Chapter 292
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: Prepare Yourself
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Was it the lingering effects of her illness?
Or was it simply her natural constitution?
Her body temperature was slightly cool.
It wasn't unpleasant.
If anything, the opposite.
Rather than cold, it was refreshingly cool, making the touch of her soft lips feel even more invigorating.
Conversely, the tongue that slipped smoothly between his lips was scorching hot, creating the illusion of swallowing a fireball.
The sticky saliva mingling on their tongues mixed with a sweet fragrance, inducing a drunken haze.
Lips overlapping lips.
Tongues entwining with tongues.
Her scent permeating.
A minute passed—short as an instant, yet long as eternity.
Maia released her grip on Rimon's collar and pulled her lips away from his.
Her slightly flushed face twisted into a sneer.
"How does it feel to be toyed with by the very person you thought couldn't harm you after all the favors you'd bestowed?"
"……."
"What, did you never expect me to act like this?"
Whether due to the aftertaste of a kiss more stimulating than chugging an entire vial of aphrodisiac—something unprecedented even in his long life.
Or because he hadn't anticipated Maia would go this far.
Or perhaps because of the gaze he felt from behind.
Losing his usual brazen demeanor, his blinking eyes caught Maia's whisper as she pressed her lips close to his ear, like a lover's murmur.
"I told you. I'm already broken."
The Green Dragon Clan was thorough in matters of grudges and favors.
But Rimon had said it was because they were weak—a instinctive defense to avoid emotional wounds.
Yet because she was already broken.
Because she couldn't contain this feeling.
To claim what was hers.
Even if it meant getting hurt, the fragile princess who had resolved to overcome fate and muster her courage laughed coldly.
"I like you and crave you, but I can't forget my grudge against you either."
"So I'll seduce you."
"Just as you addicted me."
Looking only at her.
Thinking only of her.
Making it so he couldn't live without her.
Just as she now felt about him.
"I'll turn you into my slave of love, drowning you in lust."
Not because of any contract.
Without needing to use the scales of balance.
Just from her gaze making his heart race, her scent alone making his body ache unbearably at the thought of her.
Until he'd do anything for her.
And joyfully accept that fact.
By corrupting Rimon.
By breaking him as she was broken.
With those low words, Maia ended by biting hard into his earlobe.
"This is my revenge... and my gratitude."
Cynical and pessimistic as always, sharp-edged.
Yet brimming with irresistible allure, sweetness, and sticky breath.
After hearing Maia's whispered words, the frozen Rimon finally responded after a long pause.
"……Isn't that a bit much?"
"I did warn you. If you don't kill me, you'll regret it."
She had given him the chance.
He had refused it.
So whatever happened from now on was his responsibility.
"Prepare yourself."
Whispering to Rimon.
But actually facing his back.
Just like when she had killed Gula.
Facing Li Chingwei, who had watched their kiss with a grim, joyless expression and dull eyes.
The woman addicted to her boiling love-hate, resolved to become the poison herself.
And the princess of the most tenacious clan, who never stopped once she started something until it was done.
Curved her lips, still wet with his saliva.
And smiled sweetly.
"I never give up."
[Did I mess up the incantation?]
Shake shake.
[It wasn't wrong, but there are parts that could be better? Like what?]
Mumble mumble.
[……What the heck does 'pouring a desert over burning ice to swallow the moon' even mean?]
Whisper whisper.
Yuna Kyung was receiving a magic lesson from Sheera, the ghostly girl dwelling in the Shadowheart Violin.
It wasn't anything new.
Even as a half-dazed spirit, Sheera had been a saintly ghost rivaling great witches in life.
Her occasional pointed advice was a huge help to a magic newbie like Yuna Kyung.
Of course, to Yuna Kyung, it felt more like playing with Sheera to pass the time than serious study.
But that lasted only a moment.
Yuna Kyung suddenly sighed.
She subtly turned her head toward Li Chingwei, who was staring out the window, and casually asked.
[Hey, Princess sis. Did something happen when you visited her bedside?]
"Why do you ask?"
[Well, uh…….]
Yuna Kyung trailed off.
Of course, right after returning from Maia's bedside, they had fled Brazil like the plague.
And since boarding the plane, Li Chingwei had kept her gaze fixed outside, maintaining silence.
Rimon was slumped over the table like a corpse.
The atmosphere was downright weird.
"If you're asking what happened... yes, something did."
[What happened?]
"I don't want to talk about it."
[……Pardon?]
"I said I don't want to tell you."
[Ah, okay, if you say so…….]
Her usual gentle smile.
Yet her response carried an odd pressure, making Yuna Kyung shrink back.
It was the first time she'd seen Li Chingwei so firmly refuse an answer, no matter how trivial the question.
But that only piqued her curiosity more.
Unable to contain her bubbling interest, Yuna Kyung switched targets.
[Hey, Team Leader?]
"Don't talk to me... I'm still reeling from the betrayal... "
The telepathic message meant only for Rimon bounced back pointlessly.
Glancing around cautiously for a moment.
Seeing no reaction from Li Chingwei, Yuna Kyung relaxed and tilted her head.
[Betrayal? What betrayal?]
"It hit me 76 times harder than when you and Jeongsu tried to kill me... "
[What the hell happened during that sickbed visit?!]
Half embarrassment from her dark history being dredged up.
Half shock at the answer itself.
As Yuna Kyung freaked out, Sheera's ghost beside her innocently raised both arms in surprise, but Rimon just groaned face-down on the table.
'Did I misjudge?'
He had thought bestowing this level of favor would wash away some past grudges.
But now it felt like the opposite.
Far from canceling out the love-hate, it was like they had reacted and caused a massive explosion.
When the once-cynical Maia had sweetly whispered she would corrupt him, even Rimon had felt chills for multiple reasons.
Well, the Green Dragon Clan was like that.
As vicious to enemies as they were devoted to benefactors.
...The problem was that Maia would mix that love-hate and devote herself viciously to seducing him.
'Trouble's brewing.'
Why did this feel dozens of times more threatening than facing her dragonized form bare-handed?
Head aching over the hopeless issue, Rimon groaned inwardly.
And it wasn't just Maia he had to worry about now.
"What do you think, Princess?"
"She seemed awfully skilled for a first-timer."
"……I meant something else besides the broken princess's now-head-ruined kissing skills."
"Ah, that."
Ignoring Yuna Kyung's hesitant [Huh? What skills?], the two continued calmly.
"Will it be okay?"
"No."
Li Chingwei answered flatly.
Whether minimal repayment.
Or some other motive.
Maia had used all her scales of balance for one kiss, and readily let them go, so she clearly wasn't acting immediately.
The problem lay elsewhere.
"Now that she's learned about the eighth Dragon Psionic, Charlotte will definitely move."
"True, the Gold Dragon Clan isn't one to hold back greed."
"More precisely, they don't."
Personal might.
Wealth as a conglomerate.
Even political influence.
The Gold Dragon Clan, strongest in the Seven Dragon Society across all fronts, was thus the most avaricious and arrogant.
They'd buy what they wanted with billions, and if money failed, resort to other means.
Especially if it was the eighth Dragon Psionic, practically the society's long-cherished wish?
No way they'd sit still.
They'd start a war for it.
"In a sense, it's inevitable. We've been lucky it hasn't happened until now."
"Yeah."
Rimon nodded.
In truth, the Gold Dragon Clan's stance was perfectly proper and natural for the Seven Dragon Society.
Aynsha had even proposed with shares on the line.
Rose's silence for her own reasons was the exception.
Even Maia had declared she'd repay favor with grudge, unpredictable now.
"Any chance of winning?"
"Best case, fifty-fifty."
"Even with my help?"
"Not losing and winning are different."
No matter how strong the Gold Dragon Clan, Rimon was the Sword Master who had clashed with the society for centuries.
Whatever forces they mustered, he wouldn't lose a straight power contest.
Two problems.
One: Clashing with force meant defeat for her and him from the start.
And the other...
"Worst case, she might abandon the best option."
"You think that Gold Dragon Princess would pass up this chance?"
"Because she's Gold Dragon Clan."
Li Chingwei gave a wry smile.
Charlotte was the noblest princess in the society.
If she wanted something, she'd demand it outright, not resort to lowly tricks.
At most, sending subordinates to invite.
But with the eighth Dragon Psionic revealed—especially held by Rimon—she'd opt for surer means.
"The Charlotte I know won't move personally. But she'll take one measure."
"What measure?"
"That is..."
Li Chingwei couldn't finish.
At that moment, the plane's phone rang shrilly, Youin's voice coming through.
[Princess, I have urgent news to report.]
Cis-Serpent Earldom.
As the headquarters for London's reconstruction, the earldom had been bustling lately.
But that was in the past.
Thanks to the Blue Dragon Clan's generous support.
Or the citizens' voluntary efforts.
London's recovery progressed faster than expected, allowing the Blue Dragon Clan some leeway.
...Though Rose, the blue-haired woman processing documents with a weary face, hardly looked it.
"Princess? Didn't you say you were going for a walk?"
"Yes."
"Why are you back so soon?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Of course not, but your walk seemed awfully short."
The knight in ornate armor, Lucas, couldn't hide his puzzlement.
Right after the London incident.
Even in the busiest times, she'd vanish for over an hour on "walks."
But for the past week or so, she went out less, and returned quickly most times.
Her dark circles worsening was par for the course.
"……I just wasn't in the mood for a walk."
"Still, you should rest properly. Too much fatigue is bad."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Pretending to sort documents.
Rose averted her eyes slightly.
That her walks were on the opposite continent.
That for the past week, her meeting partner hadn't shown, leaving nothing to do but return.
And these circles weren't from fatigue, but from sleepless nights without the music.
She couldn't confess even to her close aide Lucas.
'Hm, she's been walking a lot lately, so she's probably bored of it.'
But Lucas took her word as gospel.
He couldn't imagine their perfect princess slacking off across the continent under the guise of a walk.
"By the way, while you were out, a letter arrived from the Gold Dragon Princess."
"Charlotte sent a letter?"
"Yes, haven't checked the contents, but it bears Pafnir's seal, so likely personal."
"That's unusual."
Rose took the letter from Lucas, unable to hide her surprise.
Arrogant as befitting a Gold Dragon Princess, Charlotte rarely sent personal letters, delegating to scribes even for others.
But moments later.
After reading it.
Her face involuntarily hardened.
"What is it?"
Perhaps because Rose's expression was so grave.
Lucas's face stiffened too as he asked, but she didn't answer.
She issued orders immediately.
"Sir Lucas, assemble the Azure Dragon Corps at once."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"……Understood."
At the command to ready the clan's strongest force, Lucas's expression turned gravely serious.
But he didn't ask why.
Vanishing through space to assemble the Azure Dragon Corps as ordered.
Left alone in the office, Rose checked the elegantly penned letter once more.
And sighed in lament.
"Li Chingwei, what on earth have you done?"