Chapter 632: The Surprise Attack
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 632: The Surprise Attack
"Was I really just hearing things?"
Ariel scanned the room one last time. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, she finally gave up and prepared to leave...
"Ngh..."
Suddenly, Celicia’s body lurched forward. As if enduring some sudden pang of pain, her willow-arched brows knit together. she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, but the movement was too late to stop a sweet, stifled cry from escaping her lips.
"Huh?"
Ariel started, her face instantly clouding with concern. "Celicia? Are—are you alright?"
"I-I’m fine."
Celicia raised a hand, signaling Ariel to stay back. She took a ragged breath before continuing, "It’s just... the internal energy in my body is a bit unstable."
She cast a sharp glance beneath the desk.
That bastard... Not only had he refused to stop, but he’d also dared to push his luck, launching a fresh assault. His boldness was becoming truly intolerable!
"Unstable energy? Just that?"
Ariel realized she hadn't misheard earlier, yet she found it hard to believe such a... cute sound could have come from Celicia’s mouth.
She observed Celicia worriedly, noticing that the flush on the Empress's cheeks had spread. This didn't look like a mere fluctuation of energy; her very blood and essence seemed to be in disarray.
"Do you need me to help—"
"No, don't worry. Haa... It’s not as serious as you think."
Celicia instinctively squeezed her lush, slender thighs together. However...
Muen was already deep within the fray. What good would squeezing do now? He was thoroughly enjoying the thrill of a lone army penetrating deep into enemy territory, exploring the furthest reaches of the unknown.
She couldn't let go, yet she couldn't pull away, leaving Celicia in a torturous dilemma.
"You know as well as I do," Celicia explained with forced solemnity, "that on the night of the Inner Council’s rebellion, I forcibly ascended to the Crown Bearer realm using the Empire’s power to slay those Evil God remnants."
She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "This is merely the aftereffect of that night."
"The Crown Bearer realm..."
Ariel rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I’ve heard the rumors. Everyone is calling you the youngest Crown Bearer in history. But I had no idea the backlash was this severe. Has it really not faded after all this time?"
"The Crown Bearer realm is not so easily attained. Some side effects are only natural, though I wouldn't call them 'severe.' Mngh~"
Celicia’s neck arched slightly again, seemingly buffeted by another surge of turbulent blood. She bit her silver teeth together.
"As you can see, it is merely a bit of... physical agitation."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you think I am lying to you?"
"No... I’m just worried about you, Celicia—I mean, Your Majesty."
"There is no need. I am not so fragile."
As the lingering heat from the skin-to-skin contact subsided slightly, Celicia stole another glance under the desk.
Though separated by her skirt, she could practically see Muen’s smug grin. He was taking advantage of her inability to resist, growing increasingly bold as he toyed with her most sensitive areas.
And then...
Rrip—
She heard the faint, sharp sound of thin fabric tearing. The black stockings she wore today hadn't been intended for him, but now, a warm breeze seemed to drift into her mysterious garden.
That guy... he actually dared...
A flash of indignation sparked in Celicia’s eyes. She wasn't about to let Muen have his way entirely. Shifting her posture slightly, she straightened her long legs. Her porcelain-white foot, clad in black silk, slipped out of her high heel and reached toward a certain sensitive location on Muen’s body.
If you want to play this game, let’s see who surrenders first.
"Sss—"
A moment later, a very low, suppressed intake of breath reached Celicia’s ears.
Muen, who had been focused on his "conquest," suddenly felt his own "central command" come under attack. His composure shattered instantly, and he nearly lost control.
The last time had been a drunken blur, but now, Celicia’s movements were clearly backed by a surprising amount of experience. Every subtle motion struck Muen’s weaknesses and vital points with surgical precision.
As expected of Celicia. I can't underestimate her.
Muen struggled to keep his reactions quiet enough to avoid Ariel’s notice. This forced restraint only heightened the sensation, making the fire within him burn even hotter.
But he wasn't about to back down now. He could only press forward.
Once his "five-finger vanguard" had dismantled the last of her defenses, leaving nothing to stand in his way, Muen took a deep breath. He leaned forward, catching a brief glimpse of the "victory fruit" he was about to pluck, and then deployed his most soulful "elite squad" for a direct strike at the heart of the stronghold!
*
"Your Majesty, are you really sure you're okay?"
"Yes... I’m fine."
Celicia’s body stiffened. Her fingers gripped the edge of the desk so hard her knuckles turned white, finally arresting the tremors of her body so she wouldn't lose her composure in front of Ariel.
"The turbulence of one's essence is difficult to suppress. I apologize for the unseemly display, but it truly isn't a major issue. With your knowledge, you should know that I simply need focused rest and recuperation."
"Mm... I suppose so."
Ariel nodded earnestly. If it truly was just a matter of agitated blood and energy, then rest was indeed the best medicine.
"Then there is nothing more to say. Thank you for your concern, Student Ariel."
Celicia wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, taking the opportunity to brush back a stray lock of hair. But this time, Ariel froze.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but for a fleeting second, an incredible, breathtaking allure had radiated from Celicia. It was as if all her icy regality had been melted away by the warmth of late spring.
It was a beauty so profound it was suffocating.
But it lasted only an instant. Before Ariel could be sure of what she saw, Celicia had returned to her usual, composed self.
"Is something the matter?"
"No... nothing."
Ariel stammered, "Since Your Majesty is fine, I shall take my leave!"
"You may go."
Celicia let out a long, silent sigh of relief.
For the first time, she felt that a simple meeting was an exhausting ordeal. Of course, she would never admit that if this had gone on any longer, she might have actually lost.
*
"Celicia seemed... really strange."
Walking out of the Student Council Room, Ariel fell into deep thought.
Celicia’s explanation had been flawless, yet something felt off. At the same time, a thought she considered utterly impossible began to bubble up in her mind, refusing to be suppressed.
"Teacher, did you notice anything strange?" Ariel asked.
"No."
The figure of Ariel’s teacher shimmered into view. "The Imperial Authority has been draped around that girl the entire time. I couldn't sense anything unusual."
"Then..."
Ariel’s eyes flickered. "Was there a third person in the room besides me and Celicia?"
"Huh? Why would you ask that?"
Ariel’s teacher looked confused. "Who would dare hide in the presence of an Empress? Are they looking to commit regicide? Besides, where could anyone even hide in that room? Under the Empress’s skirt?"
"...True."
Ariel thought about it and agreed it was impossible. It seemed she was overthinking things. How could the same ridiculous situation happen twice?
Her mood brightened again, and she put her hands on her hips. "I see. It must be a really serious aftereffect. I’ll have to work harder to help Celicia get her energy back!"
*
Back in the Student Council Room, the moment Ariel was gone, Celicia immediately used her power to freeze the door and windows shut. Then, she looked down and hiked up her skirt.
Muen was still crouched there, focused on his assault. Now that the "nuisance" was gone, he was working even harder. He was like a diligent little bee, tirelessly harvesting sweet nectar.
Celicia felt a surge of irritation at his "diligence," but before she could voice her anger...
The sensation overwhelmed her.
Though Muen had only deployed his "special forces," their agility was something his "main army" couldn't match. Combined with the fact that this was her first time experiencing such a thing, Celicia found her defenses crumbling in a matter of moments.
She looked down at Muen, her eyes misty with desire and a hint of lingering annoyance. She raised her hands high...
But in the end, they fell gently. Her fingers wove into Muen’s golden hair as she arched her swan-like neck, surrendering herself to the depths of the moment.