Chapter 137: Fiery Confession
by rosalie“I love you, Xavier.”
My heart pounded so fiercely it felt as if it would leap out of my throat.
“…….”
The beautiful eyes of the man I loved were fixed on me.
“I told you before, didn’t I? That I’d stay by your side until I broke your curse. But the truth is…”
“Yes, you said that because you love me and want to stay by my side.”
“That’s right. You understand now, don’t you? Honestly, you’re so clueless.”
I tried to hide my embarrassment with a sheepish laugh. Though I had prepared myself, the awkwardness after my confession was far greater than I had imagined.
‘You did well, Yuria.’
“You’re the clueless one here.”
Suddenly, Xavier grabbed my waist and pulled me tightly against him.
“What are you doing?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I already belong to you.”
As he brought his face closer to mine, his breath brushed against the tip of my nose.
“I even said something as mortifying as how you’ve conquered me. I begged you not to leave, to stay by my side. How could you not understand my feelings?”
“That’s because I’m the Saintess. You needed contact with me to receive holy power.”
His lips were so close. My focus was entirely drawn to his moving red lips.
“I chased after Lucas like a madman out of jealousy, couldn’t sleep because of Daniel, and even tried wearing glasses. When you were imprisoned, I jumped through a portal and held a blade to that raccoon bastard’s neck. Do you think that’s all? I violated imperial law and unleashed search dogs across the entire empire. If Rosetta hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve stormed the Imperial Palace at dawn that day. What do you think all of that meant?”
Xavier’s words poured out like a rapid-fire cannon.
“I thought all of that was just because of the holy power.”
“You treated me like such a bad man? It was all because I love you.”
“What?”
The warmth of his breath on my nose grew even hotter.
“I’m sorry for making you confess first.”
His red lips gently covered mine, releasing a hot breath before pulling away.
“I love you, Yuria.”
His voice was like a dream. Though it was my ears that heard his words, it felt as though my heart had received his confession.
He loves me too?
I couldn’t believe it.
Ah, my heart was racing wildly.
The heat between us grew as our bodies touched. I pushed myself up and sat atop him.
“I… I didn’t know!”
“Now that I think about it, I must be the bad guy for making you confess first.”
“Yes, you are bad.”
Xavier sat up on the bed with me, smiling mischievously as he asked,
“Then, are you going to punish me?”
“I’ll think about it tomorrow. There’s something more important right now.”
I turned my body again, cupped his face with both hands, and greedily captured his lips. The moist sounds of our kiss filled the room.
When I tried to pull away, Xavier held my lips in place.
“It’s not enough yet.”
“Mm.”
Feeling his stimulation, my lips parted, and I accepted him. Each delicate touch sent shivers down to my fingertips.
“Yuria, I adore you so much.”
“Ah.”
Xavier’s lips trailed down to my jaw and softly nibbled on my neck. A hot moan escaped from my slightly parted lips. His lowered, elegant eyebrows and those smooth, shimmering teal eyes sent my fragile heart plummeting.
The sight of him stirred my senses, and the nape of my neck grew hotter and hotter.
He kissed the palm of my hand, and eventually, the heat reached deep into my eyes, blurring my vision. My toes curled, and the strength drained from my clenched fists.
Xavier shifted positions, moving on top of me.
Our chests pressed together, rising and falling with heat, closing the gap between us. The space between us grew smaller and smaller.
As our breaths quickened, the room grew hotter. A golden light radiated from my back, wrapping around both of us.
“I love you. Forever and always.”
Each time Xavier confessed his love, a fiery spring erupted deep within me. An overwhelming sensation surged from the depths of my stomach.
“Ah…”
“Don’t go alone tomorrow. Promise me.”
Xavier spoke in a heated breath above me.
Instead of answering, I smiled and wrapped my arms around his back.
‘Xavier, I love you. I love you so much. Enough to give you everything.’
Our true first night was passionate, desperate, and sweet.
＊
In the early dawn, when the faint light of morning still lingered, I quietly changed into the black dress I had prepared in advance.
Xavier was sleeping soundly in bed. I gently brushed aside the hair that fell over his smooth forehead.
Even with his eyes closed, he was breathtakingly beautiful.
The love we shared was so precious to me.
One sacrifice was enough—mine alone.
Though I had promised him last night not to go alone, I resolved to follow through with my original plan.
“I’m sorry, Xavier. I promise I’ll come back.”
Steeling my heart, I left the room.
Those who seek death will live, and those who seek life will die.
I recalled the words spoken by Goddess Maha to the first Saintess.
If things went as I planned, I would survive.
＊
“Your Holiness.”
“You really came alone.”
Melvin, dressed in the dark brown robes of a common priest, sat beside a lion statue, holding a long staff.
“Yes.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“It’s fine. I’ll definitely come back alive.”
“…….”
Melvin looked down at me in surprise before turning his gaze forward.
“Let’s go. I’ve prepared a horse in the forest outside the city gates.”
Riding the horse Melvin had prepared, we galloped through the forest path.
“Once we cross two mountains, a black mist will appear. Beyond that lies the center of the Cursed Land.”
“Understood. Your Holiness, you should turn back now. If your holy power is depleted, you might succumb to the curse.”
“Ha, are you belittling me as the Pope right now?”
“What? That’s not what I meant.”
Startled by Melvin’s sudden stern tone, I looked at him, only to see him smirking playfully.
“You’re too much.”
“Within the black mist, there are beastmen who have lost their sanity and wander aimlessly, unable to escape the curse. They won’t listen to reason.”
I tightened my grip on the reins.
Goddess Maha hadn’t mentioned anything about this. I thought I just needed to enter the Cursed Land.
‘What nonsense. Next time I see her, I’ll give her a piece of my mind.’
“You didn’t know? That’s why Xavier said it was dangerous.”
“History books and the records of the Auguste family mentioned encountering beastmen in the Cursed Land.”
“Did you think they were ordinary beastmen like Xavier? There are predator-type beastmen too.”
“I see.”
I had brought a holy power booster and a blade in my pocket for emergencies. I thought I was well-prepared, but perhaps I had been too naive.
“Don’t worry. Do you think I volunteered to guide you for no reason?”
“What?”
As soon as we crossed the first mountain, figures emerged from the forest. The first thing I noticed was a head of white hair.
“Hello, Saintess.”
“Eaglin!”
And there, shining even in the darkness, was the platinum-haired lunatic—no, the King of Moirai.
“Well, Duchess.”
“Your Majesty, what are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here, Saintess?”
“Don’t mimic me!”
“I do as I please. You’re wandering around my land as a foreigner, so of course, I need to keep an eye on you. Besides, I’m already cursed, so entering that land won’t kill me.”
Ugh.
Instinctively, I glanced at Melvin.
“Oh, I didn’t tell him. He followed on his own, Your Eminence.”
I let out a deep sigh. I felt both grateful and sorry for those who had come all this way for me.
“Thank you, everyone. But please, just escort me to the center.”
I straightened my horse’s reins and spurred it forward. I was about to cross one more mountain when it happened.
A dark silhouette loomed on the mountainside. The face was obscured by the black mist.
“Stop.”
In the blink of an eye, he used my horse’s back as leverage and leapt onto the saddle behind me.
“Kyaa!”
“Where do you think you’re running off to without me?”
“Xavier?”
Seated behind me, he snatched the reins from my hands and pulled them tight.
“I told you, didn’t I? Not to go alone. Didn’t I say last night that I’d go with you to the end?”
“…….”
“You set a man’s heart on fire, and now you’re trying to run off and leave me a widower….”
Panicked, I quickly covered his mouth with my hand.
“Xavier!”
“So, let’s go together.”
“Alright.”
At that moment, another voice chimed in.
“I’m here too.”
“My lady!”
Were they hiding behind the trees?
Rexton and Rosetta emerged with their foreheads covered in holy power patches.
“Why are you two here? It’s dangerous!”
“It’s fine.”
“Me too. I want to witness the lady change the fate of this world.”
“Rosetta, go back.”
“I won’t be a hindrance. I’m not great with animals, but I’m very good at killing them.”
She pulled out the hammer tucked under her arm and swung it around with a whoosh.
“…….”
“…….”
Her overly blunt words made Lucas and Eaglin clear their throats awkwardly.
I looked around at everyone.
Lucas, Eaglin, Xavier, Rexton, and even Rosetta.
“This is exactly why I tried to sneak out, but look at this. Thank you, though.”
I bowed my head to everyone in gratitude before signaling for us to move out.
We soon reached the entrance to the Cursed Land. The sky, the ground—everything was black.
The mist thickened to the point where visibility was nearly impossible. Only the sound of hooves and everyone’s breathing could be heard.
“Yuria, the others will protect us. You and I only need to enter the center.”
“Alright. Will the others be okay?”
“Don’t worry. Rexton and Rosetta brought plenty of patches. Lucas and his group are already cursed anyway. Same with me.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And once we break the curse, everything will be fine, won’t it?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
We dismounted and sent the horses away, urging them back beyond the black mist.
“Your Majesty, predator-type beastmen are approaching from above.”
“Good. Their numbers and condition?”
“Two large ones in an enlarged state and about twenty others in beast form.”
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Growl! Grrr!”
Shing. The sound of swords being drawn and the clash of beasts’ teeth echoed in the darkness.
“Yuria, stay close to me.”
Xavier held me tightly in his arms, drawing his bastard sword with his other hand.
“Roar!”
Slice.
The body of a lion-shaped beastman charging from the left was impaled by Xavier’s sword. Without hesitation, he spun around and broke the neck of a wolf lunging from behind me with his bare hands.
Though I couldn’t see clearly in the darkness, everyone fought seamlessly. Turning toward the sound of heavy footsteps, I saw a wolf larger than a grizzly bear charging at us with its mouth wide open.
“Lucas.”
“I know! I’ll take the legs; you take the head, you mangy cat!”
Even the terrifyingly massive lion fell after a few precise attacks from Xavier and Lucas.
Rexton, surprisingly, was an excellent marksman. He nocked three arrows at a time and shot them with precision.
“My apologies, Goddess Maha.”
Melvin, wielding a priest’s staff, beat a wolf beastman senseless before dragging it to Rosetta.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Squawk.”
A badger-like beastman fell to Rosetta’s hammer, followed by the wolf Melvin had brought over.
Thanks to their help, we reached the center of the Cursed Land without much trouble.
The real issue was the entrance to the center of the Cursed Land.