The moon shined bright in the night.
Stars adorning the sky like jewels.
And the air itself gave off a chilling breeze. A stark contrast to the dry sand, dust and dirt of the Katze Plains.
And past the noise and clamor of a resting army.
Beyond tales and celebration.
Inside a sizable tent. Lay both Momonga and Albedo.
Both of whom were too tangled to move.
And mouths too occupied to utter a word.
—.—.—.—.R-18/Lime Warning—.—.—.—
*Puwah~ breathed out Albedo as her lips dislodged from Momonga's.
Her tongue lolled out, lips swollen, eyes glassy and body drenched in sweat as she gazed at the man on top of her.
Momonga breathed heavily as his body heaved in hunger with the same intensity. His mind felt light and hazy but as he licked his lips, the taste became too intoxicating.
His head dipped. Lips locking with Albedo's. Letting himself fall into the haze.
Albedo locked her thighs around Momonga's waist.
One hand roaming his chest while the other tangled her fingers around his hair and pulled his head closer to hers.
Momonga shivered in delight. His heart skipping a beat for a second while his hands responded.
One held her horn, fingers firmly rubbing against it.
Albedo, in response, shivered with heat bubbling in her core. Her other hand went to the hem of his shorts, but Momonga interlaced his fingers with hers.
Holding her hand down against the soft bed beside her head.
In seconds, Albedo felt the heat boil. Her back arching. Trying to meld herself closer to him.
But Momonga pulled back with a loud smack of their lips.
Albedo heaved deep. Eyes shaking as the giant muscular form of Momonga loomed over her.
Their eyes locked into each other. And with slow and deliberate movement, he lowered himself to her chest.
Lips kissing and sucking on the skin atop her breast. Making Albedo bite down on her lip till she bled while her legs rose and kicked with shaking rigidity.
And like a wolf, his teeth firmly bit down on her jaw. He unbuckled their fingers apart, and dug his hand into Albedo's breast. Her meaty flesh spilling in between his fingers.
And with sudden soft kisses, he trailed from her jaw to her cheek, her brow, the corner of her eye and the corner of her lips.
All the while kneading her fleshy mound.
And with a twist and pull of her nipple through her sheer nightgown. His lips locked into her.
She thrashed and squealed. Her free hand leaving four red trails on his back as she tried to hold on to him.
And without warning, he pulled back, locking their fingers once more.
Albedo spasmed as fluids soaked in between her legs.
Momonga took to memorizing her ragged breath with her hungry and intoxicated expression.
Breathing unevenly. Body shaking. And gown clinging, drenched in sweat, saliva, and fluids.
And he smiled at the bruises adorning her fair skin with blood trailing her lips, smeared and flowing to her neck.
A red stain on a white canvas.
She was beautiful.
And with one heated breath, he gently closed in.
His chest squished her breasts.
His legs parted and spread hers in turn.
Her one hand interlaced, while her other hand gently flowed to his hair then to his neck.
And as their lips melded, Momonga's nails scratched her horn and roughly moved his hips. Letting the underside of his hardened member graze roughly against her soaked lower lips.
Albedo's eyes snapped wide.
Back arching.
Legs flexing.
Interlaced hands shaking.
And as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
She squealed into his kiss while the bed groaned from Momonga's rough movement.
All under Momonga's devouring gaze. Memorizing every second and every moment of her reactions till her juices gushed and soaked their bed.
Drenching his abdomen, and in seconds his shorts.
And he let her. Heart hammering with every twitch of her body, spasm, and euphoric expression.
He didn't stop.
He kept the rough uneven movements. Going faster and faster while her squeals became louder and louder.
And with their combined release, he pulled back inches from her lips. Letting her let out a loud howl that scratched at the back of her throat.
She is, to his eyes—
"Perfect, my love... absolutely perfect."
—.—.—.—.Lime End—.—.—.—
Outside the tent, most of the men had gone quiet. Blushing at the sound of the not so quiet squeal followed by a throaty howl.
"...lucky bastard..."
Suddenly, a dozen men with drawn swords and marched for the tent. Making the envious both angry, and vindictive. Neither gave them the clarity needed to step in.
—.—.—.—.—
Sylvia held her head.
Despondent at the current situation.
She sat behind a desk. Tent lit by lamp and desk littered with scrolls.
But her eyes, they were slowly losing their light.
She pushed the desk away with one hand, letting it slide back against the dirt. And leaned against the hard wooden chair.
For a moment, she let her head wander and rest even for a brief second.
But in the end, the problem was too great to ignore. That all she could do was sigh and whisper—
"...what am I gonna do?"
Sylvia didn't dare approach her teacher for it. Knowing what her answer already was.
But it was her decision, she knew, she would have to make eventually.
The Attempted Murder of the Crown Prince.
'Or so they like to call it. Most likely to drown out the fact that he tried to murder someone and died for it instead.'
Sylvia already knew what the answer of the two were going to be.
To leave.
And with what they had openly displayed before her eyes, she knew that would be disastrous.
And while Momonga doesn't seem like the kind to hold a grudge. The same can't be said of Albedo.
For all the times they've spent together, Sylvia was fully aware of how evil the Horned Paladin could be.
'Vindictive is definitely one of her more frightening qualities.'
Sylvia shivered, recalling her teacher's beautifully frightening smile.
Catching her thoughts, she had no doubt they wouldn't stay. Especially since even she could tell, Momonga was only in the Kingdom on a whim.
And while that whim was by pure chance, she still couldn't accept letting them go so easily. Especially since it would open the possibility of them falling into Imperial hands.
'No.... If I'm considering it, then the Emperor most likely has taken steps towards it already!'
She clenched her fists hard, knuckles popping in the strain. 'Do these fools not realize what they're about to do!?'
Her anger shimmered within her heart but also physically. Unbeknownst to the Princess, steam flowed out of her body with searing heat. That her eyes began to glow gold.
And just as a *crack- resounded within the tent, a voice stops it.
"Control yourself."
Sylvia flinched at her teacher's reprimanding tone. And with a flap of a tent, Albedo walked in. Fully armored with her artifact hanging from her waist.
"...have you forgotten that the seed within you feeds on your emotions?" Albedo added.
Sylvia sighed, nodding in acceptance. Unaware of the change she had unknowingly put herself in. Seeing this, Albedo nodded in approval.
"You've learned well to accept what you cannot change. You're at least smarter than most people now."
"Is that supposed to be praise?" Sylvia asked with both humor and incredulous expression.
But Albedo just shrugged her shoulders. "Take it however you will. It is a fact, nothing changes that."
"Ok now... that... is a praise."
The two shared a smile and a laugh reserved in silence.
"I'm glad you are taking this well. It's not every day you lose your birthright after all."
Sylvia smiled defeatedly. As soft and soothing her teacher's voice may be, it was still a thought she was trying to avoid.
'...but of course. What was I expecting of you Teacher?' Sylvia thought while rubbing her temple with her fingers.
"Well... there are things that can't be helped I guess." Sylvia sighed defeatedly.
"Why give it up?" Albedo asked with genuine curiosity.
But Sylvia knew the price of war... Her eyes trailed to what little the flap of her tent could show. But she could see it still, those who refused the merriment.
With solemn tone, she answers.
"Unless my brother decided to unleash demons in the Capital. I have no chance whatsoever. No one is going to follow the Princess who ordered her Sworn Sword to murder the Crown Prince of Re-estize."
"Don't distract me with fancy words my dear. I asked Why. Not whatever this answer is."
Albedo swayed her hips, as she walked in front of Sylvia. Leaning forward on the table, just enough to let the light of the room highlight her figure.
Sylvia blushed but rolled her eyes at her teacher's antics. "Because it will give those who followed me a semblance of protection."
"Denial then."
"Yes. Because if I push, I must fight back. and I do not have the heart to drag others in fights they clearly do not want to." her voice was strong.
Unmovable, even by Albedo's standard. For a moment the girl seemed more, but then her motives shined and the thought clouded.
"I see." Albedo replied. "... you hope protect them by shouldering the blame on your own. Not a bad tactic I admit. A noble goal even. But to admit defeat without trying... Do you not wonder of what other possibilities it may lead to?"
"No." Sylvia answered firmly.
But the defeat in her tone wasn't missed.
Because to Sylvia, for the first time since Edström, began to doubt whether she was doing the right thing or not.
At least that is what she believed but to Albedo, this was exactly what she wanted.
...to doubt the salvation of her own people...
...are they worth it?
...do they deserve it?
...did they earn it?
...was this not their choice!?
Albedo showed no smile. But the satisfaction within her fluttered a little.
'Now that there is nothing for you here... there is only one place you will be. Time to seal the deal then.'
"What if you are their only hope. How much of that foreaaken rode will you thread?"
Sylvia frowned, then raised a brow and asked. "Why are you asking me something you already know the answer to?"
And with that Albedo smiled and said–
—.—.—.—.—
Come sunrise, the heat of the Katze Plains struck against the skin.
And while the King waited for the closing dialogue between the Kingdom and the Empire.
The same cannot be said of the Emperor.
Minutes passed and still, no rider peaked beyond the hill. And with spent patience and weariness, both emotions being cooked beneath the heath of the sun, tempers exploded.
"Where is that fake fucker!?" Barboro roared out.
"Son–"
"Show yourself you false Emperor!!"
"Barboro!" Ramposa roared in turn. Silencing the angry prince in place.
But while quiet, did not mean the same for his rage filled face.
Beneath the scorching sun, Barboro's face and anger stewed and it wasn't long before he broke out in anger.
"Hiyah!" he urged his horse to turn about. Back to the camp and headed straight to one of the larger tents strewn across the field.
He approached with heavy foot falls and as soon as he stepped in, it was empty.
His fist clenched and shook. The smell of sex still in the air and the sound she echoed through the night still haunt his mind.
Unable to find the beautiful paladin he was looking for. He marched for the holding cells were the so called Hero was said to have been moved.
He stepped in, "Oi!-"
And froze seeing intestines spilled, brains leaking through crushed skulls, and broken limbs seemingly torn from their torso.
The men Marquis Bouloppe had assigned to arrest and guard Momonga were now dead.
Barboro felt a chill on his spine.
Only to be smothered by anger, jealousy and lust.
His mind imagining the things the two would be doing with each other. Rather than what he wanted done to them.
Unbeknownst to the Prince, a rider rode for the King to deliver a terrible news.
—.—.—.—.—
Ramposa sat at his horse, hands shaking as he red the letter in his hands. And with every spoken words, a stabbing pain lanced at his heart.
The Emperor has left, with no hope of appeasement. Nor words traded for considerations.
The prisoner, Davernoch of Zuranon had escaped and the evidence for the coming trial had been stolen.
The Imperial Knightess is missing.
And now... his own daughter had left with a few simple words.
"For the sake of the Kingdom and the people I love. I cannot let these two fall in the hands that would sooner crush us.
Forgive me father, but this was the only way for us to have a future.
For us to endure and perhaps, just perhaps. Someday save ourselves from the horror we have allowed inflicted.
Even from afar, know that I will always look to your safety. Always wish for your happiness. You and my beautiful little sister.
Please send her my love. And tell her I'm sorry.
Your loving daughter,
Sylvia."
Ramposa felt the loss and knew, the Kingdom's days had just gone darker.