Varkas, who had been breathing in the cool air tinged with the scent of rain, turned his head and looked at her.
A gloomy shadow lay over eyes as quiet as dawn.
She wondered what thoughts were stirring beyond those eyes that resembled a frozen lake.
Was he worrying about the tangled future before him? Or was he regretting his decision now that it was too late?
In spite of her ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) vow never to wonder again, Talia found herself asking once more.
You weren't marrying because you loved Aila after all, were you?
I knew it.
You're someone who can never burn for anyone.
In truth, it probably wouldn't have mattered who the other person was.
That's why you could play the role of Aila's gentle fiancé, and why you can play the part of a convincing guardian for me as well.
Talia rubbed the corner of her mouth where Varkas had brushed past, erasing the sensation he had left behind.
Talia Roem Gwirta was merely one among the countless responsibilities he had to shoulder. So she would not be deceived by meaningless kindness tossed her way like alms.
Turning her back on him, she pulled the blanket over her head.
At some point, she must have drifted off.
Her body, tense all day, melted instantly beneath the strong effects of the wine.
Burying her face in the pillow, she let her arms and legs go limp beneath the soft blanket. How long she floated in that hazy state, she could not tell, but a prickling sensation gradually began gnawing at her knee.
Twisting in discomfort, Talia felt the pain growing stronger and slowly raised her heavy eyelids. Her unfocused vision was filled with pitch-black darkness.
The drowsiness crushing her vanished at once.
With frightened eyes, Talia stared into the jet-black void.
The sticky night, devoid of even a single ray of light, strangled her breathing. She gasped roughly and rubbed her tightening throat, but the dull ache that had started in her knee suddenly exploded like lightning.
She hurriedly grabbed her calf with both hands. Beneath her fingers she felt her weakened muscles spasming. Cold sweat streamed down her back under the agony, as though blades had been stabbed into her flesh.
Biting down on her lower lip, Talia clawed frantically at the muscles twisting beyond her control.
At that moment, she heard the sound of flint striking, and a line of light assaulted her face.
Jerking her head upward, she saw a small candle glowing faintly and Varkas's pale outline.
Staring at her bloodless face with a hardened expression, Varkas bent over the bed.
Without thinking, Talia let out a shrill scream.
“Don't touch me!”
She violently slapped away the hand reaching toward her leg and crawled toward the end of the bed. But she didn't get far before he caught her.
Pressing her shoulder down firmly with one hand so she could not move, Varkas reached toward her calf, now covered in nail marks.
Talia screamed like someone drenched in boiling oil.
“No! Don't touch me!”
“Stay still. I'm only checking the wound.”
“No! I said no!”
As she twisted desperately, panting as though she might stop breathing, he muttered something she couldn't understand and pulled her tightly against him. Immobilizing her so she could no longer struggle, he rang the bell hanging beside the bed with one hand.
Moments later, the bedroom door burst open and startled maids rushed inside.
Varkas shouted loudly.
“Bring a healing mage immediately!”
Chaos broke out.
While an elderly mage rushed into the bridal chamber and cast recovery magic, the maids lit candles throughout the room and burned calming incense beside the bed.
Even amid the commotion, Varkas never released her, holding her tightly in both arms.
Buried against his firm chest, beating hot beneath her cheek, Talia looked around with frightened eyes.
Her nerves were stretched to the limit, terrified that someone might lift her skirts and inspect her leg. Curling her legs tightly beneath her, she clutched her skirts like a shield.
How much time had passed?
A disheveled mage held a bluish glass bottle before her face.
“If you drink this, the pain will subside immediately.”
Talia narrowed her eyes at it.
If she drank that, she would surely lose consciousness. Someone might lift her skirt while she slept.
She pressed her lips together tightly and turned her head away.
Then long fingers seized her chin and forcibly tilted her face upward. The mouth of the bottle was pressed firmly against her lips.
Talia clenched her teeth and resisted.
Looking down at her with eyes colder than thin ice, Varkas raised the bottle to his own lips.
Before she could understand the meaning of his actions, lips dampened with the bitter essence of herbs covered hers.
Talia's eyes widened.
Holding her chin firmly and pressing her cheek with force, Varkas pushed his tongue into her parted mouth.
The bitter medicine flowed in.
Talia gripped his thin shirt so tightly it seemed she might tear it.
She could not comprehend what was happening.
As she swallowed the liquid pooling inside her mouth, her constricted throat wrapped around his tongue.
Tongue and tongue rubbed together of their own accord.
Broken moans filled her mouth.
Had he fed her poison?
Her throat burned as though on fire.
“Haah...”
After what felt unnaturally long, their overlapping lips slowly separated.
Forgetting even the pain stabbing through her leg, Talia stared up at him.
Meeting her dazed gaze, Varkas tilted the bottle once more and poured the remaining liquid into his own mouth.
Their lips met again.
Talia dug her nails into his forearm.
His tongue, invading the moist softness inside her mouth, gradually pushed the liquid scented with deep herbs and flowers farther down her throat.
Her throat convulsed, and regardless of her own will, she greedily drew him in with soft sounds.
Overwhelmed by confusion, humiliation, and a strange sensation she had never experienced before, Talia curled her toes.
Perhaps the medicine was already taking effect.
The world spun before her eyes.
Warm saliva continued slipping down her throat. Though the liquid coating her tongue no longer tasted bitter, he continued moving through the narrow, damp space. The slow, lingering movements were sticky enough to make her question the purpose behind them.
Flustered, she struck his chest.
Only then did the soft flesh withdraw slowly.
Talia looked up at him, breathing heavily.
Unlike her own disheveled state, his face remained as calm as ever.
That composed expression only tangled her already chaotic thoughts further.
Perhaps...
Had everything that just happened merely been her delusion?
While that doubt consumed her, he brushed his thumb across her lips.
Only when she heard the wet sound did she realize how thoroughly soaked her lips were.
Talia hurriedly buried her face beneath the blanket.
A damp sigh fell over the crown of her head.
“...Sleep now.”
He cupped her head and pressed it against his chest.
Within his hot, steadily beating embrace, she slowly calmed her ragged breathing.
Before long, the medicine spread through her body.
Feeling her vision gradually blur, she clutched his shirt tightly.
Don't touch my leg while I'm asleep.
Perhaps he heard her mumbled words, because he gently stroked her waist.
Soon strength drained from her limbs and darkness swallowed her sight.
She fell into sleep as though plunging into an abyss.
When she opened her eyes again, sunlight was brightly filling the room.
Still heavy with sleep, Talia stared at the ceiling before sensing movement and quickly turning her head.
Varkas was standing by the window, changing clothes.
Light pouring through the glass slid white across his body, sculpted like carved plaster.
As she stared at him in a daze, a calm gaze flew toward her.
Talia instinctively shrank her shoulders.
As though everything that had happened the previous night had been nothing more than an illusion, Varkas, wearing his usual indifferent expression, slowly looked her over.
