"Female Master, don’t stop me. I’m going to beat him today." Xarion’s voice was low and dangerous, his eyes fixed on Aren.

At that moment, the head guard hurried in from outside.

"Lady Roanna." He stopped before her and bowed slightly. "Lady Melanie from the succubus clan has arrived with several elders. They are outside the estate... requesting to see you."

Melanie, huh?

A cold smile curved at Rory’s lips. She hadn’t gone to settle accounts yet—and Melanie had delivered herself to the door.

"Melanie?" Aren tilted his head, confusion written across his face. "Who’s that?"

The name felt... familiar. And unpleasant.

But he couldn’t remember why.

Xarion, already simmering with anger, let out a cold laugh.

"She’s your mother."

Aren blinked, then looked at him with pure confusion.

"Father, then why aren’t you with my mother? Why are you always so close to my female master?"

For a split second, everything went still.

Then, Xarion shivered. The veins at his temple bulged, his blood pressure spiking as rage surged uncontrollably.

This idiot.

He was going to kill him.

"Aren!"

The name came out through clenched teeth as Xarion’s fist shot forward with terrifying force.

"Xarion!"

Rory reacted instantly, wrapping her arms around him from behind and holding him tight.

His punch stopped just short.

"Calm down, calm down. He’s not in his right mind. Don’t argue with him."

Xarion glared at Aren like he wanted to tear him apart.

Rory held him firmly, dragging him back slightly while giving Jasper a look.

Jasper immediately understood. He stepped forward and pulled Aren behind him, shielding him.

"I know you’ve had it rough," Rory murmured softly, one hand patting Xarion’s chest to steady him. "I’ll deal with him. He won’t make you eat fruit anymore, alright?"

Aren, sensing the tension at last, peeked out from behind Jasper, looking at Xarion with a hint of unease.

Why was father angry again?

He frowned. Was it because he was hungry?

With that thought, he suddenly turned and ran back into the kitchen.

The moment Xarion saw him go, his body stiffened instinctively.

And sure enough, Aren came running back moments later, holding the biggest, roundest fruit he could find.

"Father, don’t be mad." His voice was soft and careful. "I brought you fruit."

Xarion stared at him in silence.

...Forget it.

Let the world burn.

He just wanted to die.

Rory looked at Xarion’s utterly defeated expression, both amused and sympathetic.

Seeing that he had finally stopped trying to attack, she gently took his hand and turned to the head guard.

"Bring Melanie and the others to the front hall," she said calmly. "Tell them I’ll be there shortly."

"Yes."

The head guard bowed and left.

As soon as he was gone, Rory cupped Xarion’s face and kissed him gently on the cheek, soothing him.

"Don’t be angry anymore. Come with me to the front hall later."

Xarion’s expression softened instantly. He nodded, still a little aggrieved.

Since his female master had kissed him... he would let Aren off—for now.

He quickly turned his head, presenting the other side of his face. "This side too."

Rory couldn’t help but smile. She leaned in and kissed his other cheek.

Aren opened his mouth to say something—only for Jasper to react instantly and cover it.

"Please, just stop talking," Jasper muttered. "He’s really not your father."

"He’s from the Snow Wolf Clan. You’re from the succubus clan. You’re not even the same species."

At that moment, Wen walked out of the kitchen.

"Female Master, the meal is ready."

Rory nodded with a smile and said to Xarion, Jasper, and Aren, "Let the succubus clan wait in the front hall. We’ll eat first."

After what they had done to Aren, letting them wait was the least they deserved.

"Sister!"

Paros stepped out of his room and quickly walked over to her.

He looked a little tired.

"Paros, what’s wrong? You don’t look well. Is your mental energy unstable again?" Rory asked with concern.

Paros shook his head. "No. I just didn’t sleep well."

He had been coiled around her door handle, resting while guarding her.

Until Xarion found him... and tied his dragon body into a knot.

He had only just managed to untangle himself.

Still, he said nothing.

He remembered the advice he’d been given—maintain good relations with her companions.

So far, he had no idea how.

But making things worse was definitely not the answer.

Rory wasn’t entirely convinced. She extended her mental energy to check him carefully. Only after confirming he was fine did she relax.

Then she led everyone to the dining room.

Aren sat beside her and asked softly, "Female Master... can I go to the front hall later too?"

He looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"I want to see what my mother looks like."

And... why had she come here looking for his female master instead of him?

Rory paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. I’ll take you."

It was time.

She had already decided to keep him.

The succubus clan needed to understand—Aren belonged to her now.

No one would touch him again.

As for Melanie and the rest of them, if they refused to listen to reason, then Xarion’s fists would make them listen.

And everything they had done to Aren... she would repay it, piece by piece.

***

In the front hall, Melanie and several elders had already been waiting for nearly an hour.

They had been waiting for nearly an hour.

And not even a glimpse of Rory.

Worse, the estate guards stood like statues—no tea, no water, nothing.

Melanie’s patience had long since run out. Her beautifully composed face was now twisted with irritation and anger.

"What exactly does this Rory think she’s doing? Making us wait this long—what arrogance!"

One of the elders frowned and chimed in, "Indeed. This female has no sense of etiquette. We are guests—how can she treat us with such disrespect?"

The others nodded in agreement.

"Outrageous."

"Completely unreasonable."

The more Melanie thought about it, the angrier she became.

"She’s stalling. She knows we’re here for Aren and doesn’t dare hand him over. He must be here."

Her eyes darkened.

A female like that wasn’t worthy of her son.

She strode to the door and snapped at the head guard outside, "Go tell Rory to bring my son out immediately!"

Her words had barely fallen when a cool, faintly lazy voice drifted in from the entrance.

"You call others rude, yet come to someone else’s home and shout like this. Is that your idea of manners?"

Melanie and the elders turned sharply.

There she was.

Walking in calmly—with Aren at her side.

Behind her stood Xarion, Jasper, Wen, and Paros.

Melanie’s gaze locked instantly onto Aren.

Whole.

Unharmed.

Not a trace of injury remained.

Even the energy that had been drained from him... restored.

Shock flickered through her eyes. How was that possible? Had he... eaten the Beast God Fruit himself?

But the shock lasted only a moment.

It was swallowed whole by fury.

"Aren!" Melanie shrieked and rushed forward, raising her hand to strike him.

"You unfilial wretch!"

The slap came fast and hard, but before it could land, a slender, pale hand caught her wrist midair.

The force tightened just enough to make her bones ache.

Rory looked at her, eyes cold as ice.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Melanie struggled, but couldn’t break free.

"I’m disciplining my own son! What does that have to do with you? Let go!"

As she spoke, she glared viciously at Aren.

"How did you get here? Did she bring you out—or did you steal the Beast God Fruit and escape on your own?"

Aren stared at her.

Something twisted in his chest.

Disgust.

He turned away, tugging lightly at Xarion’s sleeve, his voice small and aggrieved.

"Father... you lied to me."

He glanced back at Melanie, frowning.

"That crazy woman... she can’t be my mother."

Melanie froze.

Her expression shattered, anger giving way to disbelief.

Her hand trembled.

"You... what did you just call him?"