I gulped.

'I have to keep my promise no matter what.'

I nodded with a slightly nervous face. At that moment, Lucian rushed to me like a dog whose leash was loosened.

H-hold on!

I was overwhelmed by his hasty rush.

But despite my worries, Lucian's lips touched my forehead very gently.

Yes. The reward I decided to give Lucian today was a kiss.

Not the kiss I give him as I have done so far, but the kiss he gives me.

'I'm nervous.'

Only one part of his body touched me, and my heart felt like it was going to explode.

He slowly lowered his face and kissed me.

Above the eyebrows, above my closed eyes where my eyelashes tremble, at the tip of my nose, and above my two ears.

Mm.

Perhaps because I was nervous that a weird sound came out as his touch tickled my ears.

Lucian smiled as if he thought I was cute and kissed my lips.

With this much, he should be moderately satisfied but

Lucian's lips went down to my lips, and soon slipped over my neck. The moment his lips touched my unprotected neck, I trembled all over.

L-Lucian!

But he didn't stop.

I shouted when his lips came down to my collarbone.

Let's stop here!

Looking down at me, he pouted.

He looked at me like I was being mean to him, but I stood my ground.

We promised you could kiss me exactly 10 times. That was your tenth.

I can't get caught with my beating heart. I have to be confident enough so that he doesn't notice I'm shaking a lot right now.

Lucian stared at me for a long while and said.

Okay.

Only then did his lips, which had touched the collarbone, fall into a frown, expressing his regret.

Lucian looked up at me and said,

I kept my promise. So Nia must keep her promise, too. You said you'd increase the number of kisses every time we did the training with Kuhn.

Okay. I was the one who offered such a reward in the first place.

But I didn't know he'd kiss all over my body like this!

How naive I was when I thought he would just kiss ten times.

Lucian looked at me with a face full of regrets, and soon his eyes bent gently.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Looking at the man with the lewd smile, I hugged him without realizing it.

How else are you planning on kissing me?

..Not that I don't like it.

Since then, the training continued smoothly. Kuhn, in the ghost getup, and I talked in front of Lucian, and Lucian was gradually able to look at us calmly.

Hmm. Of course, after the training, I would give him the reward.

And finally, the day came.

Today, Kuhn will take off the curtains and show himself.

Until now, Kuhn was actually just a ghost. Taking off the curtain and taking on a human form, Kuhn will invigorate Lucian beyond comparison.

From where he was sitting, Lucian looked to be deeply contemplating. I kneeled and looked at him.

You can do it.

After a while, Lucian nodded as if he had made up his mind.

I spoke towards the door.

Kuhn, come on in.

Slowly, the door opened, and Kuhn came in.

Seeing Kuhn, Lucian hardened like a stone.

I said with a shocked face, pointing my finger at Kuhn.

W-what?! What is this?

It's the first time Kardien will actually see me. I think it'll be too much for him if I actually show myself so

No, even so, this is

Kuhn was dressed up as a woman. Fluttering hair decorations and shiny accessories. With a fancy dress.

Kuhn said with a smile.

Does it look convincing? I think Kardien will fare better if it's with a woman than a man.

I don't think so.

If I were Lucian, I would have wiped it right away.

Fortunately, however, Lucian's face looked calm.

No. He didn't seem to care at all why Kuhn was dressed up as such.

'I guess he's okay.'

I was relieved and went to talk to Kuhn.

It starts now.

Today, I am going to talk to Kuhn for just five minutes. As it was the first time in a long time that Lucian saw a healthy human being and I talk.

There was no need to have a full-on conversation to stimulate Lucian.

I said to Kuhn.

You look better dressed up as a woman than I thought.

Iampretty.

Aren't you ashamed to say things like that with your own mouth?

It's the truth. Why should I?

I looked at Kuhn with disdain.

As expected, this guy's lost it.

Seeing my face, Kuhn chuckled.

It's still going around. The rumor that you were manipulated by Kardien.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks

Who said such a terrible thing?

Well, you were freed from Kardien's hand with the saint's power, returned to the capital, and then went back to Kardien. Of course, there would be many rumors about it.

They're saying Kardien manipulated you with the devil's power. Or that you were fascinated by Kardien's power. Or

Kuhn said with a laugh as if it was funny just thinking about it.

Even saying that you loved Kardien and begged to return to him.

Oh my. There weren't only false rumors.

I thought that was the rumor that was false.

Then Kuhn looked at me with a strange gaze.

You have more grit than I thought.

I would call it love, not grit.

I know. I can't believe it even when I see it with my own eyes. How can he

Kuhn's eyes got bigger. I looked at where Kuhn's gaze was directed at and gasped. Lucian was shaking uncontrollably in his chair.

Lucian's clenched fists were trembling. The glare in his red eyes was terrifying.

Kuhn said with a stiff face.

Hey, isn't that dangerous?

At that moment, Lucian's figure disappeared.

No. To be exact, it didn't disappear, but it moved toward us at a tremendous speed.

Just as I figured out what was happening, Lucian was already approaching Kuhn's side and reaching out to him.

Lucian didn't have anything in his hand, but that alone was enough to be a vicious weapon.

But bang! and with a bursting sound, Lucian's hand bounced off.

It was because of the light from Kuhn's white necklace. It was the imperial jewel that I had asked Carlix for.

It was said that the jewel, made by the archmage long ago, can block any physical force if you wear it.

Kuhn, who was protected by the jewel, was fine.

However, the floor and walls where Kuhn stood were not fine.

Lucian just made a gesture with his hand, but the floor was smashed and all the decorations on the wall were smashed from his one move.

Lucian blinked and started to move once again. Kuhn screamed at the incredible show of power in front of him.

Do something about this crazy guy!

Even if he is protected by the jewel, it is still frightening to see someone coming at you with the intent to kill.

Above all, the jewel has a limit to its power, so I can't just leave Lucian be.

I rushed and grabbed Lucian.

Stop it, Lucian!

The moment I touched him, Lucian stopped moving.

But his breath was still rough. Lucian replied with cold eyes.

Let me go, Nia. I want to pull out that guy's eyes. I'm going to crush his ears and tear his mouth apart.

You can't do that!

Why? He dare to look at you.

At that moment, I felt immense despair.

Ah.. it's not working.

'No, I expected this would happen one day.'

I managed to pull myself together and said, gripping Lucian's hand tighter with my hand.

I don't like it when you do that.

I'm going to hate you.

My Lucian, will you listen to me?

Little by little, Lucian's red eyes began to subside. When he became calm, Kuhn had already disappeared.

Lucian looked around the room. For only a few seconds, Lucian lost his reason. However, the damage caused was significant.

Lucian looked at the ruined room with an expressionless face. As he opened his mouth to speak, I grabbed his face and said.

It's okay.

I asked too much of you.

I'm sorry. And thank you for trying.

I smiled brightly and hugged Lucian.

I meant it.

Because I now know what was most important.

It is my love for him.

At dawn. Kuhn was asleep.

He fell asleep with his bare face, with no makeup on, and he looked infinitely comfortable.

Although he was in a truly life threatening situation for a few seconds, he fell asleep.

But someone grabbed Kuhn's shoulder and began to shake him. Kuhn pretended not to know and closed his eyes tightly.

Because he wasn't a good enough person to wake up from his sleep for others.

However, the low voice that rang in his ears was enough to open his eyes.

Wake up, Kuhn.

Kuhn knew the clear voice that reminded him of the cool wind well.

Kuhn opened his eyes and screamed.

Lucian was looking at himself with a cold expression.

Kuhn hurriedly looked for the necklace. With the imperial jewel in his hand, Kuhn said.

You saw it, right? No matter what you do, you can't touch me. Even if I have the worst luck, you can't kill me.

Half was bluffing.

Carlix said when he handed over the jewel.

[The jewel is powerful, but it's not perfect. If more than a certain amount of force is applied, it will break I don't know if it will withstand Kardien's power.]

It was as the crown prince said. The jewel was slightly cracked due to Lucian's attack earlier.

If Lucian exerts the right amount of his power, the jewel may not last and be smashed.

'And I'll be smashed too.'