aven didn’t even have to worry about nonsense words.

    “there can’t be such a way…” he shook his head.

    “are you sure you don’t?” louis, who cut off aven’s words, tilted his head at an angle and added, “strangely fast achievement, a healing power in your blood, and…”

    the last word that louis spoke was something aven had never told anyone else before.

    “the power of domination that is exerted unconsciously.”

    aven guessed from what happened during the banquet that the special ability to restrict other’s actions was the main power of the imperial viseltium, but that didn’t change anything. because he…

    “i think you’ve become too delusional. why don’t you go home and rest now?”

    aven was not only found in front of a beast’s nest, but he was also unique with his red eyes and ability to hear their voices.

    even if he was related to viseltium, how could one undo the contamination in his blood? he didn’t know how louis got hold of the information about him, but it was useless.

    aven walked past louis as he walked past him. he thought he was careful enough to sound polite.

    but before he could climb the stairs, louis’ voice grabbed his attention.

    “i wonder if seira knows…”

    louis’ words fell like lightning on a stormy night, and aven turned halfway to stare at him.

    “that her loyal vassal had unilaterally imprinted on her without her consent.”

    “…”

    aven’s expressionless face finally cracked.

    “oh, dear… it must’ve been real then,” louis gushed, “i thought it could’ve been something like that, but i was only guessing.”

    “why are you doing this to me?”

    aven’s eyes, which remained cold for the entire time they spoke, slowly darkened with sharp hostility. now that the skeletons in his closet were revealed, there was nothing more to hide. the heavy sense of pressure weighed down on louis’ shoulders.

    with a click of his tongue, louis raised both hands and said, “you don’t have to be too suspicious. i’m not trying to harm askan.”

    “are you seriously trying to convince me you mean that?”

    “if you don’t believe me, then what can you do? just guard her door while seira is busy running around trying to save askan?”

    aven’s tightly pressed lips twisted.

    louis took a few steps back as he noticed a foggy red glow in his black eyes. his intention was to calm down a beast that had already borne its teeth at his prey. he had to admit that he provoked him a bit too much.

    louis franto didn’t know. if aven helford decided to go all out, he’d risk his life, too.

    “it doesn’t matter if you pretend to be oblivious. just because you don’t make a move doesn’t mean the plan would be ruined.”

    he didn’t mean to drag aven so hastily from the beginning. however, ‘he’, who had been dead for years, suddenly moved and forced louis to hurry.

    ‘what else would he do for the son he loves so much to the point he lost his mind?’

    it was best to advance the plan than to increase the number of variables.

    “what i’m trying to tell you is…”

    the smile on louis’ face faded, and the mask was thrown off to reveal a cold and dry expression.

    “we are brothers. even if it’s only half.”

    a man who thought his wife’s nickname, ‘mel’, was his name. that was all he remembered. the twin brother of the late emperor laud, and the man who was supposed to be the owner of the empire.

    “bern clemens viseltium.”

    that was the identity of the man who kidnapped seira.

    “that is the name of our father.”

    * * *

    it was slippery everywhere she touched, making it difficult to support herself.

    “how much balm? it’s large.”

    “well… about half a bottle?”

    seira let out a heavy sigh as she leaned against the bathtub rail.

    “just a few drops, uh… it’s meant to be used anyway…”

    “is it like that?”

    “it’s definitely slippery,” baron said as he caressed her neck, “i like it better.”

    he rubbed her nipples with his thumb and index finger as he casually cupped her breasts which couldn’t fit in one hand.

    there was no way she didn’t notice that something outrageously thick and long was rubbing against her hip bone. he was so excited.

    normally, she wouldn’t have let him do his way, but now with the heat cycle where just by their skins touching turned her on. the rubbing was pleasant, so she didn’t feel like pushing it away.

    even his playful act of pulling at her nipples blew her mind. if he reached below…

    “ahn…!”

    the fingers that came inside her and shoved as if searching for treasure came out as soon as it entered. was he teasing her?

    “why is it so cramped here?”

    with a sigh and grumble, baron pushed his two fingers in at once.

    “uh…”

    like a reflex, her entrance immediately tightened.

    rubbing her breasts, poking underneath, licking and biting her earlobes and neck… it all felt too good.

    “yes…”