“So, Bella, when will Bianca return?” Vienna asked at the large dining table.
Only Aengus, Bella, and Vienna were present.
Bella looked apologetic. “Sorry, Mother. I’ll send her back when we return.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I’m just glad she’s learning something from you. Just take good care of her. She’s a grown girl now,” Vienna said, her voice tinged with concern.
“Of course,” Bella smiled, her purple eyes shimmering as she watched Aengus eat.
____
Night.
After finishing a delicious meal of monster meat made by Vienna, Aengus found himself in Bella’s personal room—the same room she had lived in since childhood.
Bella, full of energy, began sharing memories from her childhood, especially of the time spent with her mother before they were separated. Though she had been only 3 to 5 years old at the time, the memories remained vivid in her mind.
“Look at this, darling,” Bella said with a warm smile, pointing to a small clay statue of a woman and her child.
“This statue was made by my mother and me when I was a kid. Her warm smiles while making it still flashes in my mind. This statue is the best memory she left for me.”
It was rare for Bella to open up emotionally like this, but perhaps she had found a shoulder to lean on, someone to share her heart with.
Aengus gazed at the statue, then gently touched it, feeling the connection Bella held to this cherished memory.
Then, with his right hand, Aengus began to create a similar statue, only this time, he portrayed Bella in her adult form standing beside her mother, Celeste.
Bella looked at it in disbelief, her eyes unknowingly filling with emotion.
As Aengus finished the artwork using his skill, he turned to her. “Here, this is my first gift to you.”
Though his expression remained calm and emotionless, Bella was overwhelmed by the simple yet meaningful gesture that touched her heart deeply.
“Hubby!” she exclaimed, holding the statue tightly in her hands before embracing him tightly.
“Thank you, Aengus. It means so much to me.”
In her embrace, Aengus softly replied, “I’m glad you like it, Bella.”
After a while, she calmed down and gazed at Aengus with affection.
“Hubby, let’s sleep,” she whispered in a low voice before pulling him on top of her and rolling onto the wide, fragrant bed that smelled of rare flowers.
Vienna, ever thoughtful, must have arranged the flowers, taking over the role Bella’s mother..
They exchanged passionate kisses, and it seemed like they were about to take things to the next level.
Bella, dressed in a nightgown that revealed her creamy white skin and the alluring contours of her alluring figure, was undeniably tempting.
“Wait… Bella,” Aengus said, stopping her when she started to remove his sleeping clothes, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
“I think… we’re not ready for this yet. We should take our time,” he explained, looking at her slightly disappointed face.
“Hmph…” Bella pouted but eventually understood.
She was a little unhappy, but she realized he was probably right. She just wanted to feel his mark of ownership, to strengthen their bond further.
“Fine… but we can do other things, right?”
“Other things?” Aengus was puzzled, his mind imagining wild possibilities.
“Hehe… Hubby, I’ll teach you everything slowly. Trust me, I’ve learned a few things from the maids. I bet your human girlfr—”
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing the mistake she was about to make.
“You bet what?” Aengus asked, confused by her sudden pause.
“Nothing!” Bella replied quickly, covering her slip. She felt relieved knowing that she and Aengus would be creating their own first memories together.
She had learned from Aengus that he and Aria had only kissed once, just as their relationship was beginning, before all the incidents had occurred.
“Now… let’s continue, hubby. I’ll show you true heaven is,” Bella said, smiling naughtily.
Aengus gulped involuntarily, preparing himself for whatever adventure awaited him.
—–
After their night activities, Aengus and Bella woke up feeling refreshed. The experience had been new and exciting for Aengus, but he was pleased by the closeness it brought them. They slowly rose, freshened up, and refocused on the tasks at hand.
Now, they stood in front of Belial, in a room with intricate designs carved into its walls, glowing faintly with arcane symbols.
“This spatial gate will take you both to Crimson Demon City,” Belial explained, his voice firm and commanding. “It’s a one-way gate, so when you want to return, you’ll need to use one of the spatial gate services available there. Be careful, and come back safely,” he reminded them sternly.
The Spatial Gate itself shimmered in front of them, resembling a portal with a transparent red passageway, pulsating faintly as if alive.
Belial handed them a sealed letter, which Bella promptly stored in her Spatial Bracelet.
“We will, Father. No need to worry,” Bella replied confidently. “We aren’t planning to cause trouble, knowing what’s waiting for us.” She then playfully pinched Aengus, prompting him to speak.
“Ah, goodbye, Father-in-law. I’ll bring her back safely,” Aengus said awkwardly, trying to sound more assured, which made Bella chuckle softly.
“You better be,” Belial said with a smirk, though his tone was mixed with a subtle threat. “If anything happens to her… you’re dead, boy.”
The tension hung in the air for a moment before Aengus and Bella stepped into the red, transparent passageway, vanishing from sight as the portal engulfed them, leaving Belial standing behind with a stern gaze.
—-
With a flash of brilliant red light, Aengus and Bella crossed through the chaotic space passage. The sensation was disorienting, but manageable. However, Aengus couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him. It wasn’t a hostile gaze, but rather one filled with curiosity and concern. The sensation left him puzzled, though he quickly dismissed it, thinking it useless to dwell on.
Suddenly, Bella’s voice broke the silence.
“You must be kidding me, right? Father!” she exclaimed, her tone filled with exasperation.
Aengus, confused by her reaction, opened his eyes to see what had caused such disbelief.
The scene before him was entirely unexpected.
Wait… Is this place..
As they looked around, Aengus and Bella were confronted by the unsettling sight of numerous humans caged in large quantities.
The cages were crudely constructed, packed tightly with people of various ages, their faces marked with fear and despair.
Bella’s face darkened.
“This is the human slave market,” she answered, confirming Aengus’s worst suspicion. “Unbelievable! That’s why I don’t trust those Spatial Gates.” She fumed.
