Raven glanced at me, as if asking if that date was possible. There was no time to think it through carefully. If we missed this opportunity, we might never get another chance. I nodded immediately.

“We’ll meet at midnight that day, in the border area under the Raven family’s jurisdiction. I can handle the guards.”

– …Let’s do that then.

In truth, my heart sank at the thought that only ten days remained. Finally being able to send Zachary back to the Empire brought a sense of relief, but also…

‘Why am I really like this.’

Disgusted with myself, I covered my face. Something kept digging into the feelings I had tightly locked away, making my solar plexus ache. I took a short, deep breath, trying to quickly compose these strange feelings that even I couldn’t understand.

“Then I will bring Zachary on the agreed date.”

I’m sending Zachary away. And the time I have left with him is only ten days…

Genevieve needed to marry me as soon as possible for her fortune, and Celestia had to rescue Zachary quickly to receive the funds. Is this what they call heaven’s help? Thanks to this, everything was progressing smoothly. I just needed to bring Zachary there successfully.

– By the way, are you perhaps…

At that moment, I sensed some hesitation from Celestia, who had been mumbling on the other side of the communication.

Could it be because of the condition she asked for earlier? I was curious about what she was going to say next, but the situation didn’t allow for further listening.

“Someone’s coming.”

“Did you hear something?”

The surroundings were only quiet.

“I sense someone’s presence.”

Judging by the lack of footsteps, it seemed to be a servant. If her words were correct, that is.

“You’re quite perceptive.”

“I just have very sharp ears.”

Somehow, she seemed to possess an extraordinary intuition. Or perhaps she had taken measures to know when someone was approaching.

“Then I’ll hang up for now, and contact you again right away to discuss the details.”

– Wait a moment-!

Before disconnecting, Celestia hurriedly tried to say something to us, but Genevieve terminated the communication bead even faster. She quickly wrapped the glass bead in cloth and put it inside her clothes, then sighed.

“Phew.”

Her sigh was laden with many meanings.

“I can’t believe I’ve walked into such an unbelievably troublesome situation of my own accord.”

“If you want to back out now, you can.”

“At this point?”

Genevieve snorted.

“Forget it. After coming this far, what’s the point? Besides, you know I can’t quit now anyway.”

Genevieve always emphasized that she had no time. I wonder who Genevieve’s lover is. Perhaps because it was related to her lover, she acted consistently impatient. I wasn’t unaware that she would listen to my unreasonable request.

But there was one puzzling point. I only conveyed the purpose to Princess Celestia. I told her to take Zachary to the Empire for treatment. However, for some reason, the Princess didn’t ask about Zachary’s situation or condition.

‘As if she already knew…’

Knock knock, then a knock breaking the silence was heard. I don’t know who it could be, but I quietly spoke to Genevieve.

“Let’s go out for now.”

“By the way, will the Marquis and Marchioness allow the marriage?”

Genevieve’s face, which stopped me as I was about to open the door, looked a bit anxious. The bold demeanor from earlier was gone, and she seemed inwardly uneasy.

“Yes, they’re the type who would.”

Come to think of it, Mother and the Marquis would have reached a conclusion by now.

In fact, I don’t think Mother would object. Basically, she’s a conservative noble who wanted me to get married as soon as possible, and objectively speaking, the Raven family isn’t a bad choice. Putting aside any personal grudges against the Raven family, that is.

“Then come here.”

At the same time, Genevieve pulled me. Our bodies pressed close together.

When I instinctively tried to move away slightly due to discomfort, she spoke in an exasperated tone.

“You think I’m doing this because I want to? We’re supposed to be in a love marriage, so if we go out and come back without doing anything, they’ll be suspicious.”

She tugged at my collar. Unlike other days, I was wearing a white shirt instead of a black one. She gripped my collar and approached as if she was going to bite my neck.

Just as I opened my eyes wide at the excessively close distance, the door suddenly burst open. Startled by the abruptly opened door, I flinched, and in that moment, Genevieve pressed her lips against my collar and made a smacking sound.

“W-wait a moment.”

I didn’t have time to pay attention to Genevieve. Because behind her, who was clinging to me, a servant appeared. The problem was the identity of that servant.

“The servants here are quite ill-mannered.”

Unlike me, who had turned pale, Genevieve acted nonchalantly. After leaving a lipstick mark on my clothes, she turned slowly and smiled.

“Interrupting lovers’ private moments.”

Why? From the moment I faced Zachary, I was gripped by the illusion that all the blood flowing through my body was draining to my feet.

He stood still, having opened the door, staring in our direction. His face was covered with cloth, but I could instinctively feel that he was observing me and Genevieve as if dissecting us from head to toe.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

Genevieve also expressed her displeasure. As she frowned and took a step towards Zachary as if to say something.

“How dare a servant be so rude… Ugh!”

Suddenly, Genevieve covered her mouth. She clutched her mouth as if she was about to vomit and slumped to the floor.

“Genevieve!”

It was at that moment when I approached her in surprise. I felt as if I had crossed an invisible line. I froze in place, overwhelmed by an immense pressure bearing down on my shoulders.

I had only taken one step forward, but it felt as if all gravity was pulling me down. Goosebumps shot through my entire body, and in an instant, my face was drenched in sweat.

I could finally find the source of the chills and creepiness I had felt since the reception room.

“Young master.”

It was the aura emanating from Zachary.

His voice calling me was unlike anything I had ever heard before. The voice filled with killing intent was like that of a mass murderer who had killed countless people. To me, paralyzed and crushed by gravity, Zachary…

“Do you really intend to marry that woman?”

Though there hadn’t been any sign of movement, he was right in front of me. When had he come so close?

In the eerie silence that gave me goosebumps, he grabbed my chin and lifted it. The red demon’s eyes were particularly frightening today. As if he was resenting me…

An alarm bell rang in my head. It warned me that I needed to escape this situation immediately.

“Ugh!”

But it was before I could attempt any action. Zachary lifted me up abruptly. In a position as if slung over his shoulder, I pounded on his back frantically.

“Put… me… down!”

I tried shouting too, but it was no use. Zachary, who had me slung over him with overwhelming strength, moved.

‘What about Genevieve?!’

Come to think of it, it was quiet on her end.

Because my vision was inverted, I tried to turn my head to look at Genevieve. I was also worried if she was alright.

When I finally managed to see her again, she was kneeling with her head bowed deeply. She was as still as if she had fainted while sitting.

“Don’t look back.”

He spoke softly as he opened the door and went out.

“So that I don’t end up killing her.”

Then he strode forward with large steps. I wanted to shout, asking where he was going and to put me down immediately, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so for fear that others might hear the commotion and come running. The place he headed to was the servants’ quarters.

As soon as he arrived at the room, he threw me down onto the bed. I quickly got up from my prone position and shouted.

“What kind of rudeness is this! To Miss Raven, and to me…”

However, I couldn’t finish my words. Zachary immediately grabbed my collar, pulled me towards him, and thrust his tongue into my open mouth. The rough demon’s cloth that wasn’t properly worn and hung at the tip of his nose touched my cheek.

“Mmph.”

Zachary kissed me more deeply. Unlike me, who was trying to close my mouth somehow, he frantically delved in, not missing even the smallest gap. I kept trying to push him away from this ferocious kiss I had never experienced before.

Suddenly, Zachary slipped his hand between the gaps in my clothes. The rough fingertips stimulated my skin as if scratching it.

“Don’t… do this!”

He seemed to know all the sensitive parts of my body like a ghost. He found those spots and gently rubbed them with his hands while kissing me. It was a persistent and sticky kiss, as if he wouldn’t allow even my breath to scatter into the air.

“S-stop… We need to go out. Mmph.”

“Go out looking like this?”

He had already grasped my half-erect member.

“…Ngh. Let go.”

I roughly wiped my mouth, wet with saliva, with the back of my hand. Then I immediately pushed Zachary away, but he didn’t budge an inch.

“What difference would it make if I let go?”

His tone was filled with mockery. As he firmly kneaded my member, pain and pleasure rushed in simultaneously.

I whimpered softly, curling up my body and burying my face in Zachary’s shoulder. My whole body heated up at the helplessly trembling member in his hand. When I wrapped my arms around Zachary’s neck with shaking hands, he chuckled.

“Young master, really.”

“Hnngh…”

“Do you want me to let you go?”

Chapter 119

What could he mean? His words didn’t seem to simply imply letting go of my member that he was holding.

Zachary felt different from usual now. He was delving into me with raw emotions, and those emotions were almost like…

‘Jealousy?’

It felt strangely peculiar.

The moment I thought he might be jealous, my heart started racing oddly. However, as he began moving his hand again, I quickly lost the luxury to think.

“Ugh, hnn.”

I moaned with my member still gripped in his large hand. When he pressed the tip of his finger firmly against my urethra, my mind went completely blank. My body twisted involuntarily as Zachary, pressed close, kept biting my neck. Whether it was my imagination or not, he seemed to be particularly fixated on the spot where Genevieve had touched earlier.

Perhaps it’s because we’ve spent so many nights together? Now, just Zachary’s touch instantly arouses me. All I could do was pant and cling tightly to Zachary in front of me.

“Mmnh.”

Zachary licked and sucked on my lips, which were trembling uncontrollably with excitement. His probing of my mouth was so sticky and obsessive that I could barely breathe properly.

“S-save… save me…”

With his rough hand gripping and shaking my sensitive member repeatedly, I couldn’t endure anymore. Despite thinking I should check on Genevieve’s condition immediately, I just couldn’t gather my senses against the pleasure Zachary was giving me.

“Young master, young master…”

Zachary pressed even closer to me. His voice was also laden with heat.

“You’re already wet.”

Even though I hadn’t climaxed yet, squelching sounds were coming from his hand. The sound of leaking pre-cum clung lewdly to my ears.

As I clung to Zachary, breathing heavily, he squeezed my member tightly as if to torment me.

“Hah… please.”

What should I do? I feel like I’m about to come any moment… But because Zachary was gripping so tightly, all I could do was tremble violently.

“Are you going to get married with a body like this?”

As Zachary whispered softly, a gasp scattered from my mouth. Moreover, because he was pressing firmly on my urethra, I couldn’t ejaculate no matter what. My posture, clinging to him pleadingly, looked as if I was half-mounted on him. Something large poking at my buttocks was bothersome, but right now, my member gripped by him was more agonizing.

“Ugh, hnngh.”

Suddenly feeling something acrid flowing back, I raised my head to find blood dripping from my nose. I couldn’t understand why I was suddenly having a nosebleed. Honestly, I was so aroused that my sensations had reached their limit.

My consciousness also kept flickering on and off in the midst of pleasure. When I clung to him and begged that I couldn’t hold on any longer, Zachary finally covered my member with a handkerchief.

“Z-Zachary, what are you, hah.”

Zachary stroked my member wrapped in the handkerchief strongly. Overwhelmed by the intense pleasure, I ejaculated right then. I could feel the released semen soaking the handkerchief, but I was trembling too much to have the strength to stop it.

Zachary embraced me tightly without a gap. As I exhaled a panting breath at that moment.

“…Young master?”

Just then, Zachary startled and detached me from his embrace. His gaze immediately turned to my face. With his eyes wide open, he abruptly stood up from his seat. Then he immediately cupped both my cheeks with his hands. He wiped my blood-soaked face with careful and worried hand movements.

I stared blankly at Zachary’s slightly trembling hands. Whether blood was still flowing from my nose or not, he kept wiping blood from my face, and unlike earlier, he seemed to have regained his senses.

“Young master, I…”

“It’s nothing. It’s just a nosebleed…”

“I’ll wipe it.”

Even though I was the one bleeding, Zachary looked even paler. With a white face, he offered his own clothes to wipe my blood.

“Sorry, I’ve stained your clothes-“

Zachary didn’t seem to care about that at all.

How can he be so devoted to me like this? As if he doesn’t mind at all that his clothes are being stained with blood, how can those eyes only contain me?

However, Zachary no longer looked at me. He bowed his head deeply with a guilty expression.

Moreover, perhaps because he was very shocked, Zachary’s hands were trembling as if in spasm and wouldn’t calm down.

My head tilted involuntarily in puzzlement. Why is he so surprised over a simple nosebleed?

‘Ah, could it be because of what happened at the hunting competition?’

Suddenly, that day came to mind. The day I fell off my horse, vomited blood, and collapsed.

Perhaps for Zachary, the memory of that time has become a trauma. I reached out to him.

“Zachary. I’m okay…”

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

My hand, extended towards Zachary, suddenly froze in mid-air.

“Without realizing… I’m sorry.”

The moment I heard Zachary’s voice mixed with regret, my heart began to throb painfully. It was as painful as if being pierced by thousands of thorns. At the same time, a strange feeling of disappointment washed over me.

The meaning of his displayed regret was clear. He too didn’t understand his own actions. This must be the influence of the spell, without a doubt.

‘I thought he might have been jealous.’

His actions certainly seemed that way.

I had unknowingly been hoping for his behavior since the announcement of my marriage to Genevieve. I had hoped that while he might like me and be obsessed with me because of the spell, jealousy might be separate from the spell…

‘There’s no difference.’

Why had I been so sure that jealousy was a separate emotion? After all, I couldn’t even properly grasp what was and wasn’t influenced by the spell.

‘I guess my feelings for Zachary got ahead of themselves. That’s why I tried to find meaning in each of his actions.’

I felt ashamed. And sorry, and humiliated.

“Young… master?”

Finding it strange that I was staring at him blankly without saying anything, Zachary worriedly drew close to me. His gaze was filled entirely with me.

“Zachary.”

I called Zachary carefully.

Zachary often listened well to my voice at any moment. Even now, though it was close to a whisper, he answered while gently stroking my face where the bleeding had stopped.

“Yes, Young master.”

“…Zachary.”

At my repeated call, he seemed to sense something was amiss and his expression hardened. I just looked at him quietly. My reflection in his pitch-black yet blue eyes was still clear, but for some reason, Zachary felt too distant.

Only then did I bite my lip hard and lower my head.

“I’m fine, so step aside.”

Why am I so timid? I felt embarrassed and sorry for misunderstanding and judging his actions on my own. It was painful to keep looking at his face.

“Really. Please move.”

Zachary hesitated for a moment, then slightly moved his body back. Staggering as I got up, I straightened my disheveled clothes.

“Young master, I-“

Though he had moved aside briefly when I stood up, he once again pressed close to my side.

However, he seemed a bit hesitant, unlike his usual self. I wondered if he had noticed that I had hoped for his feelings and then been disappointed. Zachary reached out to help me, but I tried my best not to be conscious of him.

After quickly tidying up my clothes, I stretched out my trembling legs and left the room. Somehow, his presence chasing after me felt rougher than usual.

“For now, Genevieve… she didn’t look well. I need to go check on her.”

I made up an excuse hastily.

What was I thinking, considering someone suffering because of a spell? Even liking him felt sinful, and I no longer had the confidence to face Zachary.

“You stay here.”

I asked, almost pleadingly, as my breath kept catching every time I looked at him.

Then I tried to leave the room, pretending to be composed.

Zachary, who had been about to follow me, stopped abruptly at my words. Taking advantage of that moment, I left the room and tried to get away from him as quickly as possible. However, not long after, my legs gave out. I slid down against the wall and slumped to the floor.

‘Why am I really like this?’

Why do I keep feeling suffocated? Zachary treated me the same now as he did before. But now that our parting was set… I kept trying to assign meaning to each of Zachary’s actions. I found myself both ridiculous and sorrowful.

‘Of all times, to realize it recently…’

I gave a hollow laugh and rubbed my face dry. But even if I had realized it earlier, would anything have changed? Blinded by the emotion of liking him, I forcibly bound Zachary with the spell, and it would be fortunate if I’m not killed by an awakened Zachary like in the original story.

“Ah, here you are.”

Just then, someone tapped my shoulder. Startled, I quickly raised my head to see Genevieve with a pale face. Genevieve glared at me as I opened my lips in surprise.

“Does my future husband, who ran away leaving me unconscious, have time to spare?”