Strongest Mage with the Lust system

Chapter 790: Complicated Emotions

Esme froze for a moment, her eyes flashing with panic while she felt uncomfortable in her heart.

She raised her hands, placed them on his shoulder, and was about to push him off of her, but right at that moment, she regained her senses and forcibly stopped herself.

Since she had already decided and agreed to become his woman, he had all rights to her, and she shouldnʼt resist like she was about to do.

Tears appeared in her eyes and silently slid down.

Maxʼs bloodline sense may be useless in front of her, not able to read her emotions; his eyes and other physical senses worked perfectly fine.

The moment he kissed her, he felt her body seize, and when she placed her hands on his shoulders, he could feel her intent.

Though a flicker of displeasure flashed in his eyes for a moment, he quickly controlled his hormone-driven body and slowly disengaged from her lips.

Then he saw her tears and guilt on her face.

He sighed. ʼShe is really a good woman. Her previous husband must have accumulated a lifetime of good karma to have married a woman like her.ʼ

”Iʼm sorry, I didnʼt mean to… sour your mood, but I couldnʼt help it. However, please donʼt mind me and… continue.” She wiped her tears and apologized.

Max gently cradled her face in his hands and said, his voice tender, ”You must have loved your husband a lot.”

Esme bit her lip, her eyes becoming teary once again as she nodded, ”Mmn. He was really a good man and always did his best to keep me happy. When we got married, he was already a Five star mage, while I was just a Three Star. He did his best to provide the best resources to me to make me stronger. I really loved him, but then he… died because of me.

He dedicated his life to me. I had decided to not let any other man even touch me inappropriately after he died because it would be disrespectful to his memory, but here I am, already promised myself to you.”

She had a bitter expression when she finished, but then, thinking her words might seem rude to him, she opened her pink lips to apologize but was interrupted by Max, who curiously asked,

”What do you mean he died because of you?”

Since she was his woman now, it was his responsibility to take care of their physical and emotional well-being, meaning he couldnʼt let her feel guilty about her decision.

Esme looked at him in surprise, not having expected him to ask this. She thought he might be asking so she could vent her emotions, but from her expression, she could tell he was really curious.

So, she took a breath and explained, ”I didnʼt have an extraordinary talent in cultivation. I progressed quickly only because of my late husband and reached the peak of the King realm within a hundred years.

Unlike me, however, he was a genius, and despite wasting a lot of his time on me, he had already broken through to the Emperor realm.

Since the lifespans of Kings and Emperors are different and he didnʼt want to see me die before him, he wanted me to break through too so we could live together as long as possible. However, I had already almost reached the peak of my potential. Even with various resources, it was very difficult to break through.”

Speaking until here, she paused before continuing, ”He was undeterred, however. He researched and found that there was a specific resource in a danger zone that could increase the innate potential of even King and Emperor mages.

Despite many advising him to not take the risk because many emperors and even a Monarch had died while exploring this danger zone, he went there and… never returned.”

”He was truly an admirable man.” Max praised him, sincerely, before asking, ”How do you know he died there? Maybe he was just trapped?”

”I wish this was the case, but…” Esme sighed, ”His soul lamp extinguished, which only happens when the person is no more.”

”I see,” Max nodded.

They were silent for a short while before Max said, ”You know, given how much he loved you, Iʼm sure he wouldnʼt want you to die when you can live a good life. So, you shouldnʼt feel guilty.”

Esme looked him in the eyes and asked, ”I donʼt wish it, but if something happened to you in the future, would you feel alright knowing your women might get in some similar situations where they have to… choose another man?”

Max went silent, and his expression turned unreadable. Esme waited patiently, wanting to hear his answer.

After a while, Max met her gaze and slowly said, ”Firstly, if Iʼm dead, I wouldnʼt feel anything. Secondly, if I die before ensuring they can stay safe and happy, although I would feel uncomfortable if they chose someone else, I will understand because it happened because of my inability.”

He knew she might become angry upon hearing his response, but he said what he felt.

As expected, she got angry. ”You mean itʼs his fault?”

”Of course. He shouldʼve known he might not return from that danger zone. If he didnʼt want you to go to someone else if he died, he shouldʼve taken you along. If it were me, I wouldʼve done it. Since he didnʼt, he valued your life more than his. So, you shouldnʼt feel guilty doing the same.” Max spoke without holding back.

Esme stared at him for a long while before she closed her eyes and let one tear slip before murmuring, ”You are right. He valued my life more than his. So, I should do the same; otherwise, wouldnʼt it be more disrespectful to him?”

Opening her eyes, she looked at him and asked, ”...Right?”

”Right.” Max nodded.

”I understand.” Esme said before asking, ”Can you please give me some time to come to terms with the things?”

ʼYou shouldʼve taken your time before agreeing.ʼ He thought but didnʼt say it out loud and nodded.

Then donning a robe, he got down from the bed and sat cross-legged on the floor and started absorbing mana from the Mana Crystal to recover his bloodline energy, knowing it would increase his lust, which was precisely what he needed right now—after the conversation spoiled his mood—if he wanted to have sex with her.