Chapter 48.1

Looking at her flushed face, Aven kissed Seira’s lips once more. He covered his hot breath and the spreading scent of blood with his own sweet-scented pheromone. Like her favorite chocolate, it melted on her tongue and stuck to her throat, leaving a sticky aftertaste.

It left him wondering – if she opened her eyes at this moment, what would happen then?

If he got caught with red shining eyes like that of a Guardian that protected the beast’s nest… If she found out that he poured dirty blood into her mouth with unknown origin.

He should just stop kissing her, but his reason behind this act encouraged his greed to dig deeper.

Or at least he should close his eyes, for his reason was paralyzed with his earnest desire to capture even a bit more of her lovely appearance.

Veins bristled in his hands that held her cheek. The touch of her body heated him up. A pleasure similar to that of an orgasm shook his body and mind. He became more and more immersed in the ecstatic feeling.

“…!”

And then, at one point, he took his lips off of her in a hurry.

‘Now, what…’

He realized something was suddenly different. He could feel a chain tightening around his chest and heart like a leash.

‘No way…’

Aven clutched his heart and gazed at Seira sleeping quietly with a comfortable look.

“Ah…”

It was as if his entire being was shattered and then reshaped into her possessions.

Half pain and joy, that was what it felt. Even though he was beaten, he didn’t feel hunger for escape. Rather, he choked with joy because his life was shaken by her life and death, joy and sorrow.

Even without experience, he was instinctively convinced – that he had imprinted on her unilaterally.

* * *

When Seira woke up, her whole body felt light. The palms of the hands were healed without a trace, she didn’t feel sore in any place, and her condition was generally excellent.

‘Was it because of Aven’s care?’ she wondered.

It was clear that he took care of her without even taking a rest. It hurt her heart to go and sign a contract with Louis when she thought of him.

‘Of course, he wouldn’t really care…’

Seira just felt sorry for herself.

She sighed and packed things she needed to take with her. The remains of the nest, which could explode at any time, were wrapped well in a cloth and then double-wrapped in a small, solid box. She didn’t forget the handkerchief Louis lent her before and put it in the pocket of her jacket.

Nathan approached Seira, who was coming down the stairs after she was done preparing. Seeing that he was walking around here, she assumed Aven must be outside the castle.

Are you going out?

“Yes, Dad. It’ll probably take several days before I come home again.”

Ah, I see.

Nathan smiled softly.

“I’m sorry I’ve been away so often. I want to stay with you dad.”

It’s all right, baby.

Nathan looked into her purple eyes and continued.

I’m always with you. Just because you leave D-Arc doesn’t mean you left my side.

Seira almost choked on her father’s kind words.

“Dad…”

Yes.

“It’s quite touching, but isn’t it weird to be with a grown-up daughter all the time?”

…

“You have to protect your privacy…”

Have a nice meal.

“Don’t worry too much,” Seira nodded with a chuckle, “Well, I’ll be back soon.”

Seira left the D-Arc with Nathan sending her off.

As she assumed, Aven was outside the castle. Standing in front of the greenhouse where the Ancoras were placed, he looked back at her with a serious look on his face.

“Duchess.”

The moment their eyes met, Seira was caught off-guard by Aven’s bright smile.

‘Why… why does he have that expression on his face?’

Aven was never the one to laugh nor show extreme emotions. His beautiful smile was the rarest thing to see about him. Seira tried to calm her heart that hammered wildly inside her chest and approached Aven with caution.

“It seems that the Ancoras reproduce, too.”

“What?”

Her mouth dropped at his shocking information, Seira looked into the greenhouse, and saw a bunch of black running around with great energy.

“What? Why…? How did it even get this much?” she asked in bafflement.

She knew she definitely captured about three or four, but even if she couldn’t enter the greenhouse now, she definitely could see dozens more.

“There’s another peculiarity,” Aven said as he pointed to the greenhouse floor. “Maybe the ashes were eaten away, since the soil turned reddish brown.”

Since it was only a reserve, the greenhouse’s floor was originally black, as was the rest of Askan. However, the color definitely changed with the Ancoras release.

“It’s a strange phenomenon. Do these guys have the power of purification?”

“It’s a possibility, but we could be wrong too.”

“Hmm…”

Seira opened the greenhouse door with a cage key she left outside. As she stepped inside, a bunch of furs gathered around her.

“How have you been, boys?”

She squatted down and stroked the Ancoras. It was quite adorable to see them jumping excitedly.

‘Why do they have to be this cute when I know I only kept them for money?’

If she converted all of these Ancoras into gold, she could easily pay a year’s worth of taxes on the estate.