The Auryn family lived an extravagant life and was one of the richest families in Lioris and even the whole beastworld kingdom. From the army to government officials, you could find the members of the Auryn fox family everywhere.

Nytherael obviously grew up in a wealthy environment. Being the second young master in the family and the only one who managed to grow out all his nine tails, he was pampered and spoilt all his life. Which is why he never learnt to truly value anything he had.

The first thing he did was go to a salon to dye his hair, which had been silvery-white with golden roots, into a completely different color. He remained undecided on the new colour but anything would beat his original hair colour.

"Master, people’s lives are in danger because of you, and you have time to come to a spa?"

"I only came here because of you," Nytherael defended himself.

"Because of me?"

"Mm."

"How so?"

"You’re the one who said I ruined the world. A year and a half has passed, yet people still haven’t forgotten the incident so its expected that they haven’t forgotten that I am the cause. That means right now I’m public enemy number one... I can’t go out looking like myself. People will tear me apart out there."

"So your plan is to just change your hair color?"

"My hair, my eyes, my body... I’m going to change everything. I’m not going to gamble with my life."

"Spoken like a true fox."

"I am a fox."

Yiwa gave him a thumbs up, pulled a chair and sat down. He was afraid to keep talking to Nytherael. The fox’s mind was difficult for him to understand or reason with.

"Sir, which color would you prefer?" the peacock beast-woman working at the salon asked.

"Give me a few minutes to choose."

Nytherael carefully examined the available colors. Once again, he drifted into his thoughts, a faint smile appearing as he tried to imagine which color would appeal to Aeltharion and Sseraphis.

"I really love your golden eyes, beloved. They go so well with your hair," he remembered Sseraphis once saying while playing with his hair.

A pang of pain struck Nytherael as he recalled that day. Now, he could only feel Sseraphis’ love through memories.

Sseraphis himself had gone far away from him. And Nytherael feared that everything they had gone through together wouldn’t be enough to move Sseraphis’s heart to forgive him.

"If I come before you with a different hair color... will you even look at me?"

"That depends on how you’ll look," Yiwa replied.

Nytherael’s thoughts were cut short. He turned and looked at Yiwa with sharp, lion-like eyes. "Who asked you?"

"Why ask a question if you don’t want an answer?" Yiwa shot back.

"You... have you really forgotten that I’m your boss?"

"No, Master, I haven’t forgotten that," he said, standing up and walking closer before extending his hand. "First, pay me my wages for the past year and a half. Your debt to me is four thousand one hundred and twenty-six silver shards and five cents," he calculated.

Nytherael blinked in shock. Yiwa had recited the exact amount without hesitation, without needing to check any book or record... clearly, he had been calculating that debt every single day.

"You stayed by my side because of shards? And here I thought you cared about me!"

"I do care about you, but a person still has to eat. And life has become very hard these days because of someone..." he said, boldly blaming Nytherael for the rising economy. "How will you pay me? I’ll accept any form of payment; gold shards, silver, bronze, even essence cores or bond sigils. What do you have?"

Yiwa asked, fully aware that Nytherael was wealthy. To him, that debt was nothing. When it came to riches, his master hailed among Kings and ministers.

"I’ll pay what I owe you. Don’t worry. Shards aren’t a problem for me."

"I know. I’m just reminding you."

Nytherael took out his pouch of shards and immediately counted out five thousand gold shards, handing them over.

Yiwa and the peacock woman fell silent. Their eyes fixed on the shards as though they were witnessing an angel descending.

In the current economy, seeing that many shards in one place, especially gold ones, was nothing short of a miracle.

"Now I don’t owe you anymore. And I’ve added a little extra for staying by my side while the world forgot me."

Yiwa’s jaw dropped. A little extra? The amount Nytherael had given him was so much that his mind nearly stopped working. He wouldn’t be able to finish it in a long time,especially since he’s an economist by nature and preferred saving than spending shards.

The peacock woman quietly excused herself to fetch the hair dyes. On the way, she met a fellow worker and immediately started gossiping excitedly.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"My client... is unbelievably handsome. And ridiculously rich!"

"No way."

"I’m serious."

"But how do you know he’s rich?"

"His servant was asking for a debt of over four thousand silver shards... and he paid him five thousand in gold."

"Huh?"

"I’m telling you. If someone gave me that kind of wealth right now. The things I would do with that kind of amount."

"Is he hiring. I would love to work for him," her co-worker spoke full of envy.

"I wouldn’t know about that. It’s not like I’m close to him."

"And his face...tell me properly."

The peacock woman paused, beginning to recall exactly what Nytherael looked like.

His soft masculine elegance that was half-feminine beauty and half-manly presence. His dual-eyes, a mix of gold and pale crimson that looked exceptionally alluring. Not to touch on his fair skin with faint golld undertone and his dreamy silvery-white hair with golden roots, it was breathtaking.

"I am not sure why he wishes to dye his hair. He is perfect just the way he is."

"Well, you better return to him before he costs you your job. You know how wealthy people are," her co-worker reminded her.

She quickly returned to her post. Just then, the doors were pushed open and two beastmen walked in hand-in-hand, looking every picture of a couple.

"Welcome to Flatulent unicorn," she greeted with a courtesy bow before raising her hjead to examine the new clients.

Her jaw dropped,hard. Beastmen more appealing and capable of rivaling Nytherael in looks stood before her. One feminine and the other masculine.

"Sseraphis, I told you that i don’t need a treatment," the masculine beast spoke.

"And I insist on treating you a relaxing day," Sseraphis spoke out. "Its not everyday I leave the abyss and come to see you. So you must let me have my way, my sweetest constant," he countered knowing Aeltharion wouldn’t be able to say no to him anyway.

There concersation drew Nythearel’s gaze over. His entire body stilled as he sighted the subjects of his affetions and yearning. The reason for his existance.

"Aeltharion... Sseraphis," he called out, rising to his feet.

The two whose names got called froze in place. On instinct they both snapped towards Nytherael at the same time and went wide-eyed at the figure before them.

"Hey..." Nytherael greeted.

The rage that rose inside Sseraphis was enough to burn a nation. Seeing Nytherael’s face after a year and a half since the fox ruined his happy home.

"It pains me to see you still live..." he spoke, breathing out venom as he struggled to contain his anger.

"SSe..."

"Don’t call me with that filthy mouth of yours, Nytherael. Don’t test me!" Sseraphis growled, venom pulsing through his veins.

Nytherael bit his lip. Just thinking that Sseraphis hated him...and seeing it with his own eyes...hurt beyond measure.

He clenched his fists, blinking back his tears. He had imagined their reunion amillion times in his head since he woke up. But all the simulations he ran couldn’t prepare him for the real heartbreaking moment. Especially since the reunion fell on his lap, unplanned.

"I never knew your heart was capable of loving so many people until I saw it for myself, Nythe. I never believed you could do something like that to me and Aeltharion."

"Sserap..."

"Don’t call my name, you traitor!" Sseraphis raised his voice. The sound that left his mouth was not just his alone, it was as if all nine of his serpent heads were speaking at once, answering Nytherael. "Hearing my name from your lips makes me hate it so much... Please... have some respect for yourself and for me...and stop calling my name."

The whole time, Aeltharion remain quiet. He simply observed the his lovers’ bitter exchange in soft silence.

"You’ve got some nerve coming back."

"But I have come back."

"It’s too late," Sseraphis shut him down, he turned affectionately to Aeltharion, his hostility towards Nytherael lacking in his warm violet-black eyes, "Let me treat you somewhere else, my constant."

"Little truth, please hear me out," Nytherael tried to plead his case.

"Don’t call me that either!" Sseraphis warned, he took Aeltharion’s hand and turned to leave.

"Lightning," he whispered longingly.

Aeltharion stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing the familiar nickname,his long black hair felt alive as silver streaks lit up on their edges and Nytherael instantly understood it as him being extremely enraged.

"He’s not worth it," Sseraphis spoke, breaking Aeltharion’s daze and pulling him forward. "And, we are better off without him," he said loudly for Nytherael to hear before storming off with Aeltharion.