"Could it be... does he remember me too?"
Her confusion lasted only a moment.
Before Evelyn could even answer, struggling to catch her breath, he slowly licked her lips and whispered,
"Why did you only come now... hmm?"
It sounded like the sorrowful complaint of a man finally reunited with the lover he had long been separated from. Evelyn forgot that she was supposed to push him away. Instead, she gently cupped both of his cheeks as if responding to him.
At the same time, the anxiety spreading inside her faded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief.
The emotions she had believed had long since disappeared suddenly surged back into a corner of her heart.
"I missed you..."
She gazed into his crimson eyes and leaned in to kiss him once more.
"Ah!"
A strange light flashed through his eyes, and then his lips rushed toward her neck as if to bite it off, sucking hard on her throbbing pulse.
The sensation of her soft, pale skin being drawn into his mouth was frighteningly vivid.
Evelyn tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"Ugh! Y-Your Highness...!"
Pinning both of her legs down with his knee, he hurriedly untied the string of his trousers.
"...This isn't the time for this. You need to come to your senses first..."
As she spoke, something suddenly emerged from inside his trousers.
Evelyn's eyes widened in an instant.
She stared as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"M-My goodness..."
She had shared a bed with him before, but it had always been in complete darkness, so she had never had the chance to see him clearly.
But what stood before her now was enough to frighten her by its mere existence.
"N-No..."
She instinctively shrank back.
Seeing her like frightened prey, the corners of his lips curled into a wicked smile.
His grip on her thighs was unbelievably strong as he spread them apart, showing not the slightest intention of going easy on her.
"Sorry, but it's already too late."
The smile disappeared from Kallian's face as his large hand slowly caressed her body.
"Ah... this... hng..."
A heated breath escaped Evelyn's lips.
How... how did things end up like this?
Fear washed over her, yet she didn't want to run away.
Not only was it impossible to resist his strength, but she too wanted to satisfy this unbearable longing.
Step... Step...
Just then, steady footsteps echoed from beyond the large door.
Her entire body stiffened.
If someone opened that door, they would see them together in the middle of their intimate embrace.
"...!"
Only then did she remember that his knights were standing just outside.
Whatever the reason, this couldn't happen.
W-What should I do...?
Looking up at him, Evelyn bit her lip to stop herself from making a sound.
But her fragile resolve shattered with a single movement from him.
"Shh... It's okay."
Whether it was okay or not meant nothing to the man.
Unable to endure any longer, he pulled her tightly against him until their bodies were pressed together.
"Ah!"
Evelyn hurriedly covered her mouth before a moan could escape.
"N-No... Mmph! P-Please..."
But he behaved like a beast that had completely lost its mind.
Like a male marking his mate with his scent, he rubbed against her with uncontrollable intensity.
I'm going to lose my mind... At this rate, we'll really be discovered...
Evelyn dug her nails into his forearm, her face twisting from the fierce stimulation.
But he paid no attention.
The lazy look in his eyes as he gazed down at her was so predatory that her shoulders instinctively shrank.
"Ah... ngh... haa... ahh..."
Then, accompanied by the sound of something being moved, the footsteps lingering outside the door gradually faded away.
The moment she let out a sigh of relief, her heart began pounding wildly, and the heat rising to the top of her head exploded.
The overwhelming tension transformed into pleasure.
"Ah... I can't hold it anymore..."
Sparks burst before her eyes, and her breathing came in broken gasps.
Remembering their previous experience, Evelyn knew she wouldn't last much longer.
She wrapped her legs tightly around his firm, powerful hips with all the strength she had.
"Ah!"
Her thighs trembled violently.
She was swept away by the endless waves of pleasure.
"Haa..."
Covered in blood, sweat, tears, and each other's fluids, her whole body became damp as she collapsed limply, feeling as though she were drifting alone across a vast ocean.
Her half-closed eyes shimmered with tears.
What... what have I just done?
And what is this man thinking?
She was trying to calm her breathing and gather her thoughts when—
"Who are you?"
A terrifyingly cold voice pierced her ears.
Who am I...?
Did I hear him correctly?
Still lying there, staring blankly at the dark ceiling, Evelyn slowly turned her eyes toward Kallian.
His eyes, which had burned crimson like they had been soaked in blood, now shone with a brilliant golden light.
The atmosphere in the bedroom changed instantly.
"If you value your life, you'd better answer properly. Who sent you, and what exactly were you doing here?"
Grabbing her wrist with one hand, he glared at her like a growling beast.
The man who had passionately embraced her only moments ago had completely disappeared.
His sudden change left her speechless.
Yet she couldn't even open her mouth.
"H..."
A sharp dagger was pressed precisely against her vital point, ready to end her life with the slightest movement.
Swallowing the fear threatening to make her burst into tears, Evelyn silently endured the murderous gaze fixed upon her.
Does he really remember nothing?
Even if the fever had driven him unconscious, he had clearly acted as though he recognized her.
That was why she had failed to push him away and had lost her own reason as well.
But considering their identities and the circumstances, anyone would think she was the one at fault.
It was unfair, but now was the time to back down.
"Please forgive my rudeness. I only... wanted to help Your Highness."
His eyes narrowed at her slender wrist before he let out a low, mocking laugh and interrupted her.
"You sneaked into my bedroom for nothing more than that? With a body so fragile it looks like it would break with a single touch?"
Whenever Kallian lost control, he either locked himself away or refused to let anyone near him until he regained his senses.
He had always been terrified that his uncontrollable madness might hurt innocent people.
Perhaps this reaction was only natural.
"It may be hard to believe... but yes. I have the power to purify evil demonic energy and calm your rampage."
Kallian, who had been gripping her wrist hard enough to crush it, suddenly released her.
Apparently, he had dismissed her words as complete nonsense.
As if there was no reason to continue the conversation, he twisted one corner of his lips into a crooked smile.
"I've heard plenty of ridiculous things, but that's a new one."
Even his mocking expression was breathtaking.
The faint line running down the center of his reddened lower lip gave him an oddly seductive appearance.
For a brief moment, Evelyn found herself staring at him without thinking.
Warm blood rushed through her body until even her fingertips tingled.
"Ugh..."
She winced and rubbed the red marks left on her wrist.
In the blink of an eye, he had already put away the dagger.
Grasping her chin, he gently stroked her soft skin with his thumb.
"No one is allowed to touch my body. Especially not a woman."
His hand slid from her jaw to the back of her pale neck.
There was no lust in the gesture, yet the slow movement made every hair on her body stand on end.
Seeing her obvious tension, he lightly gripped the back of her neck and spoke in a chilling voice.
"You'll be lucky if your neck isn't snapped, your limbs torn off, and your body thrown to monsters without anyone ever finding out."
If you don't leave now, that will be your fate.
The threat was unmistakable.
A sigh escaped Evelyn's lips.
But he couldn't deny that his demonic energy had been purified because of her.
She couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Standing at the edge of a cliff, retreating would only lead to her fall.
"I'll overlook this once, so leave quietly. I don't want to cause trouble in the count's territory—"
"I know where the next Gate will appear."
Kallian's hand stopped just as he was about to pull the bell cord to summon the guards.
He slowly turned his head toward her, his gaze filled with suspicion.
"If you keep playing strange games, I might stop being so patient."
The air became unbearably heavy.
Enduring the suffocating pressure, Evelyn met his eyes without looking away.
"The Twilight Forest, Perum. According to my memories... no, according to my guess, it will happen in two days. But just in case, station your knights there. It's not far from the capital, so if they move immediately, the damage won't be severe."
As if heightening the tension, the rain tapping against the window gradually grew louder.
Evelyn continued calmly,
"But if you don't respond immediately, civilians will be harmed again. Since it's near the capital... this time, the rumors won't be contained."
"..."
"Just like the Gate that appeared in the desert. The announcement said there were no casualties, but I know that wasn't true."
As Kallian stared directly into her eyes, his Adam's apple slowly rose and fell.
But the hint of surprise lasted only a moment.
As though anyone could make such prophetic claims, he let out a faint scoff.
"Looks like you've picked up some interesting rumors."
Evelyn took a deep breath.
Then she answered calmly,
"By the time you realize I'm telling the truth... I'll already be gone."
His golden eyes, as cold and sharp as steel, locked onto hers in the darkness.
"Is that a threat?"
"A proposal."
"If it's a proposal... what's your objective?"
