It took about a day and a half of travel to reach Veyren, with one night spent camping outdoors. I haven't had many opportunities to camp or to be in nature listening to some creature howl at the moon, so the first experience was engraved in my mind.

We gathered around a campfire. I was about to ask where the marshmallows were until the realization hit me and I remembered such things didn't exist in this world.

It's a shame we didn't even go through the generic scenario of telling horror stories to give everyone trouble sleeping, nor did we have tents to pitch. I slept inside the carriage with Ravenna, while Victorian spent the night on watch, and Elizia ended up lying on the coachman's bench.

Nothing much happened, at least nothing Victorian chose to tell us, considering the next day I saw some bloodstains on the head of the spear he carried around. Anyway, when the sky started to darken the next day, we sighted the gates of Veyren.

We had been inside the Galbraith Marquisate for a while, but this is the first instance of civilization we've seen, besides my village of Efel. The air is distinctly different, closer to the capital than the countryside, with a sprinkling of smoke.

Well, something similar had to appear sooner or later, capitalism transcends dimensions, right? From where I am, with my head sticking out of the carriage, I can see chimneys spewing smoke into the air.

"I missed this scent..." Ravenna comments, relaxing in her seat. "How good it is to be back in my territory."

"Just to ask, did the territory remain the same way your parents left it?"

"Mostly. My uncle saw that the territory had several factories yielding a lot of profit for the family, so he decided to keep them, but he never had the courage to visit the region again. The bastard didn't deserve that burial which was paid for by the taxes of my subjects..."

"Hey, they're not 'yours', they don't belong to anyone. God, I wish I knew where these noble people get the idea that they own others."

It's so annoying, for fuck sake. I believe I lost my temper a few times listening to Leliana talk about her personal maid and treat her like a subhuman, it's disgusting. I won't get used to this, nor do I want to... thinking back, I'm becoming more like the people at the protests that used to annoy me so much for returning late from work. Is it because I have too much free time now? I don't know.

I let out a sigh, returning inside the carriage and lying down on the corner of the seat, stretching my body. Ravenna remains on the other side, staring at me with that judgmental look, but to my surprise, she gets up suddenly and walks towards me, sitting on my lap and digging her nails close to my neck.

Did I say something wrong? Please tell me I didn't. It scares me when you look at me like that...

"I love that you are like this, Darius."

Yeah, it's impossible to understand this woman when she's unpredictable. I receive an intense French kiss that almost sucked out my soul, but, taking advantage of the position, the fear from before shoots to the moon and I place my hands on my gothic witch's ass. I must have pleased her since I accidentally elicited a little moan.

Ravenna holds my chin, forcing me to stare at her gigantic breasts with great attention.

"You are... uncontrollable. That is the kind of man I fell in love with. One day I'm going to put a leash around your neck, so you will be mine alone."

"Wait, did you gey so turned on by me being rebellious? Ravenna, there's no understanding you..."

"You don't need to. I don't think you would understand how satisfying it is to tie up a stubborn horse after trying for so long."

"Does that mean you'll get tired of me once you 'tame' me?"

"Hehehe, I'll find out when I make you mine alone."

A naughty smile adorns Ravenna's face, who attacks me again with another French kiss, smearing my mouth with black lipstick and filling my skin with scratches. It's going to be a pain to hide all this from Elizia and Victorian, but turning me on like this is dangerous, I might let myself get carried away right now.

We cling to each other for a while, I feel Ravenna's nails wanting to possess me and tear off a piece of flesh as they slide down my arms, with her bold fingers messing with my shirt buttons to attack my chest.

She wouldn't be crazy enough to start something here and now, would she? I would be, but I still have a bit of pride about not whipping it out in the middle of the street, and I think it's even worse for people to peek at my junk! In the end, I decide to pull away at the last minute, a thread of saliva separates us, and I can see a touch of "wanting more" behind her cold cerulean eyes. I'll probably be devoured if this continues.

"You're worse than I am, huh..."

"I am not. You are restraining yourself, because you would have laid me down on the other bench and ripped off my clothes to attack me."

"And would I be wrong?" I tighten my grip on her ass, trying to adjust my position and give one of her breasts a little nibble. "With you offering yourself completely, my desire is to do something right now. I missed this naughty side of you, I confess."

"Hah, Darius Moonlight..."

A short smile appears on her face. My heartbreaker charm is truly irresistible, even a high-class lady eventually gives in, even after going through a macabre ritual and trying to play cold with me.

Hmm? She placed her hands on my chest, pushing me away and returning to her own seat, maintaining that same expression, which now from a distance looks enigmatic. I think Ravenna has returned to her normal modus operandi, with the distant manner she's developed lately.

She shifts her gaze to the side, admiring the landscape.

"I wish you also saw me the same way she does..."

"Did you say something?"

"No, it's nothing. I'm just thinking about our future as king and queen of this empire."

Liar. I heard exactly what you said. "I wish you also saw me the same way you do it with her"... Who is she referring to? I look at every woman I can potentially sleep with the same way. Now I have a strange feeling...

The path to the Galbraith mansion was paved with light-colored stone and lined with trees so ancient that their canopies intertwined overhead, forming a natural tunnel. The smell of damp earth and the distant sound of a crow broke the silence of our arrival.

As the carriage stopped before the wrought-iron gates, the family crest, a bird that looked like it was agonizing while striking a pose, reflected the light of the setting sun.

Ravenna was the first to descend. Her expression, for the first time in a long time, had neither arrogance nor her usual cynicism. It was... nostalgia. She stood still for a few seconds, looking at the stone mansion with towers that challenged the sky and Gothic windows covered in ivy. The wind blew against her face, mussing a few strands of hair that escaped her braid.

"It's the same" she murmured. "It doesn't even feel like so many years have passed."

I jumped out right behind her, adjusting my sword at my hip before stepping out. The Galbraith mansion gave me chills, and not just because of its size. There was a heavy aura there.

However, the thing that kept nagging at me was that phrase she'd uttered hours earlier, during the ride: "I wish you also saw me the same way she does..."

Who the hell is "she"?

Ravenna walked ahead, opening the double doors which gave way with a low groan. The interior was intact, luxurious, cold, smelling of incense and accumulated dust. Candelabras with melted candles swayed on the ceiling, and immense portraits depicted family ancestors with the same icy blue eyes.

"Victorian, take my luggage to the west hall." Her voice echoed authoritatively, returning to her usual demeanor. "Elizia, ask the maids to prepare rooms for everyone. You all will spend the night here before continuing your journey at dawn."

"Finally, a decent bed" Elizia commented, stretching her arms and laughing. "I hope the mattress isn't cursed... I mean, thank you for the stay!"

Ravenna didn't even reply. She walked toward the staircase, her heels clicked on the marble floor until she disappeared down the upper corridor.

Victorian vanished with the bags, and Elizia ran after one of the maids, who looked more like a ghost than a living person. I was left alone at the entrance, trapped in my own discomfort. I shouldn't care about what Ravenna said, but... something in that voice, in that distant look, is still bothering me.

I went up the stairs, trying not to overthink. The mansion's silence made every step sound louder than normal. I passed by family portraits, for the love of the gods, one is uglier than the next. I'm not used to visiting other noble houses, but it's more of the same, you know? Full of that prestige stuff with ancestors and trying to act like big shots.

I walked and walked until I lost track of time. I felt the urge to investigate that place from top to bottom to discover where the heavy aura came from, and also to answer the question that had been annoying me since she made the comment. As expected, I didn't find an answer, only weeds in the garden that looked like they had been tended by a ghost.

Seriously, there's no way around it except to talk to her, is there? I climbed the stairs and walked through the corridors until I stopped before Ravenna's bedroom door, or at least the one I saw her enter earlier.

I knocked once. No answer.

I opened it slightly, just enough to see inside. The low light of the candles dyed the room in a golden and reddish hue. A sweet scent hung in the air, a mix of jasmine and some essence that warmed the chest. The velvet curtains were semi-open, and the wind made the candle flames flicker.

Ravenna was lying on the bed, wearing black lace lingerie, contrasting perfectly against her pale skin. Silk stockings rose up to the middle of her thighs, and the silver necklace with the Galbraith symbol rested between her breasts.

She slowly turned her face, flashing those eyes in my direction with the charm I've known since the moment we first slept together.

"Darius... Come here."

I paused for a moment, feeling my heart nearly jump out of my neck. Part of me wanted to leave, close the door, pretend none of this was happening, but another part, the one full of lust, had already taken a step forward before I realized it.

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