Kidnapped Princess C44

Chapter 44

Luminas must have seen the shock in my eyes, because she spoke with a guilt-ridden expression.

“I’m s-sorry. That’s not what I meant… You can’t… you can’t come any closer to me…”

Her weak struggle to get out of my arms only irritated me further.

A million questions clawed at my throat — why she rejected me, why she hid in the wardrobe — but none of them made it out. Luminas’ condition had reached its limit. Sweat poured down her flushed face as she gasped like her breath might cut off any moment.

“…Fine. I get it. Just don’t move.”

Respecting her desperate plea, I laid her on the bed and stepped back. She curled up, trembling, eyes glassy with pain.

I crossed my arms, flicked my fingers impatiently, and waited. It didn’t take even five minutes before Elvin returned — dragging Nyx by the collar like a sack of potatoes.

Nyx, ripped straight from his nap, looked like he had been personally wronged by existence.

“Nyx, check on Luminas.”

He opened his mouth to complain, but one look at my face — and a single glance at Luminas — wiped the sarcasm right out of him. His eyes widened.

“What the— What’s wrong with this kid?”

“I don’t know. She won’t say.”

Only Nyx’s divine magic could treat her. He placed his hand on her forehead and muttered a spell. Light flooded the room.

But the harsh breathing didn’t ease.

“Nyx. That better not be you screwing around.”

“Hold on—”

He frowned deeper and invoked even brighter light — yet Luminas stayed the same.

“…This isn’t physical illness.”

“What?”

She was clearly suffering — how could this not be physical?

“If it’s not pain, then why is she like this?” I asked, grabbing her shoulders. “Luminas, did something happen yesterday? Tell me.”

She only shook her head stubbornly. And then, her eyes flickered faint violet. We all saw it.

“This is…” Nyx muttered.

“Your Majesty,” Elvin said darkly, “she’s fallen under enchantment.”

I stiffened. I had seen it too.

Enchantment — literal bewitchment. Seduction magic.

“Enchantment? Who would—”

And then yesterday hit me. She said she chased someone away from my room. Someone who trespassed without my knowing.

“A succubus.”

There was no other explanation.

Succubi tempt through dreams and force the body into heat. Their enchantment didn’t calm hunger — it weaponized it.

My jaw clenched. How much was she suffering? How terrified must she have been?

Nyx stated bluntly, “Yeah, she’s basically in heat.”

The room went dead silent. Luminas’ face went scarlet. She yanked the blanket over her head, trembling.

“Who,” I ground out, voice shaking with fury, “is the bastard that dared put an enchantment on Luminas?”

“M-Majesty, calm down!”

The castle trembled with my rage.

But comforting her was delicate. She must have been suffering all night, fighting instincts alone in that wardrobe while I slept unaware. Guilt stabbed through me.

“Break the curse with divine power,” I demanded.

Nyx shrugged helplessly. “I fell ages ago, remember? My faith’s shot. I don’t have enough divine power for succubus-class spells. And whoever did this? Definitely not a random street succubus.”

So divine cure was useless.

“Elvin,” I rasped, “bring me the intruder who touched her. Alive.”

He disappeared immediately.

“And you,” I told Nyx, grabbing him before he slunk off, “make an antidote. Now.”

“Yeah, okay, but— look. Demon-realm herbs, demon-realm antidote. It might not work on a human body. Could make her worse. I’m telling you, I am NOT signing liability for this.”

Even so, I had no choice. Watching her in agony was worse than any risk.

Nyx muttered, “Honestly? The safest cure would be for you to—”

“Finish that sentence and I will catapult you into the sun.”

He threw his hands up. “Fine, fine. I’ll make it.”

Finally alone, Luminas spoke through the covers, voice trembling, raw:

“Please go… I don’t want you to see me like this… You’ll hate me. My body feels wrong— I feel disgusting…”

Her shame shook her.

I shook my head, firm. “No. I’m not leaving.”

If she lost control and wandered? If someone else found her? Impossible. I wouldn’t allow it.

“I’ll stay. You’re safe.”

I sat on the bed beside her, hand hovering over the blanket where her head should be, gently stroking the shape beneath.

“It’ll be okay soon—”

A wounded animal-like whimper answered — and suddenly she launched herself at me again. Just like yesterday. Except this time, her expression was pure anguish.

“Why aren’t you running?” she whispered hoarsely. “I told you to leave. I could… I could attack you…”

Even trembling, she pinned me down with surprising strength. Divine fever flushed her cheeks, her breath burning.

“You should run away.”

“I have no reason to.”

“Aren’t you disgusted? This lust-ridden… thing? You hate it, don’t you? You should go. Please. Go.”

Yet her hand gripped me tight — refusing to let go.

I cupped her cheek.

“I don’t hate it.”

Her eyes widened.

“I told you before: you won’t hurt me.”

Her breath stuttered.

She lowered her trembling forehead to my chest, voice breaking.

“You’re right. I can’t. I want you to accept me willingly. Not like this. Not when I’m… twisted. Even if my body is ugly. Even if you hate me. Please don’t abandon me. I’ll do better. I love you. I love you so much…”

“…What?”

She rambled through fever and desperation — half words, half tears — but one line struck like lightning.

“Ugly body.”

“Secret.”

So that was it. The strange behavior lately. The fear. The insecurity.

“I don’t care what your body looks like,” I murmured. “Nothing about you is ugly. Nothing.”

“Truly?”

“Have I ever lied to you? I said I’d stay with you until your hair turned white. You think I’d throw you away?”

“You did.”

“…What?”

Her voice broke like glass.

“You abandoned me.”

And before I could react—

CRACK—

She bit into my neck.