V2 Chapter 58

The feeling of her inner walls clamping down around him, pulsing with need, drove Cian over the edge.

Cian came, his body moving on its own as he leaned forward to nuzzle against the woman’s neck. He released soft noises of his own, letting Oriel know just how good she made him feel. Hearing his noises elated Oriel.

She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him to herself lovingly. She caught her breath, kissing his shoulder and moving a hand to run through his hair in a relaxing, loving manner. She sighed out contentedly, moving to kiss Cian’s neck, her body finally relaxing under his as she still had tiny shimmers of bliss sparking through her. He had made her feel so good. So beautiful. And he never said a word. All their love was expressed through touch. But sooner or later that had to end.

… Oriel just didn’t want to be the one to break the silence.

Cian rested against her, feeling lost in the silence. He kept his face hidden against her neck as he whispered “I love you” against her ear. He didn’t say it before and only know that they have both confessed their feelings they kept hidden for so long.

Oriel smiled at him. Of course, she believed him. She nodded at him, moving her lips against his neck, murmuring softly. “I love you, too…”

Cian turned at her, expression beamed in a handsome smile…

They cuddled together...they didn’t move again as they wanted to savor the wonderful moment, until they both closed their eyes, lost on the embrace from each other…and fell asleep.

… …

Cian woke up abruptly.

He moved his head to the right and looked at the window, still dark but there was already light passing through, albeit tiny. It should be morning, probably within 2 to 5 in the morning.

Oriel slept soundlessly by his side.

The smell had disappeared… Cian thought as he braced himself on one elbow, bent over his elder sister, touched her face lovingly, but very lightly, so as not to awaken her from her exhausted sleep, and lifted a strand of hair away from her eyes. Then, he settled down again, stretched out on his back, and closed his eyes, but before many minutes had passed he decided he was not going to fall off again quite so easily, or as quickly as he had imagined he would. He was suddenly wide awake.

Was it because… Cian had just broken another taboo that he had not dared in the previous life… that he had avoided at all costs.

Looking at Oriel, he thought about his own sister and felt a bit guilty. What she is doing now, I wonder… Is she still looking for me…? Is she still continuing the dangerous life as usual…? Or did she find another else, after losing him…

Cian sigh. He shook his head, wanting to sleep back again.

But only to fail as his mind was wide awake.

Still, he had slept very deeply for the past few hours, as he always did when he was with a woman as if he were more content and at peace when there was a loving woman in his bed. Well, of course, he was…

Despite being replaced, Aanuel’s existence was still living deep within him…or, was that only just an excuse but in fact, this was his desire that was being restrained by reason and moral in the past life but now was freed like a wild beast…? Or probably, both…

Cian sigh—either truth was not something he doesn’t want to admit. He was reluctant to admit that he was the type of person he loathed and felt appalled into--a scum and a bastard. Well, every man detested agreeing that they are what they had hated.

He turned over onto his side, made an arc of his body around Oriel. Now, she was officially his… his very own lover—lying next to his blood-related sister in the darkness, adoring her in the silence of his heart, and Cian wondered if… what if she would bear the fruit of their deed…? Was there even a birth control type of thing in this world…?

Now that he thinks about it, he was always blowing his seeds into Ruka nonchalantly and without care and yet, why does she yet to be pregnant…? It’s not like he was infertile or something…!

Cian can still recall a memory about Aanuel impregnating several women and was killed by him, directly or indirectly. So that means, Cian’s body is not infertile… so does that mean, Ruka has the problem…?

No, that should not be possible… probably there is some kind of magic that prevents pregnancy, something like a birth control type magic, right…?

I should ask her about it next time…!

Well, it would surely be quite an interesting sight if he impregnated Oriel, though, there’s a very low chance of that happening. After all, if there is really such magic, Oriel would surely use it. There would be many problems coming out if she would conceive a child at this moment…

Instinctively, Cian lifted his right arm, put it around Oriel, drew closer, burrowed his face in her fragrant hair, overflowing with his love for her. He closed his eyes again, let himself drift into sleep. Though, if Oriel would really conceive… what should he do…? How will he move and act…?

And he wondered, as he finally dozed off.

… …

Cian and Oriel’s relationship had gotten extremely close and intimate after that one night had happened—although, they had a tacit agreement on not to let the outside knows about what had happened to them nor their real relationship, but whenever they were all alone, Cian and Oriel would leave everything behind, status and identity and indulge themselves with each other.

Of course, this not because of any moral and public opinion as Oriel didn’t really care about such things, but Oriel was afraid of the effect it had on Cian’s status.

She was not a woman with naïve understanding about the world—even in this world where siblings like Oriel and Cian wouldn’t care and can let their love be displayed in a public without hesitation, but this is not the Ancient World. Cian has a fiancée and he himself has a very unstable status—

Something will surely start the moment this kind of scandal appeared in the open.

…at worst, Oriel feared that Cian’s life would be in danger.

As for Cian, he doesn’t really care about it—nor would he care about the outside world’s opinion on him. Why would he? However, Oriel’s proposal was not something he cannot refuse; after all, Cian doesn’t want to hurt Sibylla more than he was hurting her.

You can say it was love at first sight—or probably, this should be called, desire at first sight. Sibylla was the very personification of a real loving wife--a loyal lover from the modern world where he came from. And because of that, it’s as if he had found light he was reluctant to give up. He didn’t know if that was love but it was a feeling he had never felt before…

Cian loves his Mother Sitana the most…

Cian was most fond of Ruka the most…

Cian sexually desired Oriel the most…

———only Sibylla was different.

What he has to her was… pure affection and care…

It can even be said that she was special among his women.

Trustworthy, Selfless, Righteous, Loyal, Understanding, Attractive, Smart—and most of all knows when to apologize when she had judged mistakenly and was actually doing everything she can to see him for who he really was—during that time, Cian was touched by her commitment as well as persistence. Now she was like a lighthouse, while Cian was like a boat sailing in a stormy sea in this world.

As for why he was feeling this kind of unexpected and out-of-character desire and affection for a single woman, he does not completely know or understand—but he doesn’t care. As long as she was there, it’s as if his gloomy and bloody everyday life started to get even brighter…

And because of that, he doesn’t want to hurt her as much as possible… though he sounds hypocrite since he was doing it all over and over again…

Although, she had certainly given a silent understanding of his real character and his…slightly womanizing problem, being hurt by this kind of news would surely be inevitable, especially the one who he had affair with was none other than his blood-related sister.

This is not just any matter—it would even be better to have a mistress outside of the family but if it comes into a sister-in-law or a blood-related sister, that would be quite hard to accept. He might surely face this someday…but not today…

Not today…

Hence, Cian didn’t really refuse—though, both party’s reason was completely different—even still, Cian liked this thrilling sense of immorality—kinda suspenseful…

... ...

On the following morning after that extremely eventful night, Cian and Oriel made a leisurely breakfast when suddenly Ruka came in with an envelope.

“…For Master,” she announced, handing it to Cian, all while examining in relief Cian’s condition. Cian was astonished to find that it contained a note from his blood brother; Lucifalion in which he asked him to come across the land and to the central region to earn achievements and experience and that he would be personally teaching him.

Cian’s expression turned unsightly—why now…? What is Lucifalion planning…? Did he decide to take an action against him now…?

“There must be something extraordinary in that letter,” Oriel said dryly. “Your eyes are as round as saucers—and almost as large,”

“… …” Cian hesitated for a moment, then placed the letter in her hand. Oriel would have to know sometime, and it would be as well to get it over with, as soon as possible. And her reaction was as just as Cian expected.

Her hand slams on the table’s surface, so strong and angry that the table trembled and the drinks spilled over. Her cold eyes menacing and dangerous, “…that cold-hearted bastard…!!” she muttered in anger that it even shocked Cian.

“It seems like he got impatient…! Does he really think that his wings were already as wide as he thought he can cover the entire sky with it…?! Such cheek! I’m really ashamed that he’s my flesh and blood brother…!”

Cian chuckled. “Well, at least he had some confidence…big brother has always been like that,”

“You are not to agree on this matter, Aanuel…! Central Region is far more chaotic and cruel than the Imperial Capital…! And you know Lucifalion is out for your blood! Do you understand…!” Oriel glared at Aanuel. Her expression already declaring that if Cian would agree, then she would surely use any means necessary to lock him down!

Cian shrugs, “Of course, I’m not that much of a fool… it’s not my time yet to participate in the feast at the Hong Gate,”

“Feast at the Hong Gate…? What is that?” Oriel’s brows scrunched together.

“It’s just a play of words, sister doesn’t mind it,” Cian responded with a faint smile.

“Either way, you should have realized by now how much he desires to get rid of you, so you better not respond to him and act like a man of equal standing. If you go, he would surely find an opportunity to struck you down, blaming the war if it succeeded!”

"I know…”

Oriel finally sighs of relief after seeing Cian immediately compelling on her words, “…that’s excellent. Well then, you can send him a reply immediately, my dear Aanuel and let him know that you are in my asylum and that you will do no any favors or orders coming from him…”

“I sure will do,” Cian nodded his head. “…but sister, it seems like your hatred for him has not yet reduced by a bit, after all these years…have you still not yet forgotten how big brother almost assaulted you at that night…?”

Oriel’s expression hardened and her shadows fell heavily on her face—immediately Cian realized he overstepped his bounds, “I’m sorry sister…I overstep my bounds.”

“… …”

Cian sigh, “I just don’t want you to be imprisoned by the past…it has been long since then, and although I am not telling you to forget about it, at least relieve yourself from anger. It’s bad for your health…in more ways than one." Cian said, in a humorous way, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "And furthermore, I’m here now…I may not be reliable for now, but when the right time comes, I will surely protect you without fail…just like how you protected me all this time…”

Oriel stared at Cian’s gentle and comforting expression and her expression softened somewhat. Her lips curled into a gentle smile that only Cian has the right and privilege to enjoy, “…I know and also, protecting you is my duty…and I also know that you will surely protect me…just like that…night, right…?” she muttered.

Cian couldn’t help but smile wryly… although a bit blurry and vague but that night, didn’t Aanuel went with the same intention as Lucifalion and after seeing the latter assaulting his big sister, some kind of jealousy and anger burn into him—thinking, he should be the one doing that and all—and before he knew it… he rushed and stabbed Lucifalion with an ornamented sword he had gotten from the wall. Though, in the end, he was left with a thread of his life hanging.

…Cian thought Oriel should have understood what had truly happened at that night and Aanuel’s true intention, after all, Aanuel came wearing nothing but a bathrobe and with his terrifying reputation as a sex fiend and flower killing…wouldn’t, with Oriel’s intelligence, immediately understand Aanuel’s thoughts…?

But it seems like she had not and in fact, have some misunderstanding about it…

Well, not like Cian care about exposing the truth. He was a fake gentleman, to begin with… he was not someone who is fussy about the method but the outcome. Since it led her sister to his embrace…why not…?

Cian smiled wryly, appearing humble.

Silence doesn’t mean telling a lie…

And so breakfast was finished no more than an occasional growl from Oriel and the exclamation, ‘Bastard!’ ‘That absurd fellow!’ or ‘Who does he think he is?!’ and Cian can only set off along the path to his own room when Oriel went out, albeit reluctantly to do her obligations and duties. Well, she was one workaholic lady…

Just as Ruka had lit the candle in his room, Cian suddenly felt something amiss and before he could do his act, he could hear behind himself the sound of applause,, “It was a spectacular show, I did not expect that his royal highness the 2nd Prince was actually a very wonderful lover.”

It was the voice of a very familiar woman, in which Cian rather didn’t want to see again nor appeared before him. Cian stops Ruka who had immediately turned vigilant, taking out her dagger from her sleeve. “…so it was indeed your doing, your highness Blue Bird…?” Cian muttered with a cold and indifferent voice.

Blue Bird appeared out from the darkness of the room as if she had just appeared out of thin air. Cian didn’t even see her with his [Night’s Eye] much less understand how she appeared. Truly terrifying! He can somewhat see Ezra in her full maxed concealment but Blue Bird was different… and he thought he had gotten stronger and was confident to see Somelia, Sitana’s loyal attendant that had tested him before by attacking at night, or at least his blurry silhouette but… he actually couldn’t see Blue Bird nor spot any signs of her…?

Just how strong is this woman…?!