CHAPTER 047
Beosu Volcanic Island
“What’s happening? The curse that was getting stronger is now showing signs of stagnation!”
“We don’t have much time. You know that if it doesn’t completely change before he turns twenty-six, it will all be for nothing. We have no use for a half-human, half-beast.”
Two figures in black cloaks, with their hoods pulled over their heads, spoke anxiously.
“There must be some change around the Emperor. Last time, his transformation into a beast was halted by something.”
A small, frail boy stirred the boiling lava with his hand as if it were cool water.
Emperor Maxwell, whose curse manifested at the age of twenty-two, transformed into a black panther on the night when the white moon and the black moon met once a month.
The curse that turned the Emperor into a beast once a month was supposed to increase in frequency over time. Eventually, it would completely take over the Emperor’s mind and body.
The final fate was to live as a beast forever, unable to return to human form. Such was the destiny of Emperor Maxwell of the Helterd Empire.
“By now, shouldn’t his transformations into a beast be occurring much more frequently than once a month?”
The woman knelt and asked the boy, who had just taken his hand out of the lava, and was handed a towel. The boy quietly replied.
“Maxwell is such a strong human that he’s been able to slow down the curse’s progression until now, but he can’t resist anymore. This year, when he turns twenty-six, the curse’s power is at its peak. He will succumb to it.”
The boy, with his silvery eyes that resembled opaque glass, hid under his white eyelashes and added.
“Last night, for the first time, he nearly succeeded in letting the beast emerge without the two moons meeting... but something caused it to fail.”
The boy muttered to himself, displaying his pale hand that seemed capable of passing through the volcano’s flames unscathed.
“On that night, I could feel Maxwell transforming into a black panther in my hand. But suddenly, the beastly energy disappeared from my hand, as if it had been sealed.”
The man, who had just lifted the boy onto a rock beside the ever-flowing lava, turned pale and asked.
“C-could it be that the Emperor has... found it?”
“Impossible. No one in this world knows about the Lumen Savior. The last Lumen Savior died. We saw it with our own eyes, didn’t we?”
The woman, hysterically shouting, looked at the boy. The boy, sitting cross-legged on the rock, whispered as he fell into a sleep.
“The Lumen Savior no longer exists in the human world. Even if one exists, they can only somewhat restrain the curse’s power... without giving their own light, they cannot break the curse.”
The two stood silently, watching the boy who had fallen asleep, getting no more answers from him.
“We need to confirm if there’s someone new by the Emperor’s side.”
“Although he’s a cautious person, we’ll investigate.”
Exchanging glances, the two quickly left the cave.
### ***
“Y-your Majesty... outside...”
“It’s fine. Even if thunder and lightning strike inside the carriage, nothing can be heard outside.”
As Arabelle, her face on the verge of tears, kept her gaze fixed on the carriage window, the Emperor gently turned her slender chin with his hand. Meeting his relaxed, smiling gaze with her own, Arabelle’s face blushed a pretty shade of apple red.
“Gasp.”
Seated side by side on the carriage bench, Arabelle was lifted onto the Emperor’s lap by his strong hands. Startled by the Emperor’s affectionate gesture, which she still wasn’t used to, Arabelle gasped for breath.
Unlike the flustered Arabelle, the Emperor skillfully spread his legs and placed hers between them.
Supporting her back with one arm and wrapping the other around her, Arabelle found herself completely trapped in his embrace.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Emperor’s crimson eyes locked onto her still embarrassed and wide eyes, preventing her from escaping.
“Do not close your eyes.”
As the Emperor’s face drew closer, Arabelle closed her eyes, only to hear his deep voice above her lips. Her trembling long eyelashes revealed clear eyes, reflecting the Emperor’s face.
No matter how many times she saw him, her heart always raced at the sight of this handsome man looking at her with eyes that said she was the most beautiful and precious.
Feeling the thrill of excitement over the fear of the unknown settling in her heart, Arabelle pressed her hands against her chest.
The Emperor’s hand lifted hers to his lips.
With a soft kiss, his hot lips brushed her palm, followed by a long, thick tongue, gently tickling her skin.
Though it was her palm that felt the tickle, a shiver ran up her spine, causing Arabelle to try and pull her hand away from the Emperor.
Displeased by her actions, the mischievous tongue now deliberately moved between her fingers before enveloping all five at once, not letting go.
The deepening crimson eyes, glowing brightly, still doggedly pursued Arabelle’s gaze.
The movement in her hand felt as though it was exploring something more intimate, causing her innocent body to tremble.
The Emperor’s lips finally released her hand, drawing a satisfied curve. Overwhelmed by unfamiliar sensations, Arabelle’s soft lips parted slightly, and the Emperor’s lips gently covered hers.
Kissing her tenderly to reassure her of the unfamiliar stimuli, the Emperor breathed warm air into her.
Without rushing or pressing, he gently covered her lips, matching her pace. His large hand caressing her slender back was incredibly tender. Gradually, Arabelle’s tense body relaxed, leaning into his embrace.
“Wrap your arms around my neck.”
The Emperor whispered through the lips still brushing against hers, and Arabelle wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him.
His lips were sometimes unbearably gentle and tender, sometimes aggressive and greedy enough to drain all her strength, teaching her the secret language shared between lovers.
Stealing even the excited breaths that escaped her blushing lips, the Emperor began unbuttoning her coat with his long fingers...
“Your Majesty, we have arrived at the annex.”
The carriage came to a slow stop, and a footman, who had been walking behind the carriage, jumped down and reported in front of the door.
The Emperor’s crimson eyes glared at the carriage door, his hand clenching and unclenching the lapel of Arabelle’s coat.
***
After greeting the Emperor, Arabelle stepped out of the carriage, with the footman holding the door for her.
The three handmaidens, who had received the message, came running out with bright smiles to greet Arabelle. At that moment, they encountered ten candidates returning from their riding lessons at the main gate.
Though they still cast wary glances, there were fewer blatant expressions of disdain towards Arabelle now. The handmaidens of the ten young ladies, following behind them, hesitated before bowing to Arabelle in greeting.
It was the first time other handmaidens had shown her such respect. Feeling that their efforts from the previous night’s cleaning had paid off, the three handmaidens smirked slightly.
“Who do you think you’re bowing to? Are you trying to disgrace the honor of the Kingdom of Sevilles by greeting just anyone?”
Princess Lilibet snapped at her handmaiden with a fierce expression. Following her lead, Margaret, who shared the same boat under the Empress’s orders, reprimanded her handmaiden as well.
“I told you not to greet just anyone, didn’t I?”
Vera clicked her tongue softly, thinking they should bring Arabelle inside before things got any worse.
“Miss, please go inside. You must be exhausted.”
As she spoke, Dina chimed in with a louder voice, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“Oh dear, your face looks so thin. You must have had a tiring night. Ho, ho, ho.”
At Vera and Dina’s fussing, Arabelle’s face turned a deep shade of red, and the candidates and their handmaidens froze, their eyes quickly locking onto her swollen, chapped lips. The candidates, filled with jealousy and animosity, silently glared at the lips that undoubtedly had been kissed by someone.
As Arabelle hurried to enter the palace,
“Pfft.”
A mocking snort came from within the group. All eyes shifted from Arabelle to Lady Grace.
Grace stepped forward, clearly staring at Arabelle, and spoke.
“No matter how much you flaunt those swollen lips from spending the night with His Majesty, we all know you’re just a one-night toy to him.”
Spiteful words spilled from Grace’s twisted lips, aiming to humiliate Arabelle.
“Rumors about you and His Majesty abound, yet he shows no signs of acknowledging you.”
As other young ladies nodded in agreement, Grace continued, emboldened.
“That means His Majesty doesn’t want to recognize you officially. He sees you as nothing more than a nighttime amusement. Otherwise, he wouldn’t send you back alone to the palace after spending the night with you.”
Princess Lilibet, Grace’s adversary, took her side and spoke loudly for all to hear.
“Unlike us, who are treated with respect, His Majesty might find temporary amusement in someone he can treat casually. I understand.”
As Arabelle’s lips quivered, trying to retort, Vera gently held her arm.
Looking between the trembling Dina and Rosa, Arabelle shook her head slightly and started walking towards the entrance.
The young ladies and their handmaidens, smirking and whispering behind Arabelle’s back, did so loudly enough for her to hear.
“Understand? I didn’t know I needed your understanding to spend time with Lady Arabelle.”
The carriage door opened, and a cold, deep voice flowed out as long legs stepped out of the carriage.
Instantly, a dead silence fell over the surroundings.
All eyes turned to the Emperor, and soon their gazes shifted to his exposed neck above the open collar of his uniform jacket.
In their widening eyes, they saw a distinct, deep red mark that could only be from a small, delicate set of lips, not something a mosquito or bug could have caused.
The Emperor approached Arabelle with a regal stride, standing beside her. His protective stance, like a beast baring its fangs to guard its master, sent chills down everyone’s spine.
Slowly raising his arm, the Emperor wrapped it around Arabelle’s shoulder, his crimson eyes glaring down at the group.
His red lips brushed against the top of Arabelle’s head, then he whispered in a chilling voice.
“If you let those filthy mouths run again, I won’t destroy you, but your families and kingdoms until nothing is left but dust.”
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