As he had suspected, she was an important figure that would determine the direction of the war.

But he didn’t think she was a royal family he had to kill.

He couldn’t kill such a sparkling and beautiful thing with his own hands.

It was intolerable to just watch her dying.

It was even more absurd to let someone else take her.

Aaron’s hand cautiously moved towards Delia’s left arm.

The rough feeling of the bandage covering the wound was transferred to his palm.

It was a mark he had left.

A mark that said she was his.

It didn’t matter if it was called a kidnapping.

After all, he had caught her with great difficulty, so she was his.

He would imprison her where no one could touch her.

He would erect a strong fence and hide her in a safe place.

She might be struggling for a while.

She might even struggle to get out like yesterday.

But she wouldn’t think of escaping from Aaron.

Because he would capture the King and Queen of Eorenti, her parents, and use them as bait.

While Delia couldn’t move because of her parents, he planned to catch her wrapped in the continent’s finest jewels and dresses.

To comfort her with sweet foods, and lead her to a secret world.

If she gets frustrated, just expand the fence.

Give her a vast territory as a gift, and build a beautiful castle there for her to live.

Hold a continuous feast day and night and let her enjoy alcohol and games.

She will soon forget such idealistic things like her homeland once she falls into pleasures.

Most nobles in the empire did so.

He didn’t know he’d be so grateful for the swelling he had felt so much.

And if she has a child, she will live with affection for the child.

By then, the current pain would be so blurred that it would be hard to recall.

“You will forget soon.”

Aaron sucked deeply on Delia’s slender neck.

A deep red mark was engraved.

“I will make you forget everything.”

Whispering softly, he deeply inhaled her sweet flesh scent.

A strong scent that makes him forget all of himself rose deep into his lungs.

Delia’s eyelashes, which seemed to be asleep forever, squirmed.

Slowly lifting her eyelids, unfocused blue eyes were revealed.

Delia’s mind was foggy as if it was shrouded in deep fog.

She blinked repeatedly to clear the fog.

Aaron’s figure was captured in her flickering vision.

He was whispering something quietly to his aide, Dyke.

“Prepare as soon as possible. You may go.”

“Yes, Commander.”

As Dyke left, Aaron approached Delia with wide strides.

The shake he caused when he sat down on the bed where Delia was lying was transmitted directly.

“Did you sleep well?”

Aaron, looking down at the powerless Delia, brushed her messy hair.

Delia, weakened, didn’t even have the strength to shake off his touch.

Closing her eyes and turning him away was all Delia could do.

“I’ve prepared to leave tomorrow. I’ve also contacted the territory. By the time you arrive, everything will be ready for you to live comfortably.”

“You must have ordered to prepare the prison for us.”

“Just for a while. Only until I return.”

It meant that she would still be confined there.

When he returned, she would be imprisoned in his arms, which were stronger than any bars.

Suffocating with gloomy feelings, Delia turned her head.

“I’ve requested a rank for your brother. You’ll receive a new territory and rank.”

Despite feeling Delia’s evasiveness, Aaron didn’t stop stroking her hair.

Like darkness craving light, Aaron buried his hands in Delia’s golden hair.

“I also ordered to prepare the wedding. As soon as I return, let’s start with the wedding. I’ll wrap it up as soon as possible.”

At the mention of the wedding, Delia’s tightly closed red lips opened slightly.

“After the war? After trampling over Eorenti?”

It was a difficult question to answer.

Her country, Eorenti, was destined for ruin.

In an era where conquest was rife, ports were crucial gateways.

And Eorenti was located at the crossroads between sea and land.

A strategic point that anyone, not just the Shtillites, would salivate over.

It was better for the empire, for him, to have it than to give it to someone else.

Avoiding Delia’s question, Aaron softly revealed his plan.

“I’ll make it more splendid than the emperor’s wedding. You’ll become the sole grand duchess of the empire.”

“That’s not what I want.”

“After the wedding, you’ll be able to see your parents. I’m going to smuggle the king and queen of Eorenti to another country.”

Delia opened her eyes to stare at Aaron.

She blinked to understand his words.

He was talking about exiling her parents to another country.

“I can’t let my parents live such a shameful life because of me.”

“It’s better than death. Even though they’ll be cut off from the outside world, I’ll ensure they enjoy the best.”

“My parents wouldn’t want that.”

Aaron gently stroked Delia’s hair, whispering comfortingly.

“At first, the change might be painful. But you and your parents will get used to it over time. The past will fade, and you’ll eventually adapt to the present.”

“It could become a lump in my heart for the rest of my life. It’ll drive me crazy. It’ll wither.”

“I’ll fill it with plenty of things to prevent that from happening.”

Aaron leaned towards Delia who was lying down.

Looking into her moist blue eyes made the world seem brighter.

If he could have this beauty, nothing would be too much.

Aaron caressed Delia’s pale cheek, whispering in a sweet voice.

“I’ll build a castle wherever you want. As big and as beautiful as you want. The garden will be filled with flowers you like.”

“But that place isn’t Eorenti.”