Chapter 55: ⁵⁵The Price of a Plea
"You came to my room this late, Isolde," Ethan said softly, breaking the silence. "Do you wish to ask for something? Speak."
Isolde didn’t answer immediately. Her lips trembled violently.
The very next second, the most powerful woman in the academy dropped to the floor.
Thud.
Both of Isolde’s knees hit the carpet. Not stopping there, she bowed her body until her forehead touched the floor, right beneath the Demon Lord’s feet. Her platinum blonde hair, usually pinned up perfectly, now cascaded down, covering her beautiful, tear-streaked face.
"My Master..." Isolde’s voice cracked. "...I beg you... heal Kurt. Save my son."
I. My Master.
In that dimly lit room, Isolde had stripped away all of her pride. Her noble title, her Archmage arrogance, everything was obliterated. Before Ethan, she was merely a desperate mother.
Ethan didn’t budge. He stared down at the prostrating figure devoid of emotion.
"Do you know what you are asking of me, Isolde?" Ethan replied coldly. "Kurt von Rosenberg nearly killed me. He destroyed my father’s heirloom ring. He stepped on my head and spat on me like a cockroach. And now you’re asking me to heal his shattered circuit?"
Isolde sobbed softly. She acknowledged all of Kurt’s sins and arrogance. However, she couldn’t bear to watch her only son rot away like a living corpse.
"I know... I know his sins are unforgivable, My Master..." Isolde whimpered, her forehead still pressed to the carpet. "But I am willing to do anything. Anything for his recovery."
Hearing those magic words, Ethan pushed himself off the wall.
The young man walked slowly, circling the prostrating Isolde. His footsteps were nearly soundless, exactly like a predator circling its prey.
"Anything?" Ethan asked.
"Anything, My Master," Isolde answered without hesitation.
Ethan stopped. He crouched down, then used his fingertips to forcibly lift the woman’s chin. Those wet icy blue eyes collided directly with Ethan’s crimson ones.
"In that case... you must pay the price."
Ethan leaned his face in, bringing his lips right to Isolde’s ear, and whispered a secret sentence. An absolute condition heard only by the two of them.
Hearing that whisper, Isolde’s reaction exploded.
Her beautiful face turned deathly pale. Her eyes widened as if struck by lightning. A second later, a deep red flush crept rapidly from her neck up to her cheeks. Unconsciously, her hand moved up to touch her upper stomach—just beneath her breastbone—as if protecting something from a future threat.
Ethan pulled his face back, observing that reaction with a faint smirk. "That is my condition. Do you agree?"
Isolde’s sanity thrashed and screamed, but it only took her three seconds to swallow the remnants of her rationality.
"I... agree, My Master," Isolde whispered in surrender.
Ethan reached out his hand again, touching Isolde’s trembling jaw. His fingertips caressed the woman’s slender neck, then channeled an incredibly dense Sin Mana straight from his fingertips into her pores.
Beneath that silk gown, the black rose root Lust Brand across Isolde’s entire back reacted brutally, radiating a blinding purple light through the fabric.
"Ahhh...!" Isolde jolted backward.
Her breathing turned ragged. Her body trembled violently. It wasn’t pain, but a massive wave of sensation that spread and took over her nervous system, reminding every single inch of the cells in her body exactly who her absolute owner was.
"You are mine, Isolde," Ethan whispered, holding the woman’s neck so she wouldn’t collapse. "Never forget that. No matter what happens at the Rosenberg estate later, in front of anyone, even in front of your husband... you remain mine."
Isolde bit her lower lip with all her might, holding back a humiliating moan. "I-I won’t forget, My Master... My soul and body... are entirely yours."
Ethan released his hand. The flow of Sin Mana was severed.
Isolde gasped ravenously for air. Her hands gripped the carpet, supporting her limp body. Her hair was a mess, her glasses sitting askew on her nose.
"You may go," Ethan dismissed her calmly.
With her remaining strength and trembling legs, Isolde stood up. She smoothed her hair and adjusted her glasses. She bowed incredibly deeply, a final gesture of respect for the night.
"Thank you, My Master," Isolde said. Her voice was no longer desperate, but radiated absolute sincerity, not mere political pleasantries. "I will never forget your generosity."
Isolde turned around and walked out. The door closed softly, returning the room to silence.
Ethan stared at the door for a few seconds, then walked toward the large bed.
Miya was still curled up like a baby on the left side. On the right side, Valera was fast asleep with one arm draped freely over the blanket.
Ethan climbed onto the mattress. Taking the middle position, he wrapped one arm around Miya’s waist, and rested his other hand on Valera’s muscular shoulder.
The night swallowed everything once again.
A pale gray light pierced through the gaps in the curtains. Morning arrived at Zenithar.
Ethan opened his eyes. Miya was still fast asleep. However, on his right side, Valera was already awake.
The knight sat on the edge of the bed. She wore no top, leaving her back and chest exposed. Thin red scratches, remnants of the journey through the frozen valley, decorated her exotic skin.
"You’re not going back to sleep?" Ethan asked in a hoarse voice.
"I have rested enough, My Master," Valera replied, turning her head. "Sleeping too much dulls my killing instincts."
Right at that moment, Miya stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open. The very first thing she saw was Valera’s half-naked back at the edge of the bed.
Miya’s eyes widened completely. "V-Valera...! Your clothes...!"
The Elf girl’s pale face turned as red as a boiled crab. In a panic, she pulled the thick blanket up, covering her body all the way to her chin.
Hearing that panicked shriek, Valera grinned widely. "Why are you still shy, Little Healer? We already slept in the same bed last night."
"I-I’m not shy!" Miya argued, trembling from beneath the blanket. "I’m just... not used to it...!"
Ignoring his servants’ morning bickering, Ethan got out of bed. He opened access to the balcony. The bone-chilling morning air immediately struck his face.
Beside him, a crimson hologram flickered. An elegant, husky voice greeted him.
"You look very serious this morning, My Master. A new plan?" the Asmodeus System greeted.
I need the Bloodfire Elixir. The forbidden potion Kurt drank in the arena that time, Ethan replied internally.
The System chuckled softly. "Fufufu... You always have a backup plan. That potion is the key."
Exactly. Healing Kurt is just the front door. To dominate Isolde and infiltrate the Rosenberg estate without getting beheaded by Duke Alaric... I need the classified information behind that potion.
"Then, which pawn will you send to find it?"
Ethan didn’t answer. He turned his body back toward the room.
"Valera, you’ll have a new task today," Ethan stated. "But wait a moment."
"Ready, My Master!" Valera immediately stood tall.
Ethan closed his eyes. His hand touched the Horned Crown tattoo on his chest. This time it wasn’t a punishment, but summoning the Sin Mana resonance to his pawn across the academy.
In the Southern Faction dorms, Kaelia was grumbling in front of the mirror. Annoyed at being neglected all night. Suddenly, the fire-rose tattoo on her stomach pulsed with a warm, dark red glow.
Her golden eyes sparkled savagely. "Finally!"
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Loud, demanding knocks echoed on the door of the VIP Room. Far different from Isolde’s hesitant knocks last night.
Ethan opened the door. Kaelia stood in the corridor in a flawlessly neat red-and-gold uniform. Her red ponytail swayed aggressively. The noble girl crossed her arms, wearing a lethal expression.
"My Master said you would summon me last night. It’s already morning!" Kaelia protested sharply, looking up at Ethan.
Ethan smirked wickedly. "Come in, Kaelia."
Kaelia stomped in, her heels clicking. But the moment she scanned the room, her steps halted. She saw Miya curled up in bed under a thick blanket, and Valera relaxing on a chair with her armor unequipped.
"What... what happened here all night?!" Kaelia hissed, narrowing her eyes at Ethan. The fire of jealousy began to burn.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Ethan answered calmly, closing the door. "You arrived right on time."
"Right on time?!" Kaelia put her hands on her hips. "I’ve been waiting all night long in the dorms!"
"I was busy last night." Ethan stepped forward, closing the distance. "But now... I have plenty of free time for you."
Without warning, Ethan grabbed Kaelia’s waist and pulled her slender body flush against him.
"You waited very obediently," Ethan whispered, his lips nearly touching the Fire Queen’s ear. "And I highly appreciate your patience."
Kaelia’s angry aura evaporated instantly, swallowed by the Demon Lord’s intoxicating dominance. "You are so wicked, My Master..." she whispered, weakening helplessly.
"I know," Ethan answered, guiding Kaelia backward toward the edge of the bed.
On the mattress, Miya immediately buried her face into the pillow. Her cheeks flushed insanely. "W-what are they going to do... right in front of us...?!" she screamed, muffled.
Valera laughed hoarsely, crossing her arms to enjoy the show. "I told you, get used to it, Little Healer. This is our home now."
"I-I will never get used to it...!" Miya whimpered.
But Ethan paid absolutely no mind to his audience. His focus was locked onto Kaelia. His hands nimbly undid the clasps of the red-and-gold uniform until it fell to the carpet. On Kaelia’s stomach, the black fire-rose tattoo glowed, welcoming its master’s touch.
"I won’t ignore you anymore, Kaelia," Ethan whispered. "You proved your loyalty yesterday. You deserve more."
Kaelia bit her lip, her eyes welling with the passion and validation she craved. "I... only want to be useful to you, My Master..."
"And you will be very useful later," Ethan replied, pushing Kaelia’s body until she lay on the mattress, right beside Miya who panicked and looked away. "But first... let me pay the debt of your patience last night."
An intimate scene saturated with Sin Mana dominance took place upon that luxurious mattress.
In the corner of the room, Valera watched with a savage smirk. Studying her master’s tactics. Meanwhile beneath the blanket, despite desperately keeping her eyes shut, Miya couldn’t stop her racing heart. Occasionally she peeked with an explosive mix of shame and curiosity.
Half an hour later. The passion-wrapped chaos subsided.
Kaelia lay limp, her head resting on Ethan’s chest. The Fire Queen’s cheeks held a satisfying flush, her breathing was heavy, yet an incredibly relaxed smile was carved onto her lips.
"You truly are wicked, My Master... always toying with me until I’m out of breath," Kaelia whispered coquettishly.
"I am always serious when it comes to my duty of giving rewards," Ethan answered calmly, his fingers stroking Kaelia’s red hair.
Ethan slowly got up, grabbing his black shirt. His relaxed face transformed back into that of the strategic architect.
"Valera," Ethan called out in an absolute tone.
Hearing that formal tone, Valera immediately stood at attention. "Awaiting your command, My Master."
Ethan straightened his collar. He looked at the vigilant Valera, glanced at Kaelia who was catching her breath, and Miya who was still peeking anxiously from beneath the blanket. The room’s atmosphere suddenly turned serious.
"I have a very important task for the two of you," Ethan stated, looking back and forth between them.
Kaelia lifted her face from the pillow. Valera stiffened her back even more.
The Demon Lord’s new hunt was about to begin.
