“That’s just an excuse, Leo. If you don’t want to see me get old and unattractive, just kill me then. And then go back to where you should be. I’ll be satisfied with that.”

Ah, how could you say such a thing?

On the surface, it sounded like stubbornness, but in reality, he was making excuses for me.

Excuses to love him.
“Instead, focus only on me while I am alive. Tell me everything about yourself. Allow me to enter within you so that I can know you better.”

Merem’s large hand slowly swept up my smooth lower abdomen.

Goosebumps formed as my toes curled.

Realizing that my heart had become the same color as his, I wondered if I had a reason to refuse this.

“He’s offering death. Just admire him for a while, and when he becomes unpleasant to look at, stab him, that’s what he said.”

There was nothing to think about. Faced with this rational decision, all I had to do was nod my head.

But why.

I couldn’t move.

“I won’t resist, so if you want to kill me…”

“I’d rather die in your hands than be abandoned.”

“…It seems I’ve tamed you too well.”

A few words managed to escape.

Merem chuckled and lightly kissed my forehead.

“So you have to take responsibility.”

“Are you putting the noose around your own neck?”

“If you don’t like it, try to kill me. I won’t die until the end.”

It was a mad statement.

Saying that I couldn’t kill myself no matter what I did provoked unnecessary challenge.

“It’s fine if we live like this. As long as I can have you.”

He entwined his possession between my fingers.

Then he pressed his lips to my fingertips and lightly brushed against them.

Staring directly at me.

I read thirst in his eyes.

“If you want, compare as much as you want.”

“Compare?”

“Yeah. You want to become an emperor anyway. So, you can’t abandon the position of empress without loving the emperor even a little.”

Smack.

Merem, trapping me in his arms, kissed my neck this time.

“The support of the Northern Duke will be a great power. Now that he’s interested in you, not using that influence would be a waste.”

“Ugh.”

He murmured provocatively and nibbled on my earlobe.

Now, not a boy but a man.

Every movement and word were oppressive. My lower abdomen involuntarily tightened.

“Meet him, go on dates. But even if you go on as many dates as he wants, still go on dates with me. In the end, you’ll know.”

Have I ever been pushed so far by momentum in my life?

Undoubtedly not.

Feeling like I was being swallowed whole, I bit my lips in a frenzy and, as if escaping, pulled away from him, gripping the doorknob.

Let’s get out of here for now, and then think again.

…?

But for some reason, the door didn’t open.

No matter how much I shook it, the doorknob wouldn’t turn, and the lock wouldn’t release.
“Of course, I hadn’t locked it.”

“I saw someone lock it from the outside.”

Merem, speaking nonchalantly, leaned against the door.

In response to his extremely relaxed attitude, I raised an eyebrow.

“You can open it. Open it for me.”

“I don’t want to. If I do, you’ll run away, Leo.”

I couldn’t deny that!

“I have claustrophobia…”

“I know you don’t.”

“My leg is starting to hurt.”

“Shall I carry you? I can hold you for hours.”

As Merem showed no intention of moving, I reluctantly summoned my magical power.

Snap.

The fragile doorknob broke. However, Merem, who had turned behind me in the meantime, prevented me from opening the door with his hand.

Unfortunately, the structure required pulling the door open from the inside, so with him resisting and standing there, I had no chance of winning with my strength alone.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re one of your two lovers. Such things were common in Kwon.”

His breath against my neck stimulated me.

As if deciding not to endure it any longer, Merem had no hesitation in seducing me.

“If you’re inexperienced, I’ll teach you. I’ll make an effort to satisfy you. Eventually, the day will come when you love me.”

“…….”

“So, make me your ruler… your consort.”

I can handle that much.

Merem whispered lowly and pressed his lips to my neck.

It was inevitable.