TGW Chapter 33 Part 4

 

Kuhn kissed the crown of her head and spoke softly.

"This might sound like an excuse," he began, "but I didn’t come here with this intention."

Even as he said it, he felt slightly embarrassed. If asked whether he hadn’t thought of her this way at all, he wouldn’t be able to confidently say no. Though it was she who had started, he had eagerly taken the bait, devouring her body with greed just moments before.

Kuhn sat leaning against the headboard, holding her from behind, their bare skin pressed together. There was nothing between them now. Sienna, resting against his chest, slowly opened her eyes after hearing his words.

"I'm not the kind of man who gets so worked up he climbs walls," he added, clearly feeling the need to justify himself.

Sienna raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his need to defend himself when she hadn’t accused him of anything.

"Is that so wrong?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"I like you, and I like your body."

"…."

From behind her came a soft sigh, but it wasn’t a sigh of frustration—Kuhn was holding back laughter. She soon realized it was more of a chuckle.

“I was foolish to worry about such unnecessary things,” he admitted.

“Did someone say something to you?” Sienna asked.

“Oh… you know, there are always people who feel the need to give advice, especially when it comes to relationships.”

“And what advice did they give you?”

“Some nonsense about how a man shouldn’t give the impression that he only wants a woman for her body.”

“Why listen to others about something that’s between us?” Sienna said, amused.

Kuhn chuckled again, realizing the absurdity. “You’re right. What matters is that only we know our story.”

He tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer and planting kisses on her shoulder, neck, and the edge of her ear.

“I had to travel far today,” he said, explaining why he hadn’t come to the palace earlier. He shared the news of the death of the King of the Peroh Confederation, the ensuing struggle for succession, and the volatile situation in the desert.

“Is Yudan alright?” she asked.

“He survived. But he’ll need a long time to recover.”

The news Yudan had brought from the desert was troubling. The king had unexpectedly named his young son, Ahin, as his heir before his death, causing tensions between Queen Reka, her adopted son, and Yota Tuisa, the chieftain.

The confederation had been formed by three powerful tribes, with smaller ones joining later, but the Tuisa, Rama, and Hotu were the strongest. The king had been from the Tuisa tribe, and his twelfth son, Ahin, was born to a woman from the Rama tribe. Traditionally, tribal leaders married women from other tribes to solidify alliances.

But Ahin’s mother had not been a proper wife but a concubine, which was unusual for the desert’s customs, where four wives were allowed but concubines were not recognized. This created complications for the Tuisa tribe, who had sacrificed much during the founding of the confederation and would be furious if the throne slipped from their grasp after just one generation.

Reka, unwilling to follow the king’s will, imprisoned Ahin and declared her adopted son as the new ruler. Rama’s tribe, on the other hand, had rescued Ahin, causing even more turmoil.

"There's a real chance of civil war in the confederation," Kuhn explained.

Reka had sent Yudan to the empire, using Princess Fatima as a hostage to seek Kuhn’s help.

Kuhn had played a significant role in helping the Tuisa chieftain become king, which was why he had been made the confederation’s diplomatic agent. But the Rama tribe was now doing everything in their power to prevent Kuhn’s involvement, knowing it would not work in their favor. Despite being injured in an attack, Yudan had managed to escape and deliver the message to Kuhn's clan.

“Why did you choose the Tuisa tribe?” Sienna asked, a flicker of jealousy making her wonder if it was because of Princess Fatima. But his simple answer made her feel embarrassed for having doubted him.

“They were the best option. The Rama tribe is too cunning, and the Hotu are too aggressive.”

Kuhn’s calm explanation silenced her insecurity, and she smiled inwardly, chastising herself for her fleeting jealousy.

“Sienna,” Kuhn’s voice lowered. Sienna sensed what he was about to say and felt her chest tighten.

“I need to go back to the desert.”

She closed her eyes, feeling a heavy weight in her chest. She was grateful that he couldn’t see her face at that moment. If he could, he’d surely see how her heart screamed, “No!”

“When do you leave?” she asked, her voice calm despite the storm inside.

“At dawn, after I meet with the emperor,” he replied.

“And when will you be back?”

“I don’t know. If things go smoothly, it could be a month or two. But if not, it might take longer. Honestly, I can’t predict how it will go.”

Kuhn buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply, feeling almost dizzy from it.

“I was just thinking that if I stay for three more months, it’ll be a year since I arrived… and now I have to leave again,” he murmured.

“Huh?” she asked, not quite catching his meaning.

“Nothing, just thinking aloud. …Should I not go?”

Sienna wanted to say “Don’t go.” If she asked him to stay, there was a chance he really would.

But she couldn’t be selfish. She couldn’t stop him from doing what he had to, even though she had already changed his future.

“Because of me, Kuhn gave up something his clan had long hoped for.”

Though she had always known this, the weight of that realization hit her harder than ever. Her chest tightened with guilt, and a memory from her dream resurfaced, pricking her mind like a thorn.

“What if I’m bad for Kuhn? What if I ruin him?”

A deep fear settled over her—the fear that she might be his undoing.

They remained in each other’s arms, silent and awake, lost in their own thoughts. Neither slept as the hours passed, and the first light of dawn began to seep into the room.

Before the sun fully rose, Kuhn prepared to leave. Untangling himself from her embrace was one of the hardest things he had ever done. He dressed quietly, picking up his scattered clothes from the floor.

As he shrugged on his jacket, he felt something hard in his pocket.

“Oh, right. This,” he said, pulling out a small object and handing it to Sienna.

She held out her palm, and he placed a gemstone in her hand. As the light from the window grew stronger, it illuminated the stone, casting a brilliant rainbow of colors across her skin.

Sienna’s eyes widened as she stared at the gem. Her eyelashes fluttered as recognition hit her—it was the very stone she had seen in her dream.

“This is…” she whispered.

“It’s a keepsake from my mother. Actually, it was a gift from her to my father, so technically it was his.”

“Why are you giving it to me?” she asked, her voice soft with disbelief.

“As a token of my gratitude.”

“Gratitude?” she repeated, still unsure.

"Remember when you asked me once what my weakness was?" Kuhn said, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "That made me tighten security around myself and the people close to me. It turns out, that question of yours helped prevent something dangerous from happening."

Sienna's head snapped up in surprise. "You stopped it?"

Kuhn nodded. "Yes."

"Then, there's no more danger? No one close to you is going to get hurt?"

He nodded again, this time with a faint smile. "Thanks to you."

A wave of relief washed over Sienna. So, Levan won't die after all? The future where Kuhn loses him and suffers... it won't happen? She clutched the gemstone in her hands, feeling the weight of the future she had feared dissipating.

"This stone... did you always have it?" she asked.

"No," he replied. "It ended up in someone else’s hands. I managed to get it back. The person involved in the recent events had it."

The realization struck her—everything aligned with the details from her dream. The future had truly changed. She held the stone tightly in both hands, the warmth of it spreading through her.

“Thank goodness,” she said, smiling brightly at him.

Kuhn was momentarily dazed by her radiant expression, captivated by the way the morning sunlight seemed to make her skin glow. She was breathtaking, and it reminded him of something Dian had mentioned once, half in jest.

---

"Every time I see the Silver King, it’s like she’s getting even more beautiful. It’s a good thing she doesn’t attend many social events, or there’d be no end of fools trying to catch her attention."

---

Dian had been right. Sienna seemed to shine more every day—whether she was smiling, thinking, or even frowning, she was stunning. Kuhn wasn’t seeing her through rose-tinted lenses; she was truly enchanting, and it wasn’t just him who noticed. There were others, like André, who lingered around her.

Thinking of André stirred a wave of irritation within him.

When Sienna visited his mansion and they spent nights together, they often talked about her daily schedule, and that’s when André's name came up. André Bless. The man had requested an audience with her not once, but three times.

Sienna mentioned it casually—“I had tea with Lord Bless today.”—and it took everything in Kuhn not to respond with, “Don’t meet with him!” He couldn’t afford to be so petty, so he kept his frustrations to himself.

What made it worse was that André’s status as the son of a duke made him a prime candidate for a royal match. And Sienna had always been courteous toward André’s father.

Should I take care of him before I leave? Kuhn seriously considered it. His life as a wanderer had never felt more frustrating than now.

The situation in the desert was unpredictable—it could take months or even longer to stabilize. Yet the empire’s political landscape was just as unstable. Jeffrey, the emperor, and the Red King were all absorbed in their own schemes. And Sienna had no one she could rely on during this critical time. He hated the idea of leaving her.

He knew she wasn’t the type to depend on anyone, but he still wanted to be there for her, to at least stay by her side. He could throw away his responsibilities, everything, if only she asked.

But you won’t ask me to stay, will you? Kuhn thought.

He reached out and cupped her cheek with one hand, gently pressing his thumb against her lower lip and rubbing it softly. Her red lips felt so delicate beneath his fingers, and the thought of not being able to kiss them for a long time tugged at him.

“I don’t know how I’ll manage without you. I might wither and die,” he said with a teasing smile.

Sienna frowned, clearly displeased. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded.

Kuhn blinked, startled by her sudden intensity.

"Don’t say things like that!” she snapped. “Never mention death!"

Her voice had risen, and her seriousness caught him off guard.

"Don't get hurt," she added, more quietly now, placing her hand over his, which was still resting on her cheek. Her eyes flickered over the faint scar above his eyebrow.

"You have to come back just as you are now. No injuries. I won’t allow it."

"Allow it?" he repeated, amused.

"You're mine, after all," she said confidently, her gaze steady as she claimed him.

Kuhn blinked again, taken aback by her assertiveness. The way she said it, the pride in her voice as she declared her ownership of him, made him smile.

He loved her—deeply. So much that he would gladly give her his heart if she asked for it. Pulling her closer into his arms, he held her tightly against him.

"Yes," he whispered, "I’m yours."

With both arms, he wrapped her in his embrace, holding her as close as he could.

He had always been free to go wherever he pleased, but now, he had found the one place he would always come back to. Sienna was his home.

“Are the Kali brothers going with you?” she asked after a moment.

“They’re supposed to,” Kuhn replied, then hesitated. “But I’ll tell one of them to stay here, just in case… to stay with you.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Take them both. What danger could I face here in the capital? Bring them with you. Please?”

Kuhn studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

She hugged him tighter, their bodies pressed together as if to chase away the looming separation.

“If anything happens, send someone to Rad Trading and find Levan,” he said.

“What could happen?” she asked.

“Anything, really. Even if it’s something small. Should I send him to serve as your assistant again?”

“No, it’s better if he stays out of sight.”

“He’ll know what’s going on before anyone else. You can rely on him,” Kuhn assured her.

“Alright,” Sienna agreed softly, resting her head against his chest.

“Soon, you’ll receive new information about the Duke of Rimone's territory,” Kuhn said, his tone serious. “There’s some additional details.”

“Alright,” Sienna replied, listening closely.

“And be careful of Investigator Acheron. If anything seems off, tell King Dian. He won’t ignore it.”

“Okay.”

“And… don’t do anything reckless. I know you’re brave, but that’s exactly what worries me,” he added, his voice tinged with concern.

Sienna blinked quickly, trying to keep her emotions in check. Hearing his cautious instructions, the reality of his impending departure sank in deeply.

“And… there’s one more thing,” Kuhn mumbled, sighing as if frustrated with himself.

Sienna blinked even faster, feeling tears begin to well up.

“And this is the most important thing,” he continued, and she held her breath, waiting for his words.

“Don’t smile at any other man,” he said, his expression completely serious.

“…”

“Don’t meet with them, don’t talk to them…” he added, his tone intense.

Sienna pulled back slightly, releasing her hold around his neck, surprised by his earnestness.

“There are too many men who would jump at the chance to get close to you. They’ll approach you with nothing but sly intentions,” he explained, misinterpreting the look on her face.

Sienna narrowed her eyes, annoyed.

“Not because I don’t trust you, but because I don’t trust them. With your audience schedule growing, you’re meeting more people than ever. They’ll try to take advantage of that,” Kuhn added quickly.

“No one’s ever dared pull anything like that with me. Who would even try?” Sienna asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

“I did, didn’t I?” Kuhn replied, his face a mix of seriousness and sheepishness.

Sienna let out a small laugh.

“So you’re worried another man like you might come along?”

His expression tightened like a child throwing a small tantrum. Sienna gently patted his cheek.

“Stop worrying about the sky falling and just go. You said you’d see the emperor at dawn, didn’t you? The maids will be coming in soon,” she said, trying to usher him out.

“I won’t go until you promise,” Kuhn insisted.

“Kuhn…” she sighed.

“Promise.”

He stood there stubbornly, refusing to budge without her word. Sienna found his insistence ridiculous, especially in light of the serious situation he was about to face.

“Alright. Even if ten men like you try to talk to me, I’ll ignore them,” she said, exasperated.

“I don’t like that example,” he muttered, grumbling.

With a playful push, Sienna guided him toward the balcony.

They stood facing each other, the open balcony door between them. Both knew the other would stay in their thoughts long after they parted, and neither could tear their eyes away. The moments felt precious as if they could stop time if they tried hard enough.

“I’ll be back,” Kuhn said softly.

“Be careful,” Sienna replied, her voice gentle but firm.

Kuhn turned to leave but stopped mid-turn. He reached out, cupping the back of her neck, and pulled her in for one last kiss. Their lips met, soft and lingering, each breath shared between them. The kiss stretched on, full of unspoken emotion.

Sienna finally placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed him away. She couldn’t hold him back any longer. If she did, she might never let go.

“I love you,” he whispered.

By the time she lifted her head, he was already gone. Panic surged through her, and she rushed to the balcony, leaning over the railing to catch a glimpse of him. Her bedroom was on the second floor, and from there, she saw his figure already walking far off into the distance.

Opening her clenched fist, Sienna looked down at the gemstone. It glimmered in the early morning sunlight, casting iridescent colors across her palm. She remembered the emperor from her dream—how he had secretly taken this stone with him when he left the fortress of darkness. The more she thought about it, the more she understood the depth of the emperor’s hidden feelings.

In the future she had dreamt of, she didn’t know if they had been in love, but they hadn’t been enemies either. Clutching the stone to her chest, she silently prayed.

Please, let nothing happen to him. Let him return to me safe and sound. God, please watch over him.

For the first time, Sienna prayed not for the empire, but for her own personal hope.

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