Stopping before Eleanor’s door, Sincir takes a deep breath.

  It has been a couple of seconds since he knocked, but since she has yet to answer, he assumes she has decided not to...

  Petty, as usual.

  Well, it has come the day they’ll have to solve things, one way or another, hasn’t it?

  Entering the room, Sincir finds her lying on the bed, turned toward the wall, and naked.

  Closing the door at his back, he approaches the bed, then sits at its edge, next to her.

  “...Should I, or would you like to start?”

  Eleanor snorts. “If you’re waiting for an apology...”

  “An apology to me? No, I don’t need one; If I have a problem with you, we’ll solve it, and we’ll both fight until the two of us learn from it, or the house comes down around us, if that’s it takes for it to happen... Do you remember when I punished you for being rude to Collin?”

  “...How could I forget?”

  “It was very simir to this, wasn’t it? I wish I could solve things with a little spanking this time...”

  She ughs, but there is little humor in it, her voice bitter. “C’mon, it isn’t like you to beat around the bush...”

  Sincir nods, although she is still not looking at him. “Very well then... You were a mess today, love, and it was pathetic; Not a word I thought I’d ever associate with you.”

  “...Shove it.”

  “It was so sad to watch that Ena actually felt bad for you, and now she is worried.”

  “...Is she?” Eleanor murmurs drily.

  “Should I tell her not to worry?”

  “...Tell her whatever you want.”

  Sincir groans; He might as well be talking to a wall.

  “Eleanor, I’m begging you... Talk to me, love... I can’t help up if you don’t let me in at least a little.”

  Finally, she turns to stare at him, revealing reddened eyes and cheeks still wet with tears. “Why...? You finally have your precious Ena now, so leave me the fuck alone.”

  Sincir sighs. “Do I really have to prove my love to you, after everything we went through together, this past week? I won’t deny I feel differently about the two of you... But that doesn’t mean I want to give up one to have the other. I’m greedy that way, remember?”

  After a moment of staring into his eyes, Eleanor averts hers away again, saying nothing.

  “We both know I could touch you, and you wouldn’t push me away... But it won’t cut it this time, love; You’re too hurt for that, and I can’t fix it with sex, or a massage, or some cuddling.”

  Eleanor snorts again, softly.

  “You know what you need to do...”

  She presses her lips together.

  “...And you know it’s the right thing to do. Unless it happens, neither of you will ever move on from it.”

  She tightens her jaw, swallowing.

  “...Eleanor.”

  “...Tell me something,” she murmurs, slightly hoarsely, “If she says she’ll never be able to... To f-forgive me. Then what?”

  Sincir sighs. “Then she is not the girl I thought she was... But in that case, I suppose one of you will have to leave, and I’ll have to choose one of you to keep over the other, after all.”

  “...And you’ll choose her.”

  Sincir ughs, sadly, then shakes his head. “No, I’d not.”

  Eleanor’s gaze snaps in his direction, her eyes widening slightly, before narrowing. “Don’t lie to me-”

  “I’m not,” he cuts in, sustaining her gaze as he does so, “I did the best I could... To have her stay, and to have the both of you get along. But I started dating you first, and she is the one who missed her chance... I’d miss her, obviously, and it’d be hard to let her go, to put it lightly... But I’d still choose you.”

  “...Why?” Eleanor murmurs, blue eyes seeming to search for something as they stare into his, “Just because I jumped you first?”

  “That’s a part of it... But more than that, I think she’d survive without me... While you’d not.”

  Eleanor blinks... Then, she averts her eyes and ughs, slowly at first, but increasingly hysterically.

  “I-I see now...! That’s how pathetic I truly am, isn’t it...!? I’d rush toward the nearest group of cultists, and get myself killed! I mean, I even know where they are...!”

  “I know your pn to use the vampires involved your ability to find demons, but I’m telling you right now, you’re not getting within a mile of that nest; I’ll exhaust your mana and tie you in the basement if I have to, before I leave.”

  Eventually, Eleanor’s ugh does down, having become something bitter, and she stares toward the bed with a look of hatred on her face, clenching her fists... Knowing her, she is cursing her own weakness.

  Sincir shakes his head. “Most of us start out weak, Eleanor; There is no shame in that. It’s why teachers exist, and why I’m here, helping you realize the potential I see behind those pretty eyes of your. But... You’ll not grow beyond this point if you don’t learn to recognize your mistakes, and own up to them.”

  Eleanor takes a deep breath, and then another. “I... Don’t care about what they think.”

  “Liar,” Varzath retorts, bluntly, “We all care about what others think, to some extent... And those of us who don’t, whether they’re humans or not, are the true monsters.”

  Eleanor swallows, her expression making it clear she is fighting some sort of internal battle against herself... Then, suddenly, she closes her eyes, her expression pained.

  “Will... Will you help me?” she murmurs at st.

  Sincir snorts. “What do you think I have been doing this whole time...? Of course I’ll help you, but how, exactly?”

  “I... I want them to understand I regret it,” she murmurs, slowly and as though each word pains her, “That I’m a mess... That I know I can be a bitch sometimes... And that I’m grateful they still put up with me, in spite of it.”

  Sincir rises an eyebrow. “They? You want to apologize to No and Esme, as well?”

  Eleanor chuckles, her voice rough and slightly incredulous. “Fuck... Fuck it all to Hell... Yeah. Yeah, I want to apologize to those three idiots, Ena included.”

  “You understand there is a chance they won’t forgive you, even if you apologize, right?”

  “Yeah...” Eleanor murmurs, “But I’m doing it because I think I own them an apology, not because I care for their stupid feelings... If they don’t forgive me, then they don’t, and that’s it.”

  Sincir snorts again. “Sure, whatever you say... What about Ena?”

  “Ena... If she doesn’t forgive me, then I’ll leave,” Eleanor says, meeting his gaze as she does so, “And before you start, it’s my life; You’re not responsible for it. I feel guilty about what I did to her... And I want her to understand that. But if she won’t forgive me now, after I have failed to show remorse through all of these years, then I only have myself to bme... And I’ll accept whichever fate befalls me as a consequence.”

  Yeah; Like hell he’d let that happen.

  “...I see. Well, the choice is yours, I suppose.”

  Eleanor sighs. “Just give me a moment to put some clothes on...”

  Smiling coldly, Sincir raises an eyebrow. “Clothes...? What for? I thought you liked going around naked.”

  Eleanor frowns, a fsh of fear crossing through her eyes. “You mean...?”

  “Exhaust your mana, Eleanor,” he whispers while sustaining her gaze, “You want them to understand you regret it, don’t you? I fear you’ll hide that little fragile heart of yours at the first step out of that door... So we’ll give you nowhere to hide it at.”

  Her face palling, Eleanor freezes.

  “What is wrong? Being afraid of something you have set out to do isn’t like you... Hurry up, or No might fall asleep, and we’ll have to do it again tomorrow.”

  Eleanor shudders. “Creator, I should’ve thought better of asking for your help.”

  Still, she obediently sits with her legs crossed over the bed, and activates one of her buffs.

  “...Really, I should make you do it alone, but I’m proud of you for admitting your past mistakes, and being willing to apologize for them.”

  “Don’t patronize me,” Eleanor grumbles, “I’d have gotten there eventually.”

  Sincir rolls his eyes. “I’m sure you’d have...”

  Watching her furred brows, and the look of concentration on her face as a small wind takes over their immediate surroundings, Sincir slowly drags the back of his fingers against her still slightly wet cheek, brushing a short lock of blond hair and pcing it behind her ear.

  He considers telling her not to overdo it, in case the spell grows of control and destroys her bed, but the warning would fall on deaf years, so he keeps it to himself.

  “You’re damn be beautiful, did you know that...?”

  “It’s just... A body.”

  He snorts. “It’s a damn fuckble body, and it’s mine; What’s wrong in admiring how pretty it is?”

  Eleanor gres at him. “I don’t remember putting a colr around my neck with your damn name on it...”

  Sincir smiles at her. “I see the fear in your eyes when you stare at me, little nephilim, and we both know you’re already too deep below the surface to swim back up... Let me fill your lungs, and you’ll see there is more to life than hatred and pain... Stop trying to run away, and give me a chance to make you happy.”

  As Eleanor’s magic snaps from existence, she lowers her gaze from his... But she doesn’t run away from his touch.

  “...I thought we were on a hurry?”

  Sincir sighs, rising, and then offers her his hand. “Fine, let’s go. The girls are waiting for us, and I’m afraid of what they might do if we leave them alone for too long.”

  Eleanor stares toward his hand for a moment, and Sincir can see by her expression that she wants to refuse, if only to fight him in whichever small way she can at the moment... But then she also sighs, shaking her head, and accepts his help, rising.

  “Ready?” he asks her.

  Eyes averted from his, Eleanor grimaces. “I’d rather be marching to a battlefield, but sure... It’s too te to back out now.”

  Sincir nods, beginning to pull her toward the door.

  He can feel her tension growing with each step, and her muscles tensing as they step out in the corridor, closing the door at their back.

  “I’ll be here, but you’ll be the one to do it... It won’t mean anything if I’m the one apologizing in your stead.”

  Eleanor swallows, then nods, her expression now determined-looking.

  Of course, she knows which door belongs to No, and after a small breath, seemingly intended on boosting her courage, she releases of his hand and begins to walk toward, knocking against it once.

  “...Barnett? It’s me. I’ve come to... To apologize for earlier.”

  Leaning against the corridor wall behind her, Sincir crosses his arms as they wait for No to answer her door... It doesn’t take long before their hear her footsteps approaching.

  “Look, you don’t need to-”

  No’s voice becomes caught in her throat once she spots Eleanor’s naked figure; Having frozen with her mouth slightly open, she stares at nephilim, then at him, before facepalming with a grimace.

  “...Is it too much to ask not be involved in your weird sex games?” she groans.

  “It’s not a sex game...” Eleanor murmurs tiredly, her mana exhaustion and sleepless night having finally caught up to her if her expression is anything to by, “Well, it doesn’t need to be, in any case... Can we get in? I’d rather not do this out here.”

  No stares at the two of them incredulously for a moment, than shakes her head, sighing.

  “Why wouldn’t I want a demon and a half-angel visiting me in the middle of the night...? Sure, why not?”

  No steps aside, making space for them to enter, then closes the door at their back once they are both through.

  An open book over the bedstand makes it obvious as to what she was doing before being interrupted...

  Stopping near No’s bed, Eleanor gestures toward it, clearly meaning for the noble girl to take a seat.

  No sighs, but she does sit over her bed’s edge, crossing her legs and hands as she does so, then waiting silently for Eleanor, now standing in front of her, to speak first.

  After a moment of silence, Eleanor averts her gaze. “...What should I do?”

  No blinks. “Excuse me? I thought you had come for an apology?”

  “Yes... What would you have me do, to make it up, is what I meant. As long as the punishment is proportional to the crime, I won’t hold a grudge...”

  Staring at Eleanor incredulously, then shaking her head, No grabs the bridge of her nose. “What is wrong with you people...? Are all peasants simply obsessed with sex? Is that why they have children by the dozens?”

  Having leaned against the wall once more, Sincir snorts.

  Still not staring at No, Eleanor tightens her jaw. “I told you, this doesn’t need to be something sexual... Order me to do your dirty clothes, or bring you food for the next week...”

  No rolls her eyes. “I got it, Miss Eleanor, no need to repeat yourself. And as I was about to say earlier, there is no need for an apology... I understood your feelings well enough, both then and now.”

  Slowly, Eleanor nods.

  “Are you sure?” Sincir asks, “You could have her kiss all sorts of things, or make her kneel a little... It’s a golden opportunity.”

  Once both of them throw him dirty looks, Sincir raises his palms.

  “Sorry... Just wanted to make sure.”

  Eleanor sighs. “No... I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve the things I said to you when you’ve behaved yourself exempry during your stay here, having to put up with our bullshit, and even volunteered yourself to clean for us... It must not have been easy for someone of your upbringing.”

  No blinks rapidly, before quickly averting her eyes from the nephilim’s gaze. “Volunteered might be too strong a word, in this case...” she murmurs, “And for the love of everything sacred, could you put something on already?”

  Eleanor smiles lightly. “Sincir wasn’t lying, you know... I said this didn’t need to be sexual, but that also means it could be... Look for me ter if you feel the need to unwind, little Barnett, and I’ll do something nice for you.”

  No’s cheek immediately grows heated. “I’ll... keep it in mind,” she murmurs.

  Nodding, Eleanor begins to head toward the door, while Sincir smiles and winks at No once he catches the sidelong gnce she throws toward the nephilim’s still bruised cheeks from their little spar earlier...

  Outside, Eleanor takes a deep breath, leaning her slightly sweaty forehead against the wall next to No’s door with a pained look on her face.

  “Want me to help?” Sincir asks.

  Once she nods, he steps closer, brushing the back of his fingers against her sex for a brief warning, and then pinching it, hard enough to have her intake a sharp breath of air.

  “Take it...” he whispers next to her ear.

  Standing on the tip of her toes, Eleanor presses herself against the wall, legs shaking slightly, and clenches her teeth, her eyes widened in pain and shock...

  “Bad girl... You’re lucky No is so nice... I’d have you licking the floor I spat on...”

  “I’m s-sorry!”

  “Are you...?”

  After casting a small electric spell over it, Sincir finally releases of her sex, allowing her to colpse to her knees at st.

  “...Better now?”

  Panting, Eleanor reaches in between her legs and cringes, before gring at him.

  Sincir rises an eyebrow, making as thought he is about to spit, and she pales.

  He snorts. “...Well, it’s good if you understand. Don’t forget about what I told you of the next time me and Esme will fuck, because I certainly haven’t.”

  Eleanor’s eyes widen. “You can’t be serious! I helped you with Ena, didn’t I!? You know things would’ve been easier for me if I pretended not to notice her stupid crush for you...”

  Sincir narrows his eyes at her... Then hums thoughtfully.

  Well, it was a pretty big deal...

  “...Fine, but you better improve how you treat Esme from now on, or I’m going to have you do it, and not just to our feet; I’ll have you licking the two of us until you’re unable to move that damn sharp tongue of yours for another lick, and I’ll have you sucking through the rest of it if there is nothing left without your saliva covering it... Do I make myself clear?”

  Eleanor bites her lower lip. “I didn’t force her to lick me yesterday, all right? We just fingered each other, and I got her to cum as well...”

  Seeing Eleanor being this submissive sends a damn jolt of electricity through his spine, but Sincir forces his expression to remain cold as he continues to stare down at her for a moment more.

  “Do I think I forgot how you talked to her during your episode at the kitchen today? I understand you were mad at Ena, but Esme had done nothing to arrant your anger... However, you’re about to apologize for it, which is why this a warning... You don’t want me to handle a serious punishment to you, Eleanor, because I promise I’ll make it a night you’ll never forget, and I’ll have whoever I want watching.”

  Eleanor swallows, then nods, her usual bravado nowhere to be seen, if for a brief moment.

  Oh, guilty is a powerful thing... He feels bad for crushing her pride and taking advantage of the situation, but all going according to pn, he’ll make her feel better soon enough.

  “Get up... I know that wasn’t enough to keep you down.”

  Eleanor grimaces, but she does begin to rise, having to use wall in order to do so...

  Her sex is now as red as her ass cheeks, and her legs shake slightly, but she swats his hand away once he offers it to her, beginning to walk forward on her own.

  Watching her go, limping slightly, Sincir chuckles... He knows she noticed the bulge against his shorts, and he caught the look she gave it.

  Lords, these girls are still going to be the death of him... How is he supposed to build a kingdom when they make him want to fuck night and day?

  Maybe that’s just what he should do, after they’ve made up and this cultist business has been dealt with... Take a week off, lock the two of them in the house, and fuck like bunnies until none of them can move or think anymore...

  “You coming, or are you just going to stare at my ass the whole time?!”

  Shaking his head exasperatedly, Sincir quickly follows...

  Once Eleanor has walked up to Esme’s door (which also happens to be his, of course), she stops, taking a deep breath.

  “Sincir...”

  “Don’t worry; I’ll let you speak, how I did with No.”

  She gres at him. “This is serious... I could do without your stupid jokes for once.”

  He smiles at her. “I don’t remember having joked back there, but sure, I’ll keep it tighter this time... Anything else?”

  Eleanor presses her lips together. “Just... Keep close to me, okay?” she murmurs while averting her gaze, “I could use the extra courage.”

  This time, he nods seriously. “I’ll be right there; And I’ll still be here once everything is over.”

  With a nod, Eleanor opens the door in front of them, not bothering to knock.

  They find Ena and Esme sitting next to each other near the fire, disappointingly still dressed, and clearly having had their conversation interrupted by their arrival.

  Closing the door behind himself, Sincir smiles weakly toward the two of them as they turn to stare at Eleanor with surprised look on their faces.

  “...Did you get a stick shoved up your ass or something?” Ena murmurs once she notices the limping, “And why the fuck are you walking around naked again?”

  Eleanor grimaces. “No... The two of you, get up, I have something to say.”

  Esme and Ena exchange a look, but they do rise to their feet.

  “...If this is about what’s going on tonight, we know Sincir is going to do you in front of us for having helped with Ena this morning... Well, for having made you watch it happen,” Esme says, before shaking her head and sighing, “Look, El, can’t we just all get along? Nobody needs to feel inferior to anyone, or jealous... I have three sisters, and I can tell you, if we start competing against each other for Sin, there will be no end to this, and all four of us will end up miserable sooner or ter.”

  That’s the first he heard of her sisters, but Sincir agrees with the general feeling behind Esme’s statement... Unfortunately, they’re not there yet, and realizing Eleanor is having trouble expressing herself if the look on her face is anything to by, Sincir presses his hand against her lower back encouragingly.

  Faced by the two girls, who now stare at her curiously, she closes her eyes, sighing, then opens them once more and meets Ena’s gaze, determined-looking.

  “No, Esme, it’s not about that... I mean, it’ll happen if we can get through this part... The truth is, I wanted to apologize... Apologize to the two of you for everything I’ve done.”

  A moment of shocked silence goes by... Then Ena snorts.

  “Hey, I didn’t know you had a sense of humor, El... That was a good one. Next you’re gonna tell me our moons are made of cheese...”

  Seeing the stormy look in Eleanor’s expression, Ena stops, blinking.

  “That... That wasn’t a joke?”

  “No... No, it wasn’t a joke, Ena.”

  The half-elf’s jaw falls.