Vincent’s body tensed slightly at her touch. He caught her wandering fingers and pulled her into his arms, rolling over to pin her gently beneath him.
His fingers lifted her chin, and he let out a soft huff.
"I don’t believe you. You little liar."
He knew she was coaxing him. And yet, even as he said it, there was a quiet satisfaction in his heart. Because his Rory was willing to coax him.
"Who’s coaxing you?" Rory shot back. "I really do think you look good in this."
...In a very particular way.
"Really?" Vincent still sounded unconvinced.
"Really." She nodded seriously.
Vincent studied her for a mont, then suddenly smiled.
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips lightly against her ear, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
"If you think it looks good... then tonight, I’ll let you take your ti appreciating it."
Night deepened, dark as ink, while moonlight spilled softly through the room.
Black silk against pale skin, shadows and light intertwining...
...
The next morning, Rory slowly opened her eyes.
She flexed her fingers slightly and imdiately sucked in a sharp breath.
Her entire body felt as though it had been run over by a massive starship. Weak, sore, every inch of her muscles aching with exhaustion.
Last night, Vincent had even fed her several of the flowers Yuel had given her. By all logic, she should have woken up full of energy.
This was entirely his fault.
As she was thinking this, Vincent’s slightly guilty voice sounded beside her.
"Rory... you’re awake?"
She turned her head with so effort and saw him lying beside her, already dressed. His deep eyes were filled with caution—and unmistakable guilt.
His hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a lingering hint of satisfaction in his expression that gave everything away.
"I was wrong," Vincent said imdiately, his tone sincere. "I shouldn’t have lost control like that."
Rory didn’t even have the strength to move her fingers.
She glanced at him, then weakly raised a hand and pointed at him, her voice hoarse as she warned,
"From now on... you’re not allowed to wear that kind of outfit again."
"...Hm?" Vincent blinked.
"That outfit is like breaking so kind of seal on you," Rory said through gritted teeth.
"I really... can’t handle it."
Seeing that Rory wasn’t truly angry, Vincent felt both guilty and quietly pleased.
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his voice low as he promised, "Alright. I’ll listen to you. I won’t wear that again."
He could always wear sothing else.
Rory, of course, had no idea what he was thinking. She was far too exhausted to care. All she wanted now was sleep.
Closing her eyes, she drifted off—and didn’t wake again until nightfall.
By the ti she opened her eyes, darkness had already settled outside.
But after a full day’s rest, the soreness and fatigue in her body had completely faded. She felt refreshed, her energy restored.
Vincent was no longer in the room.
Rory sat up, glanced around, and, seeing no one else there, went to take a shower first.
Afterward, she drank a nutrient solution and headed to the training room to train.
By the ti she ca out, it was exactly nine in the evening.
At this hour, Yuel should be arriving any mont.
Thinking back to what Vincent had worn the night before, Rory couldn’t help but assu that Yuel’s outfit tonight would be even more... daring.
But when the door opened and Yuel stepped in... she stared, stunned.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored set of cotton sleepwear: long sleeves, long pants, utterly proper.
Every button was fastened neatly to the top, leaving not an inch of extra skin exposed beyond his hands and feet.
This...
"Yuel, you..." Rory looked at him in disbelief. "What happened to you?"
A complete change of style?
At her question, Yuel’s beautiful eyes instantly filled with grievance.
He walked over, took her hand, and spoke in a soft, pitiful tone.
"Rory, this is so hard for . I don’t want to dress like this at all."
His voice was full of complaint.
"But I have to take care of the child right now. I can’t do anything—only look, not touch."
"If I don’t cover myself up properly, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself."
As he spoke, he leaned closer, brushing lightly against her. His warm breath grazed her neck as he lowered his voice, tinged with both teasing and quiet frustration.
"Rory... this is really difficult for . Can you hold for a bit?"
Hearing that, Rory quickly wrapped her arms around him.
"Don’t feel bad. When Terry grows up, I’ll make it up to you properly."
"Mm." Yuel nodded, but after holding her for only a short while, he gently let her go.
He was afraid that if he held her any longer... he really might lose control.
After Yuel let her go, Rory glanced at the small figure still asleep on his shoulder.
"Terry... hasn’t woken up yet?"
Yuel shook his head. "Not yet. But his life force feels very strong. The energy from the Ebony Divine Fruit probably hasn’t been fully absorbed yet. He just needs more ti."
Rory nodded.
The two of them lay down properly on the bed.
Rory turned her head, looking at Yuel beside her—who had wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, leaving no gaps at all.
Yuel was looking back at her.
For the first ti, there was no teasing, no tension between them. They simply lay there quietly, side by side.
And sohow... the feeling was warm.
Peaceful.
The next morning, Rory woke up feeling refreshed, all the fatigue gone.
After washing up, she headed downstairs when her communicator suddenly rang urgently.
The screen lit up with a video ssage from Aris.
In the footage, Aris’s face was deathly pale, devoid of any color. Behind him was a dim, shadowy cave.
His clothes were torn, his lips stained with blood, his aura so weak it felt as though he might fade away at any mont.
"Female Master..."
His voice was faint and unsteady.
"I... I went to find the Beast God Fruit to cure you... but I couldn’t find it... and I ended up seriously injured..."
"I’m sorry... I’m useless..."
Rory’s heart dropped.
Beast God Fruit. So he really had gone to Beast God Mountain... for her.
She couldn’t tell how severe his injuries were—but in the video, even speaking seed to cost him everything.
As if the next mont, he might never open his eyes again.
Rory imdiately tried to call him.
But the call didn’t go through.
Her chest tightened. Had he lost consciousness from his injuries? Was that why he couldn’t answer?
She opened the video again.
Aris’s voice grew weaker and weaker.
"Female Master... I might not make it... I just wish... before I die... I could see you one more ti, I..."
The screen went black. The video ended abruptly.
Rory stood there, staring at the darkened screen.
Her heart clenched painfully.
No matter what, it was because of her that Aris had taken this risk.
She couldn’t ignore this.
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