Inside the carriage, the silence felt deafening.
For Ryuji, the journey was a delightful experience, his eyes leisurely taking in the surroundings while he basked in the princess's extravagance and her one-way windows.
"Hurry and release me, you perverted villain!" Liana's voice carried a sharp threat, while her low and raspy voice caused Ryuji to become more amused.
"That voice doesn't suit such a tiny woman."
"Who is tiny, you damn brute!"
He turned to face her and noticed his hand seemed to have slipped down to her chest at some point—the soft and addictive feeling made him feel that his execution or death might come soon, so why not enjoy them fully?
"Ah... stop, why are you touching me... wait, it's dangerous!?"
"Waah!?"
*Crackle*
A black lightning burst from the princess's body, causing the entire carriage to flash with dark light.
The moment his bare hand touched her soft, springy chest, the body of the princess flickered with black lightning, which electrocuted Ryuji and the entire carriage.
"Nnn~ don't!"
*VZZZZT*
"Gyaaaaa!?" Ryuji's scream roared throughout the carriage.
His body experienced an excruciating sensation of pain as his veins seemed to be pumped with molten lead—causing his body to convulse violently while his lungs shrivelled, only for him to recover in a matter of seconds.
'I should probably have died...'
"Chosen Ryuji!? Are you alright?" The shocking voice of the princess, which sounded concerned, entered his ears.
A softer and more alluring voice than usual as she grasped his body and put her ear to his chest.
*Badump Badump*
Like a bull rampaging, his heart filled with power and pumped like normal, causing her eyes that seemed regretful to widen.
"Y-You... survived?"
"Oh... your little shock has a kick, princess." Ryuji grinned in satisfaction, reaching out his hands and groping her soft, perky chest once more.
"W-wait, Chosen Ryuji... why are you..." Liana's soft, immature voice entered his ears, causing him to gaze at her features.
"Why am I what?" Ryuji felt confused but found her stunned, teary expression fascinating and paused, letting go of her chest.
"Why are you still alive?"
"Eh? Do you wish I was dead?"
"No... not at all, but my magic, my curse, has killed anyone who tried to touch my skin since I reached puberty..."
"You electrocute people when they grope you? Damn, that's a delicate skill to have." Ryuji grinned.
He hadn't realised it was a curse until she mentioned it, but no matter how deadly it was, he couldn't help but find her irresistible—something in her made his blood boil from the moment he met her after awakening.
Was it wrong to lust after the kingdom's princess? Of course, but could he stop himself? The answer was a big NO!
Plus, although her lightning seemed dangerous, each time it electrocuted him, he felt it changed or did something to his body—the awkward flow of his magic felt like the jolts of lightning corrected it.
Maybe he was just a freak.
"My curse... it didn't kill you?"
"Haha... you will have to try harder, princess." Ryuji grinned and pinched her cheeks to soothe her. "Though it does hurt a lot." He added as an arc of black lightning travelled up his arm and flickered across his cheek, leaving a slight burn.
"Hmm..." He groaned in delight as the pain invigorated his body—was he masochistic?
'No, no, no, I like to be the dominant partner...'
"Your body is quite the tease, so alluring and sexy, but it strikes back when touched."
"Is that right? But... why should I?"
"Heh!?" Her eyes widened in surprise and confusion before she turned away to hide her emotions. "You can't treat me this way... I am Liana Grigor, the princess of this Kingdom. My father is a member of the imperial family!"
Ryuji normally would have agreed, maybe if he was still just a human, but the current Ryuji liked these types of women, be it Yumiko or Sheila. They triggered a dark urge inside him to conquer them and make them obedient.
"Ah~ that's right. If you can't guarantee my safety, then I won't listen to you." Ryuji let out a wry smile as he purposely moved closer to the lovely witch princess.
"Huh?" Liana froze with her mouth wide open after realising his words. "Is the chosen a fool? Don't you understand our position? If you keep touching me and threatening my purity, they will execute you..."
Ryuji grinned. "Not if your father and the Church fear me." He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes, admiring their deep, vast pools of azure blue.
"You know, Liana... I can help you control your curse." His deep voice and sharp eyes caused the princess to squirm like a powerless lamb, her normal comebacks and words absent as she struggled to move her face.
"I... you can't touch me."
"Well, that's quite true... my control is currently shitty. However, if we work together, we can achieve great things." He lied smoothly, causing Liana's expression to change slightly as her eyes narrowed. "I mean, I'm touching you now, yet your lightning is barely hurting me, right?"
Ryuji didn't reveal the truth that he converted half his rage into damage resistance and healing speed.
He leaned close to her ear, his hot breath and deep voice vibrating directly inside her ear, "Don't you want me to do this? That's why you're not hurting me any more, right?"
"N...no... you...."
"Just a little longer... one minute... then I will let you go," Ryuji whispered in a sweet voice, causing a shiver to travel down Liana's spine as she unconsciously nodded.
'Heh, seems to be working well.' Ryuji grinned. He'd grown bored with using threats, and his attitude had caused him to notice her delicate response and the fact she wasn't such a witch in reality but a lonely little girl.
'Why should I let someone else in this kingdom have a valuable existence like her?' Ryuji felt she was a priceless treasure, and his hard work would have her wrapped around his fingers one day.
"Does it feel good when I touch you here?" Ryuji felt his curiosity rise as he released her and moved his hands.
"Pleasure...? How dare you?" However, her lips pressed together when she felt him stroking her crimson hair, a feeling she hadn't felt for countless years; the gentle stroking soothed her mind and her worries for his safety because her power couldn't kill him!
"Alright... that's enough." Ryuji frowned after his hand stroked her hair for half a minute before pulling away. He closed his eyes and felt amused, waiting for the princess to respond.
Liana's body tensed when he moved his hand back, and she noticed the clock didn't even pass halfway for a minute... The pleasant feeling vanished, and she felt irritated.
"Huh...? You can't stop so quickly... I want to enjoy it more!" She gasped at her careless words and felt mortified at the smirk on the chosen face.
"You damn rogue! What did you do to me!?"
"Hehe." Ryuji chuckled and used the full effect of his skills, stroking her soft, crimson hair while their bodies lightly touched, causing the princess's body to stiffen once more while his natural charm slowly seemed to trap her mind. "You're so adorable... a charming little princess. I can't let someone else take you."
"N-no... I-I am a princess... you... you can't—" Liana's body gradually grew limp in his arms, and her once azure blue eyes grew heavy with a charming emotion.
Ryuji used his calming technique until they arrived at their destination, his hand slowly parting from her head, the burnt palm instantly healing before she could see the damage. However, the princess seemed to have reached a limit of embarrassment.
Her hands pointed towards Ryuji, who stood close to the door.
"No! Stay away! I can't be with you. You are just a lowly chosen!"
A foreboding feeling struck Ryuji before her hands crackled with a huge amount of her black lightning and struck towards him—though he could feel the power was much weaker than when touching her body.
The force was more than triple!
Bzzt!
"Don't think you're safe because of a brief hug." Liana's deep, raspy voice entered his ears while he flew out of the carriage and onto the dusty road. Into a pool of mud, as the others climbed off the carriage, Kathryn looked at him with her sharp green eyes, while the princess turned away with a huff, but Ryuji could see it...
On her face, there was a smile as she looked back with sharp eyes. Liliana mouthed, "Hmph, serves you right, Ryuji!" Before climbing down with Kathryn's help.
"What happened to the Chosen, My Princess?"
"Oh... the fool tried to jump out of the carriage and slipped like a fool. Fufu." Liana's voice was the normal witch's tone, yet Ryuji watched her pass him while staggering to his feet.
'If that's how you want to play, Liana. I am happy to oblige.'