Chapter 96. How dare you die at will
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The blizzard was unusually fierce today.
Even the courtiers, accustomed to Anut's unusually cold temperatures, were shivering and bundled up in layers.
As they walked through the halls of the Imperial Palace, Kayan's gaze lingered for a long time outside the window.
Outside, the ground was white from the unexpectedly heavy snowfall.
The wind was so strong that it rattled the sturdy windows of the palace.
It was as if the gods had gathered the cold of the world and unleashed it on Anut.
To be outside in such weather without proper clothing was dangerous.
Kayan's blue eyes gazed out at the blizzard, and for a moment, his focus went blurry.
Suddenly, someone popped into his head.
Most of the slaves in the workhouse would be dying after a long day of hard labor outdoors.
He wondered if Ihedia could survive a day like this with a body that would be tossed to and fro by the wind.
She'd burrowed into his arms in much milder weather.
She was unusually cold, and she was probably not going to make it through this day.
She might not make it through the day.................
The moment his thoughts reached that point, his footsteps took him somewhere other than his intended destination.
The emperor's sudden change of direction caused the courtiers following him to glance at each other in question.
Shouldn't he just check to see if she's alive from afar and then return?
Kayan was disillusioned with himself for still not coming to his senses after all that happened.
Damn it.
She didn't deserve to die.
His head and heart gave him different answers to that question.
Kayan let out a stifled breath and paused.
The Emperor stopped, and the courtiers behind him stood tall in place.
Kayan turned his head halfway back and gave a dry command.
"Do not follow."
In the end, he had no choice but to walk toward the woman he never wanted to face again.
Some time later, when Kayan arrived at the labor yard, an unpleasant noise wafted in from the distance.
Kayan frowned faintly.
The sound of a whip cracking through the air was horrifying.
One of the guards was mercilessly striking the woman on the ground with a whip, making a sharp crack.
The hem of the woman's dress was already soaked with dark blood.
After soaking her clothes, the remaining blood spilled out onto the floor, but it froze as soon as it touched the harsh wind, making the color dull.
Her platinum hair, which had lost its luster, lay disheveled on the ground.
Already a corpse, Ihedia didn't move, not even to resist the cold lash.
Kayan's eyes sank into darkness.
His heart, which had been dead the entire time, began to thump.
He stepped toward her, his thinking suspended.
Recognizing the Emperor, the guard stopped his whipping.
Everyone in the place stopped what they were doing and held their breath at his intimidating aura.
Kayan stared at the fallen Ihedia in silence.
Her eyelids were slightly open.
A clear tear rolled down between them.
Kayan's heartbeat quickened.
An inaudible sound escaped Ihedia's mouth as she looked up at him pleadingly.
"I missed you."
The words, perhaps the last he'd ever hear, hurt like a knife in his throat.
Summoning all the strength she could muster, Ihedia lifted her hand to touch him.
It was like watching a precarious candle burn one last time before being extinguished.
Her hand fell to the ground, unable to reach Kayan.
She looked relaxed, as if she had let go of everything.
In that moment, a fierce blizzard rushed into Kayan's heart.
Who dare?
How dare you die?
He resented her for shattering his heart and not being able to endure this.
Today, Kayan knew for sure.
She was not worthy of any punishment for this abomination.
Something unbearable stirred within him at that realization.
A rage like an active volcano consumed him ferociously.
Kayan picked her up in a wordless embrace.
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The warmth of the dream soothed Ihedia's weary body and mind.
The corners of her eyes moistened slightly as she felt a sense of longing.
The freezing sensation in her lungs from the cold air was gone, and so was the pain that had been plaguing her so cruelly.
She felt a strange thirst at the cozy feeling, at odds with her last moments of agony.
A strange desire stirred within her that seemed to last forever, no matter how delirious she was.
Alas, if only time could stand still.
Somehow, she felt like she was drowning.
Ihedia's fingers twitched slightly.
She turned slightly, and the surface of the liquid rippled and tickled her skin.
Then she heard the faint sound of water sloshing.
As time passed, her mind gradually became clearer.
When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself in Kayan's arms.
'What the hell...................'
Ihedia's eyes scanned her surroundings.
It was the spring water of Apeso.
At the same time, she realized that her body was back to normal.
The trauma of her horrific whipping had been erased.
Her fingers were puffy from having been in the water for so long.
She should have been weak and dizzy by now, but her head felt incredibly clear.
Ihedia's gaze fixed on Kayan again.
Pupils that resembled the light of dawn met hers with authenticity.
Had he come to the workhouse and brought her here?
For what she thought was the last time, Kayan's form was real, not an illusion.
A sharp silence descended upon the room.
Ihedia opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.
"You shouldn't be dead already."
His voice was cold, unlike the heat that spread through his body.
Kayan lifted her chin slightly with one hand.
The intense emotion in his gaze was palpable.
The large hand that held her small chin up slowly slid down.
He wrapped it around her slender neck, a neck that could break with the slightest effort.
At the same time, Ihedia's breathing stopped.
Kayan felt an uncontrollable rush of anger rise in him at the woman who, as always, was looking at him with those mind-bending eyes.
Kayan wrapped his arms around Ihedia's waist and pulled her to him.
His lips brushed lightly against her earlobe.
"I wasn't going to care anymore, but I've changed my mind."
"...."
"I've stopped trying to win your heart. I used to be a gentleman, trying to impress you, but in retrospect, it was all for naught."
"...."
"I'll take your body instead."
Kayan captured Ihedia's soft lips.
His touch was wet with desire.
Panicked, Ihedia pushed against his chest, trying to pull back a little, but she couldn't move her fingers against his hard body.
He hated that she was trying to pull away from him.
Kayan's hands tightened around her waist, as if to punish her.
His slow breath was now close to the tip of her nose.
"I don't see why you should refuse."
"...."
“You’re back to the emperor you've always wanted."
"...."
"Do you still hold a grudge against him?"
Kayan laughed bitterly.
Ihedia was about to reply, but another shackle-like spell prevented her from moving her mouth.
Kayan's lips were just inches from hers.
"I think this is a lenient treatment for a brazen slave who betrayed her master."
"Master Kayan."
"So give it up. You will never escape me."
Ihedia stared at the man who stood at full height like a wounded animal.
His barbed words sounded oddly poignant.
Had he looked at her like this when he'd heard her own words here?
Ihedia felt sorry for Kayan, who still couldn't let go of her.
Ihedia's grip on his hand loosened as she tried to push him away.
She cupped his face.
Ihedia captured his lips with hers.
In the next moment, Kayan's tongue raked wildly inside her mouth.
Ihedia shuddered momentarily at the fury of the kiss that threatened to consume her, but Kayan didn't stop.
Ihedia's heart ached for him, the way he seemed to crave affection.
Her small hands wrapped around his neck.
As if he'd been waiting for it, he lunged at her like a thirsty man.
He sucked hard on Ihedia's delicate tongue.
He wanted to feed her with every last drop of his own hot breath.
Kayan's hands clutched at Ihedia's breasts.
If that wasn't enough, he ripped the front of her dress off in one swift motion.
His lips skimmed the nape of her neck.
A dizzying sensation filled Ihedia’s body.
In an instant, an array of red marks stamped her skin.
A mixture of anger, resentment, and sorrow mercilessly feasted on her flesh.
***
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