Fine.
Sera got up from the bed with great difficulty. Unlike me, she was clearly exhausted.
The moment we entered the bathroom, she beat me to the tub. As she stepped in, I stopped her. I climbed in first and gestured for her to sit in my lap.
To my disappointment, she refused, her voice ice-cold:
"Our relationship isn't that deep—"
Before she could finish, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap, smirking.
...
But then the unexpected happened.
Sera twisted her waist sharply and threw a lightning-fast elbow.
A moment ago, I had been wearing a foolish, smug grin…
CRASH.
The elbow slammed straight into my eye.
Shock.
Plop.
Blood hit the water with a heavy, echoing splash.
I froze. My jaw locked. My vision blurred. The room became a haze; even the sounds disappeared, replaced only by the rhythmic dripping of blood into the tub.
I raised my hand, touching the edge of my eye socket. Crimson coated my fingers.
...
Blood.
How the hell am I bleeding?
All I felt was a jolt in my eye. Did she really just hit me? Why?
Her voice cut through the fog:
"I told you."
The blow had hit my right eye perfectly. I was losing sight of it. I covered it with my left hand and stared at her with my good eye. Her face was swollen with rage.
"What did you just say?" I asked, stunned.
"I told you," she snapped, "our relationship isn't that deep."
My mouth fell open. I exploded:
"Not that deep?! I literally just came out of your depths, you crazy woman!"
She pressed her lips tight, glaring at me.
"That's different. That was part of my duty."
What the hell was she talking about?
"What exactly do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean sex," she said coldly. "That's my duty as your wife. I submit to you for that. But I am not obligated beyond it."
"Are you insane?! Hours ago, you were in my lap, trembling—was that fine then? And now it's suddenly wrong?!"
She scowled.
"I don't want to explain. All that matters is that I don't want it now."
"Wait… does that mean you wanted it before?"
A realisation struck me. "So that's it… the heartbeat, the trembling, the tension in your muscles… all that happened because you were aroused?"
She looked at me with chilling calm.
"Yes. That time, I was aroused. It was exciting."
She added sharply, "Did I do something wrong? I actually want to do it again… it was very beautiful."
I felt dizzy. How could she confess that so casually… then ask for it again?
Then why hurt me now? Didn't we just do the same thing?
Before I could ask, she ordered:
"Get out. I want to bathe alone."
"I'm not leaving. Do what you want."
I shook with rage. For a moment, I thought about hitting her back—but I swallowed it and stayed in the tub.
She leaned in, teeth bared in a snarl, pointing a finger:
"I said get out. I got here first."
I looked up, voice cold as steel:
"I don't care. First-come, first-served? Who made that law? I don't recognise it."
Her expression went cold. Fangs emerged from beneath her gums.
"Theo… do you want to fight me?"
I let out a hollow laugh. "And what if I do?"
Her claws grew before my eyes, ready to strike at any second.
I was ready too. Today, I didn't care if she was my cousin or my wife. She crossed a red line—struck my face, left a deep wound.
I knew I'd lose this fight… but she wouldn't escape without scars either.
...
I didn't care what my uncle or father thought. Let wisdom and reason burn.
Her hitting me meant she had no respect left. Worse, she argued she had "told me."
I had been waiting to strike that soft face I kissed minutes ago. I expected her to attack. She had just reached the Third Level.
But Sera suddenly retracted her fangs. The threatening aura vanished.
"Are you really insisting on this, Theo?" she asked.
That was it. Was I the one insisting on trouble? She attacked me without reason, wounded my face, and now pretends to be rational?
I lunged, fangs and claws ready.
Halfway through, I swerved toward the door.
"Sorry for touching your body, Sera," I spat, and left the bathroom.
...
I sat on the rug, using my blood-control to stop the bleeding.
I sighed. I wouldn't let her play the victim.
I washed my hands and began eating. The taste of bread dipped in gravy was a small comfort.
Halfway through, Sera emerged—naked.
I didn't even glance at her. I kept eating.
Suddenly, she sat across from me quietly. I stopped eating, unsatisfied, and went back to the bathroom.
The tub was filled with fresh water. The blood was gone. She had cleaned it.
I had come to clean it myself, but since she had already done it, I walked out, heading for another bathroom in the manor.
I refused to bathe in the water that had touched her skin.