Chapter 66: They Want a Monster? Fine

Chapter 66. They Want a Monster? Fine

The source of the voice moved beside me and looked down at the royal grounds.

The sky had already shifted toward late afternoon, streaked with warm gold near the horizon. Long shadows stretched between the palace gardens, and the magical lamps along the paths were beginning to glow.

Seris.

Apparently, among all the women invited by the queen, my phoenix wife had decided flowers were less interesting than espionage.

Understandable.

I raised my glass slightly. "Finished your investigation?"

Seris took a sip of wine before answering.

"Yes."

That sounded promising.

Then her expression darkened.

"But the more I know, the more I want to know. And the more I learn, the more shocked I am by their logic."

That sounded significantly less promising.

"Something bad?"

She nodded. "The rumors about you being mad haven’t settled yet."

I paused. Then slowly turned toward her. "I thought I already showed everyone I’m normal?"

Seris met my eyes.

She shook her head.

Slowly.

Grimly.

Okay. That was unpredictable.

Apparently, we had entered the advanced stage of denial.

"Why?"

Seris rested one elbow against the railing. "Some are saying your insanity has reached a new level."

I waited.

"They believe your corruption has become sophisticated enough to make you appear normal on the outside while remaining corrupted within."

My eyebrows rose.

"Like the Dark Lord," she finished.

I stared at her.

Seris stared back.

I scoffed.

Then I looked toward the gardens again because I genuinely didn’t know how to respond to that.

What was I supposed to do?

Laugh?

Cry?

Create a presentation?

I’d used magic without screaming in agony. Suspicious.

I’d demonstrated tactical awareness while fighting. Clearly madness.

I’d survived three SSS-rank heroes trying to kill me. Obviously something only an insane person would do.

At this rate, if I sat quietly and drank tea, they’d probably whisper that my calmness was proof of advanced corruption.

If I got angry about being called insane, they’d say my anger proved it.

If I didn’t get angry, they’d say my lack of anger proved it.

I gulped down the rest of my drink.

Seris watched me. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I stared into the empty glass. "I just don’t know what to say anymore."

That was unusually honest.

For some reason, the realization bothered me more than I’d expected.

"I thought I could clean my name."

Seris remained quiet.

"I thought if people saw me acting normally, using magic without losing control, and talking like a functioning human being, they’d eventually realize something was wrong with the stories."

Apparently, optimism had been my mistake.

Seris shook her head. "No. Some people do believe you."

I looked at her.

"You gave them clear proof today. More than enough. I heard several nobles openly questioning the rumors after the hunt."

That was something.

"While the others?"

"Some think you’re pretending. And some," she continued, "really want you erased."

People were remarkably talented at believing whatever happened to benefit them.

Seris leaned closer. Her shoulder brushed mine. "The Iron Vanguard is furious."

I smiled. "About Garr?"

"They think you embarrassed him intentionally."

I considered that.

Technically...

"Yes."

Seris turned sharply toward me.

I shrugged. "He tried to kill me. I wasn’t going to make him look good while doing it."

A tiny smile betrayed her.

She tried suppressing it. Failed.

"They don’t know everything that happened," she said. "But Garr apparently told enough people that they’re blaming you for manipulating the battle."

I smirked. "I did manipulate the battle."

"Rey."

"What?" I put on my most innocent face.

"You’re making it difficult to defend you."

"I never asked you to lie."

That finally earned me a quiet laugh.

The sound softened something inside my chest.

"Seris..." My tone changed. Her smile slowly faded when she noticed it. "If I make a move before them..." I held her gaze. "Would you think I’m cruel?"

For once, there was no joke behind the question.

Seris studied me for several seconds before shaking her head. "No." The answer came without hesitation. "Like it or not, offense is sometimes the best defense. Especially when you already know the other side intends to hurt you."

She moved closer and raised her hand to my cheek. Her palm was warm. Her eyes softened as her thumb brushed slowly across my skin. "You have the right to be angry, Rey."

Something inside me tightened.

Not because she was giving me permission.

I didn’t need permission to hate them.

But hearing someone acknowledge that anger without calling it madness, corruption, or another symptom of the curse felt strangely different.

I leaned closer until barely any space remained between us.

"I am..." I whispered.

Then I looked at her properly.

Seris was beautiful.

That wasn’t exactly breaking news.

I’d known that since the moment I inherited Rey’s memories.

But something about her felt different right now.

Maybe it was the late-afternoon light catching the crimson strands of her hair. Maybe it was the wine leaving the faintest shine across her lips.

My eyes stopped there.

Her lips.

I’d spent the last several hours dealing with attempted murder.

Kissing my wife suddenly sounded like an excellent use of my time.

And yeah, I wanted to kiss her so badly.

But would this be weird?

Was this really the right moment to suddenly kiss my wife?

Would Seris stop me and say this wasn’t the time? ℯℯ𝘭.

Would she remind me that we were standing on a royal balcony where anyone could walk past?

Ha... I didn’t care.

My hand settled against her waist as I leaned closer.

Then closer.

Seris didn’t move away.

That was all the permission I needed.

Our lips met.

My tongue darted forward.

Seris’ lips parted slightly.

That was enough encouragement.

I pressed in deeper.

She tasted sweet.

Not like honey.

Or aphrodisiacs.

Just like a sweet wine.

My tongue glided against hers, and I was just starting to think about deepening the kiss further when Seris’ body suddenly tensed.

A soft moan escaped her throat.

The sound made my heart jump.

Seris’ lips slid against mine. She tasted even sweeter now. Her hands slowly moved up the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair. Then her tongue brushed mine again.

I growled this time.

She growled back.

I lifted Seris against the wall, hands moving along her hips and waist. I pulled her even closer, and she responded in kind. Our bodies were pressed flush against each other now, and there was no space left between our lips. She tasted so sweet.

I needed more.

I deepened the kiss, and she responded in turn.

Her taste was intoxicating.

I wanted more.

A lot more.

Which was precisely when movement below caught my attention.

My eyes shifted toward the garden.

And there she was.

Elia.

Apparently, she’d decided to return alone. The queen wasn’t with her, nor were Ariel, Lily, Nia, Liora, or any of the other women who’d gone to admire the flowers.

She had stopped halfway along the garden path.

And she was looking directly at us.

At me.

At Seris still in my arms.

Even from this distance, I could see something break across her expression.

Her face went pale, her shoulders stiffening as though she’d walked into something she hadn’t prepared herself to see.

For a moment, our eyes met.

I knew exactly what she was seeing.

The man she’d apparently decided she wanted to chase again.

Holding another woman.

His wife.

Did I care? No.

I’d already told her.

There was nothing ambiguous about what I said.

So I didn’t release Seris.

Instead, my arm remained comfortably around her waist as I turned my attention back to her. Seris hadn’t noticed Elia yet. Her cheeks were flushed, her fingers still tangled loosely in my hair, and she was looking at me with an expression that made my thoughts immediately abandon my logic again.

Damn.

I really hoped we were home right now.

Not on a balcony where nobles could appear at any moment.

Somewhere with privacy.

Preferably a locked door.