Chapter 8

Chapter 8

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‘Speak, Elena! Don’t let him trample on your dignity!’

‘Speak!’ Elena growled in her heart. She bit her lip until it bled so she could feel the pain, hoping it would allow her to regain control of her body.

And indeed, the pain from biting her lip allowed Elena to control herself again.

“Huh?” Lucien frowned when he saw blood flowing from Elena’s lips. Then Elena gathered her courage and answered him.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am only a half-human. I would only dirty your residence. Surely someone as noble as you would not wish to be served by impure blood like mine, would you?”

“If the elders were to find out, there would be serious trouble.” Elena rejected Lucien again, still in a very polite manner but of course, that rejection angered Lucien.

This was the first time someone had rejected him. Or perhaps it was the first time Lucien had wanted to sleep with someone and been refused outright.

“Who would have thought you were so good at making excuses? How interesting…” Lucien whispered as he wiped the blood from Elena’s lips and licked it right before her eyes.

“Of course, if the elders find out, I will eliminate you. You must serve me in secret. After all, you’re the one who came and tempted me, so you must take responsibility!” Lucien said with a sharp grin. He released Elena and looked at her as if he were toying with her life.

Elena truly didn’t understand. When Lucien licked her blood, it sent chills down her spine. She couldn’t understand why he could be so cruel and toy with her life like this.

At that moment, Elena clenched her fists tightly. She stared at Lucien with a sharp gaze, her chest rising and falling in anger.

But Lucien seemed to enjoy it. He wanted to toy with Elena longer. He wanted to see how long she would endure by his side.

Lucien looked at Elena from head to toe. Her body was slender and beautiful. Her breasts looked full and tempting, like freshly picked apples ready to be eaten.

Lucien swallowed, his jaw tightening as something inside him burned, something strange he had never felt before.

Desire that set his body on fire and made him crave something utterly insane.

“Huh?” Elena frowned when she saw Lucien unbuttoning his shirt one by one. Her eyes widened and her face flushed red. Before her, the king removed his shirt, revealing his broad, muscular body.

“Ah!” Elena let out a small cry and immediately covered her face. She hadn’t expected Lucien to undress in front of her.

“Hmm.” Lucien chuckled softly at her reaction. After removing his upper garment, he placed it over Elena’s head, covering her face.

“Put it on and follow me…” Lucien ordered as he walked ahead, but Elena remained frozen, her feet still submerged in the lake.

Lucien glanced back and smirked sharply before continuing,

“I won’t let you flaunt your body in front of others. You’ve already offered your body to me, so you must serve me until I’m satisfied!” Lucien whispered before continuing to walk slowly.

Hearing that, Elena lowered her head and looked at her appearance, her breast nearly visible, her torn dress almost revealing everything.

“Hk!” 

“How embarrassing! I’ve been showing my body to him this whole time. How annoying!” Elena muttered in shame. She quickly put on the oversized shirt and clutched it tightly.

Her eyes darted around. She looked at Lucien walking ahead and then...

“Hmm! If I sneak away slowly, he won’t notice. I know these forest paths. I can escape! Hmm!” Elena whispered. She narrowed her eyes, stepped quietly out of the lake, and prepared to run into the forest.

But just as she tried to sneak away...

Lucien turned to her with a deadly aura. “Don’t try to run. I can catch you easily. If you dare to run, I will kill you without hesitation…”

“So hurry and follow me!”

Elena froze, swallowing hard. She knew Lucien was not joking.

“Hk!” 

“He’s truly terrifying! I’m sure he really would kill me if I defied him!”

“Hic!” 

“Just wait a little longer, Grandma. I’ll survive and escape. First, I have to obey him now…” Elena whispered softly.

She couldn’t return home now. Somehow, she had ended up trapped with Lucien Noctyrr Valecrest, the cold king and the man she hated most in this world.

Like it or not, she followed his footsteps. She kept her head down, watching her feet, following him with an annoyed yet cautious expression.

Until...

“Huh?” Elena was completely shocked. Her eyes widened as she saw the vast backyard of the palace that look so beautiful and magnificent.

Her gaze wandered everywhere. There was an expansive garden and several trees that looked carefully tended.

“It’s so vast and beautiful. This is my first time entering the palace grounds…” Elena whispered in awe. This was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.

And the deeper she went into the palace, the more magnificent it became.

“The life of a king and the life of a commoner like me are truly different. Grandma’s house and mine are made of wood, while this palace is built from magnificent obsidian stone. WOW!”

Elena even forgot that her life was currently in danger. She was too amazed by the grandeur and vastness of the Lupus Kingdom’s palace.

“Hmmm, she really is innocent…” Lucien whispered as he led Elena to the back of the palace. There stood a pavilion that would temporarily become Elena’s residence. From there, she could see the Black Lake and the large apple tree.

Lucien stepped closer to Elena, who was still mesmerized. He was tall—193 cm—while Elena was 162 cm, making the height difference quite significant.

“Uh?” Elena immediately became alert and stepped back when Lucien approached, but Lucien disliked how she always tried to distance herself.

“Hk!” Elena was shocked when Lucien easily pulled her by the waist, pressing her body against his. Then he spoke seriously,

“You will stay here for the time being. Wait for me here. I still have some matters to attend to.”

“If you dare to run, I truly will not forgive you and will eliminate you without mercy!” Lucien growled, his gaze sharp.

Elena held her breath, her eyes wide. In the bright surroundings, she nodded innocently.

The way she nodded looked adorable in Lucien’s eyes.

“Huh!” 

“If you become an obedient girl, I promise I will treat you well. So be a good girl and wait for me here…”

“There’s still a lot for us to do tonight…” Lucien whispered, making Elena’s face flush instantly.

Gulp.

Elena swallowed hard, blinking nervously as Lucien’s large, firm hand slowly released her waist.

Lucien stood there for a few seconds. He truly didn’t understand what was happening to him. He felt like he wanted to devour Elena right then and there.

Something was surging inside him, something that made his body feel hot and his heart pound violently.

“HH!” Lucien then walked away with heavy steps, his face slightly red as he swallowed hard.

“What exactly is happening to me? Why do I desire that girl’s body so much…”

“She’s only a half-human!”

“I must just be a little curious. Once I’m satisfied with her body, I won’t feel this way anymore.”

“I’ll discard her easily.”

Lucien growled at himself, convinced that his insane desire was merely curiosity.

...

At the same time…

“Elena…”

“Elena…” Esseli walked deeper into the forest, calling her granddaughter’s name repeatedly, her voice already hoarse.

Her legs, which could not walk properly, made it extremely painful and difficult for Esseli to force herself to keep moving.

As she went deeper into the forest, she saw a torn piece of fabric that looked painfully familiar.

“No!”

“My granddaughter, it can’t be!”

“No!” Esseli cried, her body trembling. Her wrinkled hands reached for the small piece of Elena’s dress caught on the roots of a large tree.

“My granddaughter…” 

“She’s a good girl! Why does she have to suffer like this?” 

“Why? My granddaughter is innocent…” 

“She has worked hard since she was little. She only wanted to live a normal life. Why does this have to happen to her?”

“Oh, Moon Goddess! Are you truly this cruel to my granddaughter? Why make her suffer until the end…”

“Why not take my life instead?!”

Esseli wailed in despair, believing Elena had been devoured by the beasts of the Black Forest.

She collapsed at the tree’s roots. She had no strength left and there, she fainted.

...

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