TQDD 18

Chapter : 18

Elfreda’s breath was completely stolen as Ainar’s tongue tangled with hers so intensely it felt like her roots were being pulled out. She could barely breathe, her body trembling as she desperately clung to his collar.

A short groan followed, then the sound of a belt buckle coming undone. Soon after, he entered her. Ainar realized, from just a brief contact, that no further foreplay was needed—and he let out a faint, silent laugh.

“Ahh…!”

Ainar firmly held her waist and lifted her into position as he pushed into her. Because of the height difference and the wall behind her, every forceful thrust hit her directly and intensely.

Elfreda, overwhelmed, clung to him and unknowingly wrapped her arms around his neck, bending her upper body forward. But Ainar showed no concern at all.

“Haa… ngh!”

Elfreda reflexively let out a sound while holding onto his neck, but then remembered where she was and quickly covered her mouth. She was terrified someone might hear them.

Seeing this, Ainar frowned slightly as if displeased, and leaned close to her ear.

“Remove your hand.”

“B-but…!”

“I have a way.”

His voice sounded oddly gentle, and in the end, Elfreda hesitated and slowly lowered her hand.

“Ah… mmph!”

At that moment, Ainar kissed her again. Even as he did, he did not slow down at all below her waist, leaving Elfreda unable to suppress her voice. But every sound was swallowed by their locked lips. She struggled to breathe as she endured the overwhelming force of his movements.

At some point, her legs became inconvenient for him, so Ainar made her wrap them around his waist. Elfreda looked at him in shock, but he paid no attention.

With their legs intertwined, their bodies pressed even more tightly together. Embarrassed, Elfreda eventually closed her eyes.

But that turned out to be a mistake. With her sight blocked, all her other senses became even sharper. The slick, joined heat refused to separate, and his deep, forceful movements became even more intense. The overwhelming sensations left her unable to think of anything else.

It felt as if she was being completely swallowed by him.

At some point, Ainar’s movements grew faster. Elfreda sensed it was nearing the end and felt a strange mix of relief and regret. It was good that no one had walked in—but at the same time, she feared he would soon finish, fix his clothes, and leave as if nothing had happened.

Between the two emotions, regret was stronger. Elfreda let out a small whimper without meaning to, but Ainar continued without hesitation.

“Haa…”

Caught in the wave of climax, Elfreda collapsed weakly into his arms. The fact that this had happened inside the sacred audience chamber—just after the Makaeri envoy had been there—felt surreal and almost indecent, leaving her mind blank.

In contrast, Ainar calmly supported her body as if nothing unusual had happened. Elfreda even briefly thought it might be better to lose consciousness if he was going to leave her afterward.

Fortunately—or perhaps not—he was not that cold to her. He finished everything neatly, as if nothing had happened in the room at all, even straightening his clothes. It looked completely normal.

At least to Elfreda’s eyes. Her mind was not clear enough to judge objectively.

But even in this state, one worry remained.

“…If Princess Serina refuses to apologize until the end,”

Elfreda asked quietly while still in his arms,

“what will you do?”

“Who knows.”

It was an indifferent answer, far too casual for her careful question. Ainar had simply not thought that far. He believed Makaeri would comply. People from the empire, who were trying to take Machi without shedding a drop of blood, would not hesitate over something as small as a princess’s apology.

But this woman seemed to think otherwise, which he found strange. Her naive question, despite being on the opposing side, irritated him slightly.

“Why do you think she won’t apologize?”

“She is… very stubborn.”

Elfreda trailed off, then asked the question she truly wanted to know.

“…If that happens, will I be stripped of my position?”

“……”

Ainar did not answer.

Her removal was not something that could be decided based only on this incident. He had already considered the possibility before, but depending on how things developed, it could happen sooner.

Until then, everything remained uncertain. Elfreda seemed to understand that from his silence.

It should have been obvious—but hearing it confirmed made her feel bitter.

Meanwhile

Crash!

A glass flew past the Makaeri envoy and shattered violently against the wall.

Having just finished his audience with Ainar, he had gone straight to the guest palace, only to meet a disastrous situation. He swallowed hard as he looked at the broken shards.

A sharp scream echoed through the room.

“Are you insane?!”

Serina shouted in disbelief, her eyes red with anger.

“You’re telling me to apologize to that woman, Elfreda? What did I even do wrong?!”

“W-well, Your Highness certainly did nothing wrong…”

The envoy desperately tried to calm her. The Empress had pampered her first child endlessly, so her reckless and self-centered personality was no surprise. For now, he needed to soothe her mood first.

“However, diplomacy is not always about right and wrong. His Majesty the Emperor simply wishes to maintain relations with Machi.”

“Why is Father so obsessed with some tiny country? Why don’t we just conquer it?”

Her ignorant words about war left the envoy momentarily speechless, but he quickly forced a calm smile.

“Of course, nothing is impossible for the great empire of Makaeri. However, Your Highness, His Majesty has his own considerations. So please, just close your eyes and apologize…”

“I refuse! I said I won’t!”

Serina screamed.

Then, completely unafraid, she said something outrageous.

“If I just stay here, Father will come save me anyway.”

The envoy’s mind screamed.

I knew I shouldn’t have come here!

Nothing was getting through to her. He wanted to abandon everything and run away, but unfortunately, his wife and children were still in Makaeri waiting for him.

He took a deep breath and changed his approach.

“Your Highness, one apology could save countless lives from war. Is that not a noble sacrifice? Please consider it your duty as someone of noble blood…”

“I said no!”

“……”

Then stay here, Your Highness. I’m going home.

He wanted to say it—but if he did, he might lose his head before even returning to Makaeri.

What should he do?

Just as his mind spun in desperation, a thought came to him.

Ah, right…!

The Emperor had given him a silk pouch in case of trouble. He quickly took it out. Inside was a note.

What does it say…?

There were only two lines written.

The moment he read it, the envoy’s expression froze.

Serina noticed and asked,