ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 29: For the sake of a woman

His voice carried exhaustion, real, bone-deep exhaustion. The battle with the young witch earlier had drained him more than he wanted to admit. Even standing upright required effort.

Rex bowed his head. "Understood, Your Highness."

Kaiser didn’t respond. He merely lifted a hand in dismissal and walked out, as if he no longer had the will to involve himself in the chaos of the night.

His shoulders slumped slightly, burdened both by his duty as crown prince and by watching Demian’s madness firsthand, all for a single woman.

Demian arrived just in time barely before the Emperor’s main forces launched their final assault. His lungs burned from the relentless ride that had nearly killed his horse, but he still dismounted with steady steps. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee before Emperor Agilos.

"I want to take the witch clan," Demian said, voice low but unwavering.

The Emperor stared at him sharply, as if making sure he hadn’t misheard."That clan is powerful, Demian. Too powerful. And if you insist on this, you understand the consequences."

Behind the Emperor, the witches, young and old, had been fully subdued. Their hands were bound with anti-magic chains, their feet shackled, eyes blinded with dark cloth, and mouths sealed with binding spells. Dozens of them knelt in the dirt, some trembling, others still struggling even though resistance was pointless.

Demian’s gaze flicked toward them for only a moment before returning to the Emperor."This is the only way Valerie wakes up."

The Emperor exhaled slowly a harsh, frustrated sound."You’ve lost your mind."

"Maybe," Demian replied without hesitation, "but I don’t care. As long as she lives, I’ll do anything."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, studying him like a soldier he once trusted without question.

"So much risk... all for a woman? And not even the woman destined to be your future Empress." His tone carried ridicule, but also exhaustion. "Bringing a woman to a battlefield was foolish enough. And now you kneel here for someone who isn’t even your betrothed? Love has made you stupid, Demian."

Demian didn’t argue. He didn’t justify himself. He simply knelt there, silent and resolute.

Eventually, the Emperor closed his eyes, dragged a hand across his face, and cursed under his breath."Fine. Take them."He gestured toward the chained witches."But listen carefully: if anything happens, if even one of them rebels, kills, or damages anything, I don’t want excuses. You will be the one to wipe out their entire clan."

Demian rose slowly, every part of him aching, but his eyes remained steady."I understand, Your Majesty."

"No, you don’t," the Emperor snapped. "This is not a simple trade. If you fail to control them, you’ll drag the empire, your bloodline, and your honor straight into ruin. But... it seems you no longer care about such things."

Demian gave a small nod."All I need is for Valerie to live. After that... I can face whatever comes."

The Emperor clicked his tongue softly, a sound halfway between admiration and despair."Truly... a man like you in love is more dangerous than any monster."

But he lifted his hand and granted permission.

And in that moment, Demian knew, there was no turning back.No option but to move forward.

All for the woman who had not yet opened her eyes to speak his name.

Demian had already ridden far when the imperial carriage finally fell silent again. Only the whisper of the wind and the lingering swirl of dust from his horse remained in the air. But the calm didn’t last long.

One of the Emperor’s advisors stepped forward, his face pale and tense."Your Majesty... it seems Duke Demian did not do all of this because of love," he said softly, yet loud enough for everyone around to hear.

Emperor Agilos, who had been standing still while watching the direction Demian disappeared into, slowly turned his head."What do you mean?" he asked, his voice flat but sharp.

The advisor swallowed hard before answering."No Morvex blood has ever fallen in love with any woman other than the one chosen for them at birth. It is a curse... or fate, depending on how we see it. So... it’s impossible for the duke to truly love that woman."

His words made everyone around exchange looks. Some soldiers even frowned, trying to recall the old tales about the Morvex bloodline. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The Emperor fell silent.For a moment, his gaze was empty, like he had just realized something crucial.

"If that’s the case..." he murmured. "Why did he act like that? Why would he dare challenge me... just to wake up one woman?"

The advisor continued, his voice low but firm."Perhaps the woman is merely a distraction, Your Majesty. Or... guilt. He brought her to a battlefield she should never have been in. And Duke Demian, though harsh is not the type to let someone die because of his own negligence. That alone is enough for him to act recklessly."

The Emperor closed his eyes for a moment, recalling how Demian earlier had nearly forced him, nearly knelt, nearly lost his sanity.Not the behavior of a Morvex bound to a woman who wasn’t his destined partner.

"...perhaps you’re right," he finally admitted, exhaling slowly."If it’s only guilt... then everything makes sense."

The soldiers and high officials around them nodded. At least, it was the most logical explanation. Duke Demian wasn’t falling in love he was merely trying to protect something he considered his responsibility.

The Emperor gazed toward the distant forest where Demian had vanished."If guilt alone can drive him that far... he’s truly insane," he muttered, though there was a hint of relief in his tone.

"Let’s hope he doesn’t cause new problems," the advisor added.

But none of them realized...they all might be wrong.

Because none of them had ever seen the way Demian looked at Valerie before the woman collapsed into unconsciousness.

Demian led his troops through the dark forest, dragging the captured witches out of imperial territory. The enchanted chains binding them clattered with every movement of the horses, but Demian paid them no mind. His expression was rigid, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were filled with only one thing: resolve.

They had to be brought to that young sorcerer, the striking one with two different-colored eyes, blue and gold, the only person capable of waking Valerie. That was the price he demanded, and Demian would pay it, no matter what it cost.

Demian’s soldiers followed close behind, keeping a cautious distance from the bound witches. The night grew darker, but the torches carried by the troops lit the path toward the camp they had prepared.

The moment they arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Silence blanketed the clearing. A bonfire burned in the center, illuminating the young sorcerer who had been waiting for them. He stood calmly, his soft hair falling over part of his face, and his mismatched eyes gleamed sharply the moment he saw who Demian had brought.

The captured witches were herded toward him. Though their hands and feet were shackled, their eyes burned with hatred, cold and venomous, as if they wished to devour Demian alive. But Demian didn’t flinch. Not tonight. Not when Valerie’s life hung by a thread.

The young sorcerer stepped forward. His expression shifted, from cold to grim as though an old wound had been reopened the instant he saw the remnants of his clan standing helpless before them.

"...You really brought them all," he murmured, voice low and cutting.

Demian dismounted, breath heavy from the long ride."This is what you asked for," he said, his voice rough. "Now do your part. Wake Valerie."