Chapter 62

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 62

Chapter Title: His Kiss and Her Soul (6)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

'First, I need to bring this man over to my side.'

Hunter was a rigid, loyal man, and men like him became easy to handle once you got them on a leash. Elise knew exactly how to get a man under her thumb.

When Elise suddenly stopped walking and looked at him, Hunter furrowed his brow as if asking what was wrong. At the same time, she pressed a hand to her forehead, pretending to feel dizzy, and staggered.

Startled, Hunter rushed over and grabbed her arm.

"Are you alright?"

"Ugh......"

Elise let out a groan-like sound as she gauged the distance between herself and Hunter. He was only lightly holding her forearm. Not enough yet. She let her legs go limp, as if she could no longer support herself.

Unable to steady her with just her arm, Hunter had no choice but to wrap his arm around her waist.

"I'm dizzy...... I must be too exhausted......"

Elise whispered in a frail, faltering voice as she lowered the hand that had been on her forehead. Her fingertips brushed innocently against his neck and chest on the way down. She clearly saw his Adam's apple bob.

"Shall I carry you to the bedroom?"

"Yes, please do."

Hunter hesitated for a moment before scooping her up into his arms. Feeling his firm chest against her, Elise steeled her resolve.

'I have to use everything I have right now. This is the life I barely clawed back.'

She had to smile in front of the people who killed her family. Pretend to be grateful for their kindness, pretend to love them. This was the life of Elise Haylis, scraped together from that hellish humiliation.

The fall of Kanta and the ruin of the Franche royal family—that was what she had desperately wished for. But Elise had no intention of stopping there. She wanted everything that Roxiana had enjoyed simply for being born the king's daughter.

'Why should you get to have it all when I can't? You took my family and lived happily—there's no reason I can't take yours and do the same!'

Even though House Haylis had fallen due to their own sins, her twisted rage had wrecked her life. Unaware of that truth, Elise schemed to seize happiness using the one thing she could rely on: her body.

Elise clung to Hunter's neck as he laid her on the bed. He flinched back in shock, but she buried her face in his neck even faster.

A woman's sweet breath clung stickily to the nape of his neck.

"Hunter, I'm so scared. Please stay with me until I fall asleep."

Her lips pressed against his neck as she whispered.

Hunter's Adam's apple bobbed again.

Elise was stunningly beautiful, regardless of her origins. Even a sturdy man like Hunter couldn't ignore her fairy-like prettiness and sugar-sweet scent. It didn't take long for man and woman to entwine as one on the bed.

Nestled in his heated embrace, Elise thought to herself.

'This man is loyal to Lucas, so he won't dare speak carelessly. With nothing else to use right now but my body, I had to resort to this. Lucas, you have to understand.'

This was all Lucas's fault.

If Lucas hadn't tipped off the officials in advance, managing the territory wouldn't have been so smooth, and she wouldn't have needed to go this far.

'So you have to pity me for having no other choice.'

When Roxiana opened her eyes again, the sun was beginning to set. As she emerged from the bedroom, Petria, who had been pacing anxiously, hurried over.

"Princess, are you okay?"

The maid had switched from addressing her as Lady Roxiana, but Roxiana no longer corrected her. Titles didn't matter anymore.

"I'm fine."

Roxiana replied softly as she walked toward the sofa. Even with Floyd sharing his life force, her stamina hadn't fully recovered. The nightmare-like pain from losing consciousness lingered in spots, making it hard to stand for long.

"You haven't eaten in so long—how about some soup?"

"Sure, just a little."

Petria nodded eagerly and left the room.

Alone now, Roxiana checked the vase by the window. The flowers Hexston's children had once given her had stayed vividly alive for so long thanks to the spirits, but now they were withering, their life spent.

'Even with spirits by my side, nothing lasts forever.'

Roxiana leaned her head against the sofa and closed her eyes.

Just before drifting into a deep sleep, she recalled her conversation with Floyd.

'Why did I get so worked up?'

She could have calmly explained her family's situation. Offered something in exchange for what she needed.

'What right do I have to feel so upset and hurt now?'

It was natural for Floyd not to trust her power. She collapsed every time she used it, burdening him—and for a man who solved his own problems, saving her must feel like a hassle.

Roxiana knew well that expecting total faith from someone she'd just met was a fool's hope. She needed to show him her abilities gradually over time and persuade him step by step.

Yet strangely, in his presence, her emotions surged, and it was hard to rein in the wave-like feelings. Sometimes she even felt an urge to drag them out and bare them to him.

'It's the Grand Duke's fault.'

She blamed her uncharacteristic behavior on Floyd.

'Yes, it's all because of the Grand Duke. He shows his emotions so openly, making me think it's okay to do the same. That's why I keep losing control.'

Either way, she could now count on his help to find her family. She'd worked hard to hide their disgrace until now, but after confiding in someone, she realized there was no need to keep burying the stone thrown into the well.

'My family didn't do anything wrong. This isn't their shame—it's an dishonor for Lucas and Elise. Yeah, that's it.'

With hope sparked, her thoughts naturally flowed toward better outcomes. She'd seen everything as tragedy before—and it was—but now she could glimpse something brighter amid it.

-"Understood. Then we'll have to search every well in Ider Palace and the surrounding area."

Suddenly, she remembered how naturally, as if it were obvious, he'd agreed to help her. Sweeter and kinder than any words he'd said before. His tone, like it was simply his duty, filled her chest with something soft and fluffy.

And so, Roxiana wanted to do something for him—not to use him, but to repay him.

Just then, Petria returned.

She'd asked for one bowl of soup, but the trolley cart was laden with various dishes. Roxiana gave her a puzzled look, and Petria flushed as she explained.

"When I said you'd woken up, the cooks piled all this on. They were waiting for this moment—I couldn't refuse."

The chefs' concern for Roxiana was laid out on the table, dish by dish. She had no appetite, but she didn't want to dismiss their feelings, so she picked up a fork.

"No one knew if you'd ever wake up again. Everyone was so worried."

Relieved that Roxiana had come through safely, Petria grew chatty.

"We were terrified you'd sleep forever...... His Highness was the same, and the knight captains visited every day. His Highness stayed by your side the whole time."

Roxiana hadn't realized. She'd thought she woke just as he was there.

-"I'll kiss you."

The kiss they'd shared before he left flashed back so abruptly that she dropped her fork.

"Oh dear, your hand must be weak. What now?"

Petria fussed and picked up the fork, but Roxiana had no chance to respond.

'A kiss......'

She'd been too exhausted in body and mind to think deeply then.

'He did it.'

Her face burned. The soft warmth on her lips felt vivid. The power flowing into her mouth lingered as clearly as if it continued now.

Her heart began pounding painfully hard: thump, thump, thump.

'It was treatment.'

Roxiana thought firmly.

'Just treatment.'

It had been, truly. His kiss had infused strength into her weary soul. It had pushed away the pain of body and spirit.

So it was meaningless treatment. Like when Kirshan tended knights' wounds. Yes, treatment.

Even repeating "treatment" over and over didn't quiet her heartbeat. She hurriedly ate soup with the new spoon Petria brought, but she couldn't escape the memory of that kiss.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Silly me. His Highness left a message."

At "His Highness," her already racing heart pounded even harder. Roxiana gripped her spoon tightly and stared at Petria.

"Tomorrow, His Highness is heading out to subjugate magical beasts with the Spider, Bear, and Eagle Knight Orders."

Hearing "magical beast subjugation" cleared her kiss-filled mind bit by bit.

Yes, now wasn't the time to get flustered over that oddly intimate "treatment"—mild or excessive. The path to those responsible for her family's deaths was long and perilous.

She'd only just reached the starting line.