The Eclipsed Bloom-Chapter 115: Crimson Onslaught

A middle-aged woman in a classic maid uniform stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Welcome, Duke. I am Alicia, head maid of the estate. Please feel free to call on me for anything."

Himeros gave a simple nod of acknowledgment.

Still flustered, I quickly pulled my head away from her chest, trying to reclaim at least some dignity.

"Show me where my wife and I will be staying," Himeros said calmly.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wife? When did I become—"

Before I could finish, she placed a finger gently on my lips, silencing me with a knowing smile.

Alicia turned toward me with a polite, practiced smile. "Welcome, Duchess. It’s an honor to serve you. Please, follow me and I’ll show you to your chambers."

I stared blankly, completely thrown off Duchess? Me?

Before I could protest, Himeros wrapped an arm around my waist again and grinned.

I couldn’t even process how fast things were moving. One moment I was trying to escape her, and now... apparently I had a title and a room?

’What kind of twisted fairy tale is this?’

Walking inside, the soft brush of red carpet underfoot met my eyes first. The mansion was vast—its walls painted in elegant shades of blue and white, adorned with ornate decorations and glimmering chandeliers that hung like floating stars. It felt like a dream. Or more accurately—a trap dressed like a dream.

"You’ll be my duchess," Himeros said with a dreamy smile. "Don’t worry. We’ll marry and live here, just the two of us."

I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm building inside me. I don’t want to lash out and again get myself kidnapped.

"Himeros," I said firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently removing her arm from around my waist.

Looking straight into her vivid pink eyes, I spoke the truth—calmly.

"I’m a married woman. I have wives. They’re probably terrified, wondering where I am right now. I need to go back. So please... either send me home or at least give me my powers back."

The moment the words left my mouth, her expression darkened. Shadows passed over her once-cheerful face. She leaned in, her voice low and possessive as her breath brushed my ear.

"Darling... I don’t want to force myself on you. I want you to feel the love I have for you. I want you to choose me."

Her eyes shimmered with emotion—love, devotion, obsession—it was all tangled together.

And that was the real problem.

’How can she love me this deeply when she doesn’t even know me properly?’

Was it real affection? Or a twisted fantasy she had painted over me?

Hemiros POV

Seeing her hesitant face, I hid my hands behind my back, fingers clenched so tightly my nails dug into my flesh.

I gently pressed my forehead against hers and whispered, "Darling... don’t force me, okay? If you won’t stay with me, then I’ll remove the memories of your wives from your head."

Her expression shifted to anger, and I cupped her cheek gently.

"I don’t want to turn you into a puppet. I just want you to feel the love I have for you. That’s all," I murmured.

Turning to Alicia, I gave a quiet command. "Alicia, lead the way to the master room."

Alicia bowed and began ascending the stairs.

I wrapped my arm around Zara’s waist again and started walking with her. To my surprise, she didn’t resist this time. She walked beside me in silence.

But when I glanced at her face, my heart nearly stopped.

She was trying not to cry.

With trembling hands, I reached up and wiped the single tear that escaped down her cheek.

"W-what happened, darling?" frёewebnoѵēl.com

She glared at me, her voice sharp and full of pain.

"I’m not your darling. Why do all of you treat me like some puppet? What do you even get from this? Why do you keep threatening to erase the people I love? That Anahi and now you why"

Her words pierced me like a blade, and something in my chest twisted—tightened—as if gripped by a demon’s claw. I didn’t want to see her cry. Not like this.

Zara POV:

Suddenly, my vision blurred. My breathing slowed. My eyes... they were turning white.

[WARNING! WARNING! Host, control your emotions! WARNING: Crimson Onslaught skill is initiating!]

What?

My body felt weightless. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and I could feel that if I wanted, I could destroy anything; this feeling is addictive.

Before I could process what was happening—

A soft, familiar sensation pressed against my lips.

A kiss.

The fog lifted. The overwhelming rage stopped building. My vision cleared, returning to color and form.

I blinked, startled as colour returned to my eyes.

Hemiros had kissed me. Not forcefully... but just enough to snap me out of it.

’W-what happened? Why did I feel like I wasn’t myself anymore...?’

Hemiros gently parted from the kiss, her gaze meeting mine. For the first time, the obsessive possessiveness that always clouded her eyes was... gone. There was only softness. Gentle longing.

She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes, her arms wrapping around me like she was afraid I would vanish if she let go.

"Please... don’t leave me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I waited for you so long... for so many years, I forgot who I even was."

Her words cracked something inside me. There was pain—so much pain—wrapped in her every syllable. Like if I said no right now, she would shatter completely.

"If... if you live with me here... just for one year—just one year with me, alone," her voice broke as she tried to hold herself together, "I promise... I promise after that I won’t stop you from seeing your wives."

She lifted her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But you have to promise me... marry me now. Become mine. Please..."

Her voice faltered near the end, raw and fragile.

Seeing her fragile face, I hesitated parting my lips to answer, but couldn’t find words.

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