TCCIO 25

Chapter 25. The End of the Bet
Delia’s voice, laced with forced haughtiness, curled around Aaron.

“Yeah. Once was fine. It wasn’t bad.”

Aaron frowned at her bold reply. At some point, his hand had left her lips and was now caressing her slender neck.

“That’s all?”

“What more do you want?”

“Prisoner, say that again. That’s different from what you said earlier.”

Aaron’s large hand, which had been stroking her nape, trailed down along her delicate line. The prisoner of Aro, unaware of who she had been captured by, recklessly opened her mouth.

“That time, the Commander was being so rough. I said it to survive. It was false testimony under duress, that’s all.”

Looking at the brazenly babbling Delia’s frail shoulders, Aaron raised one corner of his mouth. What a lie. He’d tried so hard just to get her to admit she liked it. His hand grew tighter with hidden strength.

“Can you swear on your heart that what you just said is true?”

“I just told you, why do you keep asking?”

Seeing her flustered, Aaron’s eyes softened. It was obvious she was embarrassed, yet still trying to keep her pride. Just like his prisoner. But did his prisoner know that no matter how hard she struggled, she was still in the palm of his hand? Gently, he released the tense Delia and softly brushed her reddened earlobe.

“Alright. I’ll believe you.”

“It is true.”

“Then tell me… what’s your identity, prisoner?”

Delia held her breath, as if her heart had stopped. Her entire body stiffened, not even a twitch.

“Why? So you can use me? Dream on. I’m not someone who can be used that easily.”

Aaron smiled gently at the way Delia bristled like a porcupine. What on earth was her identity? Why did she freeze and bristle every time it was mentioned? Once, Aaron had observed her every move to figure it out. But now, he no longer cared who she was.

“Sorry, but you’re no longer useful to me as a prisoner.”

Delia had lost her value as a prisoner. She couldn’t be released, so there was no room for negotiation. He knew now how beautiful her moans were, how sweet her tears tasted, how warm her embrace felt. There was no way he could let her go.

“Then why are you asking?”

“Because after the war ends, I’m going to propose to you.”

“Are you insane?!”

Delia jumped up, covering herself with the blanket. Her exposed skin was still marked by Aaron. Unlike the appalled Delia, Aaron remained relaxed, lying on the bed with a faint smile.

“I’ll make sure the army avoids your family’s territory. I’ll grant your family nobility under the Shutilaitz Empire. I’ll let you enjoy even more than you did in Iorenti.”

Delia wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and declared coldly:

“Commander, I think you’re forgetting something. We’re enemies. Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean you get to cling like this.”

“Just because we slept together once?”

“We’re enemies, fighting with swords drawn. A marriage proposal in the midst of war? I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Delia turned away sharply, trying to escape from Aaron. But of course, Aaron wouldn’t let his prisoner slip away. He rose and casually pulled Delia back into his space. Trapped, she looked up at him, her eyes wavering. The blue eyes that held the sky made a shiver run down her spine.

“You already heard me. I said I’m going to propose.”

“That doesn’t make sense. We’re enemies. And in the middle of a war?”

“I’ll make it happen.”

“I don’t want it. Aren’t you proud soldiers of the Empire? You said you wouldn’t force me. Marriage is personal. If I say no, that’s the end of it.”

“Right. I won’t force it. I’ll wait. Until you say yes.”

Aaron’s lips curved beautifully, and his voice was soft like a whisper. But Delia couldn’t suppress a cold chill.

“One mistake is enough. I’ll never let it happen again. Let alone marriage.”

“Oh really?”

“Commander. Keep your personal and professional matters separate. We’re enemies. If I step one foot outside, we’re at war again.”

“Then I’ll keep you locked up. As your captor, preventing a prisoner from escaping is a military duty.”

Aaron’s large hand gently stroked Delia’s hair, which shimmered like light. There was no longer any escape.

“I’ll hold onto you until you agree.”

“Commander!!!”

Even as Delia shouted in disbelief, Aaron’s fingertips continued caressing her hair with delicate care—so unlike how a commander should treat a prisoner. It made her feel the same heat again, as if she were losing control.

“This isn’t what we agreed on. This isn’t part of the bet. If I resist your temptation and escape, you lose.”

Delia fell silent as she realized the true meaning of their bet. If she couldn’t escape from him, the bet wasn’t over. But Aaron had no intention of letting her go. Which meant the bet would continue until he won.

“It’s a bet you were always going to lose. I’ll use my authority to keep you here. You’ll never get away from me.”

Aaron’s smile was full of confidence—the victor’s smile.

“The bet ends in one of two ways: you get used to me, or you accept me.”

Delia had walked straight into the Commander’s trap. Realizing this, she gritted her teeth in frustration.

“Commander.”

A quiet voice called Aaron from outside the tent. Like cold water being poured over them, the two snapped back to reality. Aaron slowly pulled away from Delia. He glanced at her, covered in traces of him, then spoke in a deep voice:

“Wait outside.”

He gave the order to his adjutant waiting outside, then locked eyes with Delia. Unlike her tense expression, Aaron’s gaze was relaxed. He gently pulled the blanket over her.

“Think about it slowly.”

He picked up his shirt from the floor and draped it over his body, buttoning it slowly. His face bore the smile of someone who knew he had already won. There was no way the prey caught in his trap could escape. He could wait as long as it took.

“No need to think slowly. My mind’s made up.”

Delia tried to speak calmly, but her voice trembled. Aaron leaned in and kissed her small forehead.

“Alright. I’ll give you all the time you need—for that unchanging mind to change.”

He pulled aside the curtain and exited the tent. Only then did Delia relax her stiffened body. Her hands trembled from how tightly she’d been clutching the blanket.

“I can’t just stay like this.”

She couldn’t let herself get swept away. Delia bit her lip and forced herself to sit up. Pain screamed through her body, but she managed to stand. Her skin still bore marks, but there was no sticky feeling. A bowl of water by the bed told her he’d cleaned her while she was asleep.

That made her hate him even more.

He was an enemy who invaded Iorenti, yet his hands were so tender. She cursed softly, gathered her clothes from the floor, and dressed. She had to start over—as if everything was new again. She had to erase the silver temptation that had stained her, suppress the heat that had consumed her. She had to rekindle her hatred for the enemy, renew her will to kill their commander, and reaffirm her determination to escape.

“This is ridiculous. Marriage? A noble title from the Empire?”

There was no way she, a princess of Iorenti, could abandon her homeland. Delia staggered to the table. Her eyes fell on a few mountain berries rolling across it. They had grown under the Iorenti sun. Glimmering, ripe with the light of their homeland. She picked one up and popped it in her mouth. The sweet, fragrant pulp burst as she bit down, making her sigh softly.

The strange sensation that had dug into her faded, and the lingering heat in her mouth washed away. If it meant protecting such beauty and sweetness, she could do anything. Her eyes burning with resolve, she popped another berry into her mouth.

Just then, a quiet voice interrupted her.

“You, prisoner.”

Aaron had returned to the tent and was staring at her. His earlier composure was gone, replaced by a chilling sharpness in his gray eyes. Delia froze, the berry still in her fingers.

“You said you weren’t a noble. Not a saint. But… a royal?”

Delia dropped the berry in her hand. It rolled off the table and thudded onto the floor.

“Were you… a princess? Of Iorenti?”

“How did you…?”

Delia muttered in a daze as Aaron stepped toward her and tossed a note onto the table. Then he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Delia stared at his tousled silver locks, then looked at the note. Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar script. It wasn’t the common tongue. Not the Empire’s language either. Then—

“Were you really a princess?”

Aaron’s voice was disbelieving. He stared at Delia, who remained silent.

“Blonde, blue-eyed princess of Iorenti. Royal guard captain and 200 elite guards—whereabouts unknown.”

Aaron stared at Delia, her golden hair cascading and eyes like blue glass. Behind her, the faces of those he had killed flashed like ghosts.

The Southern Three-Nation War.

It was never a war for plunder or destruction. It was a war to consolidate borders along the sea, to secure trade routes by surrounding the Empire with a natural defense.

For that, all three nations had to be fully absorbed into the Shutilaitz Empire.

They couldn’t foster resentment. Cities couldn’t be too damaged. No threatening civilians, no needless destruction. Noble families who surrendered were welcomed. Soldiers who laid down arms were spared.

Except royalty.

To end the war completely, royalty had to die. Kings who committed suicide were hung from city walls. Those who ran were hunted down and killed. Queens and princes, young and old, all slaughtered and displayed in the city squares. So that no one would dare claim a crown again.

Royals were killed just for being royal.

And now… a princess.

Aaron looked at Delia—someone he should have killed—with sunken eyes.