Chapter : 155 I Can’t Even Touch You
January 2, 2024
After finishing his conversation with Rangji, Karan returned to the lodgings he had secured in the center of Bedroka.
“What did His Majesty say?”
Elise, who had stayed up waiting for him despite the late hour, stood as soon as she saw him.
“He asked me to make sure David survives.”
Karan recalled the scene from his meeting with Rangji.
Please save him. If you do, I’ll do anything.
The proud king of Bedroka had gone so far as to kneel.
If he treasured his son that much, why had he exiled him in the previous life?
The thought crossed Karan’s mind only briefly before he erased it. Dwelling on a past life was meaningless.
“He said he’s counting on us to save David. That he’ll cooperate with anything.”
“Did he suspect us?”
“At first, yes. He warned that if we were playing games with David’s life, he’d erase Titrice from the map.”
Karan let out a short laugh. Bedroka was still living in the past.
Titrice might not be as wealthy as Bedroka, but in an all-out war, it wouldn’t be crushed so one-sidedly.
Unless they both wanted mutual destruction.
Either way, Karan didn’t care. As long as he had Elise—only Elise.
“I explained it properly. I told him that if we were the culprits, why would we bother saving David? That David waking up is the most important thing for us too.”
“Did he believe you?”
Karan shrugged.
What choice did he have if he didn’t?
“I explained it properly.”
It was true that David was in the Dex territory—and also true that if Karan got irritated, David would be the one who suffered.
“You must’ve had a hard time, Your Majesty. Emperor Rangji is very stubborn.”
Elise believed Karan had persuaded him logically, with proper decorum.
She was half right—and half wrong.
Karan had maintained courtesy for exactly five minutes. The moment Rangji pointed a finger at him and shouted, “You ruined my son!”, Karan had thrown etiquette out the window.
If he hadn’t used magic to keep the noise from leaking outside, Bedroka’s knights might’ve gotten some unplanned midnight exercise.
From Karan’s perspective, it would’ve been nothing more than a warm-up.
“So what now, Elise? Chase is busy preparing a banquet like an idiot.”
“Let him enjoy it. It’ll hurt more later.”
“Just hurting won’t be enough. I want that bastard to suffer.”
Normally, Elise would’ve corrected his language—but this time, she stayed quiet. Pleased, Karan pulled her into his arms. After holding her for a while, Elise lifted her head.
“But Your Majesty… why do you hate Chase so much?”
From the beginning, Karan had disliked Chase.
Elise had assumed it was because Chase looked down on him—but then it was strange that Karan held no particular grudge against Rangji himself.
And lately, his hatred had only grown stronger.
Was there something between them she didn’t know?
Elise’s long lashes fluttered.
“Your Majesty?”
“I hate everything about him. His pretty face. That shrill voice. That tall-but-empty build. That curly hair. All of it. I even hate the way that bastard breathes.”
This wasn’t simple dislike—it was outright loathing.
“Is there a problem with me hating someone?”
Karan’s voice dropped low. Elise smiled softly.
“Of course not. As long as you don’t hate me.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. One of Karan’s eyebrows rose slightly. He brushed a quick kiss against her lips.
“That will never happen. Not in this lifetime.”
What started as a light peck turned long and insistent. Karan kissed her as if he meant to steal every breath she had.
It was a kiss that felt like it could suck her very soul away.
The next afternoon, delegations from Magnus and Titrice arrived at Bedroka Castle.
“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”
Bedroka’s administrators came out to greet them.
Chase had given up an entire castle building for the people of Magnus and Titrice.
It was vastly different from the past, when Karan had arrived early as a Titrice envoy and hadn’t even been given a single room.
Even considering that this time they had arrived exactly on schedule.
“Why summon busy people back and forth? And the distance isn’t even short. Hyaaam— I rode all night. Changed horses and everything.”
Illyria yawned exaggeratedly, clearly making sure the administrators heard her.
“Mind your dignity,” Karan said.
Illyria’s eyes widened.
“Coming from a barbarian like you, that’s hilarious. You must be about to die.”
Karan briefly considered finding something to stuff into her mouth, but stopped when the guiding administrator halted.
“The people of Titrice will use this entire floor. Those from Magnus, please follow me.”
The second floor was assigned to Titrice, the third to Magnus.
“If you need anything, please pull the bell cord at any time. Administrators and attendants will be waiting on the first floor. Please rest comfortably.”
Chase wasn’t even assigning guards? He was separating the attendants and administrators too?
“We will. You may leave now. I wish to rest quietly.”
As if proving the words true, the administrators and attendants withdrew.
Once they were gone, Karan called for Hartbin.
“Check this entire floor—and the area around the building.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.”
Hartbin left with several warriors.
When he returned shortly after, he reported no abnormalities.
“Miss, you need to change into your dress.”
Regina entered, pushing in a rack full of dresses.
Without even a moment to rest, Elise and Karan began preparing for the banquet.
“I can’t tell whether this is a welcome or harassment,” Karan muttered, faint irritation showing on his face.
“Keep it simple, Regina,” Elise said. She wasn’t thrilled about the banquet either.
“I can’t do that. So many people who know you will be there. It’s a shame Lord Wharton won’t be attending.”
Regina burned with determination to make Elise the most beautiful person at the banquet.
“Let’s show them clearly how much your status has changed!”
When Elise left Bedroka, she’d been cast as a fairy-tale villainess. Now she had returned as a representative of the allied forces meant to protect the continent.
And she also bore the title of fiancée to the prince of Titrice.
Elise didn’t care in the slightest about Bedroka’s nobles’ gazes—but Regina did.
Our miss came back successful!
She wanted to brag openly.
Regina’s hands moved quickly. Elise entrusted everything to her and closed her eyes entirely.
“Miss, we’re done. Wake up.”
Elise, who had dozed off, opened her eyes.
A completely different person stared back at her from the mirror. The exhaustion from days without proper sleep was gone, replaced by a woman glowing with radiance.
“They’d believe you if you said you were an angel, wouldn’t they?”
“I think so.”
Even Elise had to admit—she looked stunning.
“Regina, what kind of magic did you use?”
“Hoo, I’ve put in a lot of effort, you know.”
Regina’s face was full of pride.
Ding— the bell rang, signaling the banquet’s imminent start.
“It’s time to crush the noses of Bedroka’s nobles, Miss!”
With Regina’s help, Elise stood.
“Elise, are you rea—”
Karan froze mid-step as he entered to escort her.
“Your Majesty, you look wonderful today.”
Karan himself was impeccably dressed. His attendants had insisted—he couldn’t fall behind Chase.
He’d complained the entire time, but once finished, he’d been quite satisfied with his appearance.
For a brief moment, he’d even arrogantly thought Elise might be the one admiring him.
But instead—
The admiration belonged to Karan.
Elise was so beautiful that he was momentarily speechless.
“Elise.”
He strode toward her. Regina, seeing his stunned expression, left the room with immense satisfaction.
Once the door closed, Karan stepped closer. He lifted his hand toward her cheek—then dropped it.
In a genuinely troubled tone, he said,
“I can’t even touch you.”
He rubbed his chin and turned his head away, then stole another glance at her.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Are you an angel… or a human?”
Karan spoke in riddles Elise couldn’t understand. Then he rested his forehead against her bare shoulder.
“You’re too beautiful. I don’t want anyone else to see you. I want to keep you to myself, Elise. Should we just skip the banquet?”
Elise’s cheeks slowly flushed red.
“Everyone’s going to stare at you. What if I get anxious?”
After hesitating for a long moment, she took hold of his fingertips.
“You’re not allowed to look at anyone else. Do you understand, Elise?”
Though Karan spoke like a threat, his voice sounded more like a sulk.
Embarrassed, Elise rolled her eyes upward. Her face was burning hot, but with both hands caught in Karan’s grasp, she couldn’t even fan herself.
And she felt a little wronged.
Karan already radiated wild masculinity—but dressed neatly like this, he exuded a dangerously sensual charm.
I should be the one worried.
Bedroka’s women were notoriously aggressive.
And ever since rumors spread that Karan had conquered multiple gates, his popularity had surged.
“I don’t know who you think you’re talking about,” Elise whispered into his ear.
“Don’t you dare look at another woman either.”
The moment she said it, Elise regretted it.
It sounds too possessive.
But Karan loved it.
So much that his heart thrilled.
