TPOP 67

Chapter 67

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Diana's small hole had loosened enough that he could now penetrate her in one swift thrust without difficulty. Felix leaned over her and unbuttoned his fly. His gaze still fixed on her, he asked.

"Diana. Whose do you belong to?"

The woman, convulsing in the aftershocks of climax, couldn't answer easily. She seemed unable to comprehend the question, but Felix pressed relentlessly.

"I asked who do you belong to. Answer with your own mouth."

"My... Master’s."

After urging her a couple more times, Diana answered. It was almost impossible to tell if the sound barely escaping her lips was a breath or a sob. Normally, he might have been satisfied with this much, but now Felix wanted more.

"What is your master's name?"

Diana gasped without even catching her breath.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's name is... one must not speak it lightly..."

"Say it. I'll allow it."

But the terrified woman couldn't answer easily. In this country, only the Emperor could address the Crown Prince by name. Not only commoners, but even nobles couldn't casually use that name in writing. How could she dare utter it in his presence?

"It's alright, Diana."

His mesmerizing voice tickled Diana's ears. His viciously hard member pressed wetly against her parted labia. Feeling an urgent sense of danger, as if he might split her open and enter at any moment, Diana hurriedly moved her lips.

"Fel...ix, Mont...reul Astean..."

"Just the name, again."

“…Felix.”

Her lips, glistening with moisture, finally uttered his name.

Even Felix himself hadn't heard that name spoken by another in over a decade. ...Yes, it was the first time since his mother died and he severed ties with his father. It felt strange, but not unpleasant. He also liked how Diana, having cautiously uttered his name, now silently repeated it with her lips.

"Yes, engrave it like that, Diana. The name of the place you'll return to."

This lovely woman was entirely his. Not just her beautiful body, sculpted with perfect proportions, but every thought and emotion occupying her mind.

His heavy, throbbing member filled her loosened opening completely. The woman, now knowing the pleasure of union, swallowed dryly.

Now Diana's attention was focused solely on him. It had to be that way. Anything that needlessly distracted her was an unwelcome guest; it was right to rid herself of them all.

Felix laughed with ecstasy as he split her body apart.

***

The Crown Prince, who had gone to the hunting grounds in the late afternoon with a maid dressed as a man, did not return until deep into the night.

He held the maid in his arms, just as he had when he left. Though the men's clothing she had worn over her body looked untidy, it was clear she had already taken them off and put them back on.

The Crown Prince carried her straight to the bedroom. He ordered bathwater prepared but did not designate a maid to attend her. The head maid, Emile, dismissed the servants with a hand gesture.

Without further instruction, the Crown Prince carried the maid toward the bathhouse and did not emerge for nearly two hours.

Occasional moans of a woman drifted out through the bathroom door crack. Unlike the usual cries mixed with moans, these sounded closer to weak whimpers, suggesting he wasn't overly demanding of her even in the bathroom. Judging by the Crown Prince's behavior thus far, he had likely already pushed her to her limits in the forest.

"The forest... When will we go again...?"

It sounded like she occasionally asked that, but the Crown Prince's reply was not heard.

Quietly withdrawing, Emile instructed the maids waiting in the hallway.

"Mix the medicine into the water for that child to drink when she wakes. Double the dose from last time."

"Yes, Chief Maid."

"Everyone, you may all withdraw for today."

The maids vanished silently beyond the corridor. Emile glanced back at the door she had closed behind her.

‘There’s no escape route in the forest hunting grounds.’

She didn't know what Diana intended to do in the forest, but it was clear Diana was constantly seeking an opportunity to go there.

Yesterday, she had even inquired about the terrain of the hunting grounds and the mountain range stretching beyond them. Even upon hearing that the hunting grounds were surrounded by cliffs and gorges, she showed little sign of discouragement. While something felt off about it, it was a matter worth reporting to the duke.

Emile busied herself, carefully choosing her words to convey to Duke Christine.

It was dawn, a couple of hours later, when a shadow appeared in the dead-silent corridor.

Arnold stood before the Crown Prince's chambers, alert to any sound. He knocked twice, briefly paused, then knocked a third time. Permission was granted from within.

"Enter."

The bedroom door was open. The Crown Prince stood leaning against the window in the sitting room, directly facing the inner part of the bedroom. Arnold, who had naturally assumed both would be by the bed, was inwardly surprised. Of course, he gave no sign of it.

"Do you recall ordering me to gather information on the House of Dortes and the Balestega Spring last time?"

"I did. Report."

The Crown Prince turned his gaze from the bedroom and out the window. Arnold recited the information he had gathered.

"It appears the Balestega Spring was not originally owned by the Dortes royal family. Two hundred years ago, when the royal house moved the capital to Tepa, they made a pact with the spirits of Balestega and incorporated the spring into the royal grounds."

"A pact."

"Yes. Most records in the royal library were lost, so we couldn't find the original text, but the main points were that the spirits would not bewitch humans, humans would not destroy the spirits' spring, and both sides would maintain peace."

Felix knew that much. It also aligned with the history of the emergence of spiritmasters.

The incorporation of the Balestega Spring into the kingdom occurred roughly 200 years ago. As spirits, who favored pure, untainted children, frequently took children from nearby villages, the royal house sought coexistence by forming a pact with the spirits of the spring.

"As a gesture of peace, the royal family sent a selected child to the spring once every 20 to 30 years."

Those who spent their childhood at the spring became Spirit Masters. Only one per generation. Their scarcity made them rare, and their abilities remained largely unknown.

Only rumors circulated, suggesting they were humans most akin to nature itself—those who could freely wield the power inherent in the natural world. This was due to the Dortes royal family's strict control to prevent any stories about the Spirit Masters from leaking out.

Thus, the lineage had quietly persisted, but for the past 22 years, no Spirit Master had appeared. This was more than a decade before the fall of the Kingdom of Dortes.

Felix suddenly murmured.

"How old is Diana?"

"Twenty-two, Your Highness."

Arnold, who had answered assuming the question was directed at him, flinched.

The Crown Prince, who had been gazing at the night sky, lowered his eyes and stared intently at him. It was a look that seemed to say, How do you know that?

Well, as the Crown Prince's guard knight, knowing the personal details of those around him was basic etiquette. Arnold felt somewhat aggrieved by his master's irritated gaze.

Why me? It's the one who hasn't shown interest in the age of his beloved woman who's being indifferent.

The displeased look was quickly withdrawn.

"Do not bewitch humans."

Felix murmured softly.

The inclusion of such a clause was tantamount to the royal house acknowledging that elementals possessed the nature to bewitch humans. Arnold, having briefly gauged his mood, continued his report.

"It is said the spring has now completely dried up, not a single drop of water to be found. The forest surrounding the spring has also been utterly devastated, now nothing but dead branches scattered about. Upon confirming with the commander of Dortes, it appears the Balestega Spring began drying up rapidly starting the night the Queen of Dortes fell in battle. This was also recorded in the wartime report submitted to His Majesty the Emperor. I searched the reports and confirmed the same details were documented. That is all."

"So only members of the Dortes royal family were permitted to enter that spring?"

"Yes. Only children specially selected by the royal family, or authorized retainers, were permitted to enter."

"What were the criteria for selecting the children?"

"Details regarding that... could not be found even in the royal archives of Dortes. It is suspected the records were deliberately destroyed. Even after searching the entire archive, records concerning the Balestega Spring were notably scarce."

Then, the only fact they could be certain of now was that Diana was a child selected by the royal house of Dortes, meaning she had some connection to the royal family.

Another point: no elemental remains at the Balestega Spring now. Since elementals were nature itself, they likely didn't vanish. It's more reasonable to assume they moved elsewhere.

Where did all the spirits of Balestega go?