Chapter 31

Even at the Magic Tower, disposable magic scrolls were sold—but the types were limited, and the prices were extraordinarily high.

“Let’s not reveal the existence of these cards to the world for now.”

“Yes, we should keep it quiet.”

Michalis kept his eyes on Eliana as she worked on the second magic card, his nerves tightening with every stroke of her pen.

If word of a “Sage” spread, the Magic Tower would no doubt try to bring Eliana under their wing. In the worst-case scenario, they might even resort to kidnapping.

Why does disaster always strike like this?!

“Sigh… Why does Eliana have to be beautiful, adorable, and exceptionally talented?”

He was developing a headache. After the Crown Prince, now there was another source of potential danger looming on the horizon.

“I’ll procure more magic stones.”

Even amidst his rising anxiety, Michalis quietly committed to doing what he could.

“The second card is complete.”

This time, since it was a much higher-level spell than the first, Eliana used a high-grade magic stone. She immediately activated the image search.

[Beginning image search. Data retrieval complete.]

Image Search Results

• Name: Magic Card (Imperial Teleport)
• Function: Spatial transportation
• Grade: A-
• Materials: Paper, ink, adhesive resin, high-grade magic stone
• Market Value: No transaction record
• Effect: Teleportation to desired location
• Creator: Eliana Ascher
• Uses Remaining: 4/4

Note: A spell from the first emperor of ancient Sardis, “Villasehir de Laodiceani.”

As expected of a high-tier spell—even with a high-grade magic stone, it could only be used for two round trips. That was a slight disappointment.

“Shall we try it out now?”

Eliana stood from her seat and placed the card into Michalis’s hand.

“This is…”

One look at the activation phrase inscribed on the back, and he could already guess its function.

Teleport scrolls sold by the Magic Tower, while not powerful enough to reach his estate, were expensive enough to purchase a modest two-story home in the capital. If this paper card—with nothing more than a high-grade magic stone—actually worked…

The efficiency was frightening.

“I don’t have coordinates.”

To activate teleportation, if you had visited the place before, all you needed was a vivid mental image. But for unvisited locations, exact coordinates were required. And no one knew those better than Michalis, the soldier to his core.

“Understood.”

Michalis grasped her intent easily. Taking her hand, he conjured a location he knew well and activated the magic.

“Imperial Teleport.”

With a step forward, the grainy sensation of sand slipping into his slippers tickled his bare feet. Just like when using intercity portal travel, a slight wave of nausea followed, but the cool, almost cold air helped keep it at bay.

“Michalis, where are we?”

Eliana widened her eyes, looking around curiously.

The wind was cold and dry. It was too dark to make out the scenery clearly, but overhead, a massive full moon floated in the black sky, surrounded by stars so bright they looked as if sugar had been scattered across the heavens.

“The Red Desert of the Kingdom of Kantur.”

He had chosen one of the farthest places he could think of—an enemy nation’s territory.

To eyes still adjusting to the dark, the stars seemed ready to tumble from the sky at any moment.

“Ah…”

Eliana finally noticed the sensation of sand creeping between her toes, seeping through the gaps in her slippers.

“The effect is clear.”

At her quiet remark, they both fell into silence, standing side by side and gazing at the glittering sea of stars. The sky was so densely scattered with constellations that no shapes could be clearly made out. Each star pulsed with a silver or icy blue glow—it was breathtaking.

“…”

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, even the moonlight was enough to reveal the surrounding landscape. The gently rolling dunes came into view—virgin curves of untouched sand.

“Are you cold?”

Desert nights were stunning—but frigid. Feeling Eliana’s slight shiver, Michalis stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She was still small enough to fit perfectly in one armful, constantly surprising him.

Bathed in moonlight, she looked so beautiful that he instinctively pressed a soft kiss to her forehead—like sealing a mark.

His lips trailed gently downward, brushing her brow, then teasing along her nose bridge until they rested lightly on the tip of her nose.

Then, he caught her upper lip with a soft pull before slowly pressing against her lower lip, a breath brushing between them.

Her lips parted instinctively to meet the warmth of his breath.

His tongue moved in, grazing her lower lip before slipping into her mouth. When her trembling arms wrapped around his waist, he deepened the kiss—claiming every corner of her mouth with intense gentleness.

The fine particles of sand trickled down the nearby dune, making soft rustling sounds as they scattered.

His body, holding her tightly, radiated so much heat that Eliana forgot the chill of the desert night. In fact, it was almost too warm.

“Haa… haa…”

Only when her breath grew ragged and shallow did Michalis finally pull away, his lips parting from hers. Then, he quietly spoke the activation phrase for the magic card.

“Imperial Teleport.”

“Michalis—where are we?”

Eliana, pulled into teleportation without warning, blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar surroundings. It was still indoors… but not a room she recognized.

“My private chamber in the estate,” Michalis replied.

“Ah.”

Hearing his voice from above her head, Eliana relaxed immediately. Both coordinate-based teleportation and memory-based teleportation had succeeded. After standing still for a few moments, the residual dizziness faded.

“You can let go of me now.”

Eliana looked down at the arms still tightly wrapped around her.

“If I let go, you’ll just start another experiment.”

Michalis stared down at her with a dissatisfied frown as she squirmed lightly in his arms.

“…Well…”

He wasn’t wrong. Her silence sealed the truth. She shut her lips, feeling like her intentions had been read too easily.

“This time, it’s my turn.”

“Pardon?”

His voice was calm but firm, and Eliana tilted her head, confused.

“I can’t hold back any longer.”

Releasing his arms from around her, Michalis cupped her cheeks with his large hands.

“W-what…?”

Eliana met his eyes—burning with unmistakable desire—and her face flushed crimson.

“And I’m going to do it twice.”

“Twice?”

“…”

She quickly lowered her gaze, flustered beyond words. And that’s when she noticed his throat—his Adam’s apple bobbing slowly as he swallowed.

“Oh no.”

God help her—even the way he swallowed looked sexy. Alarm bells screamed in her head.

“I have to run… I need to come up with an excuse… Anything…”

But her feet wouldn’t move, like she was caught in an invisible trap.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to go. I didn’t steal the Duke for this!”

Eliana, overwhelmed by warning sirens and shame, squeezed her eyes shut tight.

“Where did that Duke go—the one who had no interest in marriage?”

Now she was facing the consequences of having “stolen” a man like him… and they were dangerously seductive.

“…”

As her eyes closed, Michalis moved his thumb from her cheek to stroke her reddened ear. The soft, warm texture was addictive.

Not satisfied with just touch, he wrapped one arm around her waist and bent down, placing a kiss on her earlobe.

“Ah—”

She jolted at the sudden warmth. Her reaction, adorable as ever, only spurred him on. With a teasing flick of his tongue, he traced the curves of her ear, while his other hand reached behind her neck, slowly undoing the buttons one by one.

Slide.
Once the last button at the nape was undone, the loosened collar of her dress slid down to her shoulders.

His lips, which had been playfully tormenting her ear, moved slightly to leave a short kiss beneath it.

Once, twice, and again—he left a few more kisses under her ear, as if unable to resist. Then he buried his nose in the nape of her neck, inhaling deeply. She smelled sweet—like fresh cream. Enough to drive a man insane.

“Ah, M-Michalis—not there!”

Eliana flinched and tried to push him away as his lips latched onto her neck.

“Tch.”

Pushed back for now, Michalis regretfully stared at her neck. The faint kiss marks he’d left during their wedding night were still visible, smudged across her pale skin.

He wanted to leave more before they faded completely.

“It’s the investiture dress…”

Eliana shook her head slowly, glancing at his lips with nervous restraint. The dress she’d wear to the investiture ceremony was an off-shoulder tube-style gown—revealing her entire neckline and shoulders. Any new marks would be problematic.

“Sigh… fine.”

Michalis let out a breath and took a step back. He gently took her hand and led her to a different spot.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly swept her up and placed her on the small tea table in the bedroom.

Slide.

Pulling her dress down from her shoulders, the fabric slipped easily and pooled at her waist.

He looked her in the eye for a moment. Then, he began placing soft kisses along the curve of her bare, white shoulder. With nimble fingers, he undid the knot of her undergarment.

The garment slipped away, caught on his fingers, and was casually tossed beneath the table.

Immediately, he lowered his lips to her now-exposed chest.

“Then, is here okay?”

He left a short kiss on her breast and looked up at her with a smile in his eyes.

“W-What…”

Her heart dropped like a stone.

That smile—his first time smiling like that—was dangerous.

“I’m really going to fall for him at this rate.”

The way his eyes crinkled, two delicate creases forming at the corners, made his expression both innocent and wickedly seductive.

“Oh… is it that I’m supposed to go even lower?”

As Eliana’s face turned scarlet, he leaned in, kissed her lips again, and curved his mouth into a teasing smirk.