STVWDTD Chapter 36

A Scorching Night Holds Desire

Creak, creak. The sound of climbing stairs. Bang. The door closing settled between them.

His sculpted face openly displayed wild desire ready to devour everything.

It was desire of a different quality than the madness that would tear anything apart when gripped by frenzy.

Inside the dark room, only moonlight streaming through the window illuminated them.

Diana untied her hair bound in one bundle and shook it loose. A softly glowing purple night sky fell below her waist.

As if entranced, he lifted her high to see her more clearly.

She was sweetly drunk, letting out a small laugh. He couldn't tear his gaze from her bright face.

Bathed in moonlight's gentle glow, she was achingly beautiful.

He felt drunk on her seductive scent, as if her intoxication had transferred to him.

"Diana."

He carefully set her down on the bed and knelt on one knee.

His eyes boiled with passion, yet he showed the formal courtesy of a knight. The posture was almost reverent.

"I didn't receive an answer."

He took her fingertips and looked up, lips still pressed against them like a knight swearing loyalty.

"Tell me. What would you have me be to you?"

Intense blue eyes locked with hers.

"I ask again."

The words breaking against her fingertips burned hot.

"Shall I be your knight?"

The man's scent, grown thicker, enveloped her. He rose and covered her. Creak. The bed swayed.

"Shall I be your husband?"

The reverential kiss changed color, transforming into affectionate intimacy.

The voice whispering low in her ear was sweet enough to raise goosebumps.

"Or,"

He lowered himself and lifted her foot. He bowed his head toward an opponent his power and strength couldn't control.

"Shall I be your slave?"

He was a beast facing only death, maddened by rampaging frenzy. The savage beast untouched by anyone's hand showed her a kiss of submission.

His entire body declared he would gladly offer a collar and become a slave if it was for her.

The male's eyes, thick with pheromones, held vivid heat fixed on her. Even in that gaze she felt his vow to never let go.

"Tell me. Diana."

The foot he'd captured tingled. She understood what he meant when he kept saying his fingertips tingled. Hot breath climbed up her leg.

The secret touch was sobering her even in her haze. This would cross the point of no return.

Diana raised her upper body and pulled him up. In their colliding gazes swirled intense desire.

He wanted her. His emotions wrapped around her, naked and piercing.

"Rodrick."

She swallowed the laugh trying to break through.

A man of perfect form, as if gathering all the world's beauty, couldn't hide his emotions before her.

She didn't dislike the strange tension and pounding between them. Diana stroked the savage but beautiful beast's cheek.

He tilted his head into her hand and exhaled a groan-like deep sigh.

Maintaining precarious tension as if about to explode any second, he was enduring to the absolute limit of limits.

She who'd sparked desire's embers didn't know. Inside him, war raged as reason and instinct fought for dominance.

Like a beast awaiting its master's command. Pretending composure while waiting for an answer.

"I'm greedy."

Flick. Flick. Diana unbuttoned his collar while looking straight at him.

"Knight, and husband, and slave."

Jewel-like sparkling pink eyes struck his heart.

"I need all three."

She grabbed his open collar and pulled him close.

"What do you think?"

Her arrogantly raised eyes curved smoothly.

It was an ecstatic smile that stopped breath.

Beneath the tilting moonlight, air seemed to stop, time seemed to freeze.

"Gladly."

A rough voice flowed through teeth parched with thirst.

Permission fell in that smile, and in an instant he was sharing sweet breath with her.

"Always as you wish."

Lips descended like fluttering flower petals, growing increasingly dense.

He shed what was in the way and seized the air, making it burn.

"Mmm."

Innocent air stained crimson.

In the crossing waves, even magic based on curse filled her full, bringing satisfaction.

But desire filled with thirst knew no exhaustion and kept craving her endlessly.

Intense and stimulating, the transformed magic interlocked seamlessly, stimulating every cell and raising shivers.

Pleasure spreading through their interlaced fingers continued endlessly.

The world was quiet in darkness, and their world shattered brilliantly again and again.

It was peace after so long. Thin sunlight leaked through the cheap curtains. Even the rough texture felt pleasant on the bed that creaked with the slightest movement.

Rodrick quietly held her back, enjoying the sensation against his bare hands.

His mind was clearer than ever, refreshed as if the madness had completely vanished.

Well, of course—every time she grew tired, she'd absorbed his curse, so he could greet the morning more refreshed than ever.

As his hand continued caressing smooth, soft skin, her eyelashes trembled.

He felt her fluttering lashes against his chest. She blinked blankly, started to lift her head, then pressed her forehead to his chest again.

"Did you sleep well?"

At his leisurely question, she swallowed a groan. Her entire body ached stiffly.

"...Rodrick."

Her voice was hoarse from all the screaming.

No matter how harsh her training had been, how good her basic stamina was, she couldn't keep up with this man.

How could anyone match this insane physique?

"Are you really sure this was your first time?"

The mumbled words transmitted through his chest. Rodrick, who'd been focusing intently on her voice, laughed pleasantly.

"Should I prove it to you again?"

A low voice full of laughter flowed out wickedly.

"Are you insane?"

This man, really! She frowned. She'd thought being with a vigorous man was all good. This is too much.

"I'm sore."

Her prim words made the hand stroking her back stop.

He rose from the bed without hesitation. Well-trained lean muscles packed his torso tight.

Everywhere she looked, the perfect male body captured her gaze.

"Where are you going, naked like that?"

"To get medicine."

Diana smiled slightly despite the pain as she watched him find pants and pull them on carelessly.

"Rodrick?"

She beckoned with one finger. He approached like a large, obedient black panther and perched on the bed.

"My medicine is right here, so where are you going?"

Her slender finger tapped his muscular body.

Are you going to announce to the whole neighborhood what happened to us last night?

She'd said it indirectly, but his eyes rippled with heat not yet cooled.

"Absorbing it makes you not hurt?"

"Who knows."

He pressed his lips deeply together as if telling her to check.

As it turned out, magic didn't cure regular muscle soreness. There was some effect, but very minor.

After kisses that continued on and on, she pulled her lips away and said in a grumbling voice:

"Stop."

She raised her eyebrows high. My lips are going to wear away. At her command that wasn't a command, he stopped abruptly.

"Today's quota is done. I'll do it next time if you behave. Bring me my clothes."

Did I sound too bossy? She checked his expression—he was smiling. As if truly happy.

"As my lady wishes."

Emotion bloomed like flower buds on the man's face that had been filled with cold indifference.

Very small but precious, brilliant enough to want to keep to herself.

At that sight, Diana realized anew that she'd completely given a piece of her heart to this man.

"Oh my, Commander! Good morning! Did you have a good night?"

Carol greeted Rodrick brightly as she carried food plates toward him descending the stairs.

The knights nursing hangovers with hearty stew choked. Cough, cough.

"C-Commander?!"

They'd been so drunk they'd passed out without even knowing Rodrick had come.

The elite knights who'd sobered up midway had already fled. But Berzh, unable to escape since this was his residence, swallowed tears and held his position.

"Where's the lady? Isn't she coming down with you?"

"She'll be down soon."

Isn't she even scared? His wife's friendliness was remarkable. Carol's subtle smile was fox-like.

'Honey, dear, did you hear last night? I thought the whole third floor was going to collapse!'

'No, honey. I don't want to know that.'

Berzh had zero interest in his superior's private life. Seeing your boss at work is plenty, isn't it?

When Rodrick settled into his seat, the knights couldn't eat, just held their spoons and watched him nervously.

Diana rose from bed, stretched her stiff body, and dressed.

The simple dress-style garment was easy to put on alone. As she tightened the cord at her chest, her eyes sharpened.

Maybe from absorbing Rodrick's curse thoroughly, her nerves were on edge. Her senses detected a gaze from outside the window.

She smoothed her clothes and casually opened the window as if to enjoy the view, then instantly stepped onto the windowsill and dropped down.

The opponent, who'd keenly noticed her awareness, started fleeing.

Her whole body ached, but paradoxically, she overflowed with strength. The moment she took one step, scenery rushed past quickly.

The chase didn't last long, ending in a dead-end alley. She grabbed the scruff of the neck and used monstrous strength to pin down the robed figure.

"Affiliation."

"..."

The opponent who'd let out a groan stayed silent. Diana turned them around and held a dagger to their throat.

"You'd better answer well. If I consider you an enemy, you'll die right here."

"V-Vanessa, ma'am. I'm directly under her."

An androgynous woman's voice. Regardless of gender, Diana remained equally cold.

"Proof."

Pressed precariously against vital points, the woman struggled to pull down her clothing and showed a red rose mark carved below her collarbone. Only then did Diana release her.

"Is big sister so busy she's sending untrained people?"

The woman felt like dying. The youngest duchess locked away in the mansion—no one had told her she was this skilled.

Beatus raises killing weapons. She was like a beautiful doll without emotion.