Chapter 499 - 497: You Actually Don’t Want to Take Responsibility?

Chapter 499: Chapter 497: You Actually Don’t Want to Take Responsibility?

"Who are you, and why are you blocking my path? And my guards... what have you done to them?"

His expression was grave, and his tone was accusatory from the moment he spoke. But Nerida was being ravaged by the effects of the drug; just forcing herself to walk out of the mountain range had pushed her to her limit. Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she felt as if her body was about to burst from the force raging within her.

Sweat dripped from her brow.

Her gaze landed on him, full of a determined resolve.

Nerida didn’t answer him. Instead, she had already gotten the information she needed from his earlier words. She could tell he was unattached—not yet married, with no lover.

At this, she murmured to herself, "Good. As long as there’s no one else."

’If there were...’

’I’d just have to find someone else.’

As she spoke, she had already climbed into the carriage, casually dropping the curtain behind her.

He clearly hadn’t expected her to board so suddenly, and the man in the carriage was genuinely startled.

"What... what do you think you’re doing?"

"Get off my carriage this instant, or don’t blame me for what happens next." As he spoke, he was already gathering his Cultivation in his hand. But Nerida’s reaction was swift. She shot out a hand, grabbed his wrist, and slammed him against the carriage wall.

She spoke, her voice low. "Don’t waste your energy."

’If Nerida were in her right mind, she’d realize her tone was exactly like that of a ruffian forcing herself upon an innocent man.’

He struggled against her grip.

"How dare you! Let go!"

"Woman, what do you want from me?"

Nerida stared at him.

Her gaze roamed over his body before settling on his face.

’This man is certainly alluring.’

Seeing her staring at him so brazenly, the man couldn’t help but snap, "Insolent! Do you want me to gouge out your eyes?"

Hearing this threat,

Nerida actually thought he was trying to flirt with her.

"You do have beautiful eyes."

"You... shameless!"

Before he could say another word, Nerida reached out, cupped his face, and pressed her lips to his. He smelled so clean, and she couldn’t help but deepen the kiss.

After the kiss, the man’s cheeks were flushed, but he was still furious. He lifted his leg and kicked at her.

Nerida was too fast. As his foot came at her, she shot out a hand and caught his ankle. With a single pull, she sent him tumbling back into the carriage.

He seemed stunned by her sheer forcefulness, freezing for a moment. He was a man who preferred peace, but his Cultivation wasn’t just for show. If it came to a life-and-death struggle, this woman wouldn’t get the better of him easily.

He was just about to strike her with his palm.

But then he saw the pained, strained look on her face. Her skin was burning hot.

She spoke, her voice strained. "I ingested something... impure. I need a man."

Her body was pressed close to his.

Her breath was feverish.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now that she said it... Aeron took a closer look at her. Only now did he realize something was wrong. She must have been given some kind of aphrodisiac.

’In her condition, she needs to dual cultivate with a man. And yet, she’s fighting it and even asking for my consent. Perhaps she’s not a bad person after all.’

They were so close now. Her face, so near his own, made it difficult for him to breathe.

Seeing his silence,

Nerida frowned slightly.

She was truly struggling to hold back now, but as she had him pinned, she still asked reflexively, "Are you willing? If not, I’ll get off and find someone else." ’I’m never eating strange things ever again,’ she thought. ’This time, it nearly cost me my life.’

His words snapped Young Lord Aeron out of his stupor. ’Find someone else? After she just kissed me... my purity is already compromised. And she wants to find someone else?’

’He sized up the woman before him again. ’Despite my appearance, she’s still holding back even in her state. That means she has principles. She’s not the wanton woman I first took her for, just driven by lust. If a woman like this were to be my wife... it wouldn’t be unacceptable.’

’He was of marriageable age, and the Empress Mother had been wanting to select a suitable wife for him—one who would support him after he inherited the throne.’

’Aeron disliked all of his mother’s choices. If he had to choose a wife, why not choose one he was attracted to, one he felt an instant connection with? At the very least, the woman before him was beautiful and her Cultivation was strong. Don’t men admire strength? He was no exception.’

At this thought,

he lowered the hand he’d been about to strike her with.

’Since I’ve decided she will be my wife, I have to help her. I can’t just let her die, can I? Otherwise, my wife would be gone. And if she found someone else, that would just be letting another man reap the benefits.’

His gaze met her earnest eyes and her indescribably beautiful face. His Adam’s apple bobbed. His body’s reaction couldn’t lie. He was, shamelessly, aroused by this woman. He’d never felt this way about anyone else.

Nerida sensed his reaction.

"You want this too..."

He quickly denied it.

"I do not!"

He blushed.

Fighting through the agony, Nerida said, "Just this once. You won’t lose out."

He wasn’t even paying attention to her words, too ashamed of his own body’s response. But then he remembered his status as a Young Lord and knew he had to maintain his dignity. He couldn’t let her think he was a casual sort of man.

"Whoever I choose, it is for life."

"If you lay a hand on me, you must take responsibility. From this day forward, you will be my wife."

’Responsible for what? Whatever, I’ll just agree for now!’

’As long as he’s willing, that’s all that matters.’

Seeing that he had agreed,

Nerida didn’t give him a chance to take it back. She bent down and sealed his lips with a kiss.

Undressing was too much trouble. She simply tore his clothes off.

As he stared with wide eyes, they consummated the act.

Though she had been the one to initiate things, she was the one left exhausted in the end.

’This man’s stamina... is impressive.’

Sometime later,

her gaze fell upon the man’s firm chest, and she asked a question.

"What’s your name?"

"Aeron."

"Aeron..." she murmured softly. "It’s a nice name."

「A day and a night later.」

When she finally came to her senses, she found her head resting on a man’s lap. She looked up to see him gazing at her gently. Perhaps because he saw she was awake, his eyes darted away as a blush crept up his face.

"My... my wife... you’re awake."

’He’s calling me his wife? What a strange title.’

She froze for a moment before calmly sitting up.

She glanced down at the thin clothes she was wearing, which did little to hide her figure. A brief flash of embarrassment hit her as she recalled what she’d done, but she remained outwardly composed. After all, she was a Demon Cultivator who had been cultivating for hundreds of years. There was little she hadn’t seen.

She grabbed her own robes and gave them a casual shake. In the next instant, her figure appeared outside the carriage, her clothes perfectly in place.

Her skin was fair, her features beautiful, and her figure tall and slender. The purple robes made her look noble and aloof, her aura immense. Unlike Celeste Grant’s gentle appearance, Nerida possessed a flamboyant, assertive beauty. Her commanding presence was the real deal, forged in countless battles.