Ch.286286. Stay

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I’ve mentioned this a few times before, but the Kendrid Marquisate is considered one of the Empire’s two great noble houses alongside the Tristan Dukedom.

As a family that has long served as the Empire’s gatekeepers, there are frequent comparisons between their influence and that of the Tristan Dukedom.

Of course, they can’t truly compare to the Tristan Dukedom in terms of influence as the center of various industries and culture, but there’s a simple reason why such comparisons persist.

When it comes to martial arts, there’s no place on the entire continent with comparable depth of knowledge.

They produced Calivan Chrysanyx, the head of the Guardians, and the current hero, Elia Krisanax, is also from here.

The official guidebook even states that while Elia’s unparalleled combat prowess compared to her peers is partly due to her own talent, it’s largely because she received most of her training here.

“I think it might be because of the cold.”

Inside the carriage we’re riding together, Elia, who volunteered to be my guide, shrugged her shoulders as she made this statement.

“It’s so damn cold that you’d freeze to death if you stayed still, but there’s not much else to do in this barren place, so everyone focuses on hitting and fighting. Isn’t that a logical explanation?”

“…I see that, but.”

I barely suppress the spasm trying to form on my cheek as I look at the person in front of me.

“Don’t you think you’re too close?”

Actually, describing her position as “in front” isn’t quite accurate.

Elia’s position—sitting on my lap and swinging her legs—is terribly close, beyond what such words can properly describe.

Despite having rented a spacious carriage with plenty of room, she’s deliberately chosen this spot and shows no intention of moving.

“It’s cold.”

“…”

“This way, our bodies warm each other up, right?”

Saying that with a wink, she immediately started rubbing the back of her head against my chest.

“This might be even more effective?”

Taking it a step further, she wraps my arms around her waist.

A fragrant scent rises to my nose. It’s clear she prepared herself meticulously for today.

“…”

It’s true that we’re warming up.

But this isn’t just about raising body temperature—everything about it is blatant.

From her hand subtly exploring up my thigh, her intentions seem very… clear.

“Hey.”

“Well, I think I’ve been telling you this would happen all along?”

Elia winked again, ignoring my slightly lowered voice.

In response, I furrow my brows even more.

With a more serious expression, I open my mouth.

“…At least change your position.”

“What?”

“I won’t tell you to move away completely, but let’s not do anything embarrassing for others to see.”

“…”

Elia blinked her eyes blankly.

[What? Did you really give up?]

‘…I never thought we wouldn’t get entangled like this from beginning to end.’

Considering what she’s been hammering into me all this time.

Honestly, I can’t tell her to stop doing this now.

Unless I’m a complete fool, I understand that I’ll eventually reap what I’ve sown.

Especially if, as she says, word has spread everywhere about me getting involved with one of the demons.

‘…It’s all because of that person.’

I inwardly sigh deeply, thinking of the masked woman who set off a bomb and disappeared.

“…”

In fact, Elia seems surprised by my words, her eyes widening slightly. She clearly didn’t expect such words to come from my mouth.

“I’ll change it then, if you insist.”

“Yes, thank y—”

I close my mouth before finishing my sentence.

Elia, who had been sitting with her back pressed against me, now simply turned around to face me, maintaining the same position.

Naturally, her face ended up right in front of mine.

We’re close enough to feel each other’s breath. Close enough to easily observe the movement of each other’s pupils.

Her delicate features capture my gaze.

Her skin is truly flawless and beautiful.

Between Elnore and her, I’m newly impressed by what incredible beauties they are.

“Your face looks a bit rough.”

While I was thinking this, she stroked my face once.

The gesture seems full of concern, but.

More distracting is her chest pressing firmly against my torso.

“Should I give you some hydration?”

“…”

Right.

What am I even saying?

Thinking this, I remain silent, and Elia smiles brightly as she pulls her face closer to mine.

Then, she lightly kisses my forehead.

“Haah—”

“…”

I endure as she trembles with satisfaction.

It’s okay.

I can handle this much.

As I’m thinking this, she starts licking down my face, beginning from my forehead.

“…Mmm, mmm—”

As if savoring it.

Continuously letting out satisfied moans, she draws a line of saliva down my face.

She lightly licks near my earlobe.

“…”

As I twist my body at the sensation that runs through me like an electric current, she grins and pokes the bridge of my nose with the tip of her tongue.

A long strand of saliva connects between our faces.

“Should I do a little more?”

“…”

“I could lick other places too?”

With those words, she strokes my lower body once more with her hand.

“…Hey, stop—”

“Should I?”

“…”

Before I could actually say anything, Elia backed away slightly.

“…What are you doing?”

“I was just measuring how far I could push before you’d get scratched up?”

“…If I hadn’t actually told you to stop, how far were you planning to go?”

“All the way.”

“…”

“I wouldn’t even mind if other people saw what we were doing? Actually, it would make me feel like I’m monopolizing you, so I wouldn’t feel that ba—”

“Please spare me that…”

This girl.

Once her brakes fail, she really goes all the way to the absolute limit, which is terrifying.

It feels like all the intensity that was focused on Elnore has now shifted entirely to me since she’s calmed down.

“Oh, that’s disappointing.”

“…What is?”

“If you’d wanted it, we could have done it right now.”

“…?”

Before I could ask what she meant, Elia flung the carriage door wide open.

And immediately.

The sight of the Kendrid Marquisate knights spread out beyond the door came into full view.

At the very front stands Marquis Krat Bellium La Kendrid, his face expressing the futility of life.

“…”

Wait.

So, she.

Was she planning to do those things even with her adoptive father present?

“Don’t worry. They couldn’t have seen anything from outside.”

“…”

“Though the Marquis might have heard everything?”

“…”

“If you want, I wouldn’t mind doing it in front of everyone—”

“…It’s been a while.”

Ignoring the crazy talk coming from beside me, I extend my hand to Krat.

It’s not an appropriate state to be greeting someone, but it was better than continuing to listen to Elia.

He seems to understand the situation between Elia and me, as he accepts my handshake with an expression that suggests he’s making an effort.

“…We have quite a lot to talk about.”

Krat said gruffly.

“But first, unpack your things. We’ll talk over dinner.”

“Rest well, and come out for dinner!”

“…Right.”

With those words, I watch as Elia disappears into the castle with Krat.

“I’ll guide you to your quarters. Please follow me.”

I follow the person who says this into the interior, but.

Something feels.

Strange.

‘…Calivan.’

[Hmm?]

‘Was this place always such a harsh area?’

The Kendrid Marquisate I remember wasn’t like this.

Comrades with strong camaraderie, cheerful, good at drinking, pastoral and friendly snow warriors.

That was the image I had from the game…

“…”

“…”

Silence falls heavily.

They’re not completely hostile to me, but it’s definitely not a friendly feeling either—that much is clear.

[Well, that’s probably because of your position.]

‘My position?’

[Intellectually, they understand you’re in a position to take Elia, but my sister is quite popular. Maybe they feel like you’re taking away their idol?]

‘…’

[Why not try feeling a bit superior?]

I don’t feel that at all.

●

One fact that Darwood isn’t aware of is that Elia is treasured in her domain even more than Elnore.

While the Tristan Duchess receives such treatment only from her immediate family, Elia has been adored by everyone in the Marquisate since she was young.

There are many reasons why Elia is treated as the domain’s lucky charm, but one might be that despite being a direct blood relative of the Marquis, she treats everyone without pretense.

“Russ-!”

“My lady-!”

Seeing her childhood attendant after a long time, Elia grabbed the man’s waist and spun around.

The genuine joy on her face made her look like a granddaughter meeting her favorite grandfather after a long absence.

“You haven’t aged at all!”

“And you’ve become much more beautiful!”

After their cheerful exchange continued for a while, the attendant named Russ was finally able to state his business after being thoroughly spun around by Elia.

“Everything you asked us to prepare has been perfectly arranged.”

Russ cleared his throat and continued.

“…Though some items are a bit difficult to report here.”

“Really? Including all the necessary venues and personnel?”

“Of course! It was your request, my lady!”

If Darwood had heard this, he might have questioned why she needed to book venues and mobilize large numbers of personnel, but unfortunately for him, it was clearly a series of satisfactory answers for Elia. By the end of the conversation, her face was not just bright but practically glowing.

However, it seemed that even Russ couldn’t deliver only good news.

“…But, my lady.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“As you predicted, visitors are flooding in, saying they’ll stay here briefly, coinciding with your arrival.”

Saying this, Russ handed her a paper with names listed on it.

“All the people you told us to be cautious about are here as well.”

“…”

Of course.

They would definitely come.

Elia checked the list with a smirk.

As expected, the names of the Demonic Vessels were all listed there.

“Well…”

Elia’s eyes opened lazily.

She had been smiling all this time, but now her expression was different.

Like a lioness watching other wild animals eyeing her mate.

She fingered the hilt of her holy sword. It was clearly a triumphant expression that only a human capable of beating demons across the entire continent could make.

“Bring it on, you lot.”

This time.

It was a declaration of war that she wouldn’t yield to anyone.

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