Chapter 179: - Your Woman

༺ Your Woman ༻

Nestling in my arms was Lulu, fast asleep and softly snoring.

“...Whoooo.”

As I watched her, I attempted to get up from the bed, taking care to avoid waking her.

– Tightened...

However, at that very moment, her grip on my arm tightened, leaving me with no choice but to stay on the bed without being able to move.

– Sssk...

After holding her for a while and falling into a reverie, I suddenly remembered the letter I had received earlier and reached into my chest pocket to retrieve it.

[What are you saying? I (doon’t?/dunno?) understand!]

– Ferloche

“I thought if it’s you, you might know something, Ferloche... But it seems like your fool persona is the one that currently possesses your body.”

It had already disturbed me when I first read it, but rereading it in the current situation made me even more unsettled.

“...This is about to make me go crazy.”

Lulu was acting strangely.

[Affection System]

[Lulu’s Affection Level: 100]

Just moments ago, when I tried to kick her out of the house, her affection level suddenly skyrocketed, hitting the maximum level.

Despite my emotional attachment to her, I still considered sending her away. It was because if she stayed in my house and became my ally, she would surely be targeted by Ruby, thus being in danger.

– Crackle... Crackle...

When I exited the room after cutting off her words coldly, I noticed the Stigma of Misfortune, which I had been certain was gone, beginning to reactivate.

“.....!?”

However, that wasn’t the most important thing. What was truly important was the expression etched on her face.

“Ah.........”

Her eyes turned lifeless, and a whimper escaped her slightly parted lips. Then, she crumpled her body in a pitiful manner.

It had been the first time I had seen such an intense reaction from her right before my eyes.

That sight of her was so eerily similar to what I had seen during Lulu’s death scene in the prophecy’s video synchronization .

“What could this be...?”

Although I hastily managed to address the immediate situation, the real problem lay ahead.

While I could somehow ensure her safety, I knew I would become completely isolated from the second year onwards. Therefore, her association with me would undoubtedly pose difficulties for her.

If things were like that, would it really be okay to let her stay by my side?

Even if I had to resort to somewhat forceful measures, wouldn’t it be better for Lulu if I distanced myself from her?

“Hmm...”

While I was lost in thought, suddenly, Lulu, who had been asleep, began to toss and turn.

– Rustle... Rustle...

She then started snuggling her cheek against my chest.

“Hehe.”

She had a seemingly innocent and happy smile on her face as she did so.

“Sigh.”

Looking at her like that, I found myself unconsciously smiling along. Why was I acting this way? Despite the additional headaches that occurred from her proximity, I didn’t feel particularly irritated.

“...You’re cute.”

Even in her half-asleep state, she continued to nuzzle her cheek against my chest. For some reason, it made her feel like an actual pet.

“Hmm.”

So, without me even realizing it, I began stroking her hair, savoring the softness beneath my fingertips.

“Sighhhh.”

I continued to stroke her hair as she tossed and turned in my arms for a while. But before long, I quickly snapped out of it and got up from the bed.

“I should stop.”

“...Ugh.”

Inexplicably, Lulu seemed to sense my intentions as she frowned and pouted, almost as if she was about to cry.

“Huft.”

I had to stop my actions, releasing a sigh as I began to caress her back.

‘...I should put her into a deep sleep.’

So, with the intention of putting her into a deeper slumber, I continued to gently stroke her back.

“Master...”

Lulu’s sleep-induced murmurs reached my ears.

“...Please, own me.”

Then, my consciousness started to slip as well.

“Mmm...”

Was it due to the accumulated stress from a long and tiring day, even without the added concern of Lulu? Or was it because my body was not in great shape in the first place, so I got easily fatigued with even the slightest activity?

Or perhaps, was it because caressing her inexplicably soothed my mind?

“...”

Lost in such thoughts, I mumbled softly before succumbing to sleep.

“...This time, the new variable seems quite alright.”

Perhaps having a pet or such wouldn’t be a too big of a deal.

.

.

.

.

.

“Yawn...”

Blinking my eyes open, I realized it was completely dark around me.

“It’s already nighttime.”

I stole a glance at the clock; its hands pointed to exactly 12 o’clock.

After our tongues had been intertwined for a while, I took a deep breath and bit down on my tongue.

“...Chomp.”

“.....!?”

“Eup? Eeup!?”

Consequently, my tongue started bleeding, and Young Master reacted just as expected.

– Tight...

However, I resolutely pressed his arms against the wall once more, and slowly transferred the blood from my mouth into Young Master’s lips.

– Smooch.

Although it was painful, it was still nothing compared to the pain Young Master had endured so far. It was even minuscule compared to the blood he had shed because of me.

I could only hope it could be a small repayment for his dedication to me and everyone else.

“Gulp...”

After a brief moment, I heard the sound of Young Master swallowing.

“Puha...”

Only then did I gently withdraw my face from Young Master.

“Young Master, I offer you my soul.”

“K-Kania?”

As black flames flickered around us, I initiated the “Blood Oath.”

“I offer you my body and heart, Young Master.”

I declared such obvious words calmly and swiftly.

...Everything I wanted to say to him was totally different from what I desired.

“And...”

“I also offer you my purity.”

Upon hearing this, Young Master’s eyes widened.

Why did he react like that?

Was it because of the significance of offering my purity? Or was he startled by the initiation of the Blood Oath itself?

If it wasn’t for those reasons, maybe it was because this was the first time I had directly addressed the man in front of me without referring to him as “Young Master.”

‘...Or it’s all of the above.’

Of course, I already knew the answer.

Our minds and bodies were in perfect sync, as if we were one.

“Um, t-that...”

With those thoughts in mind, I reached out towards Young Master’s chest, cautiously extracting the oath bead.

– Syuuuu...

“...Huh?”

Time seemed to pass in a blur. The oath bead, which I had pulled from Young Master’s chest, was pitch black, as dark as obsidian.

– Wooong...

“Do you see this, Young Master? It’s pitch black.”

“Kania, what is this right now...”

“It’s not just any other color but black.”

I held the bead out in front of him and spoke in a low voice.

“It doesn’t matter what color this bead used to be because black can absorb and assimilate all colors, making them appear as its own.”

“...”

“It doesn’t matter what color will be engraved on this bead in the future because black won’t tolerate the intrusion of any other color.”

Then...

“Young Master, you’ve already been tainted by me.”

“...!”

His emotions began to shift.

“Do you understand the point of my words?”

“...What is it?”

That was the emotion I had hoped for.

“It doesn’t matter who goes first.”

I declared, fixing my gaze on him.

“...The last one standing will always be me.”

It was a bold declaration that I had always kept in my heart, yet I had never mustered the courage to say it.

“Um...”

After I finished my declaration, his expression showed an evident dilemma.

It was a look reflecting perplexity; he clearly needed some time to think.

However...

“Have you finally realized it now?”

I already knew what had happened to him.

No, there was no way I wouldn’t know.

“What?”

“Before I am your loyal secretary, servant, and partner you can rely on...”

I had already tainted his heart with my darkness.

“...I am a woman.”

I had surely tainted him to an extent that couldn’t be undone.

“And not just any woman; I am your woman.”

“..........”

A strange silence followed.

“Anyway...”

In that silence, I whispered again in a low voice, a corner of my mouth lifting.

“Do you know what we’re going to do?”

“...Tonight, we’ll have a drinking party.”

You can rate/review this series here.