Chapter 137: Spring?!
The comments on the screen were scrolling so quickly that the technical team had to reduce their display speed. Elowen had turned off the stove and placed the food on a plate, but when Erik moved to help her remove her apron, she pulled his hand around her waist instead. Her pointed ears were still red, and she had no intention of letting go.
"Didn’t you say the kitchen was dangerous?" Erik lowered his head and deliberately whispered into her ear. His warm breath brushed against her pointed ear, making Elowen tremble slightly.
"I said Laviana should not cause trouble in the kitchen," Elowen replied. Her tone was serious, but her breathing had quickened slightly as his scent surrounded her. "It is fine if you are standing beside me."
"So I am the exception."
"Of course."
Erik laughed and kissed her temple, catching the faint herbal scent in her silver hair. Elowen tilted her face to receive another kiss on her cheek, no longer shy even though she knew countless Succubi were watching.
At that moment, Laviana walked over and gently took Erik’s wrist. Her slender fingers slid over his skin as though feeling its warmth.
"This is not fair."
Elowen turned around.
"What is it?"
"You have been holding him for quite a while already." Laviana smiled, the sweet fragrance of her red hair and body spreading as she approached. "I want to be spoiled too."
"You just kissed him!"
"Does that mean I cannot kiss him again?"
Elowen was left speechless. Laviana lifted Erik’s hand and kissed his knuckles, her lips lingering for an extra moment before she pressed her cheek against his palm.
Erik was both amused and helpless. Elowen held his left hand while Laviana held his right, their scents mingling around him until he did not know which way to turn.
"I only agreed to let you film our daily life," he sighed. "Why do I suddenly feel as though I have become the prize of this program?"
"You have always been our prize," Laviana said naturally, her breath brushing lightly against his wrist.
Elowen blushed, but this time she did not argue. She only tightened her hold on Erik’s hand slightly, making him turn to look at her. Her warm palm rested against his skin as though she were holding something precious.
"You too?"
"I am your fiancée." Elowen lifted her chin. "I have the right to hug you."
"Yes, yes." Erik smiled and lowered his head to kiss her forehead. His lips touched her cool skin, carrying a faint scent of fresh milk. "Who said you did not have that right?"
Laviana leaned closer, her red hair brushing over Erik’s shoulder before she kissed his other cheek. Her sweet breath drifted lightly beside his ear.
Erik felt as though he were dancing among a pack of wolves. The moment he escaped one person’s embrace, another pulled him back. The entwining scents made him feel slightly dizzy, yet he found it more interesting than wanting to run away.
Strangely, the cameras did not make them more reserved. Instead, Elowen seemed even more eager to show their closeness, while Laviana enjoyed seeing Erik become embarrassed beneath so many gazes.
"Let’s go to the living room," Erik finally said. "If we keep standing here, I am afraid you will forget that we still have guests watching."
"That would be even better." Laviana hooked her arm through his. Her body pressed close enough for him to clearly feel the soft curves beneath her red dress. "Let them see just how spoiled the man of our household is."
...
The moment Erik entered the living room with Laviana and Elowen, he heard Meira calling from the hallway.
"Master!"
Meira appeared in a pale white dress, her long blonde hair flowing down her back. Her usual noble demeanor disappeared the instant she saw Erik. She hurried over without caring that a camera was pointed in her direction.
Erik had only just opened his arms when Meira threw herself into his embrace. The force of her rush made him step back half a pace, his hand reflexively catching her back as he felt her tall, soft body press against him. The pure scent of her golden hair and skin surrounded him like a warm mist.
"Meira, are you all planning to take turns crashing into me today?"
"I missed Master."
"We have only been apart for a short while."
"That is still a long time."
Meira buried her face in Erik’s chest and tightly hugged his waist. Her warmth passed through his clothes, while the pure scent of her blonde hair lingered around him. When Erik brushed the hair away from her cheek, Meira immediately kissed his palm and playfully touched it with the tip of her tongue.
"Little puppy has been very good today," she declared.
"Is that so?" Erik raised an eyebrow. "This little puppy nearly knocked me over."
"Does Master not like being hugged?"
As she spoke, Meira pressed even closer. Her green eyes were full of teasing, and her body pressed against him enough for him to feel the fullness of her chest and the warmth of her skin beneath the thin dress. Looking at the way she was deliberately acting cute, Erik finally laughed and pulled her into his arms.
"I do. But you should at least give me time to prepare myself."
"Alright. Next time, I will count to three."
"I doubt you will actually count."
Meira smiled, kissed Erik’s cheek, then playfully licked the side of his neck. Her warm tongue slid over his skin, making Erik pull his shoulders back from the ticklish sensation as he raised a hand to stop her.
"Meira!"
"Yes, Master?"
She answered with such an innocent expression that Elowen, standing beside them, had to turn away to hide her smile.
Erik shook his head. His fingers gently stroked through Meira’s hair, feeling its softness and the pure fragrance spreading from every strand. Meira immediately rested her head obediently against his shoulder, but after only a few seconds, she raised her head to ask for another kiss.
"You just kissed me," Erik said.
"That was me kissing Master. Now it is Master’s turn."
That logic left him unable to find a way to argue. In the end, Erik lowered his head and kissed her forehead. His lips touched her warm skin, while Meira closed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction, her breath brushing lightly against his neck.
Laviana laughed from the side.
"I am beginning to feel sorry for Erik. He only has two hands, yet all of you want to keep him to yourselves."
"You have no right to say that." Elowen immediately replied.
"I never said I was innocent."
Laviana stepped forward to adjust Erik’s collar, deliberately smoothing the fabric slowly as her fingertips brushed over his chest through his shirt. Elowen immediately held his other arm, leaving Erik trapped between both of their warmth.
Erik looked at the two hands holding him, then at Meira, who was still leaning against his shoulder.
"I am beginning to understand what prey feels like."
"Prey?" Meira raised her head.
"Mhm. Prey caught between three wolves."
Laviana chuckled softly.
"Then do you plan to run?"
Erik looked at them and slowly shook his head.
"No. I think I am being fed quite well."
All three women burst into laughter. And the moment Erik finished speaking, Laviana took the opportunity to kiss his cheek once more, as though proving his words. Her warm lips lingered long enough for him to catch the sweet scent of her body.
...
While Erik was surrounded by three women, the comments that had just calmed down surged again.
[I once met Lady Meira at an auction. Is that cold woman really acting cute right now?! ??]
[My Partner does not even allow me to sit beside him without permission. Watching this leaves me speechless ??]
[The Elemental Lord calls herself a little puppy? Where did her dignity go?]
[Sir Erik even hugged her back! I thought all men hated being touched by Succubi ??]
[You are all so naive. She probably had to spend mountains of resources to buy one kiss ??]
[Three Succubi fighting to touch a man in public, and he does not even know how to preserve his dignity? ??]
[They are laughing so happily, yet all of you insist that they should be ashamed of being loved?]
A young Succubus in Karin and Velyss’s apartment admitted that she had never once been pulled into her Partner’s arms like that. Karin reminded her that the cameras were still on and that they could not reach a conclusion yet. Velyss only looked at Meira’s smile before calmly replying:
"I do not think someone like Meira needs to act to please an audience."
Karin gave a faint snort, but she did not take her eyes off the screen either.
...
Felyn walked out from the hallway in a light blue dress, her honey-blonde hair falling softly down her back. Her eyes were still covered by the familiar blindfold, but her steps were much steadier than during her first days at the villa.
She placed one hand against the edge of the wall to determine her direction, then slowly walked toward the living room. Erik had spent time helping her become familiar with the house’s layout. After practicing many times, Felyn had always wanted to try walking that familiar route by herself.
The moment Elowen saw her, she released Erik’s hand and moved to step forward.
"Felyn, let me help you."
Erik gently caught her wrist.
"Wait, Elowen. Let her try."
Elowen was slightly surprised, while the cameras had already captured Erik holding her hand.
Criticism immediately flooded the comment section.
[Is she really blind? Why is Erik stopping someone from helping her? ??]
[See? He only likes Succubi who know how to please him. The moment someone needs help, he avoids them immediately ??]
[Someone who has lost her strength should not trouble men anymore. She should know her place ??]
[He was pretending to be gentle earlier. Now he has completely exposed himself ??]
[Wait, why does Felyn still look so happy? It seems like she is trying something herself ??]
Karin immediately sat upright and pointed at the screen. "See? I told you!"
Velyss did not rush to agree. She watched Felyn’s smile, then noticed that Erik was still standing near the chair, close enough to catch her if anything happened.
"Felyn, the chair is to your left," he reminded her.
"I remember." Felyn replied happily. "You have told me several times already."
Erik laughed.
"Alright. Then I will stay quiet."
Felyn slowly continued forward, touched the back of the chair, then found her seat and sat down by herself. The moment she was seated securely, she lifted her face toward Erik’s voice.
"I did it!"
Erik immediately applauded.
"Very good!"
Erik bent down to kiss Felyn’s cheek, then rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. Felyn giggled, reaching out to find his face. Once she touched it, she took the initiative to kiss him back, her lips lingering for an extra moment against his warm skin.
"Where is my reward?" she asked.
"I already rewarded you."
"That was you kissing me." Felyn smiled. "I want to kiss you myself."
Erik froze for a moment, then laughed and allowed her to hold his face a little longer. Her warm hand rested against his cheek as though exploring every contour.
"See, Elowen?" he said as he turned toward her. "She really knows how to demand her rights too."
Felyn nodded happily.
"Of course."
Elowen laughed as well. Her earlier worry gradually disappeared.
"So you are practicing walking through the house by yourself?"
Felyn replied proudly:
"Mhm. I want to be able to do more things myself. If I need help, I will say so."
Erik gently stroked her honey-blonde hair, feeling its softness and the pure fragrance spreading from every strand.
"Felyn has remembered the way. If she wants to try by herself, we can stay beside her and support her. Do not assume that she cannot do anything just because she cannot see."
Elowen nodded.
"I understand. Next time, I will ask first."
"Thank you, Elowen!"
Felyn smiled brightly. Erik looked at her, his gaze softening. He knew that for someone who had lost her sight for so many years, even a short walk could become a memorable victory.
As Felyn happily thanked Elowen, the comments that had been criticizing Erik immediately changed direction.
[Ah... she was practicing walking by herself! I misunderstood ??]
[He stood near her the entire time, and he even remembered exactly how far she had walked. I want to cry ??]
[Who just called Felyn useless? ?? You are the ones looking down on her]
[I still think this is a rehearsed act. No one can be that good all the time.]
[My Partner has never asked me what I want. Just being asked once would make me happy already...]
[Being allowed to do what she wants, then even receiving a kiss as a reward. I am truly jealous]
In Karin’s apartment, the young Succubus from earlier turned to look at her. Karin pressed her lips together and finally admitted that she had misunderstood the situation, though she still refused to trust Erik completely. Velyss did not tease her. She only silently watched Felyn rest her head on his shoulder. Even something as small as being clearly asked whether she needed help was rare at the Council headquarters.
...
At the Men’s Council headquarters, the livestream was still playing on a large screen through a paid account belonging to a serving Succubus. The men watching showed contempt when they saw Erik kiss Felyn’s cheek. Laviana’s former Partner in particular kept complaining that Erik was lowering his own status.
Zeka did not bother responding. He suddenly stopped tapping his nails against the armrest.
He stared intently at Felyn on the screen.
At the moment she raised her hand to touch Erik’s cheek, a very faint streak of light passed over the back of her hand before disappearing. Most viewers simply thought it was light reflecting from the recording equipment.
Zeka did not.
He immediately ordered the serving woman to replay that moment. The frame stopped at the instant Felyn lifted her face and smiled.
The sign was too faint to confirm immediately, but Zeka had seen a similar type of fluctuation on the markings inside the detention area deep beneath the Council headquarters.
His long nails tightened around the armrest. His usual cold expression was replaced by rare shock.
"Spring?!"