Looking at Ethan, the girl's face twisted in pure disgust.
She couldn't believe it. This man—this pathetic, trembling coward—had taken her first ti.
Her stomach churned with humiliation, not just because of what had happened, but because of the undeniable truth she couldn't push aside.
She could have stopped it.
She could have pushed him away.
And yet... she hadn't.
The thought made her rage burn even hotter. She clenched her fists, and in response, crimson flas flared to life, dancing hungrily around her fingers. The flickering light cast jagged shadows across Ethan's terrified face, highlighting the raw pain and fear in his wide, trembling eyes.
He was scared of her.
Good.
Ethan's mind was a whirlwind of pain and confusion, but through the blinding agony of his burns, a single realization settled in his mind.
This fear... this is trauma.
It was different from simple fear. When he was younger, he had fallen from a tree and shattered his arm. Even after it healed, just the thought of climbing again had made his body seize up, his stomach twist, his breath shorten.
That was trauma.
But this was sothing deeper.
This wasn't just fear. This was terror.
A primal, all-consuming dread that made his body shiver, his muscles weak, his very breath uneven. Even though the flas had died down, he still felt their phantom heat licking at his skin, as if at any mont, they would ignite again and consu him whole.
I have to survive.
That was the only thought keeping his mind from breaking.
The girl clicked her tongue, glaring at him as if he were nothing more than filth beneath her feet.
"Pathetic."
That single word cut deeper than any blade.
Ethan clenched his jaw, suppressing the surge of anger that flared inside him. He wanted to snap back, to tell her he wasn't the monster she thought he was, but he forced himself to stay silent. He couldn't afford to provoke her further.
He had to be careful. He had to think.
His mind raced, combing through every shred of information the original Ethan had about this girl. There had to be sothing—sothing he could use, sothing that could turn this situation in his favor.
And then, an idea.
Swallowing hard, forcing his voice to remain steady, he finally spoke.
"Are... are you done?"
The girl's eyes darkened, and in an instant, her flas roared back to life.
"I'm just getting started."
She took a step forward, the heat in the air growing suffocating again.
Ethan's instincts scread at him to run, but there was nowhere to go.
Still, he didn't look away. He couldn't.
Through clenched teeth, he forced out the words.
"You... you're not alone, are you?"
For the first ti, she hesitated.
Her eyes widened.
The flas around her wavered—just for a fraction of a second—but that was all Ethan needed to confirm his theory.
His pulse pounded in his ears as he saw the flicker of uncertainty in her gaze.
He pressed forward.
"No, I... I don't believe I'll survive," he admitted, voice trembling slightly. "But if you do sothing to , you won't survive either."
The girl's glare hardened, but she didn't lash out.
She knew it was true.
She wasn't strong enough to escape this mansion unscathed if she killed him here. Dozens of people were stronger than her, and if she was caught, death wouldn't be her first punishnt.
Ethan saw her hesitation, saw her fingers twitch as her flas dimd slightly.
A chance.
He seized it.
"There are many people here stronger than you," he continued, his voice low but firm. "If you kill , they won't execute you imdiately. They'll capture you. They'll take you to my family."
Her flas sputtered for a mont, and her lips parted slightly, as if she hadn't considered that possibility.
Ethan pressed on, his voice gaining confidence.
"From what I know, your brother is strong. He'll definitely co to rescue you. But can he take on everyone in this mansion alone? Even if he succeeds, do you really think my family won't pursue you? That they'll just... let you go?"
She stiffened.
Her golden eyes flickered with a distant look, as if picturing the scenario he painted.
Ethan took a shaky breath, forcing himself to keep speaking.
"A Duke's household can't afford to lose its reputation. If they don't punish your family, they'll be seen as weak. It won't just be my family after you—it'll be the entire kingdom."
Her hands twitched at her sides.
He could see it—the gears turning in her head.
She was listening now.
Ethan hated this.
He hated using soone's family as a tool, as a hostage in an argunt. It made him feel like the villain. But morality was subjective. Survival was absolute.
The girl's expression darkened, and for a mont, her flas flared once more.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
She let out a humorless, chilling laugh before narrowing her eyes at him.
"You think I don't understand what you're trying to do?" she sneered. "Even if what you say is true... even if I spare you... you'll just co after us later, won't you?"
She leaned closer, her breath hot against his face.
"Wouldn't the safest option be to kill you now?"
Ethan's stomach twisted into knots, but he forced himself to remain still.
"No," he said, voice eerily calm.
The girl raised a brow. "No?"
"Because the mont I die, my family will know."
The girl's eyes widened, the flas around her flaring wildly. "You're lying."
Ethan swallowed, keeping his face as unreadable as possible.
Yes. He was lying.
Completely.
He had no idea if this world had such magic, but he had read plenty of novels where noble families used bloodline magic to detect their heir's death.
All he needed to do was make her believe it was real.
"I'm not lying," he said firmly. "The mont I die, my family will know, and they'll send soone powerful to investigate. You don't even know where your brother is right now. You need ti—at least nine days. You'd be caught before then."
The girl stared at him, her expression shifting between fury and doubt.
Ethan could practically see the war inside her mind.
She was trying to convince herself that she didn't need to listen to him.
But... she hadn't killed him yet.
That ant he still had a chance.
And he needed to push just a little more.
Taking a deep breath, he said the words that would decide everything.
"There's a way to avoid all of this."
Her sharp gaze snapped to him, silent but demanding.
Waiting.
Listening.
Ethan t her eyes.
"We can form a contract. A magical contract"
----------------
Whoa you finished reading the Chapter already.
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I'll cut you a deal.
Add this book to your library for free and that's a great price...😎
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