In all my past lives before this one, I had never felt such satisfaction burning in my chest. Never had I experienced a happy ending, and I always ended up in a situation where people I loved betrayed me. And yet here, in this moment, watching Redmund silenced under Lucretius' words, for the first time in my life, I finally tasted a victory my soul had been denied in every past life.It was strange yet almost intoxicating. I couldn't believe that I was able to change the course of my life just because of this man, an anomaly I could call, who had been such a great help to me.Vengeance...I could barely remember if I had done that during those lives I had been betrayed. I never reclaimed something I had lost. My dignity... My place... My strength... I lost them countless times.If I recall, all I did was accept my defeat, never had an urge to stand on my own. In short, I was a coward.As we were on our way to the carriage, my thoughts lingered on that satisfaction until Lucretius' vo
"After this, we will be going to the capital for your dress fitting," Lucretius said when we were on our way to the training grounds.My heart had already calmed down from his teasing earlier.I couldn't believe that I had to be honest with him at all times, and it seemed like there was no way that I could tell a lie. Even if it was a white lie.It felt like Lucretius would easily know if I lied to him or not, as if he had marked me as his mate. I knew that when you both marked each other or at least, the other party marked their mate, they could be able to read your feelings and thoughts as if they were an open book.Now, I felt like the contract itself had similarities witha mating ritual. What if there was something I didn't know that giving myself to him for the first time had caused him to read me fully?Was there such a thing? Or was I just imagining things?"My wedding gown?" I asked casually. That was what I could think of as to why he had brought it up.He shoved his hand in
"Ms. Euphyllia, come and visit us every Friday, please?" Cerys said as she helped me bring my things to my new workplace.Her voice sounded cheerful, but the way she was clinging to my arm made my chest tighten. Even though she already accepted that the records hall wouldn't be my workplace anymore, we both knew that it had been my second home, and leaving it felt like abandoning a part of myself. A small smile crept onto my lips while adjusting the box I was carrying. "Every Friday, I promise," I reminded her, though a pang of uncertainty bloomed in my chest.Because I was well aware that Lucretius didn't stay at the headquarters and mostly went out to do some missions in the field since he was a strategic commander. I wasn't briefed yet on how things would go on my end, like I should be staying in my workplace most of the time to handle some of his affairs while he was away or anything. But good thing he told me from our last meeting that his second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander
The next few days, I acted like everything was alright. But deep inside, the night I had a deal with Lucretius still lingered on my mind. Or rather, I must say the kiss we shared that had been witnessed by the moon etched and never had once left on my mind.The effect on me lasted for days and even bestowed me with sleepless nights. I had kept replaying how Lucretius could make my body on fire, which I had never once felt for Redmund."Sir Marlin, can I just become Ms. Euphyllia's assistant?"I got distracted when frail, feminine hands wrapped around my waist, lowering my head to see Cerys tighten her hold on me while she was frowning at Marlin after having a strategic meeting with all my comrades.Marlin dragged his hand down on his face, sighing. "Cerys, how many times do I have to tell you—""But I want Ms. Euphyllia here in the records hall! Why would Commander Lucretius want her? I want Ms. Euphyllia, too!" she whined.Our other comrades were chuckling at her childish attitude. T
My body was instantly set on fire with his fierce kiss, hungrily taking me just to seal our deal. I thought that I would push him away because this was insolence, but I was surprised by myself when I returned his kiss with the same intensity.It was like... I had been eager to feel his lips on me again.My hands even fisted against his chest while his mouth devoured me as if he was taking my soul without a warning. It felt like I was paying my soul in advance for our agreement and would reap my benefits soon.His tongue sought entrance in my mouth, demanding more, tasting me, and binding me to his torrid kiss. It was hard to deny his invitation. I would burn for this man with the way he was kissing me as if I had been his all this time. Mixed emotions were roaring and colliding inside until I could barely tell them from one another. I had never felt this for Redmund when we were exchanging kisses, only this man... I could have sworn that only this man could make my knees weak without
I walked back to my quarters, thoughts unraveling somewhere while my heart was refusing to slow down from what I had learned today. I had so many questions on my mind and didn't know how I would be able to dissect them.However, one thing was as clear as crystal.Lucretius knew me.That one-night stand that happened between us hadn't been a chance. From the time he approached me in that tavern, the way he said that he was able to identify me as a soldier, there was no way that they were just a coincidence.He must have known I was his nephew's mate. And yet, he offered me a night I could never forget.Now, he would go so far as to play with me, test me, or even lure me to wherever it was.Why? Was he testing my loyalty towards Redmund? Or was he aware that his nephew had been unloyal all this time and consoled me?My hand tightened on the knob as I reached my door. I felt like, as of this moment, I was being watched by him, and I refused to look anywhere but at the doorknob. Even thou