"Prince Vincent...?"
Nix stared at him in disbelief, shock written all over his face.
"You—"
"It’s ."
Vincent spoke calmly. His voice was low, edged with a cool, magnetic clarity—each syllable firm, decisive, and impossible to argue with. He didn’t need to raise his voice; the sheer weight of his presence pressed down naturally, commanding attention the mont he spoke.
He looked at Nix wth clear gaze. "So," Vincent asked mildly, "have you enjoyed playing with these past few days?"
Nix was speechless.
Who was playing with him? That was taking care of him, all right?
Before Nix could defend himself, Vincent continued.
"My apologies. That was poorly worded. Nix, you took very good care of during that ti. You have my sincere thanks."
Hearing those words didn’t make Nix feel relieved in the slightest. Instead, his scalp prickled with unease.
He eyed Vincent warily.
This was the Second Prince—soone who had grown up on the battlefield, ruthless and decisive, known for swift and rciless action.
Anyone who offended him had never ended well.
"Your Highness," Nix said carefully, "we’re both beasts bonded to the Female Master now. You can’t just attack ."
Without a ch, he stood absolutely no chance against Vincent.
The prince flicked him an indifferent glance, his expression unchanged. "Why are you so tense? I said I was thanking you. I never said I was settling accounts."
Nix rembered all too clearly that when they’d first t, he’d treated Vincent like an actual bird.
He’d even tied him up.
There was no way this man was simply feeling grateful. Letting him off alive already felt like rcy.
"I don’t need thanks," Nix said quickly. "We’re all bound to the Female Master now. That makes us family. Just... please take good care of in the future, Your Highness."
"Of course," Vincent replied with a solemn nod. "I’ll take very good care of you."
After all... One hundred thousand warships. One million chs. Wasn’t that excellent support for Nix’s business ventures?
Vincent didn’t spare Nix another glance. He turned and walked toward the third floor.
Only once he disappeared did Nix finally let out a long breath.
He imdiately opened his light-brain and sent Jasper a ssage.
Nix:Jasper, huge news—do you know who Burnt Dumpling really is?
The two Tier-Ten freaks from the Purple Obsidian Serpent Clan were already dead.
Jasper was in the middle of inventorying their assets, selecting the best pieces to bring back for Rory and leaving the rest for his elder brother.
Seeing the ssage, Jasper calmly tapped a reply.
Jasper:I know.
Nix:You know?! You actually knew?!
And he hadn’t told him—or the Female Master?!
Jasper:I found out last ti, when the Alliance incident happened. Didn’t I tell you?
Nix:When did you tell ?!
Jasper:Sorry. I was busy. I forgot.
Nix:...
Sothing this big—and he forgot?
***
Upstairs.
Yuel had just finished showing Rory her room. He gently set her down on the bed and picked up the nightwear he had prepared for her.
"Rory," he said softly, "you’ve been busy all day. You must be exhausted. Shall I help you bathe?"
Rory stared at the pitiful scraps of fabric in his hands. Her mouth twitched.
This man was even worse than Jasper. At least the sleepwear Jasper prepared—though a little too sexy—was still wearable. What in the world was this?
"No," Rory refused decisively. "I’m cultivating tonight. I’ll bathe after I’m done."
Hearing that she planned to cultivate, Yuel felt a pang of regret.
He’d been hoping to see her wear those outfits.
Looks like tonight isn’t the night.
Just then—
Knock, knock, knock.
The bedroom door was rapped on lightly.
Vincent’s voice ca from outside.
"My lady... may I co in?"
Before she even saw him, Rory’s face flushed at the sound of his voice.
Hadn’t they agreed he wouldn’t call her that?
Yuel glanced at her reddened cheeks and seed to understand sothing.
So that’s what she likes.
He rose to his feet, smiling warmly.
"Rory, Vincent has only just recovered. He probably has sothing important to discuss with you. I’ll head back to my room to sort things out. I won’t disturb you."
Rory did want to know why Vincent had co. She nodded.
"You should rest early too. I’ll feed you blood tomorrow."
Yuel sighed helplessly. On matters like this, Rory never listened to him. Whether as a bonded partner or a companion, all he could do was follow her lead.
"All right," he agreed gently.
He walked over and opened the door for Vincent, murmuring in a low voice as he passed him, "Didn’t expect you to be so... playful, Your Highness."
Playful?
Vincent frowned slightly as Yuel walked away.
Playful about what?
Inside the room, Rory had just taken out the beast cores she needed for cultivation when Vincent stepped inside.
He looked at her, fists clenched tightly at his sides.
"Fe—Female Master... I..." He started reluctantly. How was he supposed to explain everything?
Rory turned to face him. This ti, Vincent stood clearly before her.
Sharp brows like they’d been carved with a blade. Eyes slightly lifted at the corners, carrying a lazy allure—yet when his gaze settled, it shone like cold stars, piercing enough to make one look away instinctively.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, his perfectly tailored clothes emphasizing every line. There was no deliberate display, yet he radiated a refined elegance, as if moonlight flowed over polished jade—every inch shaped by ti, restrained and distant.
Dangerous, dazzling, and breathtaking all at once.
So striking that it almost hurt to look.
Rory felt, for a fleeting mont, an unexpected sense of inferiority. She nearly wanted to enshrine him. To worship him.
"Female Master?" Seeing her stare in silence, Vincent grew even more nervous.
Was she angry?
That single title snapped Rory back to reality.
What nonsense—worship? No matter how handso or powerful he was, he was still her bonded partner.
He was hers.
Hers.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat to hide her embarrassnt. "Didn’t we agree you’d call by my na? Why are you calling Female Master again?"
Vincent’s eyes lit up instantly. "You’re still willing to let call you Rory? I thought you were angry... angry that I hid the fact that I was Burnt Dumpling, and that you didn’t want to hear call your na anymore."
Rory hadn’t been angry at all. But since he brought it up... Maybe she should be, just a little. n needed to be kept in check.
Her expression turned serious. "I am rather upset, actually. Why did you hide it from ? Even Yuel didn’t hide anything from —and he literally turned into a stick."
Vincent wasn’t as shaless as Yuel. That man would do anything short of crossing a true bottom line.
Vincent looked at her anxiously. "I was afraid you’d despise . My appearance... it was too ugly."
"Do you really think I’m that shallow?" Rory walked up to him and looked up into his eyes. "If I’d cared about looks, I wouldn’t have brought you back with at all."
"I’m sorry, Rory. I was wrong." Vincent apologized sincerely. "Please don’t drive away. Let stay by your side. I swear to the Beast God—I will never hide anything from you again."
That was the attitude Rory wanted. She smiled and reached up to touch his cheek.
"You’re a bonded partner chosen for by the Beast God himself. Unless you want to dissolve the bond, I would never send you away. You didn’t do anything unforgivable."
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