After leaving the kitchen, Rory noticed that Paros hadn’t come down for breakfast.

After a moment’s thought, she picked up a tray of food and headed to his room.

When she arrived, Paros was sitting alone on the balcony, staring into the distance, lost in thought.

There was something quietly lonely about his silhouette.

"Knock, knock."

Balancing the tray, Rory tapped lightly on the already open door.

She had noticed this before—Paros rarely closed his door. Every time she had come here, it had been left open, as if he never quite shut the world out.

At the sound, Paros turned.

The moment he saw her, his expression lit up. He rose immediately and walked toward her.

"Rory... what are you doing here?"

He knew she didn’t usually come to his room unless it was to stabilize his mind.

So seeing her here—on her own initiative—made his chest tighten with unexpected joy.

"I noticed you didn’t come eat," Rory said, setting the tray down on the table. "So I brought you breakfast."

She smiled gently.

"Eat while it’s still warm."

Paros looked at her, his heart swelling.

She had brought him food herself.

Was this... a sign she was starting to care about him?

He sat down slowly, accepting the utensils she handed him. The steam from the meal curled upward, blurring his vision slightly.

"Thank you, Rory."

"Actually, I should be thanking you," she said, taking the seat across from him, her tone sincere.

"I heard that you asked Elder Eathan to gather fighters from the Three Domains for Vincent’s squad."

Paros’s hand paused mid-motion.

He looked up at her, a flicker of tension crossing his face.

"Did... Yuel tell you that?"

"Yes." Rory nodded. "Yuel told me everything. And Elder Eathan called me as well."

She met his gaze, earnest and steady.

"Vincent has been trying to recruit warriors from the Three Domains for a long time, but hasn’t had any success."

"This time, it’s thanks to you. Paros... I truly appreciate it."

She meant every word.

Paros didn’t need her gratitude.

Being able to do something for her—for someone she cared about—was already enough.

"I’m happy to help your companions," he said quietly. "I chose to do this."

What he didn’t say was that he wished he could do more for her.

But most things around her were already handled by her partners.

There was little space left for him.

Even learning to cook for her had only been possible after he’d given Wen a gift and convinced him to teach him.

Rory studied him.

His gaze was open, sincere—completely without calculation.

She didn’t doubt him.

And that made things harder.

Because the Paros sitting in front of her... Was not the same Paros who once sought to dominate the entire galaxy.

This version of him—gentler, earnest, almost boyish—was shaped by his unstable mind.

She didn’t know what he would become once he recovered.

The difference between "then" and "now" was too great—like two entirely different people.

And because of that... She had never truly considered forming a bond with him.

"No matter what," she said softly, "I still want to thank you."

"When Vincent returns, I’ll make sure he knows what you did."

Helping this much wasn’t something that could be repaid with just words.

Paros lowered his gaze. A faint shadow passed through his eyes.

So... she hadn’t come because she was starting to accept him.

She had come... on Vincent’s behalf.

For the first time, Paros realized—he was jealous.

Vincent wasn’t just Rory’s first partner—she treated him with a warmth and care Paros could never ignore.

He looked at her, his voice soft, almost hesitant... even tinged with something close to humility.

"Rory... you really didn’t have to come all this way just to thank me."

He lowered his gaze slightly, as if afraid of asking for too much.

"As long as this makes you happy, that’s already the best reward I could ask for."

His voice paused for a moment. His eyes drifted to the breakfast still warm on the table, softening with quiet longing.

"Like this meal..."

"To be able to eat something you brought me yourself... to sit here like this, talking with you in peace..."

He exhaled softly, almost as if afraid the moment might slip away.

"I’m already... very satisfied. Truly."

He knew his place. He couldn’t compare to Vincent or Yuel. He couldn’t even compare to Aren... or Wen.

So he didn’t dare to want too much.

If Rory could just remember him once in a while—say a few words to him, smile at him—that would be enough.

Meanwhile, the Succubus Clan

Summoned back overnight from A-49, Yilan stormed into Melanie’s chamber, her expression dark with irritation.

"Mother, why did you call me back so urgently?"

She had finally met a powerful male on A-49—someone she genuinely liked.

She hadn’t even had the chance to speak to him before being dragged back.

Melanie, who had been having breakfast, immediately waved her partner aside when she saw her daughter.

"Yilan, don’t be angry," she said with a placating smile, guiding her to sit beside her.

"I didn’t mean to interrupt your plans. But I had something important to discuss."

"What could possibly be more important than my bonding?" Yilan snapped.

Melanie placed a piece of fried exotic beast meat into her bowl, smiling gently.

"Didn’t you always want Vincent of the Firebird Clan to become your partner?"

Yilan glanced at the meat in her bowl with clear disdain.

The smell was strong—she hated it.

"Mother, have you lost your mind?" she said coldly. "The Firebird Clan already announced that Vincent has a Female Master."

"Even if I wanted him, I’m too late."

But the bitterness in her voice betrayed her.

When she was young, she had followed Melanie to the Firebird Clan.

That was the first time she saw Vincent.

And from that moment on, she had been captivated.

She had spent years secretly gathering information about him.

Once, when she learned he had gone to the battlefield, she had even brought members of the Succubus Clan to follow him.

She had nearly been captured by the insect swarm that time.

It was Vincent who saved her.

From that day forward, her feelings only deepened.

She tried again and again to see him, but Vincent was always out of reach.

Busy with governance, cultivation, or military duties.

So she turned to prayer.

She prayed to the Beast God, over and over, hoping he would be matched to her.

But the Beast God never listened.

Instead—while she was away—Vincent had been bound to another female.

By the time she found out... It was already too late.

Just thinking about it made her blood boil.

She wanted nothing more than to kill the female who had taken him from her.

Melanie noticed the anger flickering in her daughter’s eyes and gently patted her hand.

"Yilan... what if I told you..." Her voice lowered, carrying a dangerous promise. "That I now have a way to make Vincent sever his bond with that Rory?"

Yilan froze.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Mother... is that true? There’s really a way to break a bond?"

Melanie nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Of course it’s true. When have I ever lied to you?"

She paused, then added deliberately, "But Vincent is already someone else’s partner now. If he becomes yours afterward... would you feel disgusted?"

To most females, a male who had already bonded was considered tainted.

If Vincent weren’t a Rank Eleven powerhouse, Melanie would never even consider him for her daughter.

But Yilan didn’t hesitate for even a second.

"Mother—that’s Vincent." Her voice was firm, almost reverent. "How could I ever despise him?"