Even if he refused, she gave him a way as if welcoming when he was about to let her go or not, and there was nothing he could do to distance himself. Just as he got rid of Calrad’s in the past, Louis’ was also completely erased one by one.

After removing all traces of the other Alpha, he thoroughly imprinted her body to remember and react only to him.

With his own flesh, more addictive than drugs and sweeter than sugar.

“Ah… Aven, uh… Aven…”

Instead of running away in fear, she reached out and embraced his neck. Aven supported her back and raised her upper body as he leaned on to her. Only then did she release her suppressed breathing, and slowly returned to normal.

Seira’s butt was pushed closer to him, and as he sat with his back to the sofa, a small gasp was heard from the door.

Succumbing to her curiosity, the maid had eventually peeked in at them.

Fortunately, Seira was unaware of the maid’s presence as she was completely taken over by Aven’s pheromones.

Aven pondered for a moment as he slowly swirled his palm on her soft and trembling body. What to do with the intruder?

He didn’t feel any malice, but there was no guarantee that she’d keep her mouth shut. He didn’t care about himself, but he had to intervene so Seira’s name wouldn’t drift from one mouth to another as another interesting topic.

“Huh…”

Seira came to kiss him first, and Aven closed his eyes as she pushed her tongue into his mouth. Even in the darkness, he could see the presence that peeped at them.

He was annoyed, so he thought of completely getting rid of the maid, but changed his mind. Seira seemed to care about the maid, and if she went missing all of a sudden…

In the shadow of the maid, he commanded…

I’ll do your job for you, so you can go. Instead, forget everything you’ve seen and heard here.

The maid’s eyes lost focus as Aven’s magic, like a snake’s whisper, entered her head.

“…Yes.”

After answering with a blank face, Aven opened his eyes again as he watched the maid turn around and leave the room. Looking at Seira, who was lovingly disheveled and moving her hips, he wanted to steal her and run away. Or kill all the distractions around her.

However, would she be devastated if he’d destroy the country she had dedicated herself to? The rotten parts were necessary to be cut off with the rest left intact as possible to be enjoyed. Because that was what she deserved.

‘Until then…’

Aven decided to persevere. Waiting for her was familiar to him.

* * *

In fact, Aven personally helped Seira take a bath and get her dressed.

“Did the maid really say that and leave?”

“Yes, so don’t worry. She has nothing else to say beyond what she swore.”

“Huh… all right then.”

“Then, I’ll see you at the banquet hall.”

Since there were knights left by Calrad in the hallway, Aven decided to use his power to exit the palace.

“Ah, wait… Aven…”

Seira hurriedly grabbed him as he was about to disappear. There was something she had to say.

“What is it?”

Seira looked down with a serene look as she asked, “Now to Askan… are you not coming back?”

Aven stared at her eyes for a moment as they shook momentarily.

“Are you disappointed?”

Seira smiled bitterly at his question. Maybe he’d be the one to tell her he was disappointed. She trusted and relied on him, and she finally gave him her heart.

Then she was cruel and pathetic. It meant that she didn’t show any sincerity to Aven until this point in their relationship.

Even so, if she was honest now, she’d feel pressured.

“Yeah, somewhat.”

Nevertheless, Seira replied like that.

“Then, did you think I’d be fine?”

“That’s not true, but I thought you’d just say it’s okay this time too. Because you always did…”

“I’m not fine, Aven,” she said with all her heart with a grunt. “To me, you were the only alpha I wanted to welcome as a companion. That’s how much I liked you.”

Aven’s eyes almost jumped out of their sockets. It was something he didn’t expect to hear at all.

“When Askan recovers and my situation gets better than it is now… can’t you also consider it?”

She couldn’t ask him to come back right now. This was how she felt, so she couldn’t even cling to him for acceptance.

She really liked Aven a lot, but Seira had something more important than her personal happiness. To do so, she had to continue her contract with Louis and throw herself into danger.

“…”

When Aven stayed silent, she felt embarrassed to even ask and made excuses, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not as greedy just because you are Viseltium. I’ve always thought of you…”

But there was no denying that she was able to confess because she knew he was Viseltium. Although it was a decision to protect Aven, Seira couldn’t raise her head as she thought how she’d look in his eyes now.