IBTCETEC 09

~Chapter 9~

“What if the seal never breaks, even until I die?”

“Even so, I’ll faithfully do my duty as empress.”

Regina sat up straight.

Conrad looked at her with a cool smile, his eyes turning cold.

A magician with sealed magic can’t have a child. That was a well-known fact, even written in magic books.

So Regina, who couldn’t give him an heir, couldn’t truly fulfill all her duties as empress.

But Conrad didn’t mention this on purpose.

“We’ve made our contract. Now all that’s left is to convince the royal family about our marriage.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Isn’t it too stiff to keep calling me that, when we’re supposed to be madly in love and secretly married?”

Conrad tilted his head and tapped his lips with his finger.

“How about we call each other by name? I’ll call you by your name too.”

Regina repeated the unfamiliar name in her mind, then said it softly:

“…Conrad.”

“Good.”

Hearing Regina say his name, Conrad moved even closer.

“Then, should we try recovering your magic right now?”

He got so close their breaths almost touched, and Regina blushed as she saw his lips.

His red tongue looked so hot it almost burned her.

Without meaning to, Regina leaned back, but her back hit the headboard—she couldn’t escape.

“Why are you running away?”

“Th-that’s…”

“You boldly asked me to help recover your magic first.”

Conrad’s big hand stroked Regina’s fallen hair. He took a handful of her red hair and kissed the end.

Just his lips on her hair made her fingers tingle, and the hairs on her neck stand up.

Regina forgot how to breathe, the air between them felt thick.

She couldn’t look away from his eyes. If she did, it felt like something might happen.

Conrad wasn’t threatening, but Regina still couldn’t hide her nervousness.

“Regina.”

Hearing him say her name with such graceful pronunciation, Regina barely remembered to breathe.

His lips inched closer.

“If just holding hands let you get back a little magic, what would happen if we kissed?”

“What?”

“I’m curious.”

Regina’s eyes shook. Conrad looked serious, not joking at all.

He explained gently, saying he just wanted to know.

‘Well, it makes sense to check what kind of touch helps me recover magic.’

Holding hands gave her a small amount back. What about a kiss?

And if they spent the night together after marriage…?

Conrad’s simple question started a chain of curiosity in Regina. In the end, she agreed.

‘Maybe I should get used to this.’

She decided not to resist her thoughts. If they needed to be close anyway, it was better to get comfortable quickly.

Regina closed her eyes tightly, then opened them, and moved closer.

When Conrad’s face got bigger in her sight, something soft touched her lips.

It was just a small touch, but heat rose, and a strange pleasure filled her. The warmth from Conrad’s lips spread into her, and she let out a light sound.

“Huu…”

Her mind went blank from the unfamiliar power flooding her. Light danced around her eyes.

Golden flashes mixed with the blue around Conrad’s eyes.

Conrad watched every change in Regina’s face, reaching out slowly and carefully like he was touching something precious.

He couldn’t hide his smile as her eyes cleared and focused on him again.

‘This is… even more…’

It looked fun.

His hungry eyes wanted more.

Seeing Regina’s trembling lips, Conrad spoke with his lips pressed together.

“Should we do more?”

His deep, sweet voice trapped Regina. Then Conrad kissed her again, deeply.

His large hand cupped Regina’s face, and the heat from his hand made her eyelids flutter.

His hand moved carefully down her cheek and along her slender neck.

A chill ran down her, and when his hand touched her shoulder, Regina let out a weak sound.

“Hut!”

Conrad bit her lower lip gently, opening her mouth wider. His hot breath and tongue explored, stealing all her air.

Regina couldn’t think. The weak magic slowly returning to her made her mind go white.

She felt everything—his insistent tongue, the new pleasure.

Conrad finally let go, leaving a deep red mark on her pale neck.

He straightened, pulling the sheets in Regina’s hand.

“…Let’s stop here for now.”

He watched Regina, who was breathing heavily, then pulled the cord by the bed.

“You have important things to do, so don’t push yourself. Just relax for now.”

At that moment, the head maid came in and bowed politely.

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

“Take care of her.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Conrad looked back at Regina.

“I’ll call for you again soon.”

Then he left the bedroom.

Everyone who saw him walk by could see his lips were red and shining.

Everywhere Conrad touched was burning hot.

Regina leaned against the headboard, breathing hard. She couldn’t put any strength in her body.

The head maid quietly waited by her side until Regina’s breathing calmed.

Regina patted her red cheeks and looked at the maid.

“Could you prepare some clothes for me?”

“Of course.”

With the greatest politeness, the head maid helped Regina walk to the dressing room.

Regina’s legs almost shook, but she forced herself to walk slowly.

The maids at the dressing room door bowed deeply as Regina and the head maid approached.

They treated her just like royalty.

Inside the dressing room, all the maids and the head maid started moving busily.

‘Wow, it’s dizzying.’

There wasn’t any noise, but everyone moved perfectly together.

Regina just sat quietly and let them work.

They washed her in the bathroom, then sat her before the mirror with hot air blowing.

Regina’s eyes widened at the magic device. But the maids just dried her hair with it like it was normal.

‘Fredericks is more open to Permang things than I thought.’