Haymand’s Blood - Chapter 7

“I understand that being told to seek comfort from a woman might have hurt your pride. But don’t throw away practicality because of it. If you set aside your pride for just a moment, we can execute our dream of conquering the continent even faster than we originally planned. So…”

“I know that already.”

Interrupting Hayard sharply, Kairas turned and strode toward the door. The loud bang of the door slamming shut echoed through the room, and Lloyd scratched his head, muttering to himself.

“Did I go too far? I was just trying to make things easier for him.”

“It wasn’t a bad attempt. But his position is different from ours. An emperor, who must reign above all, being coerced into seeking comfort—it’s not a good look. If he were just a general or a noble like us, he probably wouldn’t have been this angry. What bothers me, though…”

Hayard trailed off, staring into his glass of clear liquor.

As he suddenly fell silent, Lloyd glanced at him with a curious expression, waiting for him to continue. But Hayard said no more. Giving up, Lloyd shrugged and picked up the bottle, pouring more liquor into his empty glass.

While Lloyd focused on drinking, Hayard’s gaze subtly shifted toward Ashild.

“Was it just my imagination, or did it feel like Kairas threw his glass not because of Lloyd, but because of Ashild?”

When Ashild had said she would embrace him if he wanted, Kairas’ sharp gaze had flickered dangerously, his silver eyes burning for an instant.

“I must have seen wrong. There’s no way that cold, rational man would be swayed by a woman he’s only known for three days.”

It was a useless thought. Shaking his head slightly, Hayard decided to just focus on drinking and raised his glass.

After leaving the gathering, Kairas made his way back to his quarters. His waiting attendant quickly followed behind him, but he paid no attention.

Upon reaching his room, the attendant hurried ahead to open the door for him. Just as he was about to step inside, Kairas paused and asked,

“…Did you say that woman is staying in the adjacent room?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She is in the room to the right.”

“…I see. Prepare a bath for me. I want to soak in hot water. I’ll be in my bedroom—inform me when it’s ready.”

“Right away, Your Majesty.”

Accepting the attendant’s deep bow, Kairas opened the door to his bedroom and stepped inside. Unlike the usual imperial chambers, where the bedroom and living space were separated only by curtains, the emperor’s room had a completely independent bedroom.

“…”

Closing the door behind him, he walked to the window and gazed out at the darkened garden before lifting his large hand to rub his face.

“…I don’t know why I was angry at Ashild in that moment. She only answered Lloyd’s question, nothing more…”

It was unlike him. That was why Serenity unsettled him so much. Ever since she appeared, both his emotions and his body had been slipping beyond the control of his reason.

He had no idea how long he had been lost in thought when a knock sounded, followed by the attendant’s voice.

“Your Majesty, the bath is ready.”

“Understood.”

Kairas turned away. He figured that soaking in hot water might improve his mood, even if only a little.

“…”

Under the moonlight, long silver hair shimmered as thin garments fluttered like dancing shadows in the cool night breeze.

Serenity gazed down at the scenery beneath her feet with an indifferent expression. Surprisingly, she stood atop a sculpted decoration at the very peak of the imperial palace roof. Though the sculpture’s head was so narrow that even placing a single foot was difficult, she balanced effortlessly, as if standing on solid ground.

“This feels familiar… Have I been here often before?”

She murmured quietly, her gaze drifting far beyond the horizon. Past the palace, past the capital, toward the vast, distant forest.

Someone was calling her from there. A voice that greeted her every time she awoke from sleep. A voice that always led her to wander the endless woods.

Oddly, all her other memories had faded, yet the memory of that voice remained vivid.

“I suppose I’ll have to go again…”

Even though she knew she would never find the source, there was no other choice. She had once tried ignoring the voice, but in the end, she would always find herself standing in the forest, against her own will.

“Who are you… Why do you call for me…?”

A faint sorrow flickered in her usually emotionless crimson eyes. But the moment she lowered her gaze, sensing something, that fragile emotion vanished. In its place surged a deep, insatiable thirst.

Lifting a hand to her slender, pale neck, she whispered softly,

“So you have finally arrived… Child of Haymand. I have been waiting for you.”

The instant her words faded, so did her figure—vanishing without a trace.

—

A loud knock echoed through the now-empty room.

When no response came despite repeated knocking, the door clicked open with a rough push.

Striding inside was Kairas, freshly bathed and draped in a robe. His sharp gaze swept the room, and upon confirming its emptiness, a displeased sneer twisted his lips.

He had wished for Serenity to be absent when he arrived. But now that she truly wasn’t there, irritation welled up instead of relief.

Without realizing it, he muttered curtly,

“Calling someone over only to disappear… What is that woman thinking?”

“That woman—was she referring to me?”

“…!”

Kairas’ silver eyes wavered violently, as if caught in a raging storm.

Where had she come from?

Serenity, who had been nowhere in sight just moments ago—whose presence he hadn’t even sensed—was now standing right in front of him.

More than anything, the fact that she had approached him so closely without him noticing sent a chill down his spine. He had always known she was stronger than him, but being reminded of it in such a way made his mood plummet, sending a wave of caution surging through him.

“…Where did you go?”

Perhaps his emotions bled into his voice, because it came out cold enough to make an ordinary person flinch. But Serenity remained entirely unaffected. Instead, she narrowed her crimson eyes slightly in amusement and took another step forward, closing the distance between them until her breath nearly brushed his skin.

“Ah, I only stepped out for a brief walk. But if I had known I’d be receiving such a gift, I would have come back sooner.”

“…A gift?”

“Coming to me dressed like that—does that not mean you wish to be held, child?”

Her voice was languid, teasing, as she slowly reached out. A pale, delicate hand pressed against his bare chest, revealed by the loose folds of his robe. Her long, slender fingers traced the firm muscles beneath, slipping effortlessly inside the robe with practiced ease.

For an instant, Kairas’ gaze faltered.

“Do not call me ‘child.'”

He growled, catching her wandering hand with a rough grip. But Serenity only smiled silently, as if amused. Pressing even closer, she rose onto her toes and brought her lips to his ear, whispering seductively,

“Then what shall I call you? Tell me. I will call you whatever you desire.”

“…You insolent—!”

He had meant to warn her, to demand that she stop.

But before he could finish, her lips playfully caught his earlobe, her warm, damp tongue flicking against his skin.

His body responded before his mind could.

“Ah… as expected. I do love your bloodline.”

Before he realized it, her hand had drifted lower, wrapping around the semi-hard length beneath his robe.

She stroked it reverently, as if handling something precious, letting out a satisfied sigh. Her crimson eyes darkened with unmistakable desire, glowing like embers in the dim light.

Kairas, momentarily entranced, found himself unable to look away. But as he felt himself hardening further in her grasp, a surge of frustration jolted him back to his senses.

He gritted his teeth. If this continued, he truly would end up in her arms.

“Do not touch me without my permission!”

Irritated, he snarled and grabbed her other hand as well, his grip rougher than before. Yet, his lower body was already burning, throbbing painfully from the arousal she had so effortlessly provoked.

“Are you angry because I touched you?”

Serenity, now with both hands restrained, gazed up at him calmly before letting out a slow, sultry laugh.

Her smile was so alluring—so dangerously enchanting—that Kairas hesitated for just a moment.

That moment was all she needed.

With a subtle flick of her wrists, her hands slipped free.

“…”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

He stared down at his now-empty hands, his fingers twitching slightly. He had been holding her tightly—so tightly that blood shouldn’t have been able to circulate.

Yet she had escaped as if his grip had been nothing but air.

Not once. Not twice. But over and over again.

At this point, it was as if she were using some kind of sorcery.

“Then I won’t touch you.”

Her voice was gentle, like an adult coaxing a child.

“I will stay still. You do it.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the bed.

As she moved, the fabric draped over her body slid away without a sound.

She had been wearing nothing underneath.

It was as if she had been expecting him to come.

“…”

Bathed in moonlight, her long silver hair cascaded over her bare skin like liquid silk.

Kairas’ throat bobbed involuntarily.

Damn it.

She was, without question, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

And worst of all—she was exactly his type.

Her delicate shoulders curved gracefully, leading to a waist so slender it could fit within his hands. Her firm, perky hips, her long, elegant legs—her snow-white skin was as untouched as freshly fallen snow.

For a brief moment, an image flashed through his mind—of his hands gripping her perfect hips, spreading her apart, and driving himself deep inside her.

His brows knitted instantly.

This was bad.

It felt as if he were being drawn in, ensnared by something beyond his control.

Serenity turned, now sitting on the edge of the bed. Leaning back on her hands, she crossed her long legs, gazing up at him.

The soft glow of moonlight skimmed over her flawless collarbones, the curves of her breasts, rising enticingly beneath her bare skin.

Kairas clenched his jaw, summoning every ounce of reason he had never thought he’d need.

If he didn’t, he would fall into her trap completely.

“Well? Is this how you wanted it?”

She smiled, her eyes glimmering with challenge.