Lucien was held by Lisa’s thorns, the barbs piercing through his skin.

Then he heard an explosion. Fire engulfed everything around him.

He expected the flames to burn, but they were warm and soothing. They engulfed the thorns, roasting them into nothing.

Lisa was also engulfed, letting out a scream of pain. After a few moments, the screams fell silent.

He was dazed by the flames’ wrath.

He didn’t know if Lisa was dead. He didn’t care. But a part of him wanted to look. The rest of him was just glad the thorns were gone.

His attention shifted to the sound of footsteps. Like music.

From the engulfing flames, a beauty stepped out.

Flaming red hair. Eyes like burning embers. And a face that stirred something in his memory.

"How beautiful," he muttered.

His body fell as his vision faded. He felt himself land on something soft, and then his mind sank into sleep.

---

Lucien didn’t know how long he had drifted into sleep.

He drowsily opened his eyes. The smell around him was comforting.

The pain from the fusion, the adrenaline surge, the near-death fight with Lisa—his body and mind couldn’t hold any longer. That was why he had fainted.

As his eyes focused, what came into view was a beautiful, familiar face. Seraphina.

He remembered the scene before he fainted. He never expected her to be the one to save him. Those flames. Her flaming hair and eyes.

His lips curled into a smile, and he let out a soft chuckle.

Seraphina, busy ruffling his hair, heard his chuckle and realized he was awake. She smiled, relief washing over her face.

"You are finally awake."

Lucien slowly stood up and looked through the window. Nighttime had come.

He turned and realized he had slept on her lap the whole time.

He glanced at her. She was holding the hems of her garment, her head down like someone who had done something wrong.

Lucien was confused. "What happened?"

Before he knew it, tears were falling from her eyes. This was the first time he had seen her cry.

Lucien felt a knot in his chest. "Did something happen to my parents? My elder brother?"

Panic crept into his voice.

"I’m sorry, Lucien." She sobbed. "If I hadn’t come late, you wouldn’t have been hurt. You almost died."

She cried even more, burying her face in his chest.

Lucien opened his mouth, speechless. He felt her tears stain his clothes.

He felt a bit guilty and chuckled bitterly. He had never seen her like this. The ever-composed Seraphina, reduced to tears. Because of him.

He didn’t expect her to cry.

"Don’t cry again. Look at me, I’m okay, aren’t I?" He comforted her.

As he did this, she cried even more.

"Do you want Mom and Dad to see you in this moment? The strong, fiery Seraphina crying? I’m sure that would be great news that everyone would like to hear."

Seraphina stopped crying as she let out a soft chuckle.

Lucien was relieved when he saw she had stopped crying.

She slowly raised her head, wiping her tears.

Lucien looked at her and smiled. "A beauty shouldn’t cry. Crying makes a beauty ugly."

Seraphina giggled at this. "And who told you that?"

Lucien shook his head. "Aren’t I seeing one? So don’t cry. And also, my situation isn’t your fault. It’s me being weak, or else I wouldn’t have found myself in that situation."

Seraphina was silent, but then opened her mouth and comforted him. "Husband, don’t worry. I am here to protect you."

"Speaking of which, I noticed your weight has increased a lot when I carried you. And also, I can sense a trace of Originat in your body. Husband, can you cultivate?"

Her eyes glinted with excitement.

Lucien, seeing her excitement, decided not to keep it a secret. He nodded.

Seraphina jumped off the bed with excitement. She held his hand. "Really?"

Lucien was surprised by this burst of excitement. He nodded again.

"Hahaha, I am going to go and tell Mom and Dad."

Before he could say anything, she burst out of his room in laughter.

Lucien shook his head in laughter. This was a new thing he was learning from her.

And he didn’t mind her telling his parents.

He knew what they had done for him. Not disowning him because of his body’s condition.

And also, the Veyrion Clan as a whole kept supporting him, even if a minority didn’t.

Ding.

[Host has demonstrated the composure of a true head of house. For successfully calming and reassuring your wife in her moment of vulnerability, you are rewarded with one Random Gacha Ticket and 100 Eternal Devotion Tickets.]

Ding.

[Seraphina Drax’s Obsession Link has deepened. Obsession increased by 5%. Resonance increased by 2%. The bond tightens.]

Lucien was amazed by the system prompt. He didn’t expect his actions could trigger system rewards.

He was understanding how the system worked. And also...

"System, what’s the meaning of our resonance level?"

Ding.

[Resonance level signifies the Host’s level of obsession towards the linked targets.]

BANG!

The door opened as a young woman with amethyst purple eyes and hair rushed in excitedly.

"Mom." Lucien couldn’t help but feel emotional when he saw the young woman.

Her name was Valyra Veyrion.

Behind her followed his dad, Seraphina, and his elder brother.

His dad was a young man with black hair and eyes. He was the head of the Veyrion Clan, David Veyrion.

His brother took after their dad, unlike him, who bore more resemblance to his mom.

His brother had both the charm of their father and mother, with elegant black hair and enchanting black eyes. He was just a year and a half older than him.

Kael Veyrion. That was his brother’s name.

His mother rushed to hug him. "Thank goodness, you are okay." She smiled while he enjoyed her comfort.

"Sorry for worrying you guys," Lucien chuckled.

He glanced at Seraphina, who was smiling at the side.

He couldn’t help appraising each and every one of them.

Ding.

Name: Seraphina Drax

Race: Dragon-Phoenix

Cultivation Realm: ?????

Physique: ??????

Elemental Affinity: ????

Obsession: Lucien Veyrion, Returning to the Clan, Cultivation.

---

Lucien froze in his mother’s arms, looking at the system prompt.

His wife was a Dragon-Phoenix.