The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 93

It was the first time both of them had been this worked up.

Leon wrapped his arms around her waist and the back of her neck, lowering his head deeply to devour her lips. His tongue pressed into her mouth so deeply it felt like it might reach her throat, the wet sound of it pressing down filling the air with an obscene noise.

“…Hng.”

Veronica, much smaller in height, leaned her head and waist back as she clung to his neck. Her calves trembled as she strained to stay on tiptoe, and just as they were about to give out, he lifted her up by her buttocks.

Wrapping her legs around his waist was a pure instinct to keep herself from falling. Her mind had gone blank, unable to even register how suggestive their position was.

Leon walked toward the bed without breaking contact, biting and licking her flushed earlobe. It tickled. When he sucked on her neck hard enough to leave a mark, a shiver of electricity shot through her spine, making her breath grow ragged.

“Haa, ah….”

Desperately clinging to him as if she didn’t want to be separated, he didn’t lay her down but instead sat on the bed with her still in his arms. Veronica, seated on his thighs, twisted her waist at the slow caress tracing down her back. His firm hands slipped under her clothes, tracing over her shoulder blades and waist with a gentle touch.

It felt good. Slowly, yet steadily, heat bloomed through her body.

So much so that she was scared of herself.

“Keep doing this. It feels good.”

She murmured weakly, burying her face in his chest. Their clothes remained on, but every movement of his hands was clearly outlined against the thin white fabric.

Leon’s hands glided over her as if molding her like a sculptor shaping clay. From her slender waist to her delicate stomach and her sharply defined collarbone.

And yet, no matter how long she waited, he never touched where she truly wanted him to. His hands teasingly circled around the areas, never quite reaching. Frustrated, Veronica gripped his black tunic so tightly it nearly tore, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She wanted him to grasp her with enough force to crush her, to make her feel so utterly alive.

Lifting her head, their eyes met at a close distance. His abyss-like gaze observed her heated expression before he pressed his lips to hers as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Mm.”

He was waiting. Waiting for her to beg for it. To whimper and plead until she couldn’t take it anymore.

Breathing heavily, Veronica’s half-lidded eyes filled with a hazy daze. Slowly, her clenched fingers released their hold on his clothes. Instead, she grabbed his arm, pulling it toward her. The needy motion guided his hand to exactly where she wanted it.

The moment his touch finally landed on her bare skin, his deep red eyes darkened entirely, a flicker of fire flashing within them. The way he gripped her left no room for rational thought.

Naturally, her back hit the sheets as her clothes rode up. His cool breath brushed against her sensitive skin. His scent, the overwhelming presence of him, stopped her breath, made her heart pound, and sent dizziness rushing to her head.

They stood at the eye of the storm, a place untouched by wind.

One wrong step, and they would be swept away.

***

Strictly speaking, Leon Berg had never spoken of love. And he probably never would, not now, not ever.

It had nothing to do with his emotions. A knight of God was not meant to love. For some, faith was not a matter of will but of fate.

It was sad. Even though she had known this, the human heart was truly deceitful.

Not long ago, she had begged for nothing more than to be allowed to live. But now, she wanted to steal even his love from the hands of God.

“…Ah….”

Curled on her side, Veronica wrapped her arms around his head, pulling him closer to her chest. His face remained buried against her, his slow breaths ghosting over her sensitive skin in the aftermath of pleasure, making her body shudder with overstimulation.

No matter how much she gasped for breath, he didn’t let go, and his hair was already a complete mess from her hands running through it. Veronica combed her fingers through his tousled hair once more, letting out a small groan.

Fire had always rendered humans powerless, shimmering with vibrant life. Maybe that was why she had realized it too late. That he had been burning with a fever. That despite his earlier pain, his recovery had been unnaturally fast.

Thinking back, there were so many things that didn’t add up. Joachim had brushed it off, but she had heard before that all sacred artifacts of the church demanded a price.

She parted her dry lips, about to ask him—

“Le—”

Grrrgle.

Her stomach let out a loud growl, swallowing his name. The moment it echoed in the quiet room, Leon’s movements came to an abrupt halt, and a heavy silence filled the space. Her ears burned hot, and internally, she screamed.

Damn it, stomach! Learn to read the mood!

“……”

And as if responding to her, her stomach let out another, even louder growl. Giving up, Veronica closed her eyes and mumbled awkwardly.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten anything since morning…”

Leon stayed silent for a while. It was strange. A man who would normally tease her endlessly had gone completely quiet. Feeling uneasy, Veronica cracked open one eye and looked down at him.

“Leon?”

Was he still unwell? Just as concern began to rise, she caught sight of his shoulders trembling ever so slightly. Veronica narrowed her eyes. His broad shoulders shook again before a low, rich laughter slipped out, washing over her heart like a gentle tide.

When he lifted his head, he was laughing like a child.

For the first time, his cold features had completely softened. Veronica’s already flushed face burned even redder as she murmured under her breath.

“It’s a natural bodily reaction. Don’t laugh.”

“If you were that hungry, you should’ve said so.”

“How could I say it? Especially in such a… such a serious moment.”

Unable to properly express her frustration, Veronica trailed off, making Leon smirk as he watched her. Then, turning away, he glanced toward the table with its silver lid still covering the food.

“Get up. I left something behind anyway.”

Sitting up immediately, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Veronica, caught off guard, sat up with wide eyes. He had leftover food? No, more importantly, how could he switch gears so quickly after what just happened?

Her body still tingled, burning hot from his touch. But Leon, who had just overwhelmed her moments ago, now acted as if nothing had happened.

Half-dressed, he went to the brazier, hanging a loaf of bread and a pot over the fire to warm them. Veronica tilted her head in curiosity.

“…I’ve been wondering for a while. Do you have extraordinary patience? Or do you have some special trick to cool yourself down?”

“Do I look cooled down to you?”

His low question left her speechless. Her gaze, which had unconsciously started sliding downward, snapped back up in shock the moment he turned around.

“Ah, well, there is a trick. Usually, I recite a prayer, and if that doesn’t work—”

If that doesn’t work?

“I think of His Holiness the Pope.”

Cough! Veronica, who had just lifted a cup to wet her throat, choked violently. What she had assumed was water turned out to be alcohol. As she coughed uncontrollably, eyes watering, Leon grinned at her reaction.

“It’s a well-known trick among the knights. Even a century-old desire can vanish in an instant.”

Her coughing soon turned into laughter. Chuckling, Veronica muttered, “Sometimes, you really sound like a madman.”

“Thanks.”

“How do you even take that as a compliment?”

“Being mad makes life easier.”

Leon answered nonchalantly and sat back down on the bed. Resting his hand on the mattress, he stared deeply into the flames of the brazier. With his fiery red hair, piercing eyes, and the way the flickering shadows danced over his bare torso, he looked like a man born from fire itself.

“It’s better for people to be mad in some way. No matter what it is.”

Leon murmured as if talking to himself. While he took the cup from her hands and drank, Veronica mulled over his words.

She didn’t know what he meant by “better,” but it was true that those obsessed with dreams or passions often seemed happiest. Whether it was God, family, friendship, or hobbies, people were at their most beautiful when they loved something deeply. Perhaps madness always carried a trace of love.

The room fell silent, the only sound being the bubbling of the pot over the fire. Normally, silence could quickly turn awkward, but with Leon, Veronica felt an unexplainable peace. It had always been this way with him. Even without words, time passed naturally.

“The emperor used the Bahamut for a gladiatorial match.”

Compelled by the stillness, the words slipped from her lips. Leon flicked his gaze toward her.

“Then they opened their eyes… and the emperor was killed. Stabbed by the assimilated princess.”

“Why were you there?”

“Because I thought something like this might happen. Though I failed to stop it.”

Leon swirled the liquid in his cup before downing it in one go. His throat moved as he swallowed. That was it.

“You’re not surprised. I summarized it and skipped over the worst parts.”

“There’s nothing surprising about it. You’re not the one who got hurt.”

Watching the way his tongue brushed over his lips, Veronica let out a dry laugh. Compared to Philip, who had been in a frenzy over the emperor’s death, Leon’s reaction was so relaxed it was almost laughable.

“But the princess and some nobles have assimilated. They’re still alive for now, but they won’t be for long. If you want to say your final goodbyes, now’s your chance.”

Only after speaking did Veronica realize why she hadn’t wanted to mention this, regardless of Philip’s warning. She simply didn’t want Leon to go see Johanna.

“Why would I do that?”

Leon’s low voice cut through the air. Something about it carried a hint of irritation, making Veronica instinctively look up at him.

“I know you claim there was nothing between you two, but you still keep the gift she gave you.”

“Gift?”

“The handkerchief she gave you during the extermination.”

Veronica nodded toward the scorched handkerchief still tied around his sword. Following her gaze, Leon frowned.

“What are you talking about? That’s the one you gave me…”

An icy silence fell.

Their eyes met, confusion and realization flashing between them at the same time.