Creed walked step by step, holding Navia from behind. He wanted to move away from the window to a sofa for a reason.
He kissed her cheek incessantly, acting like a child who never wanted to be apart.
Navia met his gaze, pulling his arm around her.
"Your power, it's definitely different than before. Even the speed at which you absorb magic has increased."
"Really?"
Black moon greedily absorbed Creed's power.
The scent of Creed's pristine forest flowed over Navia at the same speed as when Black moon was complete.
"So this is the power of the Avatar."
Navia marveled, experimenting with the magic.
Sitting side by side on the sofa, Creed asked with a smile.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll give it to you every day."
"Yes. ...Huh?"
Navia, who had responded thoughtlessly, realized too late that something was odd in his words.
Creed held Navia's slender right wrist and stroked the inside with his thumb, just like a crescent moon.
He saw nothing on the inside of Navia's wrist, but he said there was a crescent moon drawn there.
Creed pressed his lips to the inside of the wrist where Black moon was supposed to be.
"I like Black moon."
As Navia felt him kissing her wrist, she involuntarily curled her hand.
Even the small touch seemed to ignite heat from that spot, spreading up her arm to her heart.
Creed bit her wrist gently, then whispered softly with his lips still against her skin.
"I like the feeling of Black moon swallowing me."
True to his words, Black moon joyfully absorbed Creed's magic.
She felt the stronger, perfected magic of Creed jubilantly bouncing inside her. It felt as if rain was falling inside her body.
Navia was embarrassed.
Just like White moon, Black moon also showed an overt preference for Creed.
Navia pulled her hand away, speaking calmly.
"I have to work now."
It sounded like an excuse, but she really had a lot to do.
"You don't have time for this either, right? You have to deal with the inheritance."
"Hmm."
Creed frowned slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
Then someone knocked on the drawing-room door.
Knock, knock.
"Lady, Duke Erkin Vladina has arrived."
Navia quickly nudged Creed in the ribs.
He retorted.
"Why?"
"We have to separate."
Reluctantly, Creed moved to the seat opposite her.
Then Navia spoke.
"Let him in."
Click.
Erkin, who seemed to have dealt with a lot overnight, entered the drawing room with a tired look.
Seeing Creed there, he smiled softly.
"Your Highness is here too. This is timely."
He placed a box on the table, filled with documents.
"These are the evidences of the traces erased in Agnes, in collusion with the Empress."
Navia quickly scanned the documents with a serious face and nodded.
"Really, uncle. There's something more I need you to look into."
She listed the names of nobles on a piece of paper.
"Can I get the dirt on these people by tomorrow morning?"
"Of course."
Such a task was nothing for Erkin, the owner of the Campanella Information Agency.
"Uncle."
Creed called Erkin. A playful and pretty smile was on his lips.
Erkin fondly looked at Creed, who still called him uncle.
"What's up?"
They used honorifics in public, but in private, they acted as uncle and nephew as they used to.
"We've decided to get married."
Navia, taken aback, unknowingly touched her forehead.
Erkin burst into laughter.
"So, you're bragging to your uncle about getting married?"
Creed just laughed.
His smile was so happy that Erkin laughed even more joyfully.
"I've always supported you two. In fact, everyone who knows you probably anticipated this day."
Navia felt her cheeks warming up.
'I was the only one who didn't anticipate this situation.'
"But I don't see the Duke?"
Erkin, surprised not to see the person who should be teasing them with a mischievous look in such a situation, asked.
"Dad had to go to the divine realm for a bit."
"Ah, to the divine realm for a bit..."
Erkin, hearing Navia talk about the divine realm as if it was just the next neighborhood, thought he should quickly adapt to this strange world.
Thinking the conversation was somewhat concluded, Navia abruptly stood up.
"Alright, everyone should go back to their own tasks now."
After seeing them off to the annex entrance, Navia turned around and then hesitated.
She saw a familiar red head in the distance. It was Wood.
Of course, Creed and Erkin, who were leaving the annex, noticed Wood too.
"How dare you...!"
Erkin dropped his gentle facade and instantly wore a terrifying expression like a demon.
As Creed also emitted a dangerous aura, Wood involuntarily stepped back.
That's when Navia spoke.
"Do you have some business with me?"
The three men's gazes swiftly turned back.
Navia had approached them unnoticed.
Wood bit his lip and glanced at Navia.
"Let's talk."
Before the others could intervene, Navia answered first.
"Alright."
Creed and Erkin called out to her.
"Sister."
"Navia."
They were clearly worried, but Navia was not in a helpless state now.
With a reassuring smile, she waved her hand at them.
Her body was filled with magical power.
"Just go in, both of you. The talk won't take too long."
Though the two men were reluctant, they left since Navia insisted.
Navia waved her hand lightly, sending them off, and then looked at Wood with a blank expression.
"Why are you here?"
It was a dramatic change.
Without a trace of a smile, her cold expression as if dropped in the middle of a snowy field, her indifferent red eyes gazing at him.
Wood was familiar with Navia being like this.
As a child, how much had she tormented him with those ever-changing expressions?
That's why it became funny. To think he now regrets those cruel childhood days.
Wood opened his mouth anxiously.
"I'm sorry."
On the day Navia had fled from Agnes, the scar on Wood's cheek had disappeared as of yesterday.
'It's Navia's power.'
She could steal others' magical power. She even used a never-before-seen or heard-of power: healing.
Wood had been foolish. But he had understood the situation more accurately than anyone in Agnes. This was a real game, and they could never defeat Navia.
And no matter how much he wished, Navia could never be his.
Without a care, Navia twisted one corner of her mouth and asked.
"What are you sorry for?"
"I'm sorry for everything I've done."
"I don't understand what you're talking about, Wood."
Wood had known all along that she would not easily accept his apology.
"What should I do?"
He was willing to give up Agnes for her. If he could hand over Agnes and stay by her side, that was enough.
Navia read the heat in his eyes.
"Do you still like me?"
"......"
Wood didn't answer. But that was an answer in itself.
"So, you do like me."
After all, how could feelings from just a day ago cool off so quickly?
Navia said to him with a cold gaze.
"Kneel."
"......!"
If he really wanted to apologize, shouldn't he kneel first? Wood approached Navia and slowly knelt down on both knees.
"This can't be the end, can it?"
He did not bow down to her attempts to humiliate him.
Instead, he seemed to feel a competitive spirit.
He knew too well how vicious this woman was. He knew too well how she had endured humiliations and escaped Agnes at the mere age of eight, and how she had boldly killed adult men.
Wood placed his hands on the ground, intending to kiss the hem of her dress as a sign of submission.
Thump!
But Navia lifted her foot and kicked his shoulder.
Wood's body fell backward and collapsed on the ground.
He frowned at the unexpected situation.
"What's the problem?"
I'm trying to obediently give you a kiss of submission.
Navia approached him and this time, she stepped on his chest, pressing him down with her foot.
Wood didn't resist and lay down on the ground.
"It seemed too trivial upon reflection."
The shadow created by the large tree rippled over his face.
The light between the leaves shone on Navia like jewels.
Wood clenched his jaw until it was tight.
Even in such moments, this woman was damn beautiful.
She possessed the perfect purity he had always desired.
Inborn lineage, mystical power, even a chillingly ruthless side.
'I want her.'
He became desperate to have her, by any means necessary.
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