The aching feeling of Levin holding Daphne's elbow was enough to leave behind once they were out of Draco's sight. After walking through the expansive courtyard, with its clean moats lining each side of the stone buildings, Daphne finally climbed the spiral staircase. She entered a single tower across from the great hall. The top of the tower contained only a fairly spacious bedroom. The top of the stairs directly faced the bedroom door.
Levin hurriedly unlocked the door, throwing Daphne inside.
"What do you mean, marry her?" Levin growled. "This place is no joke! Marrying the King, do you know how insane that is? Being by his side means you're imprisoned forever. King Draco doesn't believe in the curse, and we still have so much to do."
Levin glared, his cheekbones rising and protruding sharply.
"Then are you going to betray your king?" Daphne replied, folding her arms and sitting on the edge of the bed. "Or are you going to carry my corpse before him?"
"I'm not that stupid," Levin snapped, snorting as he approached. Each step made Daphne both wary and excited.
"I could tear apart another human corpse and disguise myself as you. Then, Draco would have to choose your successor from among the many girls in the village. He, the foolish King..."
Levin was already on the bed, while Daphne was right under the soldier's chest.
"You're jealous, while I'm worried about you," Daphne said, bringing a twinkle to Levin's softening eyes. The tense muscles relaxed.
"Why?"
"Stupidity can be dangerous, too. I don't want you to get hurt," Daphne said.
"When you're like this, it's hard for me to hold back." Levin's breath became more labored, his gaze fixed on Daphne's lips.
"Pandora, we are connected, and I never asked you to."
Mmm….
Levin silenced Daphne with his lips. He swept each side of Daphne's lips while his tongue danced on the roof of her mouth. Their position was more comfortable this time, so Levin's hands immediately skillfully launched their actions. Flick by flick, the buttons of Daphne's pajamas came undone. Exposing the adorable mound that became Levin's new playground. Meanwhile, the man's long, muscular fingers first penetrated the gates of the peak of pleasure.
"Oh, Levin… faster."
Accompanied by the rhythmic, heavenly sounds of clicking and sighing, the red light continued to dim and glow within each other's souls. This pleasure truly inspired both of them to shed the burdens of this world they carried.
"Give me everything… give me, ah!"
Levin hugged Daphne for a moment, then kissed her forehead. But unlike Daphne expected, Levin covered her with a blanket, while she pulled away and sat down with a sigh.
"I'm sorry," Levin apologized. "This is the first time we've met, and I keep putting myself as a coward. I hate to be seen as taking advantage of you, but on the other hand, it's the truth."
Daphne got up and sat down with her head bowed. Rather than feeling disappointed, she felt more sadness, influenced by Levin's heartbreaking story. In front of Draco, he had mentioned his parents' tragic fate and its connection to the curse. Daphne realized Levin must have been waiting for her for a long time and had high hopes. However, it took time for Levin to discover that his Pandora was also connected to the same girl.
"I need you to prevent the Thousand Nights of Darkness prophecy. And it's very dangerous. Even trying to find a way to break it, both my parents died," Levin said. He turned and stared intently at Daphne.
"It feels harder when you're my soulmate, which means I have to be prepared to lose you again. But I can't… I'm so sick of it. The curse only affects ROGUVELLAZ. So, of course, we can run as far as we can. Should I let the curse happen?" Levin blurted out.
"It seems your feelings for me grew that fast and that big."
Daphne wrapped her arms around Levin's stomach. Her temples rested comfortably, rubbing the wolf warrior's broad back. It was all she could do to express her gratitude. She hadn't expected to escape death and find her soulmate at the same time.
"Of course, I've waited a long time. However, I understand if you don't feel the same way as I," Levin said.
"It's not like that," Daphne snapped, moving forward, and Levin happily took her in his arms.
"It all happened so suddenly. Just this morning, I was still an ordinary college student. Then, suddenly, I almost died, and the voice of the gods saved me. I managed to come back to life, but it felt like I was born as a different person. My mind was racing, while my heart was already trying to control you," Daphne explained, cupping Levin's cheek, "so don't ever think you're a coward because we both felt a strong connection that first night. You didn't take advantage of me. I came back to life for an important mission."
Levin's eyes, usually as sharp as an eagle's, now slackened in the twinkling of a star. "I love you. Not because of your abilities, but because you're in my life."
Daphne nodded, smiling sadly. "I know exactly."
With full force, Levin lifted Daphne's body and dropped her onto the bed.
"I won't let Draco marry you. Early this morning, I'll take you home," Levin snapped.
Daphne frowned. "
There was no longer any hesitation between them. Levin kissed Daphne's lips, moving down to her neck, as she moaned with bursts of pleasure.
***
Dawn was breaking over the eastern horizon. Levin watched the girl sleep, her long, messy hair covering half her face. Her face looked peaceful, even though her body was curled in the cold. Her breath was slow, deep, like someone finally feeling safe in a dream. Yet reality might never stop whipping her.
"I'm grateful you survived," Levin murmured, "but the road ahead will be more difficult."
Levin approached, stopped at the iron railings beside the bed. He froze for a moment, observing with weary but awed eyes. Daphne's face was too beautiful for such a ghastly place. Too fragile and too precious to be left to die from a curse she hadn't asked for.
Levin's eyes swept over the shabby blanket covering the girl's body, then slowly pushed it aside, ensuring he didn't rudely wake Daphne up.
Slowly, he touched Daphne's shoulder and shook her gently.
"Hm… Grandma, I just fell asleep…" Daphne muttered in her sleep, her face grimacing slightly, squirming like a child who didn't want to wake up in the morning. Levin let out a small sigh and a chuckle. Daphne felt too excited about her dark mission.
Without much thought, Levin carried the tiny body onto his back. He knew he didn't have much time. The other prisoners would be questioned at dawn. If he wanted to save this girl from execution, tonight was his only chance.
***
As silence hung in the air toward morning, Daphne feels her heart pierced through the thickness of the damp dungeon.t. This dark place is like an invisible curtain pressing against the chest of anyone who walks among the old stones. Although she was sure she was safe on Levin's back, Daphne feared something would pounce on her from behind the darkness.
"Sorry for waking you and asking you to hold the lamp," Levin said.
"It doesn't matter. I'm afraid of being useless."
The lantern's light swayed gently in Daphne's hand, illuminating the moss-covered walls and the cold, rusty, blood-soaked iron bars. Daphne wondered if Levin had created all this. Being an executioner meant playing the role of the grim reaper. Did killing bring him joy? Or, conversely, did he gradually become wounded and lose himself? Daphne thought the former would be more reassuring. However, she knew Levin was no psychopath.
The constant sound of dripping water from the stone ceiling created an unsettling rhythm. The smell of old metal, blood, and wet earth filled his nostrils. It was the distinct scent of a place where the last hopes and regrets were buried deep. Levin's footsteps were almost silent, but his heart pounded. He had known this route for years. Unlike the previous night, this time he had come to take someone's life much sooner.
Levin put Daphne down. "
He slid the safety bars one by one, his fingers deftly fiddling with the ancient key from inside his robe. The sound: The key turning in the lock was louder than the clap of thunder in Levin's ears. He swallowed hard. The prison bars slowly moved. A secret lay beneath the blanket covering a middle-aged woman's body.
"I'm not sure this is right," Daphne whispered, her voice trembling. "Sacrificing someone just to save me…"
"He's a dying prisoner. Tomorrow, I'll behead him in front of everyone. I think his death will be more refined now."
Daphne stared blankly at Levin. "But, Levin—"
Levin turned sharply, his eyes like cold blades. "We have only two choices, Daph. You go or you die. And I won't let either of those two happen."
Levin drew his sword. "I'm sorry," he muttered softly.
One swift slash. The woman's body fell soundlessly, blood flowing onto the stone floor. But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, a loud bang shook the tunnel. From behind the ruins of the broken prison wall, a creature sprinted. A blood-red wolf, its eyes blazing with hatred, leaped toward Levin.
"Get back!" Levin shouted to Daphne.
The creature's claws grazed his chest, but Levin spun around, using his weight. He slammed the wolf into the wall and slashed his sword across its hip. The wolf roared loudly and slowly transformed into a teenage girl, her hair red like fresh blood. Her eyes fluttered open, tears streaming down her face. She shivered, glancing at the woman's still-warm corpse on the floor.
"Mother…" she whispered, before losing consciousness.
I'll make sure you both pay for this.