Luo? How could he be here?
"Where are you going this time?" Luo slowly approached, his tall figure casting a long shadow on the luxurious carpet.
Frustrated, restless, and unable to focus on his work, it was only when he saw Ivina so close that he understood.
It was a longing he had desperately denied—a longing for the timid yet resilient woman before him.
"Why are you here?" A thousand words swirled in his mind, but in the end, she could only muster this cold reply.
"This is my domain, my castle, my palace… and the woman who came to see me. It's only natural…" A deep smile curved at the corners of Luo's lips as his gray eyes fixed intently on Ivina.
Is this the king? Is this the king's true self? Such unrestrained tenderness would make any woman willing to surrender to his embrace… Those captivating gray eyes… She had never seen them before.
Vasha stepped back to the side, but couldn't resist glancing at Luo a few times.
"Luo, I… um…"
The kiss came unexpectedly, and she didn't even have time to refuse before she was completely captivated.
Warmth… familiar warmth spread from her tongue. She wanted to push Luo's hand away, but she unconsciously gripped him tighter.
Forgetting time, place, and the fact that Luo was now a high-ranking ruler, Ivina awkwardly responded to his demands, feeling the strength of his embrace around her waist.
[The prison where Xia Sang was held was almost a death row. She could have asked someone to look after him, but... ]
Vasha's words rushed into her mind, and Ivina sensitively opened her dazed eyes and pushed Luo away forcefully.
She swallowed nervously and saw the words "displeasure" clearly written on his face.
"No matter what, we still have to resolve that matter..." Ivina took a deep breath, her heart still racing from the earlier intimacy.
"The servant may withdraw." Luo stared intently at Ivina and waved his hand lightly.
That matter? Oh no, how could the master bring up that mistake again in front of the king?
The incident had only just occurred; it was almost impossible to get the king to revoke his order...
"Didn't you hear me?" Luo glanced sideways at the hesitant Vasa, his tone cold.
"Yes, servant will withdraw." Vasha immediately turned her back and walked to the door, still looking back at Ivina with great concern.
'Click.' The door closed quietly.
A long time passed, it seemed like an eternity. Ivina did not speak; she did not even have the strength to utter a word. She regretted bringing up that painful matter.
"Is the servant being taken care of comfortably..." He wrapped his arms around her, as if it were natural. His concerned words fell faintly into her ears, like a low whisper.
"Why did you punish her so harshly back then? You're not that cruel, so why..." Ivina spoke weakly, trying to touch that painful memory.
"...I forgot. I've already forgotten about it, so my Ivina shouldn't bring it up either." Luo's soft reply floated in Ivina's ears, but even such a gentle response was filled with an undeniable resolve.
"Xia Sang, I'm talking about that servant! How can Luo so easily say he forgot? To impose such a heavy punishment on an innocent girl... This isn't something a reasonable king would do, and it's certainly not something Luo would do... isn't it?" Ivina finally spoke her mind, relieved. No matter what, she had to defend Xia Sang.
Releasing her tight embrace, Luo walked toward the bedside and picked up the book Ivina had left on the bedhead.
"Innocent?!" Raising his eyebrows, Luo casually flipped through the pages, his tone noticeably colder.
Damn it, if that despicable maid had succeeded, would Ivina have already left his side?
"She did say she could help me leave here. But at the last moment... I chose to stay. In that case, her crime wouldn't warrant such a severe punishment!"
Please, God, let everything calm down and flow peacefully in the river of time...
"That's because, whether to leave or stay, it's not something you can choose." He narrowed his eyes, a hint of unease flashing in the gray. He threw the book aside and roughly pulled Ivina onto the bed.
"Listen, I will deal with that servant, and it is not something you can control. Similarly, even if I demand a lifetime of imprisonment from you, you have no right to resist!" Luo leaned down and ruthlessly tore open the silk gown.
Her well-proportioned collarbone teased the gaze of its owner. Luo's scorching kisses trailed down Ivina's neck, shoulders, and then to her irresistibly full breasts. #Censored#
"No… Luo, let me finish…" The physical excitement coursing through her body made Ivina's pleading even more irresistible, further fueling Luo's primal desires.
"Be quiet." He firmly covered her mouth, smirking as he watched Ivina's flushed face mumble.
"Luo!" Ivina was still gasping for breath, "Regardless of whether Xia Sang exists... if I really want to leave... um..." Such intense possession reminded her of similar scenes.
Could it be? Was his love merely possession? Or was it vampire love... forever leaving only a physical connection between the two?
"Luo, have you never considered my feelings? In this dark realm of yours, where day and night never change, why do you insist on keeping me here?"
She swore it wasn't a complaint, not a blame. Even in her wavering state, she merely wanted to know the reason he stayed for love… And she wanted him to say those simple words himself.
He needed her.
Yes, it was that simple.
Luo straightened up and bowed his head heavily. His black hair covered his unfathomable eyes. Sweat of love and desire slowly trickled down his forehead, and his disheveled shirt exposed his sexy chest.
His head was bowed so deeply that his expression was hidden, and finally, only a despairing, crooked smile remained on his face.
Everything is over, isn't it?
"You still want to escape, don't you?" Gradually, Luo's smile became wild and bitter.
Those once calm gray eyes were now shrouded in a terrifying crimson hue.