The carriage passed through the forest for days until it was the fifth night of their journey. Priest Erolith had used most of his magic reservoir to heal Elduin and lift the carriage from the ground, so the previously long journey could be cut by half the duration.

"We need to rest first," Erolith said.

"Yes, Your Divinity," Maroch slowed down the carriage and found another spot, a small lake that should be safe enough for them. Maroch tied the horse, and the carriage landed on the ground again.

Maroch opened the carriage door and bowed politely, "Your Majesty, Your Divinity, we should reach the territory of my tribe tomorrow. May I know where will you be going, Your Divinity?"

"Hm… based the vision that I got, I should come to a small lake not far from your tribe. It's called Marduk Lake. It is said to be the origin of the earth essence. I need to go there," Priest Erolith said.

"I see," Maroch bowed politely again and continued, "Pardon my impertinence, Your Divinity, I happen to know this lake. It is not far from my tribe's territory, indeed. You need our permission to enter the lake. Because Marduk Lake is a sacred place for us, the tiger beastman tribe."

"I can help you with permission, Your Divinity. But I will have to follow you to the lake, in case something bad happened, I will be there to help," Maroch suggested.

"We don't need—"

"We will be glad for your help," Priest Erolith said, interrupting Elduin's sentence, "Please show us the way, okay?"

"Yes, Your Divinity, I will be your guard."

King Elduin looked down on his Big Ero. His eyes were sharp and piercing, trying to pry on Big Ero's intention to keep this beastman. Because if he kept on doing this, it was bound for Elduin to get jealous and suspicious.

But Elduin didn't confront his Big Ero directly. He had grown to have more self-restraint. Because if he just confronted everything right away, Big Ero would just deny everything and called him delusional or overthinking.

'I will definitely catch you, Big Ero.'

***

The gentle moon showered the night, but Elduin's mind was full of dangerous thought. He saw how his Big Ero was sitting and chatting with that beastman leisurely, but Big Ero asked him to stay inside the carriage.

Because he was the Elven King, and the king should have his own place to rest without disturbance.

King Elduin scoffed mockingly, "Is this a way to protect me, or simply because you want to have a romantic night with that beastman? I am really disappointed in you, Big Ero."

King Elduin couldn't hold himself to watch over the harmony between his Big Ero and that beastman. He decided to open the carriage door and strode towards Big Ero and Maroch. He grabbed Erolith's wrist and said, "Big Ero, I have something to talk with you. Please follow me."

Priest Erolith frowned, "Something? Is it that important? Little Eld, it's already midnight. You should have a proper rest for the journey tomorrow," Priest Erolith said with a smile.

This was the first time King Elduin was dissatisfied with Priest Erolith's smile. He would usually blush when his Big Ero smiled at him, but right now, it made him angrier. Because he felt that it was just a fake smile, Big Ero put up to pacify his anger.

"No, I need you to follow me now," Elduin said. At this moment, he was coercing his Big Ero to follow him.

Priest Erolith sighed and followed where Elduin wanted to take him. They walked deeper and deeper into the forest. Erolith was not concerned with the dark forest, he was an elf after all, but he wondered why would Elduin take him here, "Elduin, where are we going?"

Elduin and Eroltih stopped in the middle of the forest. Elduin flicked his finger, and hundreds of fireflies flew around them, giving a romantic atmosphere around Elduin and Erolith.

Elduin turned to face his Big Ero. He stared at his Big Ero for a moment before grabbing Erolith's arms with his hands and kissed Erolith's pink lips.

Erolith was shocked. He struggled a few times, "Mmmff! Mmmmm!"

Elduin took his time and pried inside Erolith's mouth, Erolith struggles slowed down, and he accepted Elduin's kiss, "Mmm… ah… E—Elduin…"

Elduin didn't stop, and he entered Erolith's mouth with his tongue. Their tongues touched and entangled. Erolith could feel the hot breath of Elduin, and it got him weaker.

Slowly, the Elven King put his hand behind Erolith's waist and pulled him closer. They enjoyed their mutual kiss until Elduin's hand slid inside Erolith's pants and fondled with his perky butt.

"Ah! Elduin, mind your hands!" Erolith said. He pushed Elduin's chest gently, but it was so weak that it was like a tease for Elduin.

[Pupa: Go push him harder! You are just teasing him like that!]

[That is my intention, you dummy.]

Elduin watched the coquettish Elven Priest in front of him. Although he was aroused, his heart also sunk deeper. Because it confirmed that his Big Ero was not as pure as he thought because Big Ero let him touched his body like this.

'So, he had been touched by someone else…'

Elduin's hand fondled Erolith's butt, and he rubbed his big cock against Erolith's crotch, "Big Ero, have you lose your virginity?"

Priest Erolith reddened when he heard that coming from Elduin's mouth. He shook his head and replied, "No, don't touch me like this. I haven't lost my virginity and not planning to—"

"Then why do you let me touch you like this?" Elduin asked suspiciously.

Erolith lowered his head in shame. He was also in love with Elduin, so when Elduin touched him like this, he instinctively allowed Elduin to go further. "I… I think you should stop now, Elduin. I just… I just…"

"Tell me," Elduin pressed. He lowered his head and kissed Erolith's neck and nibbled on Erolith's elven ear, "Tell me about your desire, Big Ero."

"Hyah!" Erolith jolted, he was ashamed to admit it, but since they had progressed this far, there was no way he could keep it simple anymore. Erolith gulped and replied, "Because…"

Erolith leaned his head on Elduin's shoulder and continued, "Because I love you, Elduin. But I know that you are the Elven King, while I'm an Elven Priest. We cannot be together. We are destined to be a fated partner to maintain the Sacred Tree."

***

Maroch/Urduk followed Elduin and Erolith, who went deep into the forest. He minimized his existence by turning into a shadow again. He watched closely when Elduin and Erolith stopped in the middle of the forest, and Elduin suddenly kissed Erolith on the lips.

Urduk glared at Elduin, but what made his heart burning was the fact that Erolith accepted the kiss easily. Even when as far as allowing Elduin to pry inside his mouth.

'Damn! How could he get Erolith so easily!' Urduk gnashed his teeth, it took him a long time until Erolith accepted his kiss, and it was never voluntary. It was always Urduk forcing himself towards Erolith.

His blood boiled when Elduin's hands slid inside Erolith's pants and fondled was trying to hold himself from interrupting because Elduin shouldn't know about Urduk and Maroch yet.

He was the beast of corruption. He knew he shouldn't be jealous of Elduin. Because he was not here to play love with Erolith instead.

But he got triggered when Elduin and Erolith kissed.

'No, I'm not here for love. I'm here to play and corrupt that Elven Priest!' Urduk denied.

Urduk still thought that he didn't need Erolith's love. Because he was an untamed beast until he heard Erolith said;

"Because I love you, Elduin. But I know that you are the Elven King, while I'm an Elven Priest. We cannot be together. We are destined to be a fated partner to maintain the Sacred Tree."

Urduk spaced out for a moment, and his fangs elongated in response. He growled, "That Elven Priest is mine!"

Urduk almost lunged at Elduin and killed him, but he still had a bit of his sanity. If he did everything savagely, he would just scare Erolith away. To truly own that Elven Priest, he must let Elduin sink into corruption, and everything will be smooth sailing by that moment Elduin had become fully corrupted.

"Erolith Virdhitas is mine! Nobody can hurt or corrupt him except me! Mine!"

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 20%.]