I sat there completely flabbergasted, my brain trying to process the heavy, violent implications behind those marks... cus wtf, ’boyfriend’?!
Seeing my sudden, frozen expression, Aveline let out a laugh, soft and a little sad.
She reached up with both hands, gently cupping my face with her warm palms, her eyes locking onto mine through the dim living room light.
Without giving me a time to figure out what she’s supposed to be doing.
She leaned forward, tilting her head, and softly pressed her lips against my bottom lip— a quick, teasing little kiss that tasted like sweet frost-berries and strong alcohol before she pulled back just an inch.
"Yes, I do have a boyfriend," she said, pulling back just enough to look at me properly. "But honestly, I don’t know if you could even call him that anymore. He’s... he’s actually the main reason why I keep getting bullied every single day. He controls basically everything I do, and he knows exactly what’s happening to me because of him— but he just sits back and lets them do it."
I sat with that for a second, no reply.
She let out a long, shuddering sigh, and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around me in a loose hug, her forehead dropping against my shoulder. "I asked him once why he wouldn’t just step in. Why he never defends me... but he just looked at me and said, ’It’s your lesson to understand why you need me more.’ Yeah. That’s what he told me."
I stared down at her in absolute disbelief, my hands unconsciously tightening around her waist as a heavy, irritated sigh escaped my chest. "Isn’t that... total bullshit? That’s... that’s completely retarded... ಠ,_｣ಠ... Why can’t you just break up with that toxic bastard? That’s pretty manipulative too."
"Manipulative? Really?"
I nodded.
Aveline let out another quiet, hollow chuckle against my neck, though her body began to stiffen. "I know... It’s dumb. It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud, but I can’t just break up with him... Somehow, once upon a time, he was actually kind. He was... someone you could genuinely be comfortable around. But the moment his family suddenly gained massive political power in the capital and got promoted to high nobility, he just... changed. All at once. Like someone had flipped a switch somewhere I couldn’t see."
As the words left her mouth, the drunken haze keeping her defenses up finally cracked.
The sheer weight of everything— the relentless daily physical abuse from the academy bullies, the terrifying control of a possessive relationship, the crushing pressure of her family’s expectations —overflowed all at once.
She bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, pressing her forehead firmly against my chest.
Her small frame began to tremble violently, quiet, breathless sobs breaking through her throat as tears finally spilled over her lashes, dampening the fabric of my gray t-shirt.
"I just... I can’t bring myself to break up with him," she sobbed softly, her voice cracking under the strain. "Because a part of me keeps foolishly hoping that maybe, just maybe... he might change back into the kind person he used to be."
I placed one hand over my face, letting out a dark glare toward the ceiling as I listened to her breakdown.
I hated emotional drama. I hated getting dragged into other people’s tragic backstory baggage even more.
But looking at this normally hyperactive, cheerful girl breaking down in my lap, I couldn’t just throw her off.
I wrapped both arms firmly around her waist, pulling her securely against my chest so she felt grounded, and began lightly patting her back in a steady, comforting rhythm.
"Yeah... Don’t worry," I muttered quietly, my tone softening just a fraction. "You know? For now... you can just stay right here and feel safe."
Just for now, I added silently in my own head. Sorry, Aveline, but I really don’t have the time or energy to help you resolve your high-society relationship drama. I’ve got my own survival to worry about.
DING—
The universe, however, clearly had a very different opinion on my life choices.
『 EMERGENCY SIDE QUEST」
[Side Quest: DOMESTIC THREAT]
• Objective: Address and resolve the "Boyfriend" situation.
• Rewards:
+15% Intimidation
+50 Mana
+Trait: Undying Loyalty (Aveline)
• Penalty for Failure: Get entangled in high-tier noble net drama OR roll a 60% Chance of Spontaneous Death.」
I staring at the floating pink text with a completely straight flat, soul-crushed expression.
ᄒᴥᄒ... What the fuck...
I thought...
A long, tired sigh escaped my lips, blowing my bangs out of my eyes. "Seems like plans just changed..." I muttered under my breath, my voice flat.
But as my eyes lingered on the massive +50 Mana reward, a dark, dangerous smirk slowly crept onto my face. Well... 50 points of mana is 50 points of mana.
And actually... I’m still debating weather if I should help her but that is resolved now... this is actually exactly what I’ve been waiting for.
...
Blinked.
...
...
...
Sigh.
...
With Aveline still quietly weeping into my shoulder, I reached down, gently slid my fingers beneath her chin, and lifted her face so she was forced to look at me.
Her cheeks were flushed red, her eyes glistening with fresh tears as she blinked up at me through her trembling eyelashes, breath still hitching every second.
"Stop," I muttered softly, my thumb reaching up to gently wipe away a stray tear from the corner of her eye.
She squeezed her eyes shut, another quiet, hitching sob catching in her throat as her hands clutched tightly at my shoulders. "Rex, I—"
I didn’t let her finish. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against hers for a brief, heavy second to still her movement before slightly tilting my head.
Softly, deliberately, I pressed my lips against her closed, trembling eyelid, lingering there until the terrified shivers running through her body slowly began to melt away under the warmth of the touch.
"He’s dead to you," I whispered directly against her skin, my grip around her waist tightening just enough to anchor her firmly against my lap. "Understand?"
She took a shaky breath, her lashes fluttering open as she gave me a small, obedient nod. "Yeah..."
"Good girl."
Aveline let out a faint, watery sniffle, then reached out with both hands to cup my face once again.
She stared down at me with teary, luminous eyes, a soft, mischievous smile suddenly cracking through her crying expression. "Rex... am I really drunk right now?"
I gave her a nod. "Probably. Definitely."
A small, breathtakingly reckless smile touched her lips.
Without another word, she leaned down, shoved her face against mine, and pressed her lips to mine.
Before I could even process the sudden reaction, she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and pushed her weight forward, forcing me flat against the cushions of the couch.
She deepened the kiss instantly, her mouth soft, urgent, and hot against mine as the lingering taste of sweet frost-berries washed over us.
She pulled back just an inch, her heavy, dark eyes staring into mine as she whispered against my lips, "This is just an accident, then."
I stared back at her, keeping my mouth shut for a second as the room spun slightly.
Then, I gave a slow, resigned nod. "Yeah. Just an accident."
Taking that as green light, Aveline leaned back down, capturing my lips once more while her hand slowly drifted down my chest.
Her fingers hooked beneath the hem of my loose gray t-shirt, dragging the fabric upward until it gathered above my ribs.
Her fingernails traced a light, intoxicating path over the toned ridges of my abs, sending a sharp, electric shiver straight up my spine.
I let her do it. I lay there on the couch, letting her take control, letting the heat of the booze and the moment completely blur the lines of sanity.
Until I couldn’t take the teasing anymore.
A low scoff escaped my throat. "I’m really not into being dominated."
Aveline laughed softly against my neck, a husky, breathless sound. "Then stop me."
I didn’t hesitate.
I reached out, wrapping my fingers firmly around the wrist that was tracing my chest.
In one smooth, fluid motion, I sat up, hauling her along with me so she landed firmly right back on my lap.
With my free hand, I grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled it completely over my head, tossing it onto the floor beside the couch.
Aveline’s breath caught.
A deep, fiery blush bloomed across her cheeks and chest as her eyes swept over my bare torso.
She leaned closer, her hesitation evaporating as she pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, then drifted to my earlobe, before dragging her lips down the sensitive length of my throat.
She pressed her mouth firmly against the skin of my neck, sucking softly until a dark, undeniable mark bloomed beneath her touch.