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chapter 8
There are things in the world that change yet remain the same.
Velita woke up to the cheerful chirping of birds.
“Morning… I guess.”
Her blurry vision caught the window across from her. Beyond it, the sky had cleared as if the downpour had never happened. Birds busied themselves flitting from tree to tree.
She had likely been trapped in the seal for over 500 years. Yet the morning song of the birds was the same as it had been centuries ago.
“How many times has that bird nested?”
Maybe even longer than 500 years. Over that time, the bird must have raised hundreds of chicks just to survive until today.
“I slept so well for the first time in ages.”
Still, she didn’t care to know exactly how much time had passed. Human concepts of time are fluid, constantly revised by the rulers of each era.
“The last calendar I knew… it was the Hilaide system, I think.”
Even if she checked now—Komar Calendar, year 58; Kobe Calendar, year 210—it wouldn’t tell her how long she had truly been trapped. Demons live for tens of thousands of years, beyond the trends of human calendars.
“And, more importantly…”
More importantly, she had neither the energy nor the desire to trace meaningless, already-passed time. She was too tired to dwell on it.
Velita rolled her eyes and glanced at the bed beside her.
“Hmm…”
Silvester had wrapped his arms tightly around her in his sleep.
Her gaze fell on his messy, crow’s-nest hair. She recalled last night.
His movements, recklessly driven by pure pleasure, certainly confirmed that he had no prior experience.
Honestly…
…
It was good.
Perhaps because of his physique, any touch brought her more pleasure than most men could offer.
Damn, he was that skilled…
“Ah… I think I’m going crazy…”
It felt like he had been born just to do this.
…
Of course, Velita hadn’t simply let herself be carried away by Silvester’s teasing.
Being purely passive would have bruised a demon’s pride, so her natural stubbornness took over. Yet from that lean body, how did he generate such strength? Silvester was…
“One more time. Just one more, haah, please.”
“We’ve already… done it twice.”
“You said it was good… and now you want to stop?”
“….”
“Already done…?”
“….”
“If you’re tired, there’s nothing I can do. But just this much…”
“…Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Do it.”
“What?”
“Let’s do it. Third, fourth, tenth time, whatever—let’s do it. Come on, try it.”
Provoked by her pride, he pushed again.
Velita couldn’t forget that shameless face.
While his mouth asked if it was already over, his body subtly tested her boundaries. That teasing laugh and calm, nonchalant attitude…
“Infuriating.”
The first-timer had somehow learned how to coax and manipulate with his body.
So, after wrestling back and forth four or five times, it was only when her body finally exhausted and collapsed that Velita managed to speak through her sore throat.
“Let’s… make a contract.”
“….”
Hot breath spilled over her neck.
His warm exhalation pressed down on her shoulders like a weight. A lingering thrill ran down her spine.
Silvester’s messy hair brushed against her skin. Her whole body was sticky with sweat.
He pressed his lips against her skin.
“A contract?”
“Yes. A contract.”
Velita answered, and Silvester smiled softly, like a beast who had just feasted.
“What kind of contract?”
“A contract that fulfills your wish.”
Silvester was silent for a moment. His hesitant lips lightly nibbled at her neck.
“Can… that really be done?”
“Haven’t you ever heard of a demon’s contract?”
Silvester shook his head. Her cheek brushed the back of his neck.
“….”
There was a moment of silence.
“If that… really…”
Breaking that silence, Silvester held Velita close and whispered.
“If it’s really possible…”
His voice was deep, like molten iron sinking into the earth.
“Tell me.”
That cavernous voice seemed to have lost all light, hollowed out completely.
“How… do I… make it happen?”
Though her position hid his face, Velita could sense the expression he wore. His previously relaxed voice now trembled with desperation.
“How… can it… be done?”
And Velita knew that face—the one born only of desperation.
“The contract…”
Driven to the brink, thirsting for just a sliver of hope…
“….”
Even Velita, who liked honesty, found Silvester’s response strangely displeasing.
She looked at him sleeping before her, ruffled his hair for no reason.
Many had made wishes to him before, but Velita never imagined Silvester himself would wish for something.
Her mischievous hand brushed across his smooth forehead.
“Then for me…”
Next, she traced the sharp bridge of his nose, then his thin eyelids, his slightly swollen lips.
“I don’t need anything else.”
Her hand wandered to his smooth chest.
“…I want to be happy.”
Her hand stopped.
Those vague words accompanied the hot droplets that fell on his shoulder blade. Velita could easily tell they weren’t sweat.
“Why… tears, all of a sudden?”
The man who seemed incapable of shedding a drop of blood now cried without showing his face. Their entwined bodies trembled slightly.
“…Haah.”
Recalling the warmth of last night’s tears, Velita exhaled. She felt Silvester’s heart beating under her hand.
After a moment’s thought, he lingered on the sensation before shifting his position.
“…I should get up soon.”
The arms that had held her tightly were easier to free than expected. Velita pulled back the blanket and rose from bed.
“Mm…”
Silvester groaned as she left the empty space. Velita, stretching her stiff back, picked up the clothes she had thrown off yesterday.
“…Where are you going?”
A deep voice called out.
“Oh… you’re awake.”
“Where are you going?”
“To wash.”
That must be the bathroom. Velita walked toward the worn door, answering casually.
“Ah…”
Silvester muttered behind her.
“I thought you’d just take my first and throw it away.”
He had feared that after a night together, his ‘wife’ would run away. He sighed in relief and lay back under the blanket.
She’s not my wife, he thought. Velita was exasperated but didn’t argue further, opening the bathroom door.
Velita entered, and the door shut behind her. Silvester moistened his dry lips, watching her back.
In truth, he had believed he had no sexual desire—but last night proved otherwise.
Silvester had lost all restraint. He loved that Velita had climbed onto him without hesitation, loved that her beautiful eyes looked only at him as soon as she woke.
He loved that her delicate hands had pressed against his neck, that she admitted she hadn’t intended to kill him.
He had been overwhelmed simply by taking her first time.
If someone had seen, they might have asked how he could feel such intense emotion for a woman he had just met.
But Silvester had seen Velita countless times already—since the day he had obtained her portrait, she was the only one in his life.
“You wouldn’t understand this feeling.”
Though Velita had seen him for the first time yesterday, he had not seen her for the first time.
So when he saw her leave the bed, he asked where she was going, worried she might treat last night as nothing more than a one-time amusement.
“Ha…”
Silvester stretched his legs and washed his face, trying to ignore the lingering strain in his lower abdomen as he recalled last night.
…Good.
Really good.
Velita shook out the still-damp hair.
“A bit disappointing that it’s wet, but definitely refreshing.”
She didn’t even remember the last time she washed properly. She combed through her wet curls with her fingers.
“Are your clothes uncomfortable to move in?”
Silvester leaned on the doorframe, gesturing with his chin.
Only then did Velita notice her sleeves folded three times. She finally grasped Silvester’s size.
Though tall, he was lean, but his natural build was larger than expected.
Even the loose clothes that seemed too big for her fit him perfectly.
“Ah, it’s fine.”
She adjusted her sleeves again and looked at Silvester.
He had promised to play the role of a husband. Indeed, he had prepared clothes for her while she washed.
He added little remarks—saying the house was empty, the sleeves were long but suited her, and so on.
After folding up her sleeves and pant hems several times, he finally washed himself.
Since it was summer, it would dry quickly, and recently he had even gone to wash both their clothes at the tap.
Silvester suddenly spoke.
“I think I need to work harder from now on.”
“Work harder at what?”
“My work. I’ve had reasons for slacking before, but now I’ll take orders for paintings more actively. That way, I can earn money to buy you pretty clothes.”
Now that you’re here. He added that silently.
“Even if the clothes are fine.”
“What if my husband ran away because he couldn’t get his wife a single outfit?”
No, he’s just a lover. Why keep calling me his wife? Velita shook off her water again.
“Well then, I’ll happily leave it in your hands.”
She gave up correcting him. Wife, lover, spouse—he seemed to mix them without any sense of consistency. Might as well let it stick.
Velita set a table and faced Silvester.
“Shall we start the contract?”
“Oh, the contract.”
Silvester nodded.
“Wasn’t the contract already done yesterday?”
“No, no. A demon’s contract is different from a human verbal agreement.”
“I didn’t expect you to take it so seriously…”
Silvester shook his head and laughed.
“It has to be serious. This will be my final contract.”
“Why?”
“Well… there’s a reason. You don’t need to know, little one.”
“You sleep with little ones…?”
Silvester muttered amusingly to himself. Oh, he even makes side comments.
“Anyway, we’ll really start now.”
Velita reached across the table, signaling she wanted something.
He had nothing in his hands, so the meaning was obvious. Silvester obediently extended his hand.
The moment Velita clasped it…
Flash.
Her eyes glowed bright red.
A power beyond human reach radiated from her. Behind her, it seemed a massive pair of wings appeared.
Finally, her seductive lips parted, and a deep demon voice escaped.
“[…State your wish.]”
