Chapter 11

Darian stiffened, slamming the beast's cage shut, though his gaze drifted back to Roulan lying in his bed. Something was wrong. Either his eyes were deceiving him, or… he was drawn to her.

A system notification blinked before him.

[Congratulations. You have been chosen as the magical medium for the heir to the Emperor's Power.]

His jaw clenched. The Emperor's Power? It was supposed to be a myth.

Roulan stirred, her magical reserves steadily climbing. "Did you… kiss me?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise—and a hint of joy.

He stumbled backward, flustered. "W-What are you talking about?"

Roulan leaned forward, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered, threading her fingers through his hair.

Darian pulled away, his heart pounding. This wasn't supposed to happen.

"Since we're stuck with each other, I'll be merciful," she said, flashing her system screen at him. "You can be my temporary medium—for now."

As she finalized the system's settings, Darian cursed under his breath. His mother had warned him about dangerous women like this.

---

"Sir Darian, Commander Alexander requests your presence," a knight announced, nearly breaking the door with his frantic knocks.

Darian glanced at Roulan, still resting on his bed, before muttering, "I'm coming. This isn't over."

With a frustrated sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair and left the room.

Roulan lay back, observing his neatly arranged quarters. Everything was in its place, calming and orderly. I need to find a way to make King Rick XI marry me, she resolved.

As she stepped out, whispers among the servants reached her ears.

"Only two days, and she's already leaving Sir Darian's room? Lucky girl," one said, jealousy dripping from her tone.

"I heard the king plans to make her his concubine. Why else bring a powerless girl to the royal palace?"

Roulan's hand struck the speaker's face with a resounding slap.

"No one calls me that," she hissed. If it weren't for her survival mission, she'd never entertain such rumors.

"Say another word, and I'll ensure your entire family is ruined."

The servants cowered, but Roulan's anger lingered. She'd had enough of people misjudging her without understanding who she truly was.

Her breath caught as she saw King Rick standing ahead, his gaze piercing through her. Before she could approach, his aunt intercepted him.

As she turned to leave, she felt his stare burning into her back.

Tch. What did I do now? she thought, her heart pounding in confusion.

"Rick, we must discuss the power that wretched girl displayed. She's a threat to the kingdom!" the aunt shouted.

But Rick wasn't listening. His thoughts were consumed by Roulan's haunting gaze.

"Stop," he said suddenly, his voice commanding yet gentle.

Her pulse quickened as his footsteps drew closer to her room. Each step felt like it carried the weight of her fate.

"What happened?" he asked softly, his tone laced with unexpected warmth.

Should she confess the truth? Tell him about the system that bound her to this body and this world?

---

He stopped just half a step away from her. No matter how hard she tried to understand the emotions that appeared on the face of His Majesty King Rick XI, she could find no explanation for them. "Oh, we need to talk about the magical powers I shared with you..." 

Before he could finish his sentence, he furrowed his brows, as if something had occurred to him, causing him to step back. "Were you with another man besides me?"

His question struck her like arrows. Of course, he was unaware of the magic system that required her to have physical contact with the opposite sex in order to live.

'Wait, I can explain,'

She thought of replying in this manner, but instead shook her head. He was King Rick, and he hadn't bothered to place her in a higher position when he brought her to the palace. Instead, he had made her join the knights as if she were just another pawn, playing with her.

Though her mission required her to marry him within six months, she didn't want to enter into any relationship that wasn't based on trust. What she desired was something pure and genuine.

"It won't make any difference to you, Your Majesty," Roulan said, then bowed, asking for permission to leave. The king's aunt had stopped nearby. "I told you to execute this hybrid; she's a curse on the kingdom of Dostifas. She's..." 

Rick clenched his fist tightly at his aunt's face, while keeping his gaze fixed on Roulan's back, who didn't even turn to look behind her, as anger surged from King Rick.

'The emperor's energy that she successfully unleashed—if it's not controlled, everything will be over. And on top of that, instead of being cautious, she's near another man? Damn it.'

King Rick thought as he smashed the columns along the hallway, causing his aunt to widen her eyes in exaggerated shock. "Rick, calm down."

Rick didn't pay any attention to her words. His mind was preoccupied with how Roulan could be with someone else. He had thought she belonged only to him.

'I really don't know anything about you, Roulan,'

He clenched his fingers, taking deep breaths. Meanwhile, Drayen had been observing Roulan's reaction and behavior with the king, slowly returning to his room. The events that had transpired between them, along with the strange system that he had accepted, kept echoing in his mind without pause.

"Ha, ha," 

He started laughing hysterically, throwing things around the room and smashing them. He couldn't believe that Roulan had trapped him in her web, but perhaps he had another plan. "If I can get her to reveal the curse-breaking method of her family, it will mark the beginning of the revival of the Ever family's sword arts."

He grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it on the floor, forming a red circle with strange symbols. Lights began to shift as a sword was forged from the sticky liquid. It had no definite shape.

"My mother was injured before she could transfer all her knowledge and pass on the forbidden sword techniques of the family to me. I really need that girl. If her help will make it easier for me to reach my goal, then I will take it."

Every time Drayen tried to grab the sword, strange forces pushed it away, as if there was a barrier between him and the extraordinary sword.

...

"Quiet, we have gathered here as heads of the twenty-five great families to find a solution to this dilemma."