Ansel showed no surprise, instead teasingly twirling Seraphina's white hair, "Why would you want to leave ? Are you tired of ?"
"Of course not!"
Seraphina almost jumped up in shock, "How could I ever get tired of you, Ansel? I wish I could be with you every day to have se—"
The girl paused, blushing, "I, I do spend every day with you, having... having..."
"I know, just joking." Ansel stroked her head in the way she liked best, "You want to find an opportunity for a breakthrough, right?"
"Yes." Seraphina nodded vigorously.
"I seem very strong now... but in reality, I'm still the sa, neither here nor there, unable to truly help you."
The wolf girl caught Ansel's hand, pressing it to her cheek, and with her eyes closed, she softly said, "The little one can beco incredibly powerful, but I can't... In such battles, I would only be a burden to you."
"I want to beco stronger. Since I can easily fight those of the fourth stage while being in the third, maybe... when I reach the fourth stage, I can easily fight those of the fifth?"
Opening her eyes, Seraphina's gaze was full of hope and desire, "By then, I won't be a burden anymore, and I can help you with anything!"
"But..." Seraphina hesitated again, "It seems like you need help right now. If I leave, wouldn't that be bad?"
"Not at all."
Ansel gently caressed Seraphina's cheek, "Do what you want to do, Seri, not just for ."
"...Even if I leave for a while, you won't run into trouble?"
"Who could possibly trouble ?" Ansel couldn't help but laugh, "They should be praying that I don't trouble them."
"Indeed..."
Seraphina nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Ansel with bright, hopeful eyes:
"So, can I go?"
Ansel gazed at the girl's radiant expression, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "Of course, Seri. Aren't you looking forward to it? Why hesitate?"
"... Looking forward?" Seraphina touched her face, sowhat bewildered. "Am I really looking forward to it? I... I don't want to leave Ansel!"
Her tone turned anxious, making our wolf lady appear exceedingly adorable. Ansel pinched her soft cheek, his smile deepening: "Leaving is just the premise. What you truly anticipate is the vast world beyond."
How could the future Beast King ever be content to lie at Ansel's feet like a dosticated dog?
"Seri, nothing can confine you, and I am certainly not your cage."
Ansel's eyes, more enchanting than usual, and his tender words, made Seraphina's heart flutter. She couldn't help but hug Ansel's waist tightly, nuzzling his stomach affectionately, murmuring, "Ansel... you've changed so much."
"Have I? I don't feel any different."
"Yes!" The girl nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed. "I like Ansel even more! Every day, more than the last!"
She continued to nuzzle Ansel's stomach like a puppy, her movents gradually slowing.
"Ansel..."
Her head lowered, her voice becoming soft, moist, and…lewd, completely opposite to the wolf's exterior "I don't know how long I'll be away from you, so... before I leave—"
"I want Ansel... to fill up."
She straightened up, biting his belt, and whispered in his ear, her breath hot, "Be rough, like training a dog, okay?"
*
In the disheveled study, the exhausted Marlina lay on the sofa, panting. She could only watch her sister's swaying body with blurred vision, listening to her joyful and blissful sounds.
She too wanted to be like Seraphina, pulled by the collar from behind, forced to the floor, wrists bound by a belt and pressed against the wall. But now, she could only watch, and if this continued, she might not even be able to do that.
Marlina loved that ecstasy, but she knew, and was grateful, that she wasn't hopelessly addicted to it.
"Mr…Ansel...."
The girl's soft murmur of her beloved's na was dreamy and distant. She had even forgotten her purpose for this visit, her thoughts soaring skyward.
What am I truly yearning for?
Besides Mr.Ansel, what else do I desire?
What qualities do I possess that make Mr.Ansel not discard like the other won who crave him?
Mr.Ansel... do you truly acknowledge ? Am I as important to you as Seraphina?
A clever girl knows many things, but she also knows how to escape reality.
Mr.Ansel... Mr.Ansel.
I will follow you, don't leave behind.
With these thoughts, Marlina drifted into a deep sleep.
When she awoke, she found herself clean and dressed in fresh clothes.
"Awake?"
The gentle voice echoed in the room, and Marlina imdiately sat up, nervously looking at the young man seated at the desk.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away with Seri and it affected you... Are you alright?"
"No... It's my own weakness that failed to entertain you."
Marlina shyly pressed her still-weak legs together: "I apologize, Mr. Ansel."
"Having a lady apologize for such things is not gentlemanly." Ansel smiled. "So, what brings you here?"
"Ah, Lady Rhine sent . There are so matters that require your attention..."
After conveying the ssage and handing over so docunts, Marlina struggled to stand from the sofa and bowed slightly: "Then, I shall take my leave, Mr. Ansel."
"Wait."
Ansel called out to Marlina, gesturing for her to co closer.
The girl, unsure of Ansel's intentions but filled with a mix of anticipation and delight from the recent events, approached him.
However, Ansel did nothing more than retrieve a ring from the drawer and hand it to her.
"Did you know that Seri wants to go on an adventure, Marlina?"
"...Yes, I know. Miss Seraphina ntioned it to ." The girl bowed her head respectfully.
Ansel didn't comnt on Marlina's formality, instead speaking gently: "The ring contains many essentials for her journey. She tends to leave impulsively, likely without proper preparation. She probably won't see today, so please give this to her."
"Mr. Ansel, you... prepared this long ago, didn't you?"
"With her transparent nature, who could she possibly deceive?"
Ansel smiled, his eyes radiating pure warmth and affection, which Marlina easily noticed.
"Though I encourage her to pursue her desires," he sighed softly, his eyes lowering, "the thought of her absence makes feel lonely."
"—Ah, don't tell Seri this, or she won't leave."
"You're overthinking it." Marlina smiled. "I would never be so indiscreet, Mr. Ansel."
"... Indiscreet?"
Ansel glanced at Marlina, lost in thought, but eventually smiled warmly: "Anyway, thank you for running this errand, Marlina."
"Yes, then I shall take my leave."
"Do your best, Marlina. Rhine's report speaks highly of you... It never gives such praise lightly."
Looking at the girl's delicate back, Ansel encouraged, "I told you, you are capable, aren't you?"
Marlina turned slightly, showing Ansel a gentle smile, her profile delicate and beautiful:
"It's all thanks to your grace that I am where I am today, Mr. Ansel."
"I will continue to strive, as you wish."
She bowed one last ti and walked out.
Just "capable"…
Just being capable isn't enough.
But does my capability truly matter to Mr. Ansel?
I must beco irreplaceable.
Like Seri, I must beco irreplaceable to Mr. Ansel.
But how should I… achieve that?
...No, first, I must find a way to transcend to extraordinary.
Being rely "capable" is not enough; I never intended to see those words as my… endpoint.
At so point, Marlina no longer felt ecstatic rely from Ansel's re praise.
*
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