Duke 120

CHAPTER 120

***

Translator: Rae

“If my master desires it, I must whole-heartedly offer it.”

As if they’d been waiting, their lips met once more.

Iker, lifting Elysia effortlessly, carried her toward the chair before the altar without breaking their kiss. As he sat, Elysia’s slender, long legs naturally fell to either side of his firm thighs.

“Haa… Does this mean I can do as I please?”

As their seemingly inseparable lips finally parted, Elysia drew in a breath starved by the deep, lingering kiss and whispered. Iker raised a hand, slowly stroking the line of her spine. 

“Did I not say I gladly offer myself? Try as you wish.”

Meeting his ardent, heated golden eyes, shimmering with thirst for her, Elysia slowly moved her hips.

Beneath her buttocks, she felt something firm and searing with heat. It was in a state of full arousal, more than sufficient even without deliberate stimulation.

Finding his expression—slightly distorted as if restraining his excitement—pleasing to behold, Elysia pulled him by the back of his head and kissed him. 

Meanwhile, her hand, which had slipped inside his tuxedo, sensuously traced the firm muscles beneath the thin shirt, descending lower.

The buckle came undone after a clicking metallic sound, and her pale, slender fingers delved inside, wrapping around the massive, heated lump.

At the seductive, stroking motion, Iker’s Adam’s apple bobbed roughly.

Yet, as if determined to keep his own word, he did not move a single finger. Watching him, Elysia smiled silently and pressed her lips to the nape of his neck.

Just as Iker had done for her until now, it was now her turn to satisfy him.

***

“Haa…”

Elysia buried her face against Iker’s chest and let out a satisfied sigh.

She had been utterly consumed by an intense, overwhelming pleasure that made her vision flash, and had only just returned to her senses.

It was just a slight regret that, although she had initiated the movement, at some point Iker had taken the lead, gripping her hips and lifting her.

Nevertheless, the act, as fierce as the impulse that had swept over her, granted her an equal measure of fulfillment and satisfaction. Perhaps the pleasure was greater because she was the one moving atop him.

Enjoying the pleasant sensation of the heartbeat transmitted through the thin shirt and the large hand gently stroking her hair, she lifted her head at Iker’s words.

“It seems I’ve stained it far more deeply than I anticipated.”

At the voice tinged with amusement, Elysia blinked.

Stained? What did he mean by that?

"What do you mean by that?”

When she asked, Iker lowered his head, kissed her lips, and answered.

“Before you and the Second Prince stand here, I intended to stain it first with memories of us. So that even when tomorrow comes, you wouldn’t forget.”

“So that’s why you came dressed in this tuxedo?”

“Won’t the Second Prince also be wearing a tuxedo tomorrow? I have no intention of losing.” 

‘What am I to do with this utterly captivating man?’

Unable to resist, Elysia reached out, grabbed the back of his head, and kissed him. Unlike his kisses, it was deep and lingering.

After entwining their tongues several times and sharing saliva, Elysia finally pulled her lips away. With the tips of their noses touching, she moved her damp lips.

“Don’t even compare him to you. How could I possibly compare that lunatic with you?” 

“Hearing you say that makes me happy.”

“I mean it. And you look truly splendid today. Why else would I have kissed you and asked you to hold me the moment I saw you?” 

“Haha. I didn’t know Elly was so good at giving compliments.”

As his pleasing laughter echoed in her ears, desire once again began to creep forth. 

Perhaps because of the kiss moments before, the snug, filling sensation within her body also stoked her excitement. 

So, glancing down at where they were still connected, she whispered mischievously.

“Well, since we’re already like this… how about granting me one more? It seems that little one down there doesn’t want to leave either.”

At Elysia’s blatant seduction, the corners of Iker’s mouth curved handsomely. 

“I could give it, but I wouldn’t recommend it.” 

"Why?"

“Tomorrow, this place will become a battlefield. There will likely be many moments requiring situational judgment regarding your safety. What do you think would happen if your body is fatigued?”

“…The probability of making a mistake would be higher.”

“I don’t wish for you to be in danger. Instead, once everything is successfully concluded, you can indulge its whims. It’s held back for so long that a single night might not be enough to appease it.”

Though his words were gently soothing, Elysia found them strangely sensual. She nodded.

“Of course. Once it’s all over, tell it to indulge all it wants. I’m confident I can handle it.” 

“I truly look forward to it.”

As his deep, handsome eyes curved with pleasure, Elysia felt a peculiar thrill.

It felt like she had become a herbivore standing before a predator. As if she might be devoured whole, bones and all…

'Oh, surely not. This is Iker, not someone else.'

Quickly shaking her head, she raised her body. 

Thinking she couldn’t stay like this forever, she intended to get off his lap. Immediately, his hands moved to her waist, helping her down. 

Standing on the floor, Elysia began smoothing her wrinkled dress. 

Iker, who had neatly tidied his own disheveled lower half, also approached from behind to help her straighten her attire.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Iker, who had even straightened her tangled hair, reached out his hand to her.

When Elysia took it, he let her link arms with him and led her to the front of the altar.

Following him, Elysia glanced around. Still, there was no sign of any presence.

“Is something wrong Elly? Is there something on your mind?"

"Oh, no. I just think it's strange that we can be so relaxed in the place where the event will be held tomorrow. I thought there would be someone guarding it. A soldier or a priest, perhaps."

At her words, a mysterious smile touched the corner of Iker's lips.

"I made an arrangement in advance. You don't need to worry about that, Eli." 

"Eh? An arrangement with whom...?"

"We're almost there. I'll let you know later on."

When they arrived at the spot where the engaged couple was to stand, Iker slowly turned his body. His intense, beautiful golden eyes gazed at her, brimming with affection.

"I want you to remember this, Ellie, that I stood here with you first."

The moment she heard those words, Elysia understood why he had brought her to the front of the altar. 

[“Before you stand here with the Second Prince, I intended to stain it first with memories of you. So that even when tomorrow comes, you wouldn't forget.”]

Her heart filled with a warm glow at his actions to keep his word. 

Even if forced, she could never forget. The fact that they made love as if flaunting it in the place where the imperial consort should be seated, and that she stood before the altar with him first.

And…

Elysia pulled Iker in and kissed him. This time, it was a polite kiss that only shared their warmth before parting. 

"Please finish everything before it comes to this. I truly hate doing this with any man other than you." 

His golden eyes, which had widened slightly as if surprised by her whisper, soon curved beautifully like a crescent moon.

"I promise. I'll finish everything before then."

***

At the very time Elysia was with Iker, a hundred private soldiers were silently moving toward the western castle wall under the cover of darkness.

There were sentries on the wall, but with the moon hidden by clouds and the soldiers dressed in black, they failed to notice their movement. 

The grey-haired man watching from a distance away gleamed his eyes as the lieutenant and soldiers he had sent arrived safely at the appointed place. 

Lieutenant Blanc.

He was the second son of Count Blanky and a somewhat well-known figure in the military in his own right.

Being ambitious, he had succumbed to his father's active persuasion and the secret promise of the Duke of Russet to leave the military. If things went well, he was promised a captain's position. 

Dreaming of greater success, Lieutenant Blanky immediately began training a rebel force composed of the private soldiers of noble families after he was discharged.

After spending nearly two months like this, he led the rebels toward the western gate on the promised day.

The total number of rebels was two thousand. Fifteen hundred were private soldiers of the nobles following him, including Duke Lasette, and the remaining five hundred were men he had purchased and trained at Veramus. 

From these, he selected a hundred men who were agile and skilled, gathered them under his specific order, and sent them out as the advance team. He instructed the remaining rebels to hide in a nearby forest to avoid drawing attention.

"The Western Guard in total is five hundred people, hence we are at a disadvantage in numbers, but it's a different story if we launch a surprise attack. If we capture the Guard Captain first, their morale will descend quickly." 

Muttering quietly, Lieutenant Blanky recalled the instructions from the Duke of Russet he had received in a letter.

[“Once they open the gate, infiltrate the castle and disarm the Western Guard. Then, wait and pass through the castle gate into the capital at noon.]

According to the Duke's plan, his unit had to be divided into two: the unit he led and the unit led by the lieutenant. 

'It's better for me to handle the Guard after all.' 

While the rest of the guards were in disarray, a counterattack might surprisingly make it easy to secure their surrender. 

Meanwhile, the five hundred led by the lieutenant would deal with the Royal Knight Order.

Lieutenant Blanc’s pensive gaze turned to a man cautiously emerging from the castle. Given his well-disciplined physique, he seemed to be the knight they had been told about from the Duke of Russet.

"That must be Kane Pillard. The one they recruited from Helios."

As Lieutenant Blanc murmured quietly, he saw the advance team entering the castle following the man's guidance.

After the hundred men, including the lieutenant, had all entered, the man also closed the gate and went into the castle.

Holding his breath, Lieutenant Blanc anxiously waited for the signal flare announcing success to rise. 

The outcome of the rebellion depended entirely on whether the Guard was subdued, so it was only natural.

About an hour later, a flare seemingly fired from within the castle lit up the sky, and Lieutenant Blanc’s face brightened.

“Succeeded.”

The first step in launching the rebellion had been put in properly.

Lieutenant Blanc’s footsteps as he returned to his soldiers to proceed to the next stage were lighter than ever.