The next morning, Aaron had already left early.
As promised, Lucian granted him three days of freedom, but his bodyguards still monitored Aaron from afar, ensuring his safety.
During those three days, no one knew where Aaron had gone or what he had done—not even Lucian. Though he had people keeping an eye on Aaron, he only ordered them to report if he was in danger. Beyond that, he refused to interfere with Aaron's choices.
Lucian had always been a man who controlled everything. Yet this time, he chose to let go, and that unsettled him.
Since the moment Aaron said "I love you," Lucian's mind had not been at peace.
He had never imagined having someone step into his life, never understood the concept of love or being loved.
But Aaron was different.
He was the only one who could touch Lucian's world, pulling him out of the cold, empty abyss he had always lived in. And because of that, Lucian wanted to cherish him, to protect him from all harm.
Lucian was not good at expressing emotions—or perhaps, he was simply too cold.
But that didn't matter.
He had already declared Aaron as his spouse. And if Aaron chose to stay by his side forever, perhaps the warmth he brought would eventually fill the void of loneliness inside him.
Three days later, Aaron returned.
But before he could fully become the spouse of the possessive king, there was one last thing he needed to do—
Settle the remnants of his past.
The first place he went was where Raihan was being held.
His steps echoed through the cold, dim hallway, his gaze calm yet unreadable.
Lucian's subordinates all bowed their heads respectfully as Aaron passed. None dared to stop him.
The aura he carried now was entirely different from before—
Still slender, still delicate, but laced with an authority that could not be ignored.
Inside the dark room, a single dim light flickered, casting weak, ghostly shadows across the walls.
The air was thick—heavy with the scent of dampness, dried blood, and the ragged breathing of the prisoner within.
Aaron stepped inside, his every step slow yet carrying an invisible pressure. He didn't speak. He simply stood there, his face cold and arrogant, a glint of cruelty flashing in his gaze.
At this moment, he looked like a predator gazing down at its prey, already caught in the trap.
His eyes scanned the room before finally landing on Raihan's battered body—covered in wounds, eyes sunken from lack of sleep, clothes filthy, a far cry from the once proud and untouchable man he used to be.
Aaron's face remained impassive as he stepped closer.
Raihan looked truly pathetic now.
Aaron should have felt satisfied. He should have been pleased to see him in such a miserable state.
And yet…
Suddenly, the cold arrogance on Aaron's face vanished.
His expression crumbled into one of shock, pain. His once-clear eyes now shone with genuine worry, and when he spoke, his voice trembled as if he couldn't bear the sight before him.
— "Raihan… Are you alright? Does it hurt?"
Aaron dropped to his knees, hurriedly supporting Raihan's weak body. His soft hands carefully touched the wounds on his skin, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Raihan, like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline, saw a fragile thread of hope in Aaron's kindness.
His hoarse voice pleaded desperately:
— "Aaron… Aaron, help me! Find a way to get me out of here—please!"
Gone was the arrogance he had when he once imprisoned Aaron. Now, he was just a pitiful, desperate man, clinging to anything that could save his life.
Aaron looked at him, lips pressing together as if battling an internal struggle.
Then, as if making a final decision, he bit his lip and nodded firmly.
— "Alright… I'll help you. Go now. I'll hold them back. There's a car waiting outside… Hurry!"
His voice was urgent, full of sincerity and concern.
Raihan didn't hesitate. A chance to escape—he wasn't going to question it.
— "Okay… Okay… Thank you!"
With all his remaining strength, he staggered toward the exit, never once looking back at the small figure behind him.
Aaron simply stood there, watching in silence, his expression unreadable.
Outside, just as Aaron had said, there was a car waiting.
Raihan's heart leapt with joy. He didn't doubt for a second.
With shaky hands, he opened the door and collapsed into the driver's seat.
Before him lay the road to freedom.
He turned the key.
~~~~~ BOOM!! ~~~~~
A deafening explosion ripped through the air, shaking the entire night sky.
From a distance, Aaron stood still, his expression eerily calm, as if nothing had happened.
A gust of wind blew past, rustling his soft hair.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips—whether in regret or in disdain, no one could tell.
Then, in a voice as gentle as a summer breeze, he murmured:
— "Raihan, what's wrong?"
Slowly, his feet carried him toward the raging flames.
The fire's glow reflected in his eyes, yet there was no sorrow, no grief within them.
When he spoke again, his voice was no longer soft.
It was chilling.
— "Dead already?"
Then, suddenly—
A smile.
Not the gentle, hesitant smiles of the past.
But one of cruelty. Of satisfaction.
— "I told you before, didn't I? You should have killed me when you had the chance. But since you didn't… I killed you instead. Hahaha…"
His laughter was light, almost melodious—yet it echoed hauntingly in the darkness.
Three days—just three short days.
And Aaron had become a completely different person.
No doubt about it. Aaron had killed Raihan.
The car had been rigged with a small bomb, set to detonate when the vehicle reached a certain speed.
It was the perfect farewell gift.
A swift, unexpected death.
A death with no time to resist, no time to realize the truth—
That the very person Raihan thought he could manipulate… was the one who had led him straight to his end.
Psychological manipulation. Trust. Innocence.
Aaron had wielded them all flawlessly.
This was his first time taking a life.
But the method… was far too perfect.
Far too merciless.
Raihan didn't die in a battle of strength.
He died chasing after a false dream, a fabricated kindness—
A pity that was nothing more than a carefully laid trap.
From an angelic, naive soul—
Aaron had truly stepped into the world of predators.
His hands were stained with blood for the first time.
But he had done it flawlessly. Without a single misstep.
No doubt about it—
He was worthy of being Lucian's spouse.
~~~ "clap… clap… clap…"~~~
The sound of clapping echoed through the gloomy space, blending with the thin smoke from the recent explosion. From the darkness ahead, a slender figure emerged. He wasn't large or imposing, nor did he exude a clear, overwhelming presence, but simply his presence alone made everything around him feel heavier.
Jimson Snake.
His face remained calm, composed, as though he had known everything that was about to happen. His deep, abyss-like eyes glinted with interest as they fixed on Aaron, the one who had personally ended his past in the most brutal way.
-"Impressive, angel. The manipulation of emotions, trust… Death through trust… Not bad."
His voice was low and stretched out like a haunting melody, enough to send chills down one's spine. But Aaron remained unshaken. He slowly turned around, his gaze no longer soft but filled with a calm danger.
-"Just tit for tat."
A slight smirk appeared on Aaron's lips, neither cold nor cruel, but deep and inscrutable. He glanced at Jimson, his eyes showing a hint of amusement.
-"Thank you for the gift, I really liked it."
Jimson Snake laughed, the sound like a mocking tune, strangely captivating. He tilted his head, his black eyes flashing with a light whose meaning was unclear.
-"I'm glad you liked it. Perhaps now, you've come to terms with letting everything go, right? That little home of yours is no more."
Aaron remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently.
-"Yeah, I don't want anything related to him to exist anymore."
His voice was soft but firm, without any hesitation. His gaze swept over the blazing fire, where Raihan's body had been consumed, along with old memories.
Jimson Snake looked at Aaron, his gaze softening slightly, before suddenly asking:
-"Do you miss him that much?"
Aaron didn't need to ask who "he" was. Jimson wasn't referring to Raihan—he was talking about Lucian.
He smiled faintly but didn't deny it. His voice was slow, but certain.
-"I love him with my life."
Jimson Snake observed Aaron for a long while, then laughed, a smile full of meaning. His eyes briefly showed a glint of admiration, but deep inside, something indescribable lingered.
-"Then, hold onto Lucian tightly. When you're with him, you won't have to worry about anything anymore."
Jimson's voice was light as a breeze, but Aaron understood well—his words were never simply surface-level.
He turned and began to walk away.
-"Where are you going?"
Aaron instinctively spoke up, but Jimson Snake didn't stop. He simply tilted his head slightly, his voice now more distant than before.
-"In this world, don't be too curious. It's not good, especially about me."
With that, he gave a slight wave and disappeared into the shadows.
Aaron watched his figure fade, feeling an odd sensation wash over him. Jimson Snake was a mystery, no one could be sure which side he stood on. But no matter what, Aaron didn't feel that he was dangerous to him.
Perhaps because Jimson Snake was unlike the others.
He was a snake that never showed its fangs—but once it struck, no one would survive.
---
Aaron stood still in the darkness, watching the last remnants of ash being carried away by the wind. A chapter had closed, nothing to hold onto. But as everything faded into nothing, his thoughts turned to one person.
Lucian.
Aaron truly wanted to belong to him. That was why he chose to be strong, to step deeper into the darkness. If he were weak, Lucian would worry—and Aaron didn't want that. He didn't want to become a burden to him, didn't want him to be concerned.
He had loved Lucian. A love that couldn't turn back.
After finishing everything, Aaron returned to the mansion. There was no sense of regret, only satisfaction. He entered his room, took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and headed for the place he knew Lucian would be.
The door creaked open.
In the dim light, Lucian stood by the window, arms crossed, his gaze staring into the distance. His back was proud, yet strangely lonely.
Aaron paused for a moment, watching him intently. Lucian had always been like this—lonely in his own world, like someone standing at the top of a mountain, untouchable by others. But that was okay. From now on, Aaron would be there.
He smiled, taking slow steps forward, and wrapped his arms around him from behind.
The sudden warmth made Lucian freeze for a moment. Aaron had never been this proactive before.
Lucian slowly turned around, his gaze meeting Aaron's with a deep intensity, but without the coldness it once held. He gently wrapped his arms around Aaron, squeezing slightly, as if to confirm that this person had returned and would not leave again.
-"So, you're back?"
His voice was hoarse, no longer sharp but carrying a touch of tenderness, a bit of respect.
Aaron looked up at Lucian, his eyes no longer cold but carrying a soft smile. There was no struggle, no distance, only the certainty of someone who had already made their decision.
-"Of course."
He stood on his tiptoes, bringing his lips closer to his.
"To change and be with you, to be worthy of you… Lucian."
Lucian looked at Aaron for a long time, then leaned down, slowly pressing his lips to Aaron's forehead.
This relationship had finally crossed the boundary.
---
EndofChapter11.