Chapter 53……………………………
– The Second Wish:
When I slipped into Mik’s chamber wearing the mysterious gown gifted by the Malaw envoy beneath my coat, he pulled me into his arms as if he had been waiting.
He didn’t rush. Instead, his teasing, tantalizing kisses drove me even crazier with impatience.
I’m supposed to be the one doing the seducing, not being seduced!
With that thought, I tried a clumsy attempt at provocation, but…
“Haa… Mik…”
In the end, I lost myself first to his sweet lips. While I was greedily savoring his soft mouth and hot breath, he unfastened the remaining buttons of my coat.
When the coat dropped to the floor, the gown was revealed. My senses jolted back. I reminded myself why I had come here tonight. Catching my breath in his arms, I gently pushed him away.
“Wait, Mik.”
I stepped back a pace. Then I moved my arms and legs in a slow, swaying rhythm, almost like a dance.
Each time, the soft fabric of the gown clung to and fell away from my body, revealing and hiding my shoulders, collarbone, and slender limbs in turns.
“What’s this now?”
His eyes gleamed with sudden intrigue. I forced a smile to hide my nervousness.
“It’s a gift. Do you like it?”
“Who on earth dared to give you such a scandalous thing?”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
Disheartened by his curt reply, I bit my lip. I had hoped to charm him into agreeing to my request, but maybe this had backfired.
“Even a saint would have wicked thoughts seeing you in this. It’s that indecent.”
He brushed his thumb over my bitten lip, then parted the gown to slip it down my shoulders. His long fingers toyed with the strap of my slip.
“And you know full well—I’m no saint.”
Snap! With a simple flick, the delicate strap broke. The slip slid from beneath the gown and puddled at my feet.
With the last barrier gone, the gown clung directly to my bare skin, leaving me almost entirely exposed beneath the translucent fabric.
Flustered, I yanked the gown up around my chest. But it did little to conceal me now.
In a panic, I crossed my arms over myself. Yet somehow, that only seemed to excite him further.
“Do you know… trying so hard to hide is even more enticing?”
Suddenly, he swept me up in his arms. My legs dangled, my gaze meeting his from above. His eyes burned with desire. Like in a trance, I leaned down to kiss him, and his lips eagerly claimed mine.
His hand slid down my back, the gown amplifying the heat of his touch. I clung to his shoulders, wrapping my legs tightly around his waist, my heart pounding so hard I couldn’t tell if it was his or mine.
“Mik… actually, I—I came with a request tonight…”
I barely managed to speak, but he was busy trailing kisses up my neck, nibbling my ear until I shivered.
“What request? Tell me…”
His warm breath tickled inside my ear, sending sparks down my spine. I hugged his head tighter.
“How can I talk when you keep doing that?”
When I whimpered in protest, he finally set me down gently.
“Alright. Speak.”
But though his words gave permission, his eyes roamed slowly over me again, drinking me in. I couldn’t endure the gaze and tried to cover his eyes, but he caught me and pressed me down onto the bed instead.
Pinned under his smoldering stare, I felt like a rabbit cornered by a tiger. My heart thundered wildly. If I didn’t say it now, morning would come and I’d have lost my chance.
I cupped his face with trembling hands.
“Mik, do you remember? You promised to grant me a wish.”
“Of course. Have you finally thought of one?”
His lips brushed my palm, but I turned my head away just before he kissed me.
“Promise me first—you won’t be angry.”
“Lea… how could I ever be angry with you?”
He tapped my cheek gently, coaxing me.
Maybe it was better to just confess and get it over with. Summoning courage, I blurted it out.
“At dawn… please let me go to the northwest village.”
The hand stroking my face froze. He rolled onto his back beside me with a heavy thud.
My stomach tightened. His expression was unreadable, and that was somehow scarier than anger.
“It was Duke Zenon who told you, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“And it was also your idea to send the heating magic stones there?”
“…Yes.”
He covered his face with an arm and sighed deeply. I clutched at him, nearly in tears.
“Mik, please look at me.”
“No. I’m too upset. I feel like I’ll die from it.”
Though his words were cold, he didn’t push me away.
“Are you very angry?”
He sighed again, then turned toward me, his hand softly caressing my face.
“How could I be angry at you for wanting to save my people?”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“Because if you go, you’ll collapse again. And I’ll be helpless, watching.”
He scowled, and I leaned closer, cupping his cheeks.
“Helpless? Hardly. If I collapse, the court physicians will do their best, Chef Modabi will flood me with nourishing food, and most of all…”
I kissed his brow, his nose.
“…my husband will take care of me with all his heart. After just a few days’ rest, I’ll be fine. If in return children can be saved from frostbite, isn’t that a worthy trade?”
I planted my hands on either side of his face, caging him like he so often did to me. I pressed lingering kisses on his cheek, then teased his earlobe with my tongue. He flinched. Victory surged through me.
“You’ll grant my wish, won’t you? Hmm?”
But instead of agreeing, he pulled me against his chest and rolled, pinning me beneath him.
He gazed down with shadowed eyes, unreadable.
“Sorry, but I can’t grant your wish.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because instead, I’m giving you my second wish. And you must grant it.”
What!? He refuses mine, but makes me obey his?
“At dawn, you will go to the northwest village and heal the frostbitten people. That is my second wish.”
