Uriel Wayne Daina Alfred
After a long time, the once-blank contract was filled to the brim without a single gap. Ferzen pressed his blood seal onto it, and Coleone stamped the family crest, completing the document before each took a copy.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ferzen rose to his feet and...
"Uriel."
"Y-Yeah..."
extended his hand to her.
'...'
This must be the answer to what she said three days ago—not taking her, but escorting her away.
Even though the outcome was already set, Uriel shyly placed her hand in his, as if he were asking for her consent.
"Ah...!"
Ferzen immediately pulled her into his arms. Uriel staggered to her feet unsteadily, but he gently wrapped his hand around her waist, steadying her balance.
Gerard was watching.
Coleone was watching.
Even the family maids were watching.
Despite all eyes on them, his unabashed skinship made Uriel flush with momentary embarrassment—but the sensation of his hand on her body felt so good that her face burned red.
Squeeze.
His scent seeped into her nostrils from close range. Uriel lightly clutched at the hem of Ferzen's clothes and buried her face against him.
"Let's go."
"Okay..."
Matching his steps, Uriel took her own.
Bang!
"Don't make me laugh!"
But Gerard, watching the scene, slammed the table and shot to his feet.
He had stayed silent, assuming the contract's terms were the best Ferzen could offer. But the contents were utterly ridiculous.
Bearing a child, handing over custody—and that being worth more than everything he had proposed?
Objectively.
Subjectively.
Gerard couldn't accept it.
But Ferzen ignored him like a barking dog and left with Uriel, never breaking stride. Only the six former Brutein family heads followed silently behind.
"Elder!"
Gerard turned to Coleone, glaring at him.
But the old man said nothing, seemingly lost in some lingering aftertaste, savoring it.
"Coleone Wayne Barreta Alfred—!"
Finally, Gerard called his full name.
The resounding voice pierced his ears. Coleone's focus shattered for a moment; he furrowed his brow and met Gerard's blue eyes.
Then, indifferently, as if a Brutein addressing an Alfred, he spat a single phrase.
"What are you waiting for? Get out."
Like discarding a roadside pebble.
"You're telling me... to accept this?"
Hah!
Absurdity overwhelming him, Gerard pressed his forehead and let out a hollow laugh.
Among the proposals he'd discussed with his family was a clause granting personnel authority over the Empress's exclusive maids if his sister became Empress.
In this era of strong imperial power—especially with mage and knight orders aside, structured solely from capable commoners—it was nearly impossible for any family to build a specific faction within the palace.
The one loophole? The imperial maids.
And not just any maids, but the Empress's exclusive ones.
With that authority, they could wield greater influence over other noble houses or plant eyes and ears in the palace.
And that was just one item. All his proposals... outvalued by mere child custody and a few related clauses? Gerard couldn't believe it.
"It's been ages since medical papers proved parental mana doesn't pass to children. Were you coveting his talent? Or is Brutein blood that precious? We're all human, same as him. If you'd offered objectively inferior terms, I'd accept it. But this... it's biased from the start!"
Breathing raggedly, Gerard spat it out. Coleone straightened his hunched back and replied.
"Who said we're the same?"
"..."
"You, born a noble, living as one—it's laughable hearing that from you. Human worth varies by individual."
"..."
"In that regard..."
Coleone curled his lips in a sinister grin.
"Your seed differs from his."
"Elder. You're... not in your right mind."
"Heh heh. Gerard Ren Millane Aslan. Northern pup. Know your place. Think arranging the marriage first made you something? Filthy rat peeking from its hole, eyeing the center."
"..."
"Be grateful even as a stand-in. You dreamed sweetly for a short while, didn't you? Calling my name, today's rudeness... I'll overlook it. Won't happen twice."
Never.
With that, Coleone waved him off.
"Now... get lost. You're in the way."
Drip.
Blood trickled from Gerard's tightly clenched fist. His nails dug into flesh.
It was an eviction laced with humiliation, not mere insult. But he couldn't speak.
As Gerard stormed out, Coleone rose, taking the dagger Ferzen had used to cut his finger. Dried blood—Ferzen's—stained its tip.
He licked it clean.
"Haa..."
Ecstasy. Blood rushed downward through his body.
Then, he dipped the dagger into a glass of clean water. Watching Ferzen's blood diffuse, Coleone slyly nicked his own finger, letting drops fall in.
"Oh..."
Even indirectly, Alfred and Brutein blood mingling... it was truly beautiful.
* * * *
On the carriage ride back, Ferzen still held Uriel's hand. Feeling sweat build from the summer warmth, he tried to let go, but...
Squeeze.
Uriel interlaced her fingers as if refusing. He chuckled softly at her reaction.
Hearing it, Uriel flinched, her obsidian eyes darting about.
"I-It’s hot."
Spotting the closed carriage window, she reached to open it, but...
"Leave it."
Ferzen stopped her lightly.
"Ah..."
He'd grabbed her other hand at the window ledge, trapping her against his chest. Uriel bowed her head meekly.
Her snowy neckline exposed.
A sweet peach-like fragrance wafting.
The calm mood shifted; Uriel noticed Ferzen's hot breaths.
He wasn't suppressing his urges.
His head inched closer.
So Uriel slipped her hand free from the window, brushed her hair aside to bare her nape, and tilted her head.
Offering a feast to a starving man.
Who could refuse?
"Ngh!"
As expected, Ferzen pressed his lips to her nape, suckling lewdly. Uriel reached back, clutching his clothes carefully.
"Y-Yeah..."
Instinctively.
She'd tempted him first.
Worried he might see her as cheap or flighty—but she couldn't know.
Uriel simply loved the sensation of her body being touched, licked, stained, and claimed by him.
No—not the sensation itself.
Like a chef pleased when a guest praises their dish, Uriel thrilled at his craving for her body.
"Hng...! Ah...!"
Already marked twice before, she reacted more sensitively this time, spilling sweet moans.
Humans adapt to repeated stimuli, so Uriel whispered softly to Ferzen.
"You can... b-bit if you want..."
"Hik...!"
Ferzen shed a bit more restraint, biting into her sweet-tasting nape.
The neck: humanity's vital spot. Carotid artery from heart to brain.
Unlike bone-protected points, the most vulnerable.
If Euphemia once submitted by letting him touch her womb freely...
Uriel offered her nape defenselessly, signaling the same.
"Hngh...!"
She felt her lower belly tingle as he pressed into her soft skin, compressing nearby veins.
Did her pounding pulse transmit through his lips?
A chilling pleasure shot from her core up her spine to her brain—like needing the bathroom.
More, more...
As her fanning desire filled the carriage with heat...
"Ah..."
Uriel sensed myriad floral scents flooding in.
A cool breeze.
Regaining her senses, the carriage had stopped in a quiet garden parking lot. Ferzen had opened the window, lifting his head from her nape to breathe slowly.
"..."
Only then did Uriel recover her wits, cooling in the breeze.
But her nape, touched tentatively... burned.
Like a burn.
About five minutes passed like that. Despite the awkward subsidence of heat, Ferzen made no move to exit, so Uriel glanced at him.
Is he minding that worthless woman's feelings?
'Ah...'
But spotting the prominent bulge in his pants, her eyes blinked slowly.
Right. He wasn't descending because his erection hadn't fully subsided.
Realizing what she stared at, Uriel whipped her head away—but her eyes kept drifting back.
'That size...'
Stealing glances at the swell, she cautiously pressed her hand from core to lower belly.
'It'd fit plenty...'
The thing from her dream had seemed too big.
Dreams were just dreams, after all.
"Hic!"
Meeting Ferzen's eyes, Uriel hiccuped.
The barely cooled heat flared differently.
Embarrassing.
Swish.
But Ferzen smirked mockingly, correcting her hand's position on her lower belly, then whispered in her ear.
"It'll plunge here."
"D-Don't lie..."
What, pierce her to death?
Absurd even in shame, Uriel pushed at his close shoulder, fumbling on.
"B-But... you don't need to mind your pride or anything."
"My self-esteem isn't so low I'd worry about something like this."
Her cute antics melted his tension, deflating him. Ferzen laughed, opened the door, and stepped down.
"Why would I lie on the eve of our wedding night?"
"..."
"Come."
He offered his hand like an escort.
Unable to just watch, Uriel tremblingly took it and stepped down with him.
Then, her forearm caught her eye.
His thing from the dream... was it a bit smaller than her arm?
'No way...'
Uriel shook her head vigorously. Her black hair, matching Ferzen's, tousled, mingling sweet body scent with flowers fluttering about.
Denying it, yet half-hoping, Uriel trusted the maids' massages that loosened her hips.