Joda, what are you trying to do by sending him into the Familiar World?

You and I both know there's nothing that can undo a bounded soul.

And if we send him in there, and he becomes stronger, and then decides to leave, what if I'm unable to stop him?

Joda listened quietly as her husband spoke, letting him air out his anxieties.

After a while, she finally responded.

"My king… did you forget what happened to the thief Aladin in the Familiar World? And to his wife he was soul-bound to?"

Queen Joda's eyes glinted with ruthless amusement, a soft smile curling on her lips.

King Raim, who had been ranting nonstop, fell silent immediately.

He stared at his wife as though she had suddenly transformed into some alien creature.

After a long pause, letting her words sink into him, he finally spoke in a calmer tone.

"Even though it's a solid plan… you know Aladin's case was different. How do you intend to repeat that with him?"

Joda stepped toward a secret safe embedded in the chamber wall.

She opened it and retrieved a necklace, beads resembling a monk's prayer beads, except each bead sparkled like cut glass, each one gleaming like it had been carved from diamonds.

King Raim's eyes widened in horror as he stepped back.

"T-The Beads of Tenebris…" he whispered. "W-where did you get that?"

Joda lowered her head, ashamed. "Have you ever wondered why Aladin was never caught after all those years of wrongdoing?"

She lifted her gaze again, determined.

"It's because Aladin was my half-brother. The day before his death, I went to reprimand him. I'd finally decided I wouldn't tolerate his doings any longer. That's when he presented these beads to me as a gift. I wanted to refuse, but they were just too beautiful… and I had no idea what they truly were, or who he stole them from, until the news spread the next day."

She sighed. "I was too ashamed to tell you."

The queen smiled gently and cupped her husband's face with both hands.

"It's haunted me for centuries. But now, seeing our daughter's situation… it feels like the gods themselves are with us. With this, I can return the beads and solve our daughter's problem."

Minch.

She kissed Raim softly on the lips.

Minch. Another kiss.

Minch. And another.

The situation escalated quickly, and soon the king scooped his wife into his arms, carrying her to the bed. Clothes vanished in the heat of the moment.

--

"It's an order," The guard bowed low and stepped aside, allowing the princess to enter.

The first thing she saw was Aron staring directly at her, not even trying to hide the amused expression on his face.

She froze at the doorway, unsure of what to say or do.

"To what do I owe the visit, Princess?" Aron asked.

That snapped her out of her daze.

"I-I am... no, nothing... no, wait, there is something..."

Aron simply watched her stutter.

Up close, Helena really was beautiful. Fragile. Tender. The picture of a sheltered princess who'd never done a day of hard work.

Her cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment realm, but her energy was shallow, signifying she must have reached the realm only recently.

"I… I just wanted to tell you I'm not angry with you," she said finally. "And I'm happy I wasn't forced to marry that prick."

"Oh? Is that so? Then no worries."

Aron had expected some dramatic lover's-vengeance scene.

Realizing it wasn't that, he instantly lost interest.

His focus drifted back to his panel, senses still fully alert but his attention clearly elsewhere.

"I don't mind being soul-bound to a lowborn," Helena continued quickly. "In fact, I dreamed of a day I might..."

"You don't have to worry," Aron cut in, not bothering to look up. "Your parents have a way for us to unbind ourselves."

Helena froze. "H-How!?" she blurted.

"You can go ask your parents," he replied, offhandedly, already growing tired of her questions.

The princess could sense it, the utter lack of awe, fear, or even basic interest.

But desperation pushed her forward.

"Please… why can't you just be my husband?"

"I can't."

"Is it because you have a wife? I don't mind being the second!"

"I don't wanna."

"If you agree, you'll have access to unimaginable wealth, status, even the possibility of becoming Emperor!"

"Not interested."

Helena was stunned.

His tone, his expression, everything about him screamed that he wanted her gone.

But she was too desperate.

She dropped to her knees, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Please… help me. I don't want to be forced into a political marriage. Just don't go along with their plans, that's all I'm asking. I won't bother you. You can have as many women as you want and enjoy every privilege that comes with it. I just… I just want to live. I want to explore the world. I'm tired of feeling trapped… of being caged my whole life."

Her voice cracked.

"I'm willing to give you anything. Do anything. Just... please."

She looked up, eyes red, desperate.

"Please…"

...

..

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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