MHHC Chapter 115

The Edge

Once she'd witnessed those eyes, resistance became futile. In truth, she'd never particularly wanted to resist anyway.

The only problem was being carried through the palace corridors in this conspicuous manner, drawing every gaze to them.

Adelheid wrapped her arms weakly around Valentin's neck, burying her face against his solid nape to hide her embarrassment.

Valentin's body temperature, which had been alarmingly feverish moments before, had at some point returned to normal.

He strode through galleries and corridors with long, purposeful steps, then descended the central staircase.

Below, the carriage the Emperor had granted them waited. As they approached, a servant quickly opened the door.

"Ah..."

Adelheid reflexively reached up with her right hand to cradle Valentin's head. Almost simultaneously, a questioning gaze fell upon her.

"The carriage door is—there—somewhat lower than Ansgar's. So..."

Southerners were generally smaller in build than northerners, and their carriages reflected this characteristic with lower, narrower doors.

She'd witnessed countless northern knights bang their foreheads when they forgot this difference.

"Just in case... you'd forgotten..."

As she mumbled her excuse and lowered her hand, he looked at her steadily and smiled.

"Thank you."

Her concern proved unnecessary—Valentin climbed nimbly into the carriage with Adelheid still in his arms.

He set her down carefully on the opposite seat, taking care that her skirts didn't ride up or wrinkle.

During this, Adelheid watched with a sense of unreality as Morig's 'pale hands' that had lingered like residue in the carriage were devoured completely by Valentin's shadow.

She'd suspected they'd followed, but when had so many infiltrated...?

While she watched, the shadow caught even the last fingernail that had been desperately trying to escape, consuming it entirely. The shadow, grown slightly fatter with its meal, crept back and melted into Valentin's own shadow.

"Mm."

Simultaneously, Valentin released a sound almost like a shudder. Adelheid grabbed his arm in alarm.

"Are you all right?"

"Ah..."

He tried to smile reassuringly, but couldn't quite hide the tremor that ran through his entire body.

His eyes, cloudier than usual, closed weakly as he leaned back slightly against the seat's backrest, tilting his head.

Valentin's body had already grown hot again with returning fever. His breathing felt labored through parted lips.

Adelheid swallowed her rising emotions and spoke with forced calm.

"I heard everything. That you... gave me part of your origin..."

"..."

"That's why you're in pain. Right now."

At her accusation, Valentin barely managed to lift his eyelids. Something like amusement colored his eyes and lips, incongruous with the situation.

"Are you interrogating me? Now?"

"Shouldn't I? After you did something like that without a single word of discussion with me..."

"It's not that you shouldn't..."

He closed his mouth briefly, as if swallowing a groan. His throat worked, constricting convulsively before managing something like a laugh.

"I'm just pleased."

"..."

"That you're... worrying about me."

Could such a thing really feel this sweet? For a moment, she thought she heard him say it.

Perhaps she'd imagined it. His lips didn't move further while she watched.

After a long silence, he spoke again. His breathing came easier now, as if the pain had largely subsided in the interval.

"Still, the situation isn't as serious as you think. No need to waste your precious concern, Adelheid."

"...How can I not worry when you're in this much pain?"

She looked at him with exasperated eyes. A mountain of things needed saying, yet this was all that managed to escape her lips.

What it meant to give away one's origin, whether it could be returned, whether the talk of dying was real, what becoming a god even meant, and if all this was true—

"You're... dying..."

Had he truly intended to die and leave her behind...? At the miserably trembling voice, Valentin's smiling expression stiffened slightly.

When Adelheid's expression grew correspondingly grave, he smiled more deeply and answered.

"Adele. Don't listen to false words."

"False...?"

Adelheid raised trembling eyes to look at Valentin. She wanted to believe his words more than anyone's, but seeing his pale face made belief impossible.

His hand, which had been reaching to cup her cheek, fell weakly through the air. He murmured almost like an excuse.

"Well, I suppose looking like this, you couldn't believe any excuse I offered. It's just... excessive fatigue causing this."

"..."

"Adelheid. Come sit here for a moment."

He indicated the seat beside him with a glance. She stood abruptly, forgetting even that the curtains weren't drawn, and moved to sit next to him.

Propriety, etiquette... such human measures had long ceased to hold meaning between them.

Valentin buried his face in Adelheid's nape and exhaled a long breath as if finally able to breathe. The magic emanating from her seemed to infuse him with strength.

"Ah..."

Adelheid hurriedly unfastened the buttons at the high collar of her dress. She knew that intimate skin-to-skin contact was the most effective means of transferring magic.

She pulled the neckline lower and drew him into her arms.

Valentin's solid frame pressed Adelheid's slender body into the corner almost oppressively.

His large hands gripped her arms and waist without gap. He looked down at her with complicated eyes, swallowing a small groan between his teeth as he sighed.

"I didn't... intend for this... here."

"I'm, I'm fine, so..."

Desire gradually filled his pained expression.

Valentin caught her chin and lifted it, clicking his tongue like a bitter laugh.

"Do you know... how that sounds? I told you before... that I react like a dog to your every gesture... remember?"

Even while releasing groans in broken fragments, his careful gaze swept every inch of her face as if confirming her consent once more.

Adelheid tightened her grip on his nape, drawing his head closer to her. She pressed her lips to the edge of his jaw.

"Ah... Adele."

Valentin's throat worked urgently as he pressed his lips hungrily to her nape.

She could feel him tearing at her magic with his teeth. Each time his hot breath brushed her skin, Adelheid trembled slightly at the bare shoulder. At that intimate response, Valentin reached out and pulled the curtain closed.

The surroundings darkened in an instant. Their breathing tangled urgently in the dim carriage. Feeling his lips gradually descending, Adelheid urgently caught his cheek and pulled it up.

"W-wait..."

He sighed long but obediently surrendered to her touch.

"I feel like we shouldn't end the conversation like this..."

"Ask."

"Can we really just leave like this? His Majesty ordered me to serve in the military for life..."

"Each noble house's private forces will lead troops to gather before the northern barrier. If we leave now, we'll join them without being late. During the subjugation campaign, your identity will be registered as a healer in Ansgar's forces."

"Ah..."

"Don't worry. The Emperor spoke as if he'd hand his position to anyone, but in reality, monster subjugation is something Ansgar has done as routinely as eating. In the end, he's laid out a board advantageous to the 'Grand Duke.'"

Was that truly the case? Adelheid recalled the Emperor's petty-seeming impression. From the temperament she'd witnessed, he didn't seem the type to be considerate even toward blood relatives.

"Then what about the origin? What does it mean that you gave me your origin, and what happened exactly?"

"Humans cannot become gods. Even if you've become able to handle the origin to that degree, if you regularly absorb magic like this, it will be the same as before."

"Does that mean... nothing will change from how it's been?"

"As long as you want to keep me alive."

In the darkness, truth and falsehood couldn't be clearly distinguished.

She wanted to push back the curtain and look directly at his face, but absurdly, she lacked the courage. Because his words were too sweet a dream.

That they could remain as they were, that nothing needed to change, that they could stay together... She asked with eyes scrunched as if about to cry.

"Really? Can you swear it?"

"I'll swear it, Adele. As many times as you want."

All she could perceive was his heartbeat transmitted from his chest pressed close to hers, the seriously lowered voice, those yellow eyes meeting her gaze.

The pupils that had been rounded to mimic humanity had already elongated without measure.

That this change now felt merely sad... Valentin would never know.

Those eyes themselves were proof that he willingly wore a human shell for her sake.

Adelheid suppressed the faint anxiety rising within her. She deliberately turned her eyes from the darkness draped everywhere.

"Then I'll always keep you alive. Even if I have to stake my everything."

"Then."

Valentin caught Adelheid's slender wrist and tore the button off with his teeth. He brought the exposed skin to his cheek and asked.

"Please, have pity and save me now?"

"H-how..."

"You know, Adele."

His breath felt hot, as if all the heat that had been boiling in his body had concentrated there.

His voice poured out, burning hot like his hands. Eyes like a tempting serpent fixed on her in the darkness.

"Is your body really... all right?"

"Yes. So please stop doubting and save me."

His golden eyes curved wickedly in the curtain-darkened carriage. Adelheid looked up at him with dampened eyes. He licked his lips enticingly.

"We're at the edge anyway, aren't we?"

He caught her hand, warming to lukewarm with his body heat, and spread it open. It seemed almost like a declaration that whatever happened from now on, they would go to the end together.

And perhaps with that.

Absurdly, with just that alone, everything might truly become all right.

"Your Highness."