Chapter 811

〈 Chapter 811: Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 13 – While Sleeping 〉

Harri was flustered.

She had never once felt ashamed of herself. With utmost confidence, she boldly referred to herself as a beauty—no, not just bold, but absurdly so.

Harri is beautiful.

It wasn’t because she was royalty or a princess; anyone would agree that Harri possessed a stunning appearance worthy of admiration, and she took pride in it.

Of course, her current situation wasn’t ideal.

On the brink of being politically eliminated by priests, her royal authority as a member of the royal family had been rendered useless. She had even been imprisoned, though no one knew about it or her escape.

Princess Harri is doing just fine at the castle.

Thus, rather than relying on her title as a princess, Harri emphasized her looks, figure, and charm with all her might.

She also promoted her future value as a potential high priestess of the Vishnia Kingdom, though this was merely a way to establish good relations within the Chang-yeom faith.

If she wanted to build a close relationship with Phoenix personally—not out of ulterior motives but simply because her greatest asset was her allure—she needed to radiate that appeal.

But then…

-“You make your own food. What? You don’t know how to cook? Tsk, my wife can prepare full-course meals from morning till night.”

-“Did you use the restroom? Use the cloth I gave you earlier instead of toilet paper. What? Would I treat my wife like this? My wife doesn’t poop.”

-“It’s true I’ve lost memories of my wife. But I remember everything else—how we made love, what she excels at, what she likes, and how precious and beloved she is to me.”

-“How could you compare a human to a goddess?”

-“You’re just a princess among humans. And now, not even that—you’re just another human.”

-“Handle it yourself. Followers of the Chang-yeum faith must take care of their own affairs. Should I spoon-feed you too?”

-“Do you still not understand why I treated you like a slave?”

But she’s a princess of a nation!

She thought she’d never be treated like a slave despite being royalty.

-“You’re nothing but a worthless woman.”

-“Too harsh? This is your reality. Outside the palace walls, you’re just an ordinary woman.”

-“Even if you weren’t a follower of the Chang-yeum faith, I would’ve left you long ago. Even if you were a princess.”

-“I didn’t come here to clean up after someone who can’t even cook properly.”

Her anger boiled inside. She wanted to lash out, questioning how anyone dared to treat a princess this way.

But she realized he might leave her for real if she did, so Harri decided to follow Phoenix’s orders, thinking it was his way of fostering her independence.

This isn’t him being mean—it’s helping me stand on my own two feet.

Even if she disappeared, he was ensuring she could survive without him. Carrying her around when she couldn’t do anything herself was already more than enough.

Ah, I see.

He does care about me, despite his cold exterior!

‘Let’s test just how impenetrable that cold exterior really is.’

While being treated like a slave, Harri imagined scenarios where a ‘slave’ might endure worse treatment.

BOOM!

-“What… what kind of trickery is this!”

-“We’re simulating a scenario where bandits capture you. Do you think men would let someone as pretty as you go untouched?”

-“Y-you beast! I trusted you!”

-“Trust the trustworthy.”

She had mentally prepared herself for such situations.

‘If I offer myself and form a positive relationship with this man, wouldn’t that benefit me more?’

Harri was quick with cost-benefit analyses.

Though her purity held immense value, if it meant saving the Vishnia royal lineage, she’d weigh the options carefully.

Especially with Phoenix.

Who knows what this crazy Sun Apostle from another world thinks, but whether it’s spirits or something else entirely—if he takes her as a man, there’s a good chance he’ll align with her goals.

‘This strong man holds me? He’d surely listen to me then, right?’

Among the Eight Great Divine Beings, Garura, unmatched in aerial combat, was successfully evaded in one strike.

Whether Garura allowed it or if carrying Harri slowed him down, one thing was certain: Phoenix was equal to or stronger than Garura.

Garura was renowned worldwide as an immensely powerful entity, ranking easily within the top twenty strongest beings.

Escaping from such a powerhouse confirmed Phoenix’s undeniable strength. Considering his untapped abilities, he was undoubtedly incredibly powerful.

‘He’s definitely not the type to discard me after taking me.’

A man who sleeps with a woman will feel responsible for her.

Unless she intends to manipulate him, forming a positive relationship would lead to mutual support.

‘I just need to avoid crossing any lines while enticing him to make the first move.’

She needed to recruit him.

To restore the legitimacy of the Vishnia royal family and punish those attempting to falsify their bloodline, Phoenix had to be brought into her fold.

‘Honestly, the whole “Sun” issue isn’t a big deal.’

Phoenix’s demands were reasonable.

There may only be one sun in the sky, but if Phoenix could dispel the darkness over the kingdom, there’s no reason the blue flame couldn’t be considered another sun.

Of course, Phoenix himself would need to settle things with the God of Light. Whether he became a priest or appointed someone else, passing divine trials would be necessary.

If the God of Light says, “The Blue Sun is also a sun,” who would dare call it heresy?

Currently labeled as heresy due to the priests’ objections, if Harri became a priestess, she intended to confront the deity directly.

To achieve this, she needed to cultivate a good relationship with Phoenix.

Even as a princess, she knew exactly how to maintain positive relations with men.

As the princess of the Vishnia Kingdom…

‘Would a prince consort really throw away a princess’s virginity?’

Using her most potent weapon against a man would ensure his submission every time.

She accepted doctrines deemed heretical.

She gave her virginity as a princess.

She provided maximum assistance to Phoenix’s destiny.

Though it seemed like manipulation, Phoenix was the only one Harri could trust at the moment.

When the collar of slavery was placed around her neck, she harbored slight hope.

For me!

At night!

To enjoy!!!

‘Does this mean he’s going to take me?!’

Upon overhearing the guards’ conversation, Harri rejoiced internally.

If she failed to become a priestess, she’d inevitably be forced into marriage with some low-ranking official.

Rather than that, sharing intimacy with this mysterious and charming man seemed far better.

‘Mother! Father! You said to marry a handsome man if I had to! And we’re not having children anyway, so there’s no problem! This is for the sake of the royal family!’

For the sake of the royal family, Phoenix would claim her.

With that resolve, Harri anxiously awaited the moment Phoenix would take her.

And then…

zzz.

zzZ.

ZZZ….

“……Not doing it?”

Her self-esteem plummeted in real-time.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she appeared as beautiful as Garura’s human form, enhanced by her disheveled appearance as a slave.

‘If I look this tempting, why isn’t he taking me?’

Confident in her beauty and figure, Harri was ready to surrender with just a hint of encouragement.

-“You may take me… Please save my country! My virginity is yours…”

-“Do you think your purity has that much value?”

-“This is all I can offer… Sob…”

-“Fine. I’ll take you. And your kingdom too.”

-“KYAAHHH!!!”

She had prepped lines assuming Phoenix would take her.

Zzz…..

“Really sleeping?”

Phoenix tossed her onto the bed and sat on the sofa, closing his eyes.

Though his ability to sleep sitting upright was impressive, his motionless state, resembling a coffin, was unsettling.

Does he even see me as a person?

“…Is he dead?”

Harri cautiously extended her hand.

His disguised black hair somehow made her heart race.

“Hmm…”

Below his jawline, the clavicle peeking through his robe—

[Peck!]

“Ow?!”

Something jabbed her forehead. Thinking an assassin targeted her, she quickly assumed a defensive stance, but there was no one around.

[Don’t touch.]

“Is that a… guardian spirit…?”

A small blue bird pressed its beak against her forehead, its sharp bill gleaming as it fluttered its tiny wings.

[Don’t touch recklessly.]

“I, I’m not—”

[Dishonorable thoughts cloud your eyes. Clearly planning to grope his collarbone, then his chest muscles, whispering lewdly while slowly stacking your body on top. Then sneaking into bed while he sleeps to secretly consummate. Shameless.]

“I, I…”

Different from Phoenix.

Definitely different voice and tone.

“Are you married to Phoenix?”

[…]

The little bird paused, fluttering its wings thoughtfully before covering its mouth with a wing. Though they didn’t actually touch, flames emerged to shield its beak.

[My duty is to protect Master’s purity.]

“What… purity…?”

[Miss was a chaste maiden. Master respected her, nurturing their love until they promised marriage. On their wedding night, forces of chaos attacked the ceremony. Master came to this world to find Miss.]

“Ah…”

Tears welled up in Harri’s eyes.

“That’s so tragic!”

[So don’t mess with Master. He belongs to Miss.]

“…Is this ‘Miss’ somewhere in this world?”

[Of course. Master came here to find her. Together, they fought chaos before arriving here.]

“…How beautiful is this ‘Miss’?”

[Hmph.]

The small bird spread its wings proudly and lifted its head.

[A Goddess incarnate.]

* * *

“Autonomous defense mode, Guardian Spirit… Whose personality did you set Mini-Phoenix to emulate?”

“Cheongnyeon.”

“Aha. Your female self?”

“Heh. Female version of me?”