"Hoo…"
Back in her room, Alisara let out a long breath. She collapsed onto the bed, pressing a hand against her chest, feeling the wild beating of her heart.
It was… far too thrilling.
As an elf, a child of eternity, Alisara had naturally lived through more years than she could easily count. For elves, time was always their greatest ally and their deadliest foe. They lived far longer than any other race, yet with the centuries, their once-youthful, fiery hearts inevitably calmed, becoming still and quiet, like a placid lake.
For many elves, life became nothing more than repetition—year after year, day after day—until even their spirits grew numb. That was why so many elves began chasing extremes, hungering for stimulation, just to prove to themselves that they were still alive.
Otherwise, why had the god of excess been the one to invade their homeland?
It made perfect sense.
Alisara was no different. For her, each day blurred into the next—until the day she was kidnapped by Mannfred. That had been her first taste of excitement in ages, though in truth, she had not taken it too seriously. To her, even a kidnapping was a trivial matter. Somewhere deep down, she had even welcomed it. If it could end this dull life, wouldn't that be a blessing of sorts?
But then—she was rescued.
And for Alisara, that was the beginning of something entirely new.
That human man.
To be honest, the moment he appeared before her, just the sight of his fierce, merciless face had made her heart falter. That overwhelming aura, brutal and domineering, as though ready to devour everything—it was like a mountain crashing into her tranquil inner lake, sending up waves that blotted out the sky.
In that moment, memories rushed back: her childhood, her first battle, the tightness of her chest before the clash, the fear of death itself. For the first time in centuries, she had felt how precious life truly was—how fiercely her flame still burned. The fog of long years had lifted, and her vision grew clear once again.
It was said that those who escape death cherish life even more. Now, Alisara understood that truth. Each time she recalled how Duanmu Huai had descended upon her like a demon god—tearing at her clothes without hesitation, seizing her body as though it were nothing—the humiliation, despair, and terror became thick, like oil fueling the fire of her life. It beat wildly once again, and she rediscovered the beauty and hope of this world.
And because of this, some thoughts stirred in the deepest corners of her heart.
She wanted more. More fear, more dread. She wanted him to treat her roughly, like a pet, like an animal, like a slave. Not love and hope, but terror and despair entwined together. That feeling… was dangerously addictive.
In simple terms, Duanmu Huai was to her like a terrifying horror film. She screamed and trembled while watching, yet when the film ended, she walked out exhilarated, refreshed.
But… how long could this last?
Alisara felt troubled. High Elves were not easily allowed to leave Ulthuan. As one of the Children of Eternity, her restrictions were even greater. This time, she had only come to the continent as part of a diplomatic mission to negotiate with the dwarves. Without that, she never could have left Ulthuan. And now, after everything that had happened, leaving again in the future would only become more difficult.
It was easy to imagine: when the emissaries from Ulthuan arrived to retrieve her, that would mark the end of her stay here.
So… should she take him to Ulthuan with her?
If she were to make him her consort… hmm. There were political issues, of course, but what worried her more was something else entirely.
In Ulthuan, there were far too many elves like her. For them, ordinary pleasures had long since lost meaning. If Duanmu Huai appeared before them, he would be the ultimate stimulus. Elves like herself who would fixate on him would not be few.
More importantly, Alisara sensed that Duanmu Huai was not a man who could be easily toyed with. Fierce as his aura was, his gaze toward her had been calm. He lacked the burning desire that ordinary human men could never conceal.
That meant that even if she asked… he might refuse.
"Haah…"
Alisara tossed and turned on her bed, unable to sleep. But she did not mind. For her, even this—worrying, feeling restless—was an experience she had not enjoyed in a very long time.
"That elf princess definitely likes you, knight."
Elsewhere, Ann was still clinging to Duanmu Huai, pestering him about the same matter.
"When I was with her, all she did was ask about you—what you usually do, what things you like, where you've traveled… So I can guarantee it, that princess absolutely, absolutely has fallen for you."
"Alright, alright. Why are you hung up on this?"
Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes helplessly.
"Even if she does, I have no intention of getting involved with her. Besides…"
He fixed his gaze on Ann.
"Have you forgotten? By rights, you're the one who's supposed to be my fiancée."
"Ah… ahahaha…"
Ann's face flushed bright red. She turned her head away, smiling awkwardly.
"Well… I didn't completely forget. I'm just… not used to it yet."
"Whatever. Just don't cause trouble."
Duanmu Huai gave another eye roll.
"Tomorrow we follow the plan. The banquet is at dusk. I don't think those idiots would be stupid enough to make a move beforehand. We just need to find the dimensional stones, then you'll absorb their power and neutralize them. Anything else?"
"Uu… it would've been nice if Guleya were here too…"
"Not now. Later, maybe."
Duanmu Huai cut off her mumbling, reached out, and patted her on the head.
"So? Anything else to add?"
"Nope."
"Good."
Satisfied with her reply, Duanmu Huai nodded.
"Then tomorrow, we'll hold a grand banquet celebration."
He spoke with a grin.
(End of Chapter)