"How do you feel, Your Highness?"
A voice... cold, smooth, and impossibly refined... greeted Ceres the moment her eyes fluttered open.
Her golden gaze flickered to her surroundings.
The place was unfamiliar... a vast space with golden drapes swaying gently despite the lack of wind.
Then, her eyes landed on the man sitting beside the bed.
He was beautiful... so inhumanly perfect that it was almost unsettling.
Long, silver-blue hair cascaded over his shoulders, framing an elegant yet powerful presence.
Above him, a floating status name appeared in her vision.
Seiryu
Race: Celestial Dragon
Title: Holy Beast of the North
Condition: Subdued
Ceres blinked.
"Seiryu?"
The very same Holy Beast that had gone on a rampage in the Frozen Sea?
"Yes, Your Highness."
He smiled, inclining his head slightly.
"It is I, Seiryu."
Ceres pushed herself up... only to grimace as weakness settled deep into her bones.
She felt drained.
"Where am I?"
Her voice was hoarse, but steady.
"And where are Legion and Delphine?"
She tried to sit up, but her body felt too heavy.
Before she could struggle further, Seiryu moved swiftly, placing a steadying hand on her back, effortlessly helping her sit up.
She sighed.
"Thank you."
"The Saintess and the Celestial Knight are outside."
Seiryu's voice was calm but measured.
"The commoners who survived the Holy Order's 'sacrifice' are furious. There is… chaos."
Ceres's brows furrowed.
"And where exactly am I?"
"You are inside a special canopy I created using Spatial Magic."
"Saintess? Celestial Knight?"
Ceres repeated his words, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes."
Seiryu tilted his head slightly, amused by her reaction.
"Delphine and Legion. The abilities you granted them have given them those titles."
Her brows furrowed deeper.
"Why is it so quiet? If there's chaos outside, shouldn't I be hearing something?"
"I placed a sound barrier around this canopy. No sound can enter or leave."
Seiryu's lips quirked slightly, as if pleased with his own work.
Ceres sighed in annoyance.
This dragon was far too relaxed for her liking.
"Then why are you here?"
She folded her arms, eyes locked onto him.
"Shouldn't you be helping them instead?"
Seiryu merely smirked.
"Your order was for me to protect the people."
His eyes gleamed with subtle mischief.
"But if the 'people' themselves are fighting each other, tell me, your highness… who exactly should I be protecting?"
Ceres rolled her eyes.
"Smartass."
Seiryu chuckled, seemingly entertained.
"Tell me your next order, Your Highness."
His tone was mockingly obedient.
Ceres leaned back slightly.
"Can you replenish my HP?"
She already knew the answer, but she wanted to be sure.
Seiryu shook his head.
"I'm afraid not. My specialty is Mana. I can restore it and, in turn, that would allow your HP to regenerate when it reaches max."
Then, he smiled apologetically.
"But you, Your Highness, do not have mana."
Ceres sighed.
"I figured."
She eyed him for a moment before murmuring under her breath.
"Useless."
Seiryu blinked.
For the first time in his existence, someone had called him...
Him.
A Celestial Dragon.
A being worshiped for centuries...
Useless.
His mouth opened slightly in silent disbelief.
If it were any other human, they would have used his power to demand riches, influence, eternal life.
But here she was, dismissing him outright.
"I…"
For the first time, Seiryu did not know what to say.
Ceres, unbothered, looked at him again.
"Can you create a dream spell?"
Seiryu perked up slightly, pleased to be given a task.
"Yes, Your Highness."
His smile returned.
"It's a very easy spell."
"But the person I want to visit in the dream is from another world."
Ceres's golden eyes locked onto his deep blue ones.
Seiryu's expression shifted slightly.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
He shook his head.
"To create a dream spell, you must know your destination... or at least have been there before."
His voice softened.
"Otherwise, you will be lost in the Dream World."
Ceres sighed deeply.
"So in short... "
Her expression remained flat, unimpressed.
"You can't do it."
Seiryu winced.
"I'm sorry."
Ceres muttered under her breath...
"Like I said… useless."
Seiryu stared at her.
Completely speechless.
This woman... his so-called master... was unlike anything he had ever encountered.
And for the first time in his ancient life, Seiryu, the Holy Beast of the North, felt inadequate.
A heavy silence hung between them.
Ceres was deep in thought, deciding what to do next.
Meanwhile, Seiryu…
Seiryu simply did not know what to do with her.
Then, after what felt like forever, Ceres spoke.
"I need a bath."
Seiryu immediately straightened.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
In the blink of an eye, a luxurious bathtub appeared beside the bed, filled with steaming water and surrounded by flower-scented oils and bath essentials.
Seiryu moved to assist her...
"No. Not you."
Ceres stopped him with a single glance.
"Call Legion. Legion alone. And keep the sound barrier."
Seiryu paused, then studied her carefully.
A realization dawned in his celestial eyes.
Then, he smiled.
"I understand."
He took a step back.
"I can change the flow of time inside this canopy, Your Highness. Make it faster or slower... whichever you prefer."
Ceres narrowed her eyes slightly, intrigued.
"Is it like teleportation? Where mana shields the body from the strain of moving through time and space? You know I don't have mana. I can't tolerate discomfort and pain right now."
Seiryu shook his head.
"You don't have to worry about that. Everything inside the canopy will function normally. You won't feel any changes in time."
"Only inside the canopy? What about outside?"
"Unfortunately, time and space are not my specialties. I can only manipulate them within a very limited area."
Ceres nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"No worries. I was just curious. Make it faster, then."
Seiryu bowed slightly, then turned to leave...
But before stepping out, Ceres called out again.
"Seiryu."
The Holy Beast turned back to her immediately.
"Help Delphine. Make sure things don't spiral out of control. Tell her to heal anyone who needs it. And protect her."
Seiryu's expression softened.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Then, with a graceful bow, he step outside.
A few moments later, Legion entered.
His voice was low, careful.
"Your Highness."
Ceres lifted her gaze and studied him.
He looked… exhausted.
But more than that, he looked troubled.
"You look stressed."
A small smile played on her lips.
She tapped the bed in front of her, signaling him to sit.
Legion obeyed immediately.
Ceres lifted her hand and gently cupped his face.
Legion's eyes fluttered shut, leaning into her touch, savoring the warmth of her hand against his skin.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, finally, Legion sighed.
"There's chaos outside, Your Highness."
His voice was tired but firm.
"The surviving volunteers from the camp… they're furious. They want blood."
Ceres did not react.
Instead, she simply murmured...
"Help me take a bath."
Legion froze for a second, caught off guard by the sudden change in subject.
Ceres continued, unbothered.
"I didn't finish my bath in the Empress Palace when you appeared earlier. Or… is this still the same day?"
Legion's lips parted slightly, as if struggling to understand why she wasn't acknowledging the riot happening outside.
A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes.
"It's the same day, Your Highness. But it's already afternoon."
His gaze drifted toward the bath prepared beside the bed.
Without another word, he stood up and slowly began undressing her.
His movements were steady, careful...
Not rushed, not hesitant.
Ceres let him.
Then, once she was bare, Legion lifted her in his arms.
He carried her gently, stepping into the warm bath, lowering her into the water as if she were made of glass.
As the warm water wrapped around her skin, Ceres's thoughts flickered.
Had Seiryu been manipulating time before even telling her?
She remembered when her HP had first dropped to 29.
She had felt drained for an entire day.
And yet, now... with only 14 HP left...
She should have been barely able to move.
And yet, here she was.
Tired, yes. But awake. Conscious. Functioning.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Legion began to lather soap onto her skin.
She exhaled slowly.
"Join me," Ceres commanded, her voice calm yet laced with something deeper.
Legion froze for a second, his ears turning red, but he quickly obeyed.
His hands trembled slightly as he undressed.
Ceres did not look away.
Legion swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her golden gaze on him.
Once he was fully bare, he stepped into the warm bath, positioning himself behind her.
The moment his body pressed against hers, he tensed.
He knew she could feel him.
And just like that, everything outside... the chaos, the anger, the violence... ceased to exist.
Legion distracted himself, his hands lathering soap, beginning to wash her back.
"How do you feel, Your Highness?"
Ceres sighed, exhaling slowly.
"Like shit," she answered flatly.
She knew what was pressing against her.
And just like the first time... when she thought guilt would consume her... nothing came.
Not even a sliver of hesitation.
Not for Zeus.
Not for allowing another man to touch her.
Her body was in survival mode.
Stripping away every emotion that could hinder her goal.
She had long decided...
She would swallow every guilt, every negative thought, until she achieved her 600 HP goal.
So Ceres moved.
She turned to face Legion, cupping his face in both her hands.
His breath hitched.
"I heard you when you said there was chaos outside," she told him.
Her golden eyes bore into his.
"But with my current life force, I can't do anything about it."
Her fingers tightened slightly, grounding him.
"So let's solve one problem at a time."
A smile curved Legion's lips.
And this time...
Without waiting for her command...
Because truthfully, he had been holding back for far too long...
He kissed her.
Ceres responded immediately.
She tilted her head, deepening the kiss, taking control.
Her body shifted, moving above him, and without hesitation...
She sank down.
Taking all of him inside her.
A sharp, pleasured gasp left her lips as she felt her HP start to replenish.
But that wasn't the only thing she felt.
Her body clenched around him, reveling in the sensation of being filled completely.
She moaned... a raw, unrestrained sound... as Legion's mouth latched onto her breast, sucking eagerly.
His brown eyes stayed locked onto hers, watching every reaction, memorizing every twitch of pleasure on her face.
And she let him see.
She didn't hold back...
She wanted him to feel it.
So she moved.
Rolling her hips, riding him slowly at first, until they found a rhythm.
Until their bodies synced...
And pleasure consumed them both.
The bath sloshed, water spilling over as their pace quickened.
Ceres arched her back, her fingers digging into his shoulders as their movements became desperate, frantic.
"Ahhh!"
She cried out, her entire body shuddering as her climax tore through her...
A wave so intense, she couldn't even control the lewd sounds spilling from her lips.
Legion groaned, his grip on her tightening as he thrust deeper...
And then, with a low, guttural moan, he came inside her.
Filling her.
Claiming her.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her close as they both rode out the aftershocks.
For a moment, they just breathed.
Sweat and water glistened on their skin.
Ceres bit her lower lip, regaining control of herself...
Before she leaned down, capturing his lips in a hungry kiss.
Then... she bit his lower lip.
Drawing blood.
Legion groaned, his body stiffening slightly beneath her.
Her golden eyes darkened.
"Bed," she commanded.
Legion understood immediately.
Without breaking their connection, he stood, lifting her effortlessly...
Her legs locked around his waist as he carried her to the waiting bed.
They continued kissing, devouring each other until Legion gently laid her down.
But he didn't need instructions on what to do next.
He knew exactly what she wanted.
He kissed her neck, her collarbone, down her stomach...
Until his mouth reached her core.
Ceres's breath hitched as he tasted her...
His tongue flicking against her, lapping up their mixed essence.
She spread her legs wider, giving him full access.
And when the pleasure became too much...
"Enough!"
Her voice came out breathless, raw.
"Inside me. Now."
Legion didn't hesitate.
He positioned himself... but he didn't enter her fast.
He took his time.
Slowly.
Feeling every inch, every second of sliding into her warmth.
"Legion!"
Ceres's head fell back, her body arching against him.
Her arms reached up toward him, trembling.
And at that moment...
Legion lost control.
He thrust into her deeply, fully.
His body pressing down against hers, his lips capturing hers, swallowing her moans as they moved in sync.
They didn't stop.
Not after the first release.
Not after the second.
Ceres let Legion take the lead.
He had her bent over, taking her from behind.
Then he had her in his arms, pressing soft kisses against her flushed skin as he took her slow and deep.
And then...
She was above him again, riding him to another release.
In that sacred space within the closed canopy, nothing else existed.
No chaos.
No kingdom.
No war.
Only them.
Just the Empress and her Knight.
And when the fifth wave of pleasure overtook them both...
Ceres's entire body glowed.
She shuddered violently, her last climax stealing all her strength.
And then, without a single word,
She collapsed against Legion's chest.
Her body exhausted.
Her HP fully restored.
And as sleep claimed her, Legion... still inside her, still holding her tightly...
Whispered her name.
A name he could never say aloud outside this moment.
"Ceres…"