episode_0108

Knock knock.

The sound of two knocks on the door.

Without even checking who was at her door, Arina spoke.

“Come in.”

The person who entered was Ian. Having spent a considerable amount of time together, she could now recognize him just by the sound of his knocks, so she wasn’t surprised.

As she continued packing her travel bag, Arina asked,

“What’s up? Shouldn’t you be busy packing for the trip too?”

Ugh, why did those damn Guardians have to summon him? It was already an unavoidable matter, but Arina pouted in annoyance.

The teleportation gates—only one installed in each capital—had been completely destroyed in the aftermath of the Guardians’ attack. Even though her criminal status had been cleared, there was no choice but to travel on foot now.

“Once we reach the capital, we can use the teleportation gate to fly straight to the Holy Kingdom, so I don’t need to pack too much, right?”

“About that… I have something to tell you.”

As Ian sat on the bed, Arina sensed the conversation might take a while and stopped packing.

She scurried over and plopped herself between his legs as if declaring this is my spot.

Once seated in front of him, his large hand gently stroked her shoulders and the nape of her neck. Enjoying his touch, she shivered like a cat and asked,

“What is it?”

“Before that, I want to ask you something. After we wake Saintess Marika and talk to her… are you planning to go after the Hero’s Party again?”

Whether or not she could forgive them, Arina no longer had the same obsession with revenge as before.

Unlike the past, when she had nothing to lose, she now had something precious she absolutely didn’t want to lose.

Personally, she wouldn’t mind erasing the Hero’s Party from her mind entirely, but reality wouldn’t allow it.

If the Hero’s Party disappeared from the world, there was no telling how long their peaceful days would last. Especially now that the Demon King had noticed she’d lost interest in their deal—he would only grow more aggressive.

Above all, the other side would never leave her alone. This had to be settled.

“Hmm… I guess I have to, right? With Cecil missing, there’s no one else who can do it but me.”

Ian didn’t like that answer.

“What if something happens? You could end up in danger.”

“You think I’d lose? You know that’s a pointless worry, right?”

Erwin and Marika were out of commission. With only two members left in the Hero’s Party, if just one person accompanied her to handle Leona, Arina was certain she wouldn’t lose.

“You never know. Even the Sword Saint was defeated. It’s just speculation, but if someone could take down a Sword Master within the kingdom—not even the demon realm—the only possibility is the Hero.”

“It is unexpected that Cecil couldn’t even escape. Maybe Yuria is stronger than I thought. But there’s no choice. Now that Kyle and the rest of their supporters have been executed, there’s no turning back. We have to capture the Hero’s Party and prove we weren’t wrong.”

Because that will also shape our future. Muttering this, Arina met Ian’s gaze.

Was he really that worried? The eyes of the man who loved her were filled with fear.

It was clear—he was terrified of losing her, the one he had finally claimed.

Feeling loved, even that fear brought her joy.

Turning around, Arina stroked Ian’s hair and brushed her fingers along his cheek.

“Don’t be so anxious. I’ve already thought of a surefire way.”

Mwah.

She gave him a light peck before pulling away.

“Ian. I’m yours. No matter what happens, that won’t change. Even if you let go of me, I won’t let go of you this time.”

By now, holding hands or kissing should’ve felt natural, but Ian blinked in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… I still can’t believe it. That you and I are really like this. Something I thought might never happen in my lifetime… has become reality.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Shouldn’t you be used to it by now? No matter what happens, I’ll always be on your side. You made me this way, didn’t you?”

Smiling faintly, Arina rolled her eyes slightly.

“So? What was it you wanted to say?”

“Ah, right. I was going to ask if you’d mind taking a small detour on the way to the Empire.”

“You have somewhere to go?”

“I want to stop by home for a bit. There’s something we need to do together, unrelated to the Hero’s Party.”

“…Yeah. You’re right…”

Arina’s face flushed slightly as she lowered her gaze.

Marriage.

They were too busy for a ceremony now, but at the very least, they should inform Ian’s parents and meet them.

A vow to live the rest of her life with only one person by her side.

Their master-slave contract wasn’t fundamentally different, but the idea of actually marrying and becoming his wife felt entirely new.

Living as a woman. Loving Ian.

She had already accepted both, but marriage still felt unfamiliar.

Becoming someone’s wife. Being called “Mom” by his children.

She had never thought about it before. Unconsciously, she had tried to erase any unpleasant imaginings.

“I’m not sure about my father, but my little sister will like you. Her name’s Lucia Felix—she’s interested in magic. She goes to a magic academy but is on break now, so she’ll probably be…”

Strangely, she didn’t feel that way anymore.

With her past memories, she had thought she’d never be drawn to a man. She used to find things like holding hands or kissing disgusting.

Arina’s hand gently rested on top of Ian’s.

Her slender white fingers poked at his thick hand before intertwining with his.

“Then it’d be nice to bring one more piece of good news on the way, right?”

Now, she was the one who sought him out first.

Words of affection, skinship, dates—things she once dismissed as trivial now filled her with paralyzing joy.

Once again, their lips met.

This time, deeper. A long, lingering kiss.

When their faces parted and Ian saw Arina’s flushed expression, he sensed it was time to take the next step.

Holding her shoulders, he gently pushed her down onto the bed.

There was no way she didn’t understand what that meant, but Arina twisted her hair and averted her eyes, feigning ignorance.

“Hng…”

When his hand finally touched the plump fruit she had only felt indirectly through his arms before, she let out a soft moan.

The sensation of gripping it directly was incomparably vivid compared to just brushing against his arm.

Her lack of resistance, her unfocused eyes, her reddening cheeks, the slight drool, her thighs rubbing together desperately—everything tempted him.

It was as if she was saying, I’m yours, do as you please. I’m waiting. I want this.

The sensations under his fingers, the sight before his eyes, the fantasies swirling in his mind, the instincts rising from below—all of it turned the man into a beast.

Like a starving wolf spotting wounded prey, he drooled as he pounced on her.

Bracing himself with one hand, he grabbed her clothes with the other, pulling down her shoulder strap to reveal pale skin.

Just as the prepared female closed her eyes—

“This is really too much!”

A sorrowful voice filled with resentment shattered the heated atmosphere.

The wolf and bitch, lost in the throes of passion, regained their senses and returned to being human.

Startled, Ian turned around, while Arina adjusted her clothes and sat up. Standing before them was Millen, her face twisted in fury.

Her expression was terrifying, but the tears streaming down her face made it impossible to even think of running.

“Millen…”

The moment Ian spoke her name, it seemed to trigger something. Struggling to hold back her emotions, Millen nearly sobbed as she vented her frustration.

“…I tried so hard. I did everything I could to help, to make you see me again… and this is what I get? Am I nothing to you, Ian?”

She couldn’t say “You used me to save Arina and then threw me away.”

From the beginning, Ian had consistently told her they could never be together.

He had been kind, but only as a comrade or friend—never as a lover.

So his attitude hadn’t changed. Millen knew full well he had done nothing wrong.

That only made her cry harder. If he had been a bad person, she could’ve cursed him, hated him, and walked away. But he wasn’t.

The only thing Ian was guilty of was not returning her feelings. She could’ve left anytime—but she hadn’t.

He had no obligation to accept her one-sided affection.

But even if she understood that logically, her heart couldn’t follow. The woman who had failed in love couldn’t control her resentment.

“Why does it have to be her? I liked you first. I was by your side longer. I helped you so much more. Why her and not me? Why can’t it be me?!”

Her anger had no logic. Raging over unrequited love was almost pitiful.

The more she spoke, the harder Millen cried.

No matter how irrational, a woman’s tears were a powerful weapon, and Ian was crushed under guilt.

After a moment of agonized frowning, he raised his head as if resolved.

‘It’s my fault.’

He should’ve shaken Millen off sooner. He should’ve forced her away before things reached this point.

No matter how many times he thought about it, that was the only conclusion. For Ian, who couldn’t give up Arina, there was no option to accept Millen’s feelings.

He thought he had rejected her clearly, but letting her follow had given her hope. She believed she could change his mind during this journey.

That sliver of hope was what hurt her now. Though it was also true that he had relied on her help multiple times.

So he had to sever ties now, cleanly. For Millen to move on.

“Millen, I—”

But Ian’s words were cut off by Arina. Pushing him aside, she approached Millen.

“Hey, you—”

“Shut up. You’re the worst. You said you weren’t interested in Ian. You told me to try my best, and then you pull this?”

“I didn’t know it would turn out like this back then!”

Arina swallowed the words she wanted to shout.

“Happy now? While some of us spent years chasing after him, you can have him just because you want him. Stupid question—of course you are!”

“It’s not like you can only marry one person. The kingdom mostly practices polygamy anyway.”

“You want me to settle for being a concubine? Wow, how generous. Like there’s any room for a concubine between you two, who can’t live without each other? That bitch didn’t even care when I got close before, but the moment the princess showed up, she growled like a beast. You were laughing at me inside, weren’t you? ‘Look at her try, she doesn’t stand a chance.’”

Pity. What meaning was there in becoming a second wife when it was like handing table scraps to a starving beggar?

“Ugh…”

“A pathetic life, living off the scraps of your love. Occasionally offering my body while playing maid to the real wife. Do I look that desperate to you?”

“Who said anything about a real wife? I don’t care if I’m the concubine.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

Millen blinked in confusion, while Ian let out a delayed, dumbfounded noise.

“Arina. Are you… serious?”

“Yeah. I owe Ian a debt I can never repay. If he needs it, I don’t mind yielding the position of first wife.”

Ian was too kind-hearted. If Millen were cast aside like this, he’d be burdened with guilt for a long time.

Rather than let him suffer, she’d rather compromise.

“But… you got so mad at Princess Stella…”

“That was just some random bitch wagging her tail where she didn’t belong. But Millen, you’re different. You’re a good woman who devoted yourself to one man—even helping me, your rival, for his sake. I acknowledge you.”

A certified good woman.

Even at the peak of her misogyny, Arina was certain she would’ve recognized Millen.

“Uh, uh…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Millen stammered.

She had no idea Arina thought of her this way.

She had been convinced Arina looked down on her.

“B-but still…”

As if embarrassed, Arina lowered her head and poked her index fingers together.

“Maybe… once a week. No, once every four days… you could lend him to me? I… I can’t live without Ian now…”

Why was she making such unnecessary conditions? If she asked, Ian would stay by her side all day, every day, for a year.

“Seriously… this just makes me look like the fool.”

Where had all her resentment and sorrow gone?

Feeling empty, Millen plopped down on the floor.