Chapter 61
Lilith didn’t seem to notice, but strands of Teia’s c*m were caught in her hair.
Ha. The heavy weight at Teia’s waistband threatened to pull at his trousers again. Eager to dispense with this tiresome matter, he strode on.
As he expected, Eris still sat at the garden table, her hands trembling in her lap—apparently too proud to leave despite the humiliation she must have felt. Teia made no effort to conceal his disheveled, damp clothing: his shirt, partially translucent with sweat, clung to his muscles.
“I thought you’d give up once I said I was too busy to come out,” he said, voice light with amusement. “But you’re as stubborn as ever.”
“…You wanted to take revenge on me?” Eris’s voice shook.
“Me?” Teia smiled softly.
“Yes. Did you show up on purpose so I’d be shocked to see you?” she pressed.
Teia chuckled, pitying her misguided suspicions. “My lady, my congratulations at your engagement were sincere. Why would I waste time avenging something I never regretted?”
Eris’s face flushed with shame. She would have preferred even a sliver of anger from Teia—anything to prove her existence had mattered. Instead, he acted as though he couldn’t recall ever betrothing her at all. With a sudden jerk, Eris rose to her feet, and the tea cup on the shaky table shattered on the stone below.
“You will pay for treating a person’s heart like a toy,” she spat.
“I’ll remember that,” Teia replied lightly.
He watched her storm off with detached curiosity—why did her betrayal sting so deeply, when it had been she who had cut him off first? He didn’t wait to find out. Turning on his heel, he headed back to the pagoda.
Eris’s curses and resentments meant nothing to him now. His only concern was the mischievous little rabbit still perched on the chair, swaying its hips in wait.
***
When Eris finally returned home, she found herself confronted by a furious Ludvio. The moment the crown prince learned she had sought out Teia, he had stormed into her estate.
Ludvio, pacing and gnashing his teeth over Eris’s betrayal, lunged at her upon her arrival. But Eris met his advance with a cool, measured step backward—just one step, yet firm and unambiguous. Ludvio recoiled, startled by her calm refusal.
“I see no reason for games. Let’s skip the insults,” Eris said flatly.
“What?” Ludvio faltered.
“No pleasantries. Tell me what you’ve been plotting lately.”
Rattled by her unexpected composure and cutting tone, Ludvio hesitated. He clearly felt his own mind slipping from its moorings—he hadn’t always been this reckless.
Guiding him indoors with the gentle touch of a sibling calming a younger brother, Eris began to stroke his hair as she once might have. Encouraged, Ludvio relaxed and began to divulge the strange schemes he’d been hatching.
—
Teia rested his chin on his hand and watched the small rabbit hopping excitedly on the desk. Around the rabbit, round droplets like glass marbles spun slowly in the air. The droplets bounced up and down in sync with the rabbit’s movements, as if dancing together perfectly.
“Is it fun?”
Teia smiled slyly and spoke, and the rabbit that had been playing wildly suddenly stopped.
Piu?
The rabbit perked up its ears and looked at Teia, then scampered right up to him. The droplets, which had moved as if alive, popped one by one and vanished. Standing on its hind legs just in front of Teia’s chin, the rabbit flapped its paws energetically as if trying to explain something.
“Don’t you teach how to talk when you’re in spirit-rabbit form?”
Teia teased with a mischievous grin and poked the rabbit’s forehead with his finger. The rabbit tumbled backward with a look of protest, rubbing its forehead vigorously.
“Isn’t it amazing? I made it myself!”
Eventually, unable to hold back her frustration, Lilith transformed back into her human form. Naked and suddenly appearing on the desk in Teia’s study, Lilith didn’t surprise him at all—he naturally placed his hand on her thigh.
“I borrowed the power of the water spirit.”
Lilith said proudly, but Teia scoffed lightly and casually caressed the inside of her thigh. Sitting on the desk, Lilith suddenly realized Teia had spread his legs between hers.
“So the great power of the water spirit only lets you make droplets?”
Although she wanted to shout No!, Lilith’s mouth sealed shut on its own. Despite the grand claim of spirit power, the truth was Lilith could only make tiny droplets smaller than a fingernail or stir a gentle breeze capable of fluttering five flower petals.
When Lilith proudly demonstrated her power to Teia, his impression was, It’s good enough as a background effect when you’re being cute. In short, it was a rather insignificant power.
“That’s not true… They said it’s way stronger than a mage’s power.”
“Who? That guy?”
“Hmm?”
Before the irritating name could come up, Teia stood and covered Lilith’s mouth. Surprised for a moment by the sudden kiss, Lilith quickly wrapped her arms around Teia’s neck, letting out a pleased sound.
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