Both victory and defeat disrupt order alike. People were greatly excited by the sudden large-scale battle and the victory obtained at its conclusion, so much so that they didn’t entertain thoughts of sleep.
Despite the challenging task of rebuilding the shattered buildings and burnt facilities, people, instead of despairing, lit large bonfires in front of the remnants of destruction. Singing songs with the energy to stay up all night, they continuously indulged in alcohol.
“It’s been a long time since such a big battle.”
“Indeed, the summoning magic of the Grand Duke is invincible. Did you see how it blasted away that giant monster?”
“I haven’t rusted yet either. When I held the bow, it felt like my blood was boiling.”
The knights who had repelled powerful monsters on the front lines moved among the residents, receiving hero-like treatment. They, in turn, performed martial arts for the residents.
The end of the victorious battle felt like a feast. Amidst the chatter, jokes, and singing, a person entered the bustling Roudken castle walls belatedly. The man who had just passed through the still-opened northern gate, celebrating the victory, seemed visibly exhausted.
The area near the north gate, where all the enemies had been defeated, looked desolate compared to the lively central square where the celebration was taking place. Anton Sorel, the leader of the knights, stood there as if waiting. He, who had remained silent in one place throughout the celebration, quietly looked down at the returning Rensley.
Rensley, too, looked down with a blank expression, saying nothing. Anton sighed lightly and spoke first.
“Let’s tend to the injured first. You look like a mess.”
“It’s nothing. Just some scratches…”
“Do you think you can meet His Grace with those scratches?”
Upon hearing this, Rensley lifted his head. The momentarily blank atmosphere on Rensley’s face disappeared, replaced by a fiery gaze as he looked at Anton.
“Where is His Grace?”
“I’ll call for someone. Go back to your room secretly, heal your wounds, and wait quietly. If people find out you’ve returned, it’ll cause a commotion. I’ll be with His Grace as there’s still much to discuss with the deputies. When things settle down, he’ll undoubtedly come looking for you first. You have no idea how much he’s been searching for you.”
“Lies!”
Rensley raised his voice. As Anton closed his mouth, Rensley stepped back a few paces, seemingly stunned.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to anger the commander.”
“No need to apologize. It’s natural for you to be unable to maintain your composure today. So, go back to your room now and take some rest.”
Rensley nodded. For him, tonight’s scenery was akin to an unimaginable nightmare, even in his wildest dreams. But Rensley’s excitement wasn’t due to the monsters or the battle.
“Please let me see His Grace now.”
“No one can see His Grace right now.”
“I know where His Grace is.”
Anton’s eyes slightly widened. Rensley clenched his fist. Questioning each word as if chewing on them, he asked:
“He’s in the tower, isn’t he?”
“…Maelrosen, what have you been talking about since earlier?”
“He’s in the northern tower. He’s alone and locked up, isn’t he? The one who fought a while ago wasn’t a summoned creature; it was His Grace himself, wasn’t it?”
The stern face of the knight leader, who had been serious until now, revealed a hint of unmasked confusion this time. Rensley approached him again, clasping his hands.
“Commander, please… let me see His Grace. Please let me be by his side right now. I’ll accept any punishment or reprimand afterward.”
“It’s not something I can decide unilaterally.”
Although Anton’s response was unchanged and stoic, his eyes contained genuine, undeniable sympathy.
Rensley dropped his head, tears welling up. After a moment of silence, he suddenly seemed to remember something, and again, he met Anton’s gaze.
“By any chance, has His Grace chosen a new Grand Duchess during this time?”
“How could that be?”
Anton’s tone was genuinely incredulous. Rensley nodded in agreement.
“The new Grand Duchess hasn’t arrived, and His Grace hasn’t dismissed me from my position yet.”
“…”
“So, for now, I am still the Grand Duchess of Aldrant. Commander, as the Grand Duchess, I command you. Please guide me to where His Grace is.”
Anton Sorel didn’t immediately respond. Intense silence hung between them.
Violet eyes shimmered with desire even in the darkness. The knight commander, who had been staring at him, closed his legs together, stood at attention with one leg stretched backward, slightly bent at the knee. He pulled the right cloak across his chest, placing the hand on the left side, and bowed at the waist. It was a knightly salute to the king.
“I accept the command, Grand Duchess.”
Rensley blinked only at the sudden courteous salute.
Anton, who promptly straightened his posture, took a few steps forward and gestured.
“You urged people, why are you standing there lost in thought? Hurry, follow me.”
“Oh, yes!”
Only then did Rensley hastily run after him. Inside the dark northern gate, only small lamps were lit sporadically, making the path even darker.
They arrived at the most remote corner of the castle wall, in front of the cubical tower. The tower without a door was still guarded by the wizards today. Before speaking to them, Anton turned to Rensley.
“Maelrosen.”
“Yes.”
“This is your last chance. Once you enter this tower, you can no longer leave Aldrant. Will you really meet His Grace?”
After a brief silence, Rensley nodded promptly. Without avoiding eye contact, he answered.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Anton didn’t ask twice. As he spoke with the wizards, they murmured incantations.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Above the previously empty stone wall, a black hole appeared, similar to when a summoned being emerged from the void. Like the entrance to a deep cave.
“Follow the path, and you can meet His Grace.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Rensley bowed his head respectfully. As he turned around, Anton seemed to be smiling faintly with a hint of bitterness.
His face disappeared from view soon after. As soon as he entered the tower, the entrance vanished, leaving only a sturdy stone wall behind. Rensley took a step forward.
The winding corridors seemed endless, even after walking for a long time. It didn’t look this large from the outside… It was undoubtedly an extraordinary space. Rensley continued walking, looking around.
How long did it take? Finally, the end of the corridor started to become visible. The form of lattice bars, reminiscent of a prison, greeted the first visitor. The color drained from Rensley’s face as he confirmed the person inside. It was the moment he was about to rush forward.
“Don’t come any closer.”
For Rensley, It had only been a few days since he had left this place. It felt like a long time, yet the familiar voice sounded so distant.
Stopping abruptly, Rensley stood in place. The voice he longed to hear was as cold as ice, and the atmosphere was tense. Struggling to peer through the bars, Rensley couldn’t see anything inside the darkness.
Swallowing hard, he opened his mouth. He wanted to speak more confidently, but the words that came out were blurred and uncertain.
“Your Grace, I wanted to see you…”
“This is not a place allowed for you. Don’t come any closer. Go back and knock on the wall. The door will open again. We’ll talk later, after I leave this place.”
“…Are you angry?”
“No.”
Despite saying he wasn’t angry, the tone was chilly. Rensley couldn’t bring himself to move closer and stood hesitatingly in his place.
He felt like a fool, rushing around without knowing what to do. In that vast plain, where even his voice didn’t carry well, when he shouted loudly, he could examine his own actions as if looking into a mirror.
Even wondering if that too was an illusion or misconception caused by the enchantment of a monster, he couldn’t help but think that if it were, he would never have known that he was trapped in this tower. Whether it was a momentary miracle or some kind of magic, its effect seemed to have completely disappeared. Gezell’s thoughts at the moment were entirely unknown.
“I’ve reflected a lot. I never thought that Your Grace would come looking for me. As I mentioned before, I left because I didn’t have the confidence to warmly welcome the new Grand Duchess due to my growing affection for Your Grace. I couldn’t spread rumors. I left because I thought it was better for everyone if one person left.”
“You didn’t think I would come looking for you.”
Gezell muttered along with Rensley’s rambling. Despite his calm tone, his bewilderment was evident. Rensley’s cheek twitched slightly. While he was lost in thought, another question followed.
“Do you think I hate you, even though you like me?”
“No! No, I don’t think so. You… Your Grace, well, understand that I… have more than ordinary affection for you. But thinking that being satisfied with that and not being able to serve Your Grace quietly would be useless in matters of mutual feelings, I left.”
Speaking while turning away, Rensley, like Gezell, became equally bewildered. The emotions were clearly shared between the two, so why did he get so immersed in his own feelings? He never thought of himself as a responsible person, but this time was really…
“I apologize. I was too irresponsible. I know that leaving after deceiving Your Grace is something I can’t justify with any words.”
Words such as fearing the wounds of the heart would be excuses at best. Rensley Maelrosen had always been a person who avoided showing his injuries from when. Even though he had been hurt.
The reason he got so caught up in pitying himself, which was so out of character, was simple. It was because it worked. Meeting someone who treated him kindly without being obsequious, without having to act pretentiously, seemed to have been a pleasant experience.
He hadn’t been good at putting on airs in front of people, so he didn’t know if that was being pretentious. The feeling of waking up after being swayed by the situation he created himself was not only without any room for self-pity but also embarrassingly shameful.
“I’m really sorry. I’ll do anything if you forgive me.”
“Don’t prostrate yourself.”
‘Ah, right. You hated that…’
Rensley immediately stood upright as he was about to kneel. A muffled voice came from the darkness beyond the bars.
“I’m not angry. It’s not because I’m angry. It’s because you really shouldn’t come here.”
“Why, why…”
“You did nothing wrong, and there’s no need for you to reflect. You left for a reason, and the fault lies with me for making you leave.”
“No! Your Grace made the best choice as the king of a nation.”
Yelling at each other through the bars, proclaiming that I’m wrong, you’re right, seemed absurd. Even with the unresolved problem looming, Rensley chuckled.
After laughing like that, various anxieties flooded in. This time, it seemed like tears were about to come. Although his eyes were not properly moistened yet, whether it was because moisture mixed with his breath or for some other reason, soothing words were heard from beyond the bars.
“Don’t cry.”
“…I don’t want to.”
“Sir Maelrosen.”
“If you prevent me from coming, I’ll cry even harder.”
Responding with a threatening tone, the man on the other side swallowed a low sob. It seemed that Rensley Maelrosen was undoubtedly a more cunning and emotional person than he thought. When Gezell showed signs of weakness in front of him, large teardrops began to fall openly. Starting to cry made the atmosphere even more melancholic.
“I want to see Your Grace…”
Beyond the bars, it was quiet. Rensley, who had been standing still for a while, raised his gaze.
Carefully, he took a step forward. However, Gezell didn’t tell him not to come. At first, he approached cautiously, then a bit more slowly, and finally, he hurried towards him as if running. Leaning against the bars, he brought his face close.
Inside the prison, which he peered into up close, there were both a fireplace and lamps. However, they weren’t lit, leaving the place in darkness. He was a man who disliked the cold and liked passing time in front of a warm fire. Was he avoiding meeting me to this extent? Did he want to hide in the darkness?
In the middle of the prison stood Grand Duke Gezell. Even though Rensley had approached so closely, he still said nothing. Covered by a black and wide cloak, he stood there like a large statue.
Rensley spoke, and his voice, more earnest than intentionally determined, echoed between them.
“Your Grace, I’ve come. Are you still determined not to see me?”
“You…”
Only the dull voice, muffled by the cloak, came through.
“You went away when I asked you not to leave, and now you’re coming close when I ask you not to come.”
“…I apologize for repeatedly disobeying your orders. Please forgive my unfaithfulness.”
Rensley looked at the bars that steadfastly blocked their path. Was there no way to enter? Anton didn’t provide the key to open the prison door.
During the brief time that an unknown light emanated from his wrist, Rensley’s mind was flooded with extensive answers to the questions he had been curious about. What Rensley was most curious about at that moment, why the black demon was fighting in that form, what he had done to achieve it, where he would go after this fight, and beyond that, what he was thinking now…
The answers to these questions were absorbed into Rensley’s mind in an instant, as if he already knew them, but becoming a wise sage was not the result. He still couldn’t understand why he was avoiding him after proclaiming himself and being wanted.
Wiping away tears that still lingered on his cheeks, Rensley spoke softly.
“Your Grace, I’m still crying…”
“Please don’t cry.”
Gezell took a long breath. It was a sigh that exuded a sense of resignation.
“If you’ve come this far, you can no longer leave Aldrant freely.”
In his weakened tone, there was a palpable sense of pity.
“I’ve already received that warning from the commander.”
“…You’ll regret it.”
“As I told you before, the body is finite, and you should do whatever you can while you can. Even if you regret it later, there’s nothing you can do.”
“You seem to commit to anything without hesitation.”
Yes, that’s how it has always been. With a bitter remark to convince himself, Gezell added one more thing, lifting his arm that had been lowered slowly. The cloak that concealed his face, like the veil Rensley used to wear when crossdressing, slipped down.
Inside the iron bars, which were still unlit, it remained as dark as ever. However, the corridor was illuminated enough, and the person standing right in front of him was not too dark to recognize.
Rensley looked at the revealed face without blinking, much like when he used to gaze at the silver lightning striking the dry plain.
Once upon a time, Rensley had been fed up with thunder and lightning, but as he sincerely observed the cascade of light created by the black demon’s fingertips, he thought it was beautiful.
“Stop staring.”
Gezell raised his cloak again to cover his face. Surprised, Rensley, who had been somewhat absent-minded, leaned closer to the iron bars.
“Your Grace, you look magnificent.”
“No need to say things you don’t mean.”
“I really mean it. I always thought you were dignified and elegant, but now, you’re overflowing with wild beauty.”
“Don’t tease me.”
The threatening golden eyes that flashed are still not returning to their original calm pumpkin color. The large horns resembling those of a water buffalo protruding from the top of the head and the pointed fangs emptying below the lips were still present. Upon closer inspection, both the height and the physique seemed larger than usual.
From the forehead to the cheeks and down to the chin, Rensley, as himself, couldn’t distinguish whether the patterns etched on the man’s face were drawings or characters. Could these patterns also be magical symbols? Rensley persistently stared at the man’s face, who constantly avoided eye contact, and pleaded.
“Don’t hide it. I’m sincere. While you’re always magnificent, you look great even now. I’ll return the words you often said to me today. Your Grace, you are beautiful too.”
“Really, you’re making fun of me.”
“Please don’t, and look at me. Because you’re not looking, it sounds like teasing.”
The uneasy golden eyes inevitably turned toward Rensley upon hearing those words. The man, who had been quietly looking out beyond the bars, hesitated before asking, “Isn’t it scary to look at me?”
“A little while ago, I saw the demon form, and it didn’t seem scary at all.”
“Even though you already find me repulsive, seeing me like this…”
“What? Me? When?”
Despite the unintelligible words, Rensley felt puzzled, but there was no further explanation. Rensley raised his voice a bit.
“There was no such occasion. There’s no way to confess love to someone you find repulsive.”
“Are you not trying to make fun of me with those words?”
“Absolutely not! I swear on my honor, I won’t say I love you falsely.”
“Every time you swear on your honor, it seems like your honor has completely worn out.”
“Your Grace.”
Rensley didn’t know what to do with the tone that couldn’t seem to loosen up. But when Gezell signaled him to go on with a look, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It was because he noticed a faint smile on the sharp face with traces of the demon.
“What is it? Your Grace, you seem to be teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing you.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
Gezell covered his mouth and cleared his throat. There was nothing aristocratic left in his hands either. His large, bone-knotted fingers and thick nails were stained with black scales.
“I didn’t want it to be like this…”
“…”
“Seeing you again… makes me happy.”
Rensley was once again dumbfounded.
The face is gradually becoming familiar. Perhaps it hasn’t changed horribly like a tomato. When he felt his ears warming up, Rensley bowed deeply, avoiding eye contact.
Despite being much more talkative than himself, Gezell, the Grand Duke, sometimes shut him down with an ordinary word. Whether it was due to his excellent eloquence or Rensley’s weakness, it was confusing. Rensley awkwardly played along.
“I, I feel the same. I really do.”
“You seem hurt. Is it okay? Instead of coming here, you should get treatment.”
The once cold voice returned completely with a familiar tone. Encouraged by the worried and affectionate words, Rensley slowly raised his head to face him.
“Nothing serious. Just got a light scratch, and blood is here and there… Your Grace, are you really okay? You were injured when fighting that big moth.”
“I’ll recover quickly in that form. I’m already healed.”
That’s a relief. Nodding while muttering, he tightened his grip on the bars.
He felt like crying again. It was a cruel situation to have the person he missed right in front of him, yet unable to touch or kiss. Rensley asked desperately, “Your Grace, I want to go inside. Is there no way to open the door?”
“It’s open.”
“…What?”
“The door is sealed with magic, so it can’t be opened from the inside, but it can be opened from the outside. Come in.”
“Ah… I didn’t know.”
As Rensley pushed the door at the edge of the bars, it opened disappointingly easily. The assertive actions he took by holding onto the bars now seemed embarrassing.
Entering the cell, Rensley hesitated near the door, looking unsure. Gezell, who was quietly observing him, slightly spread his arms, and his long sleeves fell heavily downward.
“Come this way.”
At his words, Rensley bit his lower lip firmly. His face, which had stiffened, turned into a tearful expression in an instant.
Before gathering the courage, his legs were already moving. Before he could think, he threw himself into the open arms. Gezell’s steel-like arms pulled Rensley close, and the strength was overwhelming, almost suffocating.
Was this also the influence of turning into a demon? Even the body temperature felt higher than usual in his broad and firm embrace. The faint scent he tried to forget made his mind dizzy.
There were so many things to say, but when he was in his arms, all thoughts evaporated. Rensley, pressed against him, whispered like a child who had just learned to speak.
“Your Grace, Your Grace, Your Grace…”
He lightly brushed his cheeks against the soft clothes. He put his arms around Gezell’s neck, closed his eyes, and let himself slide upward, pressing his lips to his.
Gezell’s hands tightened every time Rensley’s lips grazed his skin. The heat-soaked breath brushed against his cheek and the top of his head. After hearing Gezell’s deep breathing several times, he finally pulled away, interrupting Rensley’s attempt to kiss him.
“Ha, no. Stop it. You might get hurt.”
A low, shaken voice, as if barely maintaining patience, could be heard. Rensley raised his heavy eyelids with great effort.
Each time his lips grazed the skin, the sharp fangs came into view. Even if he were to see blood, it wouldn’t be strange given the intense kiss. Yet Rensley drew closer, whispering urgently.
“It doesn’t matter if I get hurt.”
“Foolish talk.”
“If I get hurt, you can heal me with magic, right?”
Rensley closed his eyes again. Pressing his lips against the skin, sliding up to the lips just as before.
The grating sound emanated from inside the throat, like when he was a demon. Rensley, entwining his tongue with Gezell’s, no longer had the clear head to think about the embarrassment of leaving his mark.
With every pass of their tongues, the heat inside the mouth intensified. Although Rensley also entwined his tongue, he could only hang on to him helplessly, struggling to breathe in the heat.
“Uh, huh, hm…”
Amidst the rough breathing and the moist sound mixed with saliva, a muffled groan echoed. The kisses, including harsh breathing, were more intense than Rensley remembered. Rensley, already hanging onto him more firmly, spoke in short phrases like a child learning to talk.
“Your Grace, Your Grace, Your Grace…”
He nervously brushed his lips over the soft fabric. Hanging onto the back of his neck with his arms, he closed his eyes. Gezell’s tongue, thicker and longer than usual, thoroughly explored the inside of his mouth, licking the sensitive mucous membrane, the roof of the mouth, and even the inside of the teeth.
Rensley didn’t care and kept pressing his lips closer. Almost leaning with his whole weight on him, he had to use his tiptoes to reach. It seemed that Gezell’s physique indeed looked larger than usual.
“Hu…!”
It seemed that Rensley wasn’t the only one who couldn’t see the surroundings due to the sudden kiss. Gezell, as if realizing Rensley’s discomfort belatedly, hugged him tightly. Startled, Rensley took a short breath, but it was only for a moment. Rensley wrapped his legs around Gezell’s waist and continued to kiss him.
Every time the wet flesh entered his mouth deeply, the heat rose in the sticky bodies. The passionate kiss, where the long tongue even explored inside the throat, felt more like a groan than a kiss.
The sensitive membranes near the throat continued to be grazed by the tip of the tongue. Was it the gentle movement that made it more pleasurable, even though it was stimulating a point near climax? The pleasure overwhelmed the pain. Rensley gasped, repeatedly opening his mouth wider.
“Hu, uh, ah…”
“Haa, Rensley…”
As the tongue thoroughly explored inside the mouth and withdrew, his voice called out Rensley’s name with a heated sigh. Rensley, leaning on the arms wrapped around his shoulders, exerted more force.
“Your Grace, it feels so good. I like you so much…”
As the enthusiastic affection and sensuality mixed together, desire became unbearable and more intense, making Rensley’s honest feelings burst out like a voice from his heart.
In response, the arms holding Rensley tightened. Though the words weren’t expected to elicit a response, Gezell whispered an answer in his ear.
“I like it too.”
At that, Rensley opened his eyes, not easily believing what he just heard. As if denying Rensley’s suspicion, Gezell repeated it in a clear pronunciation.
“I like you. I love you.”
“Your Grace…”
“So please, stay by my side.”
“…”
“I’ll do anything you want, so don’t leave me.”
Rensley was an ordinary person. He had secretly imagined a response to his affectionate feelings, even though he pretended to be nonchalant. However, facing an enthusiasm beyond his imagination, he felt not only bewildered but also a bit embarrassed. Rensley, momentarily dumbfounded, blinked his moist eyelashes and then, overcome with emotion, lightly punched Gezell’s shoulder a couple of times.
“What are you saying, Your Grace? Just give me an order. You can tie me up with any name you want. Rather than saying that, it would be better to make me a criminal and imprison me in the dungeon.”
“You’re not my subordinate, so what will you gain by giving me orders?”
“That’s right. So please, I can’t be without you.”
Even with such disrespectful behavior towards the king, Gezell just nodded and played along. Rensley wiped the damp eyelashes with the back of his hand, feeling like his heart was about to burst, and somewhere in his chest, there was a slight ache.
🥹 <3 thank you!
I’m happy they are back together!
ur welcomeee~💛😁
OMG OMG OMG 😭😭😭😭
Thank you soooo much for this update~~
hehe~ ur welcomeee<33333
It is so good that they are back together. These two are one of my fav couple .
Uggghhh I guess they’re cute… or whatever🙄