Kidnapped Princess C47

Chapter 47

Huh…?

Last night, I had been watching over Luminas as she took the antidote. At some point, had I fallen asleep?

Contrary to my expectation that she would grow more comfortable after drinking it, Luminas began breathing even more harshly, clutching her heart as though in agony—perhaps the detoxification process itself was painful.

Even when I tried to call someone else for help, she stubbornly shook her head, insisting that she only needed me at her side.

After some time, though the ghastly paleness in her face remained, her breathing gradually grew steady. Perhaps reassured by that sight, I had dozed off lightly.

When I quietly opened my eyes, I realized that I, who had been sitting in a chair beside the bed, was now lying on the bed beside Luminas. Her soft breathing sounded right next to me.

I gently brushed her hair back. The painful expression she had worn yesterday was gone; she looked peaceful.

“Thank goodness. Seems you’re alright now.”

A burden finally lifted from my chest. I had worried—what if the antidote didn’t work? Watching Luminas suffer was something I could not bear.

And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

How dare that incubus cast charm on Luminas? He claimed it was just revenge, but did he really think I wouldn’t realize he simply wanted to lay his filthy hands on her?

To demons, subduing a holy-power-blessed human was another kind of trophy. Of course he had targeted Luminas.

She was precious to me—my bride, whom I had publicly declared. To touch her was to spit in my face.

“How dare he touch my bride…”

Grinding my teeth, still seething at him, I noticed Luminas’ eyes flutter open.

“I’m alright.”

Her fingers reached toward me and smoothed the furrow in my brow.

“Of course you are. Otherwise, I really would’ve killed him myself.”

“Your Majesty… I’m truly sorry…”

She murmured in a defeated whisper. I flicked her forehead lightly, telling her to stop speaking nonsense.

“If anything, I’m the one who should apologize. You suffered because of me.”

“You never intended for this to happen… but still…”

Her fingertips brushed the marks on my neck. Those wounds were entirely her doing.

“Don’t worry about it. They’ll fade soon.”

“…I don’t like that either…”

She whispered softly.

Then something caught my eye—her throat. Perhaps because she had tormented mine so much yesterday, the shape of her Adam’s apple now stood out. Her fingers also seemed strangely thicker than before. Without thinking, I intertwined my fingers with hers, gripping her hand.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Was it just my imagination? Her jawline and bone structure seemed subtly sharper than yesterday. Had she grown overnight? Children her age did grow quickly, after all…

I lightly pressed one of her fingers, then examined her hand’s size. Then I stared at her face. Yes—it had changed, even if faintly.

Suddenly, Luminas let out a painful groan. Startled, I checked her condition.

“Are you still hurt?”

Her red lips trembled, caught between her teeth. She looked pained, unable to speak for a while before quietly answering:

“It’s probably… growing pains.”

“Growing pains?”

At that exact moment—crack. A chilling sound of bones shifting rang near my ear. My face stiffened immediately.

She had been afflicted by charm last night. So wouldn’t it make more sense that this was a side effect, not growth?

Yet, the sound ringing through the room was unmistakably like bones stretching and reshaping.

All I could do was rub her back. The sound was terrifying.

Did growing pains ever hurt this much? When I was human, I never heard my bones crack like this.

Her complexion, which I thought had improved, darkened again.

“Your Majesty…”

Luminas reached out to me, sweat dripping down her forehead. I quickly grasped her hand. She looked up at me with frightened eyes.

“You once said it didn’t matter if I was a tall woman… Could you take that back?”

Ah—right, I had said that. But was this really the moment to bring it up?

Luminas looked desperate. I didn’t know exactly what she wanted me to change, but if it was just a matter of words, I could do that for her easily.

“Alright, then what shall I change it to?”

“That tall people can be lovely too.”

I slowly looked her up and down. She had always been terrified of changing—this must be another expression of that fear. She swallowed nervously, waiting for my answer.

I didn’t particularly enjoy being looked down upon, but if it were Luminas, I wouldn’t mind.

If anything, her beautiful eyes would be easier to see. Her radiant golden hair and sky-colored eyes were unchanged.

“No matter your height or build, you’ll always be lovely.”

Luminas smiled brightly and nuzzled her face into my hand despite her pain.

“I really do love you, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, yes. I heard it plenty yesterday.”

“I mean it. I will never let go. Stay with me… always…”

Her voice trembled with emotion, as though afraid I would vanish.

“Of course I’ll stay.”

A breath escaped me. When did I ever say I would leave? I stroked her hair.

Watching her suffer, I attempted magic—but as expected, my demonic-energy-infused spells had no effect on her blessed body.

“I didn’t think it’d be this irritating.”

It was frustrating that my magic couldn’t help.

“I feel like everything will be different when I wake… it scares me…”

“Growing pains pass quickly. And weren’t you the one in such a hurry to grow up and become my bride? Besides, what you fear most is me disappearing, isn’t it?”

It was meant as a light joke.

But it didn’t sound like a joke to her. Her pain stopped instantly—her eyes emptied, emotion vanishing. She gripped my arm with frightening strength.

“Disappear…?”

Her hollow gaze held no light. I flicked her forehead gently.

“I’m not disappearing. I told you—I’ll stay by your side for life.”

Her eyes returned to normal at once.

Perhaps joking wasn’t wise. The atmosphere shifted too abruptly. I made a mental note to reflect.

“For now, rest in my room. I can’t guarantee nothing like yesterday will happen again.”

Once decided, I acted. With a snap of my fingers, I teleported us to my chamber.

“You’ll be safe here. Don’t go out for a while.”

Was I stifling her independence? I wondered briefly.

“Here?”

“You need to act like you were harmed so demons don’t try anything again. Also, Reina isn’t here to guard you right now. Elvin will bring your clothes. If there’s anything you absolutely need from your room, tell me.”

Luminas fell silent for a long time. Her gaze seemed subdued, as if she had swallowed her thoughts.

Did she dislike being confined indoors?

“What did you say?”

Her voice was so faint I couldn’t hear it at first. She hesitated long, then spoke with a tremor:

“…”

“If you don’t want—”

“No, it’s alright. You’ve been reassuring me this whole time. I’ll wait here.”

There was more at the end, but it was too quiet to hear. Her gentle gaze softened. Whatever strange tension I felt earlier had faded.

“Your Majesty, is the princess well?”

Elvin stood waiting the moment I stepped out. I was about to casually say she was fine—but the words stuck. Could I truly say she was alright?

“Your Majesty?”

Elvin looked puzzled when I didn’t respond.

“Oh—yes, she’s better.”

“That’s good news.”

“If you’re worried, just admit it.”

“I’m not! If the princess is unwell— no. Nothing. Anyway, a letter has arrived from the elves.”

“So it finally came.”

The elven royal family had promised to share their information. It was surely related to the demons.

“Oh, Elvin—bring Luminas’ belongings to my room. She’ll be staying with me for awhile.”

“To serve as a warning.”

I thought he’d protest, but—

“Of course.”

“She provoked the Demon King’s wrath. This is a natural outcome.”

Elvin and I walked to the office. We opened the letter delivered by bat from Albredo. The tribe protected by the World Tree had never been breached in thousands of years—shielded by the World Tree itself.

No living being could break such a barrier.

And yet demons had invaded—and shattered it. They had taken a branch of the World Tree.

The crucial part was that branch. Why steal it?

They were demons. So the answer was clear.

I flicked the letter and asked Elvin:

“Do you know why they took the World Tree’s branch?”

Footnotes

World Tree — A mythical sacred tree often depicted in fantasy works as a source of life and protection. In this world, it provides powerful barriers and grants divine protection to the elves.