Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The North, Land of the Barbarians
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Before her Stigma activated, Trisha had been nothing more than a thoughtless 18-year-old girl.
She craved attention and affection, yet armored herself in a Black Flame Dragon persona to avoid getting hurt, wrapping herself up tight.
But the Trisha now was different from before.
Flames and lightning had flowed into her, and though imperfect, she had taken on some of the power and personality of Saik as described in the novel.
It was more like she had twisted into a mindset of smashing first and asking questions later, burning everything down, and killing anyone who touched what was hers.
‘Of course, her core self as Trisha hadn’t changed, so she still showed a soft side to those who gave her attention and affection.’
Before, it had been her brother Jimmy Faker, and now it was Sion himself.
With her personality slightly altered by the Stigma, Trisha had armed herself with the thought, ‘Jimmy will leave me someday anyway, but Sion doesn’t have to, so he’s mine no matter what,’ and lingered by his side.
To be precise, it wasn’t lingering—it was more like keeping watch to ensure no other women stole what was hers.
“Sit down.”
Sion pulled over a chair and gestured for her to sit in front of him.
Trisha took heavy steps forward.
Thud!
“...?”
Then, with utter boldness, she plopped right onto Sion’s lap.
She might be a girl, but she wasn’t a child—she was a full-grown 18-year-old woman.
Her weight was impossible to ignore.
“What are you doing?”
As Sion muttered, Trisha huffed first.
Hmph!
Then she spoke.
“You told me to sit.
So I sat.”
“I meant over there.”
“I heard you tell me to sit, so I decide where.”
It was maddeningly ambiguous whether she was obeying or defying him.
Sion pondered briefly how to handle this girl but decided to let it slide.
After all, no one but himself was to blame for turning Trisha into this, so going easy on her to this extent was only right.
‘Considering what I did to her, I should indulge even bigger tantrums.’
Trisha had her own power, but he had semi-forced a normal, obedient woman into awakening, so taking responsibility was only natural.
“...So.
Why’d you call me?”
Even as she boldly claimed his lap, Trisha averted her gaze and asked.
It was a shy contrast to her brash action moments ago.
‘Hmm.’
After a moment’s thought, Sion decided to soothe her shattered-then-patched-together heart first.
He leaned back against the chair’s backrest, lifted his knees slightly to keep her from slipping, and gently wrapped both arms around her waist.
“...What are you doing?”
“Hugging you?”
“Do you think I’m your five-year-old little sister or something?”
“No.
I know you’re a full-grown woman.”
“And yet...”
“I wanted to hold you a bit.
That’s not allowed?”
Trisha flinched at his words, turning her head to avoid his gaze.
Yet her fingers crept over, lightly stroking the back of his hand.
“Was it tough?”
“What?”
“The squire training.”
“...Hmph!
It wasn’t tough at all.
I told you it was too easy, didn’t I?
And now, I could take down that Risikida knight in an instant.”
“If you hurt Rishi, I’d be in a real bind.”
He was skirting it, but the subtext was: hurt Risikida, and he wouldn’t hold her like this anymore.
Trisha wasn’t stupid; she fell silent.
“That’s why I’m saying this.
Keep serving as Rishi’s squire, Trisha.”
“...You mean that seriously?”
Irritation and anger flared in Trisha’s eyes.
She had awakened with ill feelings toward Risikida already—being told to serve under her again was infuriating.
“You’ll understand if I explain why.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s the only way you can stay by my side.”
The flames in her eyes died down in an instant.
The woman blinked for a moment, then turned her head with a sly tone.
“...Explain in detail.”
“There are too many guards around me right now.
Rishi’s an upper knight, and Kim Yuhyun’s basically acting as my guard knight.
Then there’s Lily pretending to be a mage, real mage Lucia, and the beastkin Lia too.
Even as Margrave Territory’s heir, it’s too many.”
“So?”
“So officially, you’ll be Rishi’s squire, not mine.
That way, you can follow me under the pretext of serving her.”
Trisha fiddled with the back of Sion’s hand, lost in thought.
She wanted no more entanglement with Risikida.
She no longer thought the woman had stolen Jimmy, but recalling the harsh treatment during squire training or her cozy chats with Sion still boiled her blood.
‘But to stay by Sion’s side, I have to be near her.’
It left Trisha with much to weigh.
Uphold her pride and seek another way, or swallow it and serve under Risikida.
Whoosh—
‘...Or just throw a fit and say no way?’
It wasn’t a bad plan.
She wasn’t oblivious—Trisha knew Sion wanted her close.
That’s why he’d saved her, why he held her now.
If she threw a massive tantrum, saying she absolutely couldn’t and would rather die, he might scramble for another solution...
“If you throw too much of a tantrum, I don’t know what I might do.
A woman’s whims can be charming, but overdone, they just annoy a man.”
“...”
“You’re special, sure, but there are plenty of others just as special by my side.
So Trisha, you need to work to shine even brighter among them.”
Sugarcoated, it was advice; plainly, it meant ‘disobey, and you’re replaceable.’
Sorry, but there are others who can take your place.
‘...That’s harsh.’
She wouldn’t lie—it stung.
She longed only for him, yet he didn’t long only for her.
She had vowed to eliminate any rival for him—even the celestials who were the source of her power.
“So...”
“Huh?”
The man who had held her lightly like a child suddenly pulled her close like a lover.
Sensing the shift, the flustered woman squirmed, but Sion gripped her chin, forcing her to face him.
“Let go, let me go!
Wh-what are you...”
“Don’t want to.”
“I said let go!
If you don’t...”
“If I don’t, you’ll burn me?”
Trisha froze solid.
Ridiculous. Why would I burn you?
Of all people, you? How could I?
I wouldn’t even think it.
‘I can read her thoughts—they’re plain as day.’
Fortunately, she hadn’t sunk to ‘if I can’t have it, no one will’ levels yet.
If Trisha had snarled, eyes wild, ‘Yes! Hurt me, and I’ll burn everything, even you!’ he’d have ended her for good.
“...Don’t say that.”
“Say what?”
“Talk of hurting you.
I wouldn’t.
Never.
How could I?
You’re mine—how could I hurt what’s mine?”
She pretended otherwise, but her pout and squirms screamed offense—like he saw her as that kind of woman.
Letting go now would make him the world’s biggest fool.
Even Kim Yuhyun might not... actually, he probably would.
“So Trisha, let me treasure you like the others.
Just hold on a bit, whine a bit less, wait a bit more.”
“...Until when?”
“Until you can stand tall and tell them, ‘Only I deserve to be by his side.’”
Sion gently took her chin again.
This time, no resistance—Trisha met his eyes.
...Flicker—
A small flame flickered, whispering to her.
That man’s handsome.
‘I know. Shut up.’
Shoving the whispering flame down, Trisha focused on the man before her.
She couldn’t grasp when that day would come, but he had said it would be the day she could demand him outright—the day she could claim Sion Klauzen exclusively.
Not precisely, but likely after eliminating the celestials threatening the world.
“You mean it?
When I earn that right to demand you, you’ll drop everything and be mine?”
“Of course.”
Whether he truly could, who knew.
Sion kept that unspoken.
Saik aside, the Succubus Queen was immensely powerful.
Knock knock—
A knock interrupted. Sion asked who it was, and a maid from the castle staff replied.
“Young Lord, the Heiness Merchant Company just passed the gates.”
“Ah.
I see.
Thanks for letting me know.”
After a month, the Heiness Merchant Company had returned to Margrave Territory with trade goods.
Helen wasn’t with them this time, but they surely brought the news he awaited.
He rose to meet them, but Trisha, still on his lap, leaned heavier to pin him down.
The man beneath looked at her like, what gives? The flame-haired woman casually stated her demand again.
“I’ll move if you give me a kiss.”
“...A kiss?”
It had been ages since he’d heard that word.
Not a real kiss—a peck?
“Just...”
“Just a light one on the cheek.
I’m not asking for your lips or anyth...”
Smack—
Not even hard on the lips, he thought, as he lightly pressed his lips to her red ones.
If this mere brush could calm her, he’d do it a million times.
“Eeeeh?”
Meanwhile, Trisha’s face burned red as she touched her lips.
Clearly dying to scream ‘Eeeeek!’, but barely holding it in.
“You got what you wanted, so move already, Trisha?”
At Sion’s sly tone, Trisha whined softly, then silently rose from his lap and walked primly to the sofa.
Suddenly, she flopped face-down with a thud!
She blanked out briefly, then flailed her arms wildly, kicked her feet with bangs!
“...”
Amused beyond words, Sion shrugged, stood, threw his uniform coat over his shirt, and spoke.
“I’m heading out, so once you’re done kicking, close the door quietly on your way out.
No hiding to spy either.”
No reply.
Just Trisha’s hands waving furiously, as if begging him to leave already.
Whoosh—
Sion chuckled, left the office, and headed to the reception room, recalling the merchant company’s arrival.
As expected, one of their group had entered the lord’s castle claiming personal business and awaited him there.
“Young Lord Sion Klauzen.”
As Sion entered, a young man bowed politely.
He seemed a bit green at first glance, but the sharp glint in his eyes marked him as one of Helen’s trusted few.
“An honor to meet Hispania’s war hero in person.”
“Skip the flattery.
Straight to business.”
“As expected, no love for formalities.
Unlike other nobles.”
Smiling, the youth carefully drew a letter from his breast.
Sion took it and scanned the contents.
‘Normally, it’d start with pleasantries or an intro.’
True to efficient merchant style, Helen had kept it brief.
—As per Young Lord’s instructions, situation check confirms unrest at northern border recently.
—Barbarian tribes stirring.
—
“...”
Looks like this trip would lead even farther than the capital.