"SHOULD I just stay here with you?"

Soleil, despite feeling under the weather that morning, laughed softly at what her husband said. Right now, she was lying on the bed while looking and feeling sick. But she didn't know that it would be enough for Kalel to worry this much about her. "I'm fine, Lord Kalel," she assured him. "I think I'm just exhausted. All I need is rest."

​​

Lord Kalel, seated on the bed while looking at her with a worried look on his face, didn't move an inch. "Your complexion doesn't look good, Soleil. Should I call the doctor?"

She shook her head. "I'm really fine, Lord Kalel. If you call the doctor, it will reach the ears of my people. They will definitely come here and make a fuss about it. Ever since Brother Wixx ascended back to heavens, my clan has been more protective of me."

That was right– Winchell already ascended back to the heavens. And this time, for some unknown reason, he brought Luna with him. It was possible because the lady was the Moon Priestess. But of course, Luna could only enter the heavens as a guest. That meant she was required to leave as soon as possible.

Anyway…

The Red Phoenix wasn't the only person who left for the past year.

Since the continent had found peace once again, both Ainsworth and Elis Ripperton also ascended back to the heavens. The little tiger's clan had been doing great. But ever since the Blue Dragon abandoned his clan, there were bad rumors going around about his people.

And that was exactly what kept her husband busy these days.

"I like that you are surrounded by people who care about you," Kalel said, then he gently held the strands of her hair and kissed it. "But you know that I'm the one who cares about you the most, don't you?"

She laughed at his pettiness. "You're so competitive even in the most trivial thing, Lord Kalel," she said, then she held his hand and squeezed it. "Thank you for worrying about me. But I'm really fine. Moreover, you need to go and find the clan that Elis Ripperton abandoned."

It was an order from Auro Moonchester.

But it wasn't an ordinary order.

According to the king, if Kalel managed to find the Ripperton clan and bring them back safely to the Royal Capital, then Auro Moonchester would finally grant their dukedom its independence.

"If you find them, we will finally gain our independence," she said, then she touched his face. "But other than the benefit that we will get once you fulfill your mission, I also want the Blue Dragon's descendants to be found as soon as possible. I don't like Elis Ripperton, but his people are innocent. Especially the children."

"I know how much you care about them, Soleil," he said, leaning into her touch. "That's the only reason why I accepted Auro's order even though I don't care about Elis Ripperton and his abandoned clan."

She smiled and nodded. "I know, Lord Kalel."

He smiled and kissed her palm.

To be honest, she was still surprised that Kalel had become warmer and more gentle to her ever since they got married.

Is it because of the "poison" that I've been drinking for the past year?

It was the poison that Luna and Solenn made for her. Apparently, the more she kissed Kalel after consuming it, the more it would cleanse the poison in her husband's body. And if the poison in Kalel's body was cleaned out, then Yumi's control over him would end.

I wonder how much Lord Kalel treasures me now? Should I put it to a test? I need to know if I can compete with Auro Moonchester at this point in time.

"What are you thinking, Soleil?" Kalel asked worriedly. "You suddenly fell silent."

Hmm… let's do this.

"Lord Kalel, I have a favor to ask of you."

"You don't have to ask for my favor," he said. "You're my wife, Soleil. You can ask me anything."

Well, I'm not that sure about it yet.

"It's about the bracelet that King Auro borrowed a year ago," she said, pretending to hesitate. "The bracelet that the Sky God gave to me as a reward."

A year ago, Auro Moonchester "borrowed" the bracelet and put it in display during the banquet of his 19th birthday. Apparently, it was to showcase the close ties of the king to the Beast Priestess and the Beast Gods.

Even when Winchell, Ainsworth, and Elis Ripperton ascended back to the heavens, they had done it in the soil of Kale Kingdom.

But even after Auro Moonchester gained the trust of his people, it seemed like he had "forgotten" to return the bracelet to her. She didn't mind at first because she didn't want to use the bracelet anyway. Things had changed now though.

"I need it back," she said carefully. "Do you mind asking King Auro if I can have the bracelet back, Lord Kalel?"

Her husband looked surprised by her request.

But in the end, he nodded.

"The bracelet has been in Auro's possession far longer than it should have been. You have the right to ask for it to be returned now," Kalel said, then he kissed her forehead. "I will ask my brother to return it to you as soon as possible."

Soleil smiled, then she hugged Kalel. She was relieved that Kalel didn't think that she was being stingy to his brother. "Thank you, Lord Kalel."

***

"RETURN the bracelet?"

"Yes," Kalel, riding on horseback, said. Right now, he and his brother Auro were riding on a horseback to the yard of his palace. They had a race a while ago. "To be frank, you only borrowed it to showcase your ties with us to the people of your kingdom. You should have returned it to my wife a long time ago, Auro."

He didn't like scolding his brother.

But this time, he knew that Soleil was right. The bracelet was given to hers by the Sky God. It was a precious gift that she shouldn't neglect. Auro was lucky that his wife was generous in the first place.

"Can't I just keep it, Brother?" Auro asked in his usual charming voice. "Every time my enemies see the bracelet, they are reminded why they shouldn't oppose me."

"The bracelet belongs to my wife so don't ask for my permission," he said firmly. "In the first place, if you rely on something that doesn't belong to you to keep your enemies in check, then how feeble your power over your own people must be?"

"Brother, aren't you being a little too harsh?"

"I'm saying this for your own good," he insisted. It pained him to scold his younger brother this way. But now that he had a wife, he couldn't look after him the way he did before. "Don't rely on the Beast Priestess and the Beast Gods to protect your throne."

"But I'm not a special being, Brother," the young king argued. "I need your strength."

"Auro, we are not your tools," he said. To be honest, he didn't like how his brother was acting right now. This wasn't the Auro he knew that promised him to ascend the throne and become a better king than his father. "And stop talking like a coward. I don't like seeing this side of you."

For some reason, his brother's face turned sad. "Brother, it seemed like you don't love me anymore."

"Why are you being sentimental all of a sudden?"

"I just get the feeling that you'll choose your wife over me anytime."

"I pray that I won't get in a situation where I have to choose between you and Soleil," Kalel said honestly, then he changed the topic. The idea that there was a probability where he might be forced to choose between Soleil and Auro was making him feel uncomfortable. "Do you want to hear my report about the missing Ripperton clan, Auro?"

Auro nodded, and it seemed like his mood didn't improve even with the change of topic. "Let's head back to my office, Brother."

***

"NYSTROM doesn't listen to you anymore?"

"He doesn't," Auro snarled as a response to Yumi's question. He was still fuming about the fact that Kalel ignored his request a while ago. His brother even scolded him! "It seems like he's taking Lady Soleil's side now." He glared at the White Snake. "What happened to the poison that you've put in my brother's body since he was reborn? I thought it was more than enough for him to never leave our side?"

Yumi, ever since she was kicked out of Kalel's body, had been living in the Moon God's shrine that he made for Kyro. She was using some snakewoman as a host. Every time that snakewoman was asleep, she could come out in her spirit form.

It had only been a year since the White Snake was separated from his son. The effect of the poison in Kalel's body should still be in effect. So how come his brother was acting like he was free from the poison now?

"That can't be possible," the White Snake hissed back at him. "Only I have the antidote for the poison that I made."

"Then, what's happening to my brother?" he asked, frustrated. "He wants the bracelet back as soon as possible. But Lord Kyro isn't done tampering with the bracelet yet. What should I do now?"

"Don't worry about it," Yumi said, her eyes glowing menacingly. "My darling husband will return soon and once he's here, we'll create a chance for me to meet my little Nystrom," she said, then she bit her lower lip hard enough for it to bleed. After all, she was still a god and her vessel was whenever she would take the form of a human highly functioned as if it was real. "I will use the most powerful poison on my rebellious son to bring him back to us."

Hearing that relieved him.

"I'm counting on you, Yumi," Auro said, then he clenched his hands when he remembered something that annoyed him again. "I want to get rid of Lady Soleil as soon as possible."

***

AFTER taking a bath, Soleil took the vial of the medicine that she needed to take.

It was a contraceptive medicine that Luna made for her. She convinced Kalel that it wasn't the right time for them to have a child yet. She also told her husband a little lie by saying that she wasn't ready to be a mother yet. Thankfully, her husband respected her decision.

I want to be a mother soon but not until I am certain that Kalel loves me more than he loves his evil brother.

It was ridiculous that her rival was her husband's brother, but that was her reality.

Let's not think about it for now.

She was about to drink the medicine when all of a sudden, she felt painful stomach cramps. This was the first time that she felt that kind of pain and out of shock, she dropped the vial on the floor. The bottle shattered, and the medicine made a mess when it spilled.

She didn't have the time to care about that though.

My stomach hurts…

She stood up and was about to call the doctor when her body gave in. When she thought she was about to fall, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. Ah, she must have been in too much pain not to notice her husband's presence.

"Welcome back, Lord Kalel," she said weakly, then she raised her head to smile at Kalel.

Kalel looked worried, and that made her happy. "I'll call the doctor," he said firmly, then he carried her carefully to the bed. He was about to leave when she grabbed him by the hand to stop him. Her husband turned to her with an apologetic look on his face while gently tapping her hand. "Please let go, Soleil. I'll return to you as soon as possible."

"I'm hungry, Lord Kalel," Soleil said. For some reason, the pain in her stomach subsided. Now, it was replaced by hunger. And a craving that she hadn't experienced before. "And I'm craving for your ice, my lord."

***

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