Chapter 234 - I Might Be Torn Apart

"..."

... So heavy.

His tone was light, almost joking. Yet the trust it held was so unyielding that Li Qingyu found herself thinking just that.

Of course, she knew that trust was a double-edged sword. It was as sharp as it was steadfast, founded on the understanding that he would cut her down without mercy if she betrayed it.

Nevertheless, rather than feeling hurt, she could only wear a conflicted expression for an entirely different reason.

Whether or not Limon knew how she felt, he spoke as though something had suddenly occurred to him.

"But, Princess, I think you're forgetting something important."

"Something important?"

"Yes."

Li Qingyu was wondering what she had overlooked when her eyes suddenly widened. Limon had slowly approached as though to whisper in her ear, only to abruptly push her backward.

"...?"

Caught completely off guard—and with none other than Limon doing the pushing—she landed bottom-first on the bed behind her.

But he did not stop there. She had barely managed to remain seated when he pressed her down flat on the bed.

Holding her firmly in place with one hand so she could not get up again, Limon slowly bent over her and looked straight into her eyes, now round as black pearls.

"Princess, who do you belong to?"

"... I belong to you, Sword Lord."

"That's right. Just as you said."

Even in her bewilderment, Li Qingyu had answered instinctively, as though there were nothing to consider. Limon nodded at her reply and moved his hand over her body.

From her rounded earlobe to her neck, slender as a doe's, and down to the graceful curve of her collarbone, over which her silky hair had cascaded when she fell onto the bed.

With exquisite delicacy, yet without hesitation, he slid his fingers along those soft curves as though handling a work of art he owned, and spoke softly.

"From every strand of your hair to the tips of your toes, you're already mine."

"...!"

"So I won't allow you to use your body as a bargaining chip without my permission."

She could keep secrets. She could even lie if she wanted. As long as she did not turn against him, he would never abandon her and would continue to trust her.

But now that she was his, he would not tolerate anyone doing whatever they pleased with her—not even Li Qingyu herself.

Having told her this in a near whisper, Limon gazed straight into her obsidian eyes and asked,

"Do you understand?"

It was not a question, but a demand. An utterly unreasonable, overbearing choice with only one path, permitting no answer except yes.

Yet that restraint felt so comfortable, and the hand encircling her waist so reassuring, that her lips had already given an answer before she could even think.

"... Yes. Perfectly."

"Then that's settled."

As though she had given exactly the right answer, Limon smiled in satisfaction and drew her closer still.

Keeping her pinned beneath him, he lowered his head toward her red lips as she watched him with trembling eyes...

["Hey, you two lovebirds."]

Limon and Li Qingyu turned to the side. Meeting their gazes, Yu Na-gyeong continued from her perch on the table, looking sulky.

["Sorry to interrupt the mood, but there's a zero-year-old baby bird right here, you know? Unless you want to get arrested under the Child and Youth Protection Act, how about showing some restraint?"]

"Na-gyeong, don't you know the polite thing to do at times like this is turn a blind eye and watch quietly?"

["Unfortunately, I've been single since birth in both my past life and this one. I don't know a damn thing about that sort of etiquette."]

Perhaps she was sulking because they had ignored her presence. Limon gave a little chuckle at her grumbling, then released Li Qingyu, walked over to Yu Na-gyeong, and mischievously flicked her forehead.

Even after being freed, Li Qingyu kept blinking blankly. Only after a long while did she slowly sit up and unconsciously murmur,

"... At this rate, I really might be torn apart."

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing."

As though she had never been in a daze, Li Qingyu feigned innocence with her usual gentle smile.

'I think I understand how people bewitched by the Soul-Seizing Demon Eye School feel.'

If Limon had merely told her to reveal her secret just now, how much would this mouth of hers—which seemed to move of its own accord—have divulged?

The mere thought sent a shiver through her. Especially since that shiver arose not from fear or wariness, but from an entirely different emotion.

Yet Limon, the very person who had left her so unsettled, spoke to her quite casually.

"Anyway, Princess, did you notice anything strange?"

Drawn out of her thoughts by his question, Li Qingyu concealed her discomfiture and asked,

"Do you find it strange that Maia chose you, Sword Lord?"

"Not that. I have a fair idea why the Green Dragon Princess singled me out."

'No, I doubt you do.'

Li Qingyu smiled wryly to herself. Unable to disclose those thoughts, however, she maintained a perfectly composed demeanor as she asked,

"Then what do you find strange?"

"The Green Dragon Princess seemed a little too unwell."

"Is that unusual?"

"... I suppose you're right."

Li Qingyu tilted her head. At her response, which seemed to ask why he was stating the obvious, Limon scratched his cheek.

It might have been unusual for another princess, but there was nothing strange about the Green Dragon Princess looking ill.

'Hmm. Was it just my imagination?'

"In any case, Sword Lord, please be careful while you're here."

As Limon decided to accept that explanation and put aside the peculiar sense of unease Maia had given him, Li Qingyu addressed him worriedly.

Limon would have to remain here for at least ten days. That was not an especially long time, but neither was it short if someone tried to uncover his secret during his stay. All the more so if that someone was the Green Dragon Princess herself.

Thus, Li Qingyu let her usual smile fade and continued with an utterly serious expression.

"If Maia discovers that you aren't a member of the Black Dragon Clan, things could become even more difficult."

* * *

"That man is not a member of the Black Dragon Clan."

"Pardon?"

Following Maia down the corridor, Barbara blinked. For a moment, she could not understand whom Maia meant by 'that man.'

But it took only a moment. Realizing what she meant, Barbara asked incredulously,

"Do you mean the Black Dragon Princess's attendant? The one who is to begin serving you tomorrow, Your Highness?"

"Yes."

"But...!"

Barbara could not hide her bewilderment. It was not merely because someone outside the Black Dragon Clan was acting as Li Qingyu's attendant. She had a reason to believe with absolute certainty that Lee belonged to that clan.

"But isn't he the violinist you ordered me to investigate, Your Highness?"

"He is."

"... Then you're saying someone who isn't from the Black Dragon Clan used psionics like that?"

Barbara was thoroughly confused. The Green Dragon Clan also knew at least the broad outlines of the extraordinary events during the London incident, and had been investigating Lee accordingly.

It was surprising enough that an expert of that caliber had emerged from the already fallen Black Dragon Clan. Yet not only had the man come as Li Qingyu's attendant, he was not even a member of that clan.

It was so absurd that, had anyone other than her beloved princess said it, she would have demanded to know how that could possibly make sense.

As though sensing her confusion, Maia asked mockingly,

"Barbara, if I said I would sell my body to another clan, would you quietly obey?"

"D-don't say such ridiculous things! How could I obey an order like that unless I was dead and buried?"

"And yet you still think he belongs to the Black Dragon Clan?"

"Pardon...? Oh!"

Barbara exclaimed as she finally understood. Watching her, Maia let a cold smile settle on her bluish-white lips.

When Li Qingyu had offered to pay with her own body, a true member of the Black Dragon Clan ought to have reacted just as Barbara had.

But Maia had seen Limon merely twitch an eyebrow at that outrageous offer, without the slightest sign of alarm.

As an outstanding physician skilled in reading the body's reactions to emotion, she could tell that this was no act. That was why she could be certain he did not belong to the Black Dragon Clan.

"That makes me all the more curious."

His ability to wield psionics through music. His true identity beneath the pretense of belonging to the Black Dragon Clan. Even those cold eyes, which had seemed infinitely haughty despite his polite, deferential speech.

Recalling the insolent-eyed young man who was a mystery in every respect, Maia smiled coldly.

"What secret does he have that Li Qingyu, of all people, would offer up her own body to conceal it?"

Barbara wore a conflicted expression. She was delighted that Maia, usually cynical and pessimistic about everything, was displaying such clear interest.

Yet envy and jealousy that she was not the object of that interest—feelings all too typical of the Green Dragon Clan—left her unsettled.

But only briefly. In the end, Barbara did what was expected of Maia's close aide.

"Leave it to me. I'll stay by his side and uncover every last detail."

Maia nodded as though that were only natural and was about to reply, but suddenly closed her mouth. After a brief silence, she spoke again.

"No. Give that task to Arbella."

"Even though Arbella made a grave mistake today?"

"Because she made a mistake."

Perhaps feeling that her chance to distinguish herself was being taken away, Barbara's face stiffened. Maia addressed her cynically.

"Someone must watch the Black Dragon Princess during her stay. I cannot assign Arbella to her after that disgraceful display."

"... You mean for me to act as the Black Dragon Princess's guide."

"Yes."

"But even so, there is no particular need to put Arbella in charge of investigating him..."

"Barbara."

Maia called her name coldly. Glaring at Barbara with green eyes darkened by gloom, she continued,

"I did not ask for your opinion. I gave you an order."

"I-I'm sorry."

Barbara hurriedly dropped to her knees and apologized. Maia regarded her with bleak eyes before finally giving a cold snort and speaking again.

"Make this clear to Arbella. Failures must be erased with achievements. If she wants forgiveness for today's blunder..."

Maia could not finish. Something with a bloody tang had surged up from deep in her throat.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Your Highness!"

Startled by Maia's violent coughing, Barbara moved to support her.

Or rather, she tried to. She would have, had Maia not suddenly raised her eyes and shouted,

"Stay away!"

Barbara flinched and stopped. Maia glared at her fiercely, as though she were an enemy, then spoke irritably once more.

"Cough... Leave me now."

"But..."

"Do you intend to make me repeat myself?"

"... Your servant Barbara will take her leave."

Barbara hesitated briefly as she watched Maia cough into her hand, her eyes utterly unwavering. In the end, she bit her lip hard and left.

Only then did Maia reach inside her clothes, take a medicinal pill from a bottle, and swallow it. With one hand pressed to her chest, she slowly steadied her breathing.

Only after making certain the coughing had finally stopped did she put the bottle away and murmur softly,

"Is there so little time left...?"