Profane Prince of Domination

Oddly, Yvonne stood before her. Oddly because the two had never met beforehand. With no ties binding them, curiosity aside, there wasn’t any reason for Yvonne to watch over her. Still, she did. And in her emerald eyes, complex emotions intertwined.

"Watching over the competition?"

Konrad jested as he stepped into the room. Though she didn’t turn to face him, Yvonne’s lips curled into a lopsided smirk.

"Is she qualified?"

Perhaps throughout all realms, only Yvonne could utter such words, speaking with a confidence that made them sound so natural.

"The arrogance. This is my one and only disciple we’re talking about. Are you truly not afraid that she’ll one day take over your seat?"

Konrad whispered as he stepped toward Yvonne, stopping at her back and extending his arms toward her willow waist. As he pulled her into his embrace, the sensation of her warmth meshing with his numbed his mind, and for an instant, Konrad just stood there -- with his chin resting on Yvonne’s right shoulder while his head nestled against hers. In silence, they rubbed head, closing their eyes to relish in the instant.

Alongside the gentle kiss of their temples, their smiles grew brighter. In contrast, Konrad’s hands tightened around Yvonne’s waist, mixing gentleness and insistence as if telling her that he couldn’t bear not having her by his side. Although for cultivators of their caliber, three months were no different from a second, it was a second too much.

And the silent crumbling of Yvonne in Konrad’s tightening grasp said the same. She couldn’t bear not having him by her side.

The scenery around the two changed, and they landed on the peak of a deserted mountain. The cool breeze and idyllic scenery surrounding them served as their sole companions.

"Sometimes, I selfishly wish you weren’t that competent -- so that I wouldn’t have to entrust you with important tasks. If you were less outstanding, I could keep you by my side all the time, never leaving you out of my sight.

If you were less outstanding, I could brush your hair always, hold your hand, hold your chin and whisper in your ears...how much I love you."

Konrad whispered while his chest cradled Yvonne’s back, drumming as if its most ardent desire was to mesh with hers. And though it wasn’t her first time hearing those words, Yvonne’s chest warmed at their echo, and her heartbeat quickened.

"Incorrigible rake."

Yvonne quipped, but her smile grew brighter still. The words pulled a chuckle from Konrad’s lips.

"True, I am an incorrigible rake. For that reason, I dislike using such words, because it makes me sound so hypocritical. Alas, even I must admit to my weaknesses, and Yvonne, I first heard my heart drum when I met you.

When you sat across that window, with your ink-like hair fluttering at your side, when you turned to face me, and our eyes locked on one another, for the first time in my life, I heard my heart drum. Even as your battle-forged killing intent permeated the air, dwarfing your enthralling beauty, my heart raced for you.

I could name all the things I love about you, fill a list from the Ancient Crystal World to Heaven, and still go on -- because all you do summons my love. The most casual move, the tiniest quirk, all appeal to me -- because they are yours."

Konrad’s heartfelt words flowed in the most mellifluous of tones Yvonne had ever heard. They clutched her heart, squeezing and warming it as they imprinted on its surface.

"Do you remember the poem you declaimed on our twentieth anniversary?"

Yvonne asked as she spun to face Konrad, wrapping her hands around his neck as she pulled his face closer to hers.

"A poem from my native world, The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd."

Konrad had long-since revealed the details of his arrival in the Ancient Crystal World to Yvonne and his other high-ranking consorts. Little did he expect that many had already guessed the truth.

In his past life, The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd was Konrad’s favorite poem because it served as the foundation and reminder of his detached philanderer ways. But in this life, it took an entirely different meaning. Without delay, Konrad declaimed the poem, carrying on until he reached the last stanza.

"But could youth last and love still breed,

Had joys no date nor age no need,

Then these delights my mind might move

To live with thee and be thy love.

But Yvonne, in our immortal world, youth can last, joys have no date and age no need. So if like me your love still breeds, then forever live with me, and be my love."

As Konrad’s words ended with those lines that made all the difference, Yvonne let go of his neck to instead clutch his shoulders.

"Konrad, eternity is not enough for me to have you."

As if spurred by the words, Konrad lifted Yvonne by her back and legs, carrying her toward her reserved chambers for a night of passion. Yet, even as he did, he too now had a strange glint hiding within his gaze.

Through that night, Konrad released all the diabolic energies he’d accumulated, helping Yvonne break through to the late-stage of the Anti-God Realm.

...

Meanwhile, within the new Empyrean Palace, Celestial Slaughter sat on his throne with his eyes shut close. They then opened wide.

"Konrad, why do you not respect your father’s teachings? Have you forgotten? Didn’t Radiant Dragon tell you that as a ruler, you can dote on your consorts -- but can never love them? A monarch must be heartless, if only for the sake of his subjects."

Celestial Slaughter sighed and again closed his eyes. While the three souls merged into one, it was Talroth’s mind that dominated the body...for he was the present. But though he no longer had any emotions, though he lived for conquest, a part of him wondered what lay beyond eternal dominion.

The void of his blood, or the void of his soul?