Chapter – 09
“I need someone who can calm me down. That person is you. Someone strong enough to stop me when I lose control, and someone it wouldn’t be strange for me to marry. The person who meets the most ideal conditions. That person is you, Ferdia.”
“…So you’re saying you need someone who can subdue you when you go crazy?”
“Exactly.”
Countless questions flooded her mind. She grabbed one of them and voiced it.
“Wouldn’t other people be able to subdue you?”
“I don’t want to end up smiling while killing my own knights. Ordinary skill isn’t enough. They have to be strong. Strong enough to stop me when I lose myself.”
“Then here’s another question. I already lost to you. I watched my country fall after being defeated by you. And if you’re in an excited state, you’ll attack without thinking. How am I supposed to stop that? Are you telling me to become a corpse?”
Sounds like a death sentence driven by desire. As Ferdia grumbled, Ereb shook his head.
“At that time, you will be able to subdue me.”
“How?”
“It’s hard to explain in words… but you’ll understand when you experience it.”
“You should at least explain it so I can prepare. You’re basically telling me to step into a cage with a beast that might kill me without giving any explanation.”
As she pouted in protest, Ereb let out a low sigh.
“I want to explain, but it’s different every time. But Fedi, you can subdue me. I’ve crossed swords with you—I can guarantee it. So trust me.”
“How am I supposed to trust someone telling me to risk my neck? And the one attacking me would be you, Ereb. You’re telling me to trust you? That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not that extreme…”
“Same difference.”
Ferdia clicked her tongue and then changed the subject.
“Let’s drop that for now. We’ll talk about it later. What’s more important is when these urges explode. Do you give advance notice? Like: ‘My desires will explode tomorrow, everyone please evacuate~’?”
She mimicked his voice in an exaggerated tone. Ereb chuckled while resting his head sideways and shrugged.
“Werewolves usually experience their strongest urges during the full moon. That’s when they’re most dangerous. Then do you know when they’re weakest and safest?”
“…Hmm. A crescent moon?”
“That’s right. When they’re most gentle and weakest—that’s the best time to hunt them. And for me, the day when the moon is so thin it’s barely visible… that’s the day my urges explode.”
His lips curled slightly.
“And tomorrow is that day.”
“……”
Her wide-open mouth showed exactly how she felt. Seeing her expression, Ereb nodded with satisfaction and stood up.
“I’ll give you a choice.”
“…A choice?”
“I always said this when I met you, Fedi. I respect your decisions. I want to follow your voice and your will. So face me tomorrow, and then decide.”
His eyes shone calmly.
“Whether you’ll marry me… or return to your homeland.”
***
Looking down at the silver sword called Desire that he had given her, her eyes narrowed. His words echoed in her ears.
“If you can’t endure living here… if you think you can’t handle me… you can leave tomorrow. I’ll let you escape the Empire and return home. You’re not a prisoner here. You’re not a captive. You’re here by your own will.”
With a metallic sound, the silver blade slid from its sheath and gleamed beautifully.
The room was so dark it was hard to believe the moon even existed outside. The darkness seemed ready to swallow even the faint candlelight. Ferdia closed her eyes.
Then the door slowly opened.
Heavy footsteps pressed against the silence. Ferdia sat still in the darkness, almost savoring the sound before slowly opening her eyes to look at the man before her.
His face was hidden, but his dark red eyes glowed like blood.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Was his voice always this decadent? Just hearing it made heat rise inside her. A sinful sensation wrapped around her body and she lightly bit her lip.
Pop.
A small sound echoed as something fell to the floor.
Probably a button from his shirt. She could hear the faint sound of his fingers brushing against his own skin.
As Ferdia stood, a low sound like escaping wind filled the silent room. Then came his hot breath.
“I think it’s going to be a very long night.”
“…I’m prepared.”
“If it hurts, say it hurts.”
“So you’ll go easy on me?”
“No.”
He smiled at the suggestive exchange. His face became visible under faint moonlight as he stepped closer. His pale skin was exposed through his torn shirt, and beneath that pale surface, a reddish heat seemed to glow—proof that his desires had reached their peak.
Ferdia’s eyes lifted and his smile softened.
“I like it rough.”
Rough is attractive.
Chapter 2
What felt like it would be a long night ended in an instant.
The short summer sunrise quickly erased the traces of night and poured warm light into the world—and into the room where the two lay sprawled.
Ferdia sat on top of the collapsed Ereb, and she looked like a mess.
Her comfortable clothes were completely shredded. Her shoulder was exposed, and if the torn fabric had slipped a little further, even her chest might have been revealed. Her leather pants were in such tatters it was hard to believe they had once been full-length trousers.
The room was in even worse condition.
Decorative paintings and ceramics were shattered across the floor. The bed sheets were torn to pieces. Nothing was intact.
Except one thing.
The man lying beneath her—Ereb.
Aside from the buttons he had torn off himself, he was perfectly fine. While Ferdia was drenched in sweat and exhausted, he slept with a refreshed expression.
Ferdia looked down at him with a tired face before resting her head against the ruined bed.
“You bastard…”
***
The beginning went exactly as expected.
The moment Ereb opened his eyes and moved, his hand was already reaching for her throat. Ferdia barely avoided it and drew her sword.
“That sword will give you strength when you face me. Try using it well.”
He had told her to use it—but could she really swing a blade at someone unarmed?
“Why? Hesitating? That’s soft. Do you think you can beat me like that?”
“…What?”
Ferdia frowned, and his lips curved gently.
“You’ve already lost to me twice. Planning to lose again? I suppose losers get used to losing.”
She knew it was a cheap provocation.
But the moment she heard it, she felt the last thread of her reason snap.
Ferdia glared into his red eyes and lowered her stance.
“I’ll kill you.”
“So you’ll kill me.”
The killing intent in the air made even her fingertips tingle, but it didn’t matter anymore. She just wanted to shut his arrogant mouth.
As she raised her aura, a violent pressure filled the room.
Ereb smiled even wider.
“That’s more like it.”
He rushed her instantly and bit into her shoulder.
More precisely—her clothes.
Riiip.
Her shoulder was exposed and his eyes flashed.
“All desires reach their peak.”
His earlier words flashed through her mind.
But his eyes didn’t look focused purely on killing.
Ferdia bit her lip slightly. The desire he wanted was obvious.
“I wonder what your blood tastes like.”
His voice was sweet—but terrifying.
A gust of wind came toward her. She ducked just in time as strands of her hair fell.
“Damn it…”
“Did you know even your swearing is attractive?”
“Are you insane?”
“I am. About you.”
I’d rather decline.
Ferdia knocked his hand away and slashed diagonally, but he dodged easily and disappeared into the darkness.
Even that brief exchange left her back soaked in cold sweat.
The darkness of the large room acted like a curtain hiding him. Now she understood why he had chosen such a large space.
“You know something? The first time I saw you, I wanted to pounce on you immediately.”
“I’ll pass.”
She answered the voice in the darkness, but only his low laughter echoed.
“I was fascinated by your strength. I wanted to fight you. I wanted to have you. Do you know what desire I’m feeling right now?”
Ferdia’s eyes moved around. His voice echoed from everywhere while he completely concealed his presence.
Her lips tightened with tension.
Then his whisper reached her ear.
“Possession.”
“You crazy bastard…!”
Chuckling, he disappeared again into the darkness.
“The way your skin would feel… the sweetness of your voice… the way your eyes move when you look at me—it makes my heart race.”
“That’s called arrhythmia. Maybe you should see a doctor.”
“I will.”
After I devour you.
His presence vanished again.
Ferdia stayed alert, watching for the wolf that could attack from anywhere.
Then suddenly—
A cold sensation touched her back.
She slowly turned her head.
He was already there.
Ereb stood behind her, one hand on her shoulder and back, smiling softly.
I didn’t even sense him.
Shock parted her lips slightly. He gently grabbed her chin and smiled again. It was the same smile from earlier—but now it felt voyeuristic.
Heat surged deep inside her again.
He opened his eyes lazily and traced her lips with his finger before bringing his face closer.
“You’re the same as me… aren’t you?”
“…What?”
She looked at him with hazy eyes. Ereb simply smiled.
“Aren’t you burning hot… right here?”
