quietly shook her head.
“Oh, come on. Now that they’re married, shouldn’t something have happened? Like the legend says……”
“What nonsense! Can’t you keep quiet?”
At the sudden shout, the whispering handmaidens jumped in fright, trembling like startled birds.
In their panic, the colored thread one had been holding for embroidery dropped and rolled away.
The spool of thread came to a stop right before a pair of polished shoes.
“C-Celine?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she picked up the thread.
“Who’s so reckless?”
Thinking it was the Head Maid scolding them, they’d flinched—but Celine was the last person they’d expected.
“You’re here……”
“Is that the issue right now? Where do you get off casually chattering about legends and such?”
“Huh?”
“How dare you call someone struck from the Imperial Register ‘Termina’? Do you all want to be dragged off for royal defamation?”
She was a princess—so what was this about being struck from the Register?
They didn’t fully grasp what she meant, but guilty of gossiping about their mistress, the handmaidens clamped their mouths shut.
“Watch your tongues. You’ll bring disaster if you recklessly involve yourselves with the royal family.”
“But it’s not involving the royal family—it’s the princess herself!”
“What did you say?”
“If you’re struck from the Register, you’re no longer His Majesty’s child, right?”
“Julie!”
The youngest handmaiden—barely seventeen, and hired less than a month ago—retorted defiantly to Celine’s words.
“You—!”
Just as Celine, eyes flashing, took a step toward Julie—
“What’s all this commotion?”
The Head Maid entered, having heard the noise.
This was trouble.
The new Head Maid seemed gentle at first glance, but showed no mercy for mistakes.
If it became known that the handmaidens gathered for duty weren’t quietly waiting while doing embroidery—but had dared to gossip about their mistress and raised their voices……
Everyone was swallowing hard in nervous tension when—
Julie suddenly raised her hand.
“Head Maid.”
“I was only scolding her because her embroidery wasn’t satisfactory, but my voice got too loud. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”
Celine cut in sharply before Julie could finish.
“……Be more careful.”
“I’m sorry.”
Just as everyone was letting out a sigh of relief, thinking the dawn commotion had been settled more easily than expected—
Hailey tilted her head, studying Julie.
“Julie, now that I look, your skirt is rather short. I’ll give you a longer one—go change immediately.”
“Yes, Head Maid.”
The moment Hailey led Julie out and stepped into the Head Maid’s office, her gentle expression instantly hardened into icy severity.
“So—how did things go?”
Hailey’s gaze, fixed on the young Julie, flashed like polished steel.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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