Case 114: Her eternity.


    ''''...''''


    Imperial Pce, nighttime.


    In the dimly lit office, only steady, quiet scribble noises could be heard. Hugging her head, August tried to refocus her thoughts on the piles of text in the document—one of many. However, even as she squinted her eyes, the words only slipped away.


    It was clear that the fatigue had caught up to her.


    Heaving out a tired sigh, she dropped the pen, leaned back into the chair, and pressed the inconspicuous button below the table instead.


    [An annual audit of the Department of Treasury, year 946, submitted by Martin Fallon.]


    As the Sword Empress closed her eyes, she slowly took in the clear, sultry female voice that was reading the report out loud for her.


    ''As expected, her voice is still the best.''


    It was Kierra''s voice, mimicked using wind spirits'' power.


    In fact, August had been switching between reading with her eyes and listening for a while now. A few days, to be exact. Unsurprisingly, after a few years of her absence, work piled up quite a bit. Of course, her subordinates were allpetent, so this amount of paperwork was actually not too heavy, considering the empire''s size.


    Still, she had to deal with the cult first and foremost, and that took away almost half of her stamina already. More than anything,


    ''Argh... where the hell are you, my love?''


    Kierra deficiency.


    Now that August had tasted what it was like to be loved by Kierra again, she could hardly endure this period. It seemed like it was just yesterday that she tightly hugged the archwizard to bed, caressing her spotless skin whilst sharing a passionate kiss with her.


    ''...What am I thinking? I haven''t been able to catch a wink of sleep ever sinceing back here.''


    Somehow, it was depressing.


    "Hah..."


    (''- `)


    [Temperament like the orchid''s never-changing fragrance,


    Heart like the orchid''s never-moving core.]


    ''...? Who the hell is putting a poem in an audit?''


    The moment August opened her eyes, it felt as though spring had blossomed in her heart.


    With her back warmly lit by the night light, a woman sat squarely on the table, directly facing the Sword Empress. Red eyes met golden eyes. She gracefully leaned forward, dangling her lustrous hair.


    "Hi."


    Kierra grinned, her slender fingers tracing August''s chin.


    "Am I troubling you?"


    ''''...''''


    Faced with the absolute destructive power, August couldn''t even let out a sound. Instead, she immediately fell forward, nting her face directly between Kierra''s thighs.


    "Are you tired?"


    "Mhm..."


    This time, as she buried herself in Kierra''s embrace, the fatigue that had umted for thest week <em>really</em> caught up to her. Although she had many things to say and many things to do, her eyelids wouldn''t stay apart for long.


    Under her lover''s gentle caress, August fell asleep.


    When she opened her eyes again, the sunlight was already pouring in from outside. Her eyes fixed on the ceiling for a moment.


    ''''...''''


    ''It''s my bedroom.''


    As soon as she got up, a mouth-watering fragrance wafted over.


    Someone was using her kitchen.


    And... it wasn''t hard to guess who. August knew what it was like to live with Kierra as a couple. Although the archwizard was spiky like a hedgehog and fickle like a fox these days, she used to be a model wife.


    No, she was still a model wife. Just, a bit more rebellious at times.


    Evidence?


    Well, she would still cook for August whenever she got the chance, like now. She would oftenfort the Sword Empress, too, when she got tired. Besides those, she also offered wisdom, humor, and physical pleasure.


    ''Isn''t it too unfair?''


    In truth, August had once thought about moving on from her broken partnership with Kierra. She thought that maybe... just maybe, if she got a new lover, things would get better.


    But it all felt too repulsive.


    August wouldn''t want to give herself to anyone other than Kierra, and it made sense, knowing just how good of a partner she was.


    "You''re already awake? Eat something, then."


    ''''...''''


    Even now, Kierra was acting nonchntly, putting a variety of dishes that the empress loved on the table. It was as if her actions were only natural.


    ''How am I going to make up for all of these, really?''


    August smiled bitterly.


    As Kierra put her apron away, her arm was pulled over.


    "Oh."


    "Nn..."


    "Heheh, you''re clingy."


    Now, she sat right inside August''s embrace. As ofte, she hadn''t been hugged from behind too many times, so it was refreshing. Moreover, few in her harem actually wanted to pete'' in that regard, so they wouldn''t try to kiss her neck like this.


    "Here, open your mouth."


    "Ah..."


    Still, despite the bold and brass personality, August felt like a big cat at times.


    "How is the progress with the cult, by the way?"


    "Mgn... it''s pretty good. We have control over the media, after all."


    "I see. Any sign of them taking aggressive approaches?"


    "Yes, actually. It seems they''re trying to push instead of hide. I was about to tell you that... yesterday."


    "So an early war is unavoidable, huh..."


    It seemed that the end was nigh.


    Soon, the continent of Linoel would have to face its most formidable opponent yet—a god. With that, the fate of the whole world would be determined.


    Perhaps noticing Kierra''s inner turmoil, August spoke up,


    "Should we call back the tower masters?"


    "Maybe not." The archwizard replied. "They won''t be able to do anything against that thing, anyway. If there''s anyone who can face them... it would be either us, Dia, or Cosmos."


    "The four of us will, then."


    "No."


    ''''...?''''


    Kierra''s eyes as she faced August''s puzzling look were bitter.


    "You and Dia... I want you two to be in the Central Divine Realm."


    "Are you crazy? That''s absolutely not—"


    "Shh. I know what I''m doing. It''s just a juvenile god. Cosmos and I can handle it. Besides... if the tower masters are pulling troops to the other side, it means the situation there isn''t great either."


    ''''...''''


    "In the case of those two remaining entities invading, I want you two to help protect that world. At least... until I finish the business here."


    August''s lips parted, but no words came out.


    Kierra''s pleading face was somehow full of determination as if she wouldn''t take a no for an answer. Unfortunately, August was the absolute weakest when it came to facing this side of Kierra—a fragile, genuine side behind the haughty facade she wore.


    Of course, she would disobey whatever Kierra demanded if she knew it risked her lover''s life, but frustratingly enough, everything she said was probably true.


    Kierra had now surpassed every single existing standard, steadily climbing toward the realm of gods, even if it wasn''t literally. If she and Cosmos joined hands... a newborn god wouldn''t be a struggle.


    But being her lover, August still had her worries. Now, she had to choose between going against or along with her partner''s wish, all to risk her love''s safety or secure it.


    ''''...''''


    ''''...''''


    When things were tense like that, Kierra gently turned around, hugging August into her bosom.


    "Don''t worry too much, Au." She whispered. "I promised you, no? That I would give you what you had given me."


    "Kierra."


    "Last time, you pledged me your eternity, so this time, I will pledge mine. For millennia toe, I shall be with you each moment. This I swear on my heart."


    An undying pledge.


    A pledge of eternity in front of cmity.


    This time, for certain—


    "I won''t break my promise."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!