It was late at night, and Aengus and Bella found themselves alone in his bedroom.
Bella, having retracted her wings, now wore a revealing nightdress as she lay seductively on his bed. A playful smile danced on her lips as she watched Aengus’s reaction.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you come over?” she smiled, her body’s soft curves and the alluring contours of her chest drawing his gaze.
Aengus narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening. “If you’re sleeping there, I’m staying here,” he said, his tone icy as he settled into a chair in the far corner of the room.
The Baron’s mansion was small, and with new guests occupying the remaining rooms, Aengus had no other place to sleep. He resigned himself to spending the night on the chair, silently resisting Bella’s persistent advances.
He could have given in to her wishes, but something deep within him refused. A man and woman’s bond, he believed, should be sacred—an unshakable belief he had carried from his past life.
Sigh!
Bella rubbed her temples in frustration.
She rose from the bed and moved toward him with a commanding presence. “Sweetheart, being alone isn’t always best. Trust me, I know.” She grabbed his hand firmly, her grip surprisingly strong.
“Come on, let’s share some warmth in this cold reality.”
With a swift pull, she tugged him onto the bed, wrapping herself around him like an octopus.
Aengus tried to free his hand from her grasp, but her strength was not to be underestimated. It was a mystery how a woman like her could possess such physical power. Even compared to his own, she still had an advantage by a mile.
Seeing no other option, Aengus rolled onto the bed, turning his back to her.
The bed was small, leaving barely any space between them. Bella smiled mischievously as she leaned closer, wrapping her arms around his body, closing the gap entirely.
“Uh…”
Aengus felt an unsettling sensation crawling inside him, but he ruthlessly suppressed it, refusing to give in to the temptation gnawing at him.
He let go of the tension that had plagued his mind, craving the rest his body desperately needed. Though his enhanced physique allowed him to stay awake longer than most, his body still yearned for sleep.
Despite how irritating her actions could be at times, there was a strange comfort in her presence—something warm he hadn’t felt in ages.
Closing his eyes, he allowed the exhaustion to take over. Bella, sensing his weariness, remained silent, not wanting to disturb him.
As she quietly watched him, a figure seemingly consumed by loneliness, her feelings for him deepened.
“Aengus, one day, I’ll make you mine,” she whispered, determination filling her voice. “I’ll clear the stone in your heart and claim my place there.”
With those words, she too tried to drift into sleep, her senses sharp, ever alert for any danger.
—-
The next morning, when Aengus and Bella stepped out of their room, Butler Yu and maid Donna exchanged strange glances. They had their suspicions about what might have transpired between the two, and their thoughts quickly spiraled into extreme conclusions.
Unbothered by the silent judgment, Aengus issued his orders with authority. “Gather the army. Today, we begin our campaign to conquer the unclaimed tribes and territories that have remained independent for far too long.”
These tribes had long been overlooked, even by Bella, who had more pressing concerns. Her enemies circled her like vultures, each waiting for a moment of weakness to strike. The backing of other Dukes and Demon Lords meant they had no fear of Belial’s influence.
Still, Bella followed Aengus, curious to see his leadership firsthand. She needed to know whether he had the strength to lead them toward their shared vision of domination.
Though Aengus hadn’t spoken openly of it, he had already decided to accept her offer. Aligning with Bella would make his path smoother, at least for now.
But the real question lingered in the air: What would the Duke of Lust think of this alliance? Only time would reveal the consequences. He might have to clash with him as well.
As they stepped outside, Vespera shot him an unpleasant look. She knew what had transpired between her mistress and him, and for some reason, she didn’t like him.
“What? Do you have any problem with me, Vespera?” Aengus asked, his eyes piercing her soul.
“N-No…” Vespera stammered, realizing he was on a whole other level than before as she sensed his suppressed aura. She shrunk back and moved behind Bella.
Bella giggled, watching their interaction with amusement.
Afterwards, followed by Aengus and Bella, all of them started their march towards the Dark swamp. Their mission: Unconditional Subjugation.
—–
The Horned Lizard Tribe
Inside the grand hall of the Horned Lizard Tribe, a tense discussion unfolded. The hall, constructed entirely of massive bones and the hides of fallen beasts, was dimly lit by flickering torches. At its center, the tribe chief sat upon his throne, his clawed hand resting on the armrest made of a colossal serpent’s skull.
“Chief, we need to rethink our defenses,” one of the tribe’s warriors, a tall, muscular humanoid lizard with rough, scaled skin, spoke with conviction.
“The extra guards at the border are a waste. We’ve been spending resources we can’t afford to lose, guarding against a threat that never came. That half-breed… whoever he was… he’s not coming back. His threats were nothing but empty boasts. He wanted to scare us, make us retreat. He’s a liar, Chief. You must reconsider.”
The chief’s eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light, remained narrowed in contemplation. His tail flicked behind him as he listened, his massive body shifting slightly on the throne.
Around him, the older lizards of the tribe nodded thoughtfully, their aged scales dull but their minds sharp.
“I hear your concerns, Goruk,” the chief finally said, his voice deep and loud.
“But fear is a powerful tool. This half-breed, as you call him, may have seemed like a mere braggart, but he carried with him an air of danger I have not felt in a long time. We cannot let down our guard. The world is shifting, and it is better to be over-prepared than to fall into complacency.”
One of the elders, his scales faded with age, raised his voice. “Chief, Goruk has a point. Our people are struggling. The swamps no longer yield what they once did. If we continue to stretch our defenses, we may not have enough left to feed the tribe through the next season.
“The chief’s gaze hardened. “I am aware of our struggles, but pulling back now would invite danger. I know there is a storm brewing, and we cannot afford to be caught off guard.”
Just as the room fell into silence, a scout burst through the bone-laden entrance, panting heavily. His scales were covered in mud and swamp water, a clear sign he had been running without rest.
“Chief!” the scout gasped, his breath uneven. “That half-breed… he’s coming! A large army was behind him… and they’re heading straight for us!”
Thanks for the golden Tickets and Support!
