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nIn truth, the current situation had somewhat deviated from Ansel’s original plan.

nHe had never intended to engage in such an… ambiguous game with Seraphina, which felt like children playing house. However, once the words were spoken, there was no taking them back.

nNonetheless, it was harmless and occasionally amusing to witness Seraphina in this state.

n“Then, you may ask the first question,” Ansel displayed his gentlemanly demeanor, “Any question will do.”

nSeraphina hesitated for a moment before cautiously inquiring, “Were those two scoundrels sent by you?”

n“No,” Ansel answered without hesitation, “Haven’t you guessed their identities?”

n“How could I have guessed? Who would reveal their identity to unknown thieves and robbers?” Seraphina replied, somewhat displeased. She clutched her chest, still feeling weak and unable to move, with occasional bouts of pain. Fortunately, she could still speak.

n“In the end, they mentioned something about revolutionaries and the old world. It sounded like a cult.”

nAnsel looked at her with amusement, “Even now, you still don’t know who they are?”

n“‘Liberate the empire from the tyranny of noble blood and feasting flames.'”

nHe gently stroked Seraphina’s soft hair, speaking in a sarcastic tone she could not yet comprehend:

n“They are from the Revolutionary Army, the New World.”

n“…The Revolutionary Army.”

nSeraphina was stunned. She strained to lift her aching neck, meeting Ansel’s gaze, momentarily forgetting her discomfort and embarrassment, “You’re saying they are… the Revolutionary Army?”

n“Who else?” Ansel shrugged, “Who else would have the ability, confidence, and reason to infiltrate the Red Frost Manor?”

n“Right…” Seraphina murmured to herself, “They also despise nobles. So that’s how it is… but the Revolutionary Army, is this their true nature?!”

nHaving heard of them before and initially harboring a favorable impression due to their modus operandi, Seraphina’s eyes gradually turned cold, “Do they even have the right to say that nobles are disgusting?”

nSeraphina had encountered many troubles since childhood, most of which stemmed from her immature binary thinking. As a result, Ansel’s guidance had been exceptionally smooth.

nAnsel merely smiled without comment, as he had no obligation to explain anything on behalf of the Revolutionary Army, nor did he intend to correct Seraphina’s thought patterns at this time.

nThe young girl sighed, the intense sense of disillusionment leaving her weary and upset. She had always instinctively felt close to anyone courageous enough to stand up against the repulsive nobles, but she never imagined that the leading Revolutionary Army would be so despicable.

n“Well, aren’t you going to verify if I’m lying?” Ansel asked seriously.

n“No, n-no need,” Seraphina’s eyes darted around, “I believe you, Hydrall. How about this: you don’t examine me, and I don’t examine you. Is that alright?”

n“That would be no fun,” Ansel replied, feigning boredom as he teased the young wolf, “I’m going to sleep now.”

n“Ugh!”

nSeraphina let out a strange, stifled groan. She gritted her teeth and reluctantly pressed her ear against Ansel’s chest.

nThump—

nHis heartbeat was steady and strong, but for a moment, Seraphina couldn’t focus on it.

nAnsel was so robust, and so warm… why was he so warm?

nSeraphina had rarely seen Ansel in just a shirt, but she had some impression of his physique. The young man’s body was more muscular than she had imagined, with well-defined muscles that were not exaggerated. Both the size and lines were incredibly attractive, not appearing bulky in the slightest.

nAs she pressed against Ansel’s chest, Seraphina realized that his slightly raised chest was even broader and stronger than she had thought. Although separated by a shirt, the heat was genuinely transmitted to her face.

n“Hisss…”

nThe young wolf’s breathing became somewhat rapid for some reason. She had forgotten the last time she had been embraced by a man. Since her father had been injured and bedridden, she had never again experienced this tranquil sense of security and comfort, as if separated from all the dangers and worries of the world.

n“Seraphina,” Ansel’s voice grew somewhat hoarse, “Haven’t you heard it yet?”

n“Ah!”

nThe young girl let out a short, sharp cry. Her hand, which had been aching and unresponsive, miraculously lifted and pushed against Ansel’s chest. However, as soon as she completed the action, she was in so much pain that she wanted to roll on the bed.

nAnsel watched the young wolf, who had curled up under the covers with only half her face exposed and still gasping in pain. The wild desire that had surged within him when Seraphina had clung to him earlier had somewhat subsided.

n“Is there a bug in my embrace?” he couldn’t help but laugh, gently wrapping his arm around Seraphina’s waist and pulling her closer.

n“You… don’t… can we keep some distance… Hydral?”

nSeraphina resisted weakly while gasping for breath.

nNo… no, no, that feeling just now was too strange! No, it’s strange even now! I came here to expose Hydral’s hypocrisy! I don’t know what he would ask, and if he ask me why I came here in the middle of the night, how would I answer?

n“Seraphina,” Ansel asked with a smile, “What’s in the pocket of your clothes?”

nThe girl hesitated for two seconds before retracting her neck, her voice barely audible due to guilt and embarrassment, “An… image crystal… maybe, or maybe not, I don’t know.”

n“Hmm…”

nAnsel pondered with a meaningful hum, “I see. Let me listen to your heartbeat first.”

n“Hey! You—”

nNot giving the girl any chance or room to resist, Ansel pinched her tender underarm, gently lifting Seraphina and pressing his ear against her chest, tightly wrapped by her bandeau.

nAs Ansel leaned in, a sweet, rich scent of milk wafted into his nostrils, a unique, delicate fragrance of a young girl, which had become even more enticing after mingling with the lingering incense in the room.

n“…Seraphina, you’re lying,” Ansel’s lips curled into a slight smile.

n“I’m not!” Seraphina tried to lift her hand and place it on Ansel’s head, attempting to push him away with all her strength. However, her weak and powerless hands on Ansel’s face felt more like a gentle caress.

n“That’s because-because you are doing this! Anyone’s heartbeat would speed up like this!”

n“I wouldn’t.”

n“You’re not human!”

nAnsel, somewhat reluctant to part with the captivating sensation, had no lascivious thoughts while pressed against Seraphina’s chest.

nThe young Ansel had slept in the embrace of countless females during countless nights, but none of them had given him the same feeling as Seraphina.

n—A relaxed and joyful, gentle and peaceful feeling, untainted by any unnecessary emotions.

n“Alright, it’s your turn.”

nCompared to the dazed Seraphina pressed against his chest, Ansel appeared much more composed and proper, not lingering on her chest any longer than necessary.

nWith her face flushed, Seraphina covered her chest, trying her best to make her glare at Ansel fierce, “You… just wait… after I ask this… I’ll definitely ask a question you can’t answer!”

nAnsel simply looked at her with a smile.

n“…Huff.”

nSeraphina exhaled, her weak body unable to even rub her cheeks. She tried to discard the messy thoughts in her mind and continued to stare at Ansel, “Since… since they’re not your people? Then why do you know I’m here? You must have been watching me all the time, right!”

n“Because your sister told me about your unusual behavior.”

nAnsel sighed, “She’s really worried about you, Seraphina. Did you think she wouldn’t notice you sneaking out in the middle of the night?”

nMar… Marlina!!!

nSeraphina screamed inwardly. If it weren’t for her sister, how could she have ended up in this situation?

n…No, it seems like it would have been even more troublesome without Marlina. Ughughughugh… It’s all Ansel’s fault!

nBut no matter how turbulent her emotions were, no matter how angry and helpless she felt, Seraphina, who had received an answer, had no choice but to “verify” once more.

nThis time, she took several deep breaths, calming her emotions completely, and with unparalleled composure, coldness, and emptiness, pressed her ear against him again.

nThen… she heard footsteps approaching from outside.

n“!!!”

nSeraphina was so frightened that she almost clung to Ansel entirely. If Ansel were discovered, it wouldn’t matter, but if she were seen… then it would be all over!

n“Are you scared?” Ansel whispered with a smile, his arm around Seraphina’s waist.

n“You… you must not be scared!” .

nThe girl, curled up in Ansel’s embrace, spoke in a hushed, extremely indignant tone, “It’s my reputation that would be ruined, alright!”

n“I’m telling you, if you really let this happen…”

nShe revealed her sharp fangs in the darkness, “I’ll take Marlina and leave tomorrow! Ten years… no, five years… no, three years! In three years, I’ll make you pay! Either kill me now or…”

nAnsel looked down at the angry young wolf, gently rubbing her head with a smile, “I won’t.”

n“…Really?” Seraphina looked up at him doubtfully, her raised face making her appear even more adorable and devoid of her usual fierceness, “You didn’t say that just now.”

n“It was just a pretext to scare you into playing the game with me.”

nAnsel couldn’t help but laugh, lowering his head to meet Seraphina’s gaze.

n“Seraphina, do you really think I would let anyone other than myself see you like this?”

nThe girl, upon hearing these words, hesitated for a few seconds before using all her strength to swing her weak fist, striking Ansel’s chest.

n“Piss off! Go die! You don’t think I… I’ll fall for this! It’s disgusting! How can you make yourself sound so good when you’re a pervert! I’ll tear you apart! I’ll beat you into an idiot!”

nThe increasingly incoherent Seraphina didn’t even care about the volume of her voice as she yelled, and after swinging her little wolf cub fists a few times, she began to pant, “Huff, huff.”

nAnsel raised an eyebrow, suddenly lifting the covers and standing up, pulling Seraphina out of the bed.

nThe girl, who had lost her strength after kicking her legs a couple of times, was instantly frightened, “Hydral, what are you doing! You… you said you wouldn’t let others see!”

n“You said you wouldn’t fall for my tricks.” Ansel looked innocent as the footsteps grew closer, “Since you don’t fall for it, Seraphina, I have no choice but to give up.”

nSeraphina wished she could bite Ansel to death right then and there, but as the situation became increasingly dire, how could she care about so much? She clung to Ansel like a koala, not knowing where she found the strength to wrap her legs tightly around his waist, wishing she could shrink into his body, “I’ll fall for it… I’ll fall for it, alright! Hydrall, you… don’t do this! Let me hide!”

nBang!

nTwo burly guards clad in iron armor burst through the door, “Who dares to intrude into the Red Frost Manor? I’ll get you, you…”

n“This book is quite interesting… Hm? What’s the matter?” asked a handsome blond youth sitting by the moonlit window, flipping through a book with one hand.

nA large wolf fur cloak draped over him like a blanket.

nVisit 𝘳𝑎.𝗇t

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