Chapter 90 | Breaking Every Bad Ending

Ain was stunned.

But the girl's weeping did not subside.

“I don't really have anything important... I just came to give you this...”

The girl tremblingly held out her right hand, trying her best to control her emotions.

Ain quickly stepped forward to take it, asking with concern, “What happened?”

The girl bit her lip gently, unable to squeeze out a single word.

“I'm sorry... Ain, I'm sorry...”

The girl lowered her head, continuously murmuring apologies.

“Have you been annoyed with me lately...?”

Just as Ain was about to speak, he saw Lillian raise her head, staring at him with a thoroughly aggrieved look.

“I know. Lillian knows...”

“Is it because Lillian is too selfish? Did Lillian do something to displease you? Have I been annoying you so much lately that it made you unhappy...?”

“I know, I know...”

As the girl wept, her emotions spilled out like a flood.

“I know I'm not good enough... I'm not pretty, and I'm not outstanding...”

The girl sobbed, stammering out her words.

“I know my personality isn't as good as Erylin's. I don't know how to take care of people, or how to show concern... and I'm so clumsy...”

“I know you don't belong to Lillian. I shouldn't interfere with your choices. You've always had the freedom to leave...”

The girl choked up, her voice shattering into pieces.

“I was too greedy. Lillian doesn't deserve you at all...”

“But, but...”

As she spoke softly, she tremblingly took Ain's hand and pressed his palm against her chest.

Through the thin fabric of her clothes, the frantic heartbeat, driven by anxiety and sorrow, was conveyed to Ain's fingertips without reservation.

“Lillian's heart... hurts so much...”

“It hurts so much...”

Tears poured from the girl's eyes, splashing onto the back of Ain's hand.

She desperately tried to hold back her sobs, but she couldn't hide her deeply aggrieved expression.

“I'll change, Ain. Lillian will change...”

“Lillian will do better. Lillian will work harder. Lillian will become outstanding...”

“I'll be obedient from now on. Lillian can become whatever you want her to be...”

“Please don't stop liking me... Please don't hate Lillian...”

The girl was simply too terrified.

“When did I ever say I didn't like you?”

Ain frowned slightly, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness and a barely perceptible heartache.

“What on earth are you overthinking?”

“I saw you...”

“Saw what?”

“I saw you and that girl... that pretty girl... in... in the garden...”

The girl pouted slightly, forcing herself to hold back her tears. Yet this attempt at composure, which failed to hide her deep grievance, made her look incredibly pitiable.

“We haven't even done that yet...”

“You kissed for seven minutes and nine seconds, right? It was seven minutes and nine seconds, wasn't it? I counted carefully. Lillian counted very carefully...”

The girl seemed like a broken toy, desperately wanting Ain's praise, but she couldn't squeeze out even a single smile on her face.

“The garden? Ah...”

Ain slapped his forehead, suddenly understanding everything.

So Lillian had been there at the time too.

Seven minutes and nine seconds...

She had actually counted it so precisely?

Ain instinctively checked his status panel.

【Contract Spirit: Lillian Knight】

【Trust Level: 100%】

Ain looked at the girl in disbelief. Even after witnessing what looked like a betrayal, her Trust Level hadn't dropped at all?

What's more, even though he was the one who had seemingly done wrong, she was the one who apologized with a crying voice, like a child who had made a mistake.

Lillian was exceptionally terrified at this moment.

During the six hours she spent waiting at his door, she had thought about a lot of things.

She was already content enough that Ain had saved her life.

She didn't want to become a burden to him, and she didn't dare to hope that she could be a part of his future happiness.

Over those six hours, the girl had constantly used these thoughts to numb herself, trying to force herself to leave.

But even after repeatedly telling herself all this, she still didn't want to leave him.

Because she had absolutely nothing left in this world.

Ain let out a bitter laugh, not knowing where to begin explaining.

He took Lillian's hand and did the exact same thing she had done.

Ain guided her small hand, slowly pressing her palm against his own heart.

After completing the Spirit Contract, their souls had long been bound by an unbreakable connection.

Now, words were no longer needed to test each other; as long as they heard the other's voice, they could perceive the truth of their emotions.

“Lillian,”

Ain said softly, his tone incredibly sincere.

“That was just a misunderstanding...”

Ain explained the entire situation from beginning to end.

“No matter how much of a bastard I might become in the future, at the very least, I can promise you right now...”

Ain chuckled softly, patting her small head.

“Lillian, I like you. I really like you, and I don't need any special reason for it.”

“You're adorable, and you have a wonderful personality. I don't need you to be outstanding, and I don't need you to change a thing...”

“As long as you are Lillian, that's enough. As long as you are Lillian, I will always, always like you.”

“I love everything you do for me, I love having you by my side, and I love when you feed me wraps. I really like you, Lillian.”

“You can feel it, right? Am I lying?”

“N-No...”

The girl stood there blankly, completely at a loss.

“What... What is this...?”

The girl laughed through her tears, raising her hands to wipe them away. “Are you trying to say... I was just being overly sentimental?”

Ain didn't say anything, only looking at her with a smile.

After a moment, the girl pouted.

“I want it too...”

“What?”

Ain was stunned for a moment.

“I want... seven minutes and nine seconds too...”

Seeing the lingering bewilderment in Ain's eyes, Lillian threw away all hesitation. She suddenly stood on her tiptoes and threw herself into his embrace.

Before Ain's shocked eyes, the girl's lips pressed against his.

She had to be the first!

This time, she wouldn't wait anymore!

Her sweet scent instantly washed over him. Her hands wrapped around Ain's neck, and he gently clasped his hands around her waist, letting the girl do as she pleased.

【The Goddess of Light shows her favor toward you!】

Looking at the status panel that suddenly popped up, Ain felt quite speechless.

What's with this Goddess...?

【You have fulfilled your promise to Her. She hopes you can continue to bring deeper happiness to the witch.】

【Mana Limit increased!】

【MP: 2642/2642】

Ain's pupils contracted sharply. He was shocked to find that his MP was slowly rising.

2643... 2645... 2647...

Lillian had absolutely no experience. She only acted on instinct, completely clueless on how to take things further.

After a long while, the girl released Ain. Gasping for air as if deprived of oxygen, she tilted her head up slightly, her chest heaving as she breathed heavily. A deep blush crept up her cheeks, even turning the tips of her ears burning hot.

Looking at her shy and flustered appearance, Ain couldn't help but chuckle.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yes...”

“But I'm not satisfied yet.”

Ain wore a mischievous grin.

“...Eh?”

A little lamb had wandered into the wolf's den; did she really think she could just run wild and then slip away?

There was no such cheap thing in this world.

Under Ain's step-by-step advance, Lillian was like a lost little rabbit, backing away in a panic.

Until she had nowhere left to retreat, her back hitting the edge of the bed.

The wolf disguised as a sheep finally tore off his mask, pouncing on the little rabbit according to his instincts.

Lillian was still immersed in her previous fluster, her breathing not yet stabilized, when her lips were captured by the predator once more.

His effortless experience left the girl completely helpless, allowing him to take whatever he wanted from her like a kitten being held by the scruff of its neck.

Ain cast aside all restraint, greedily drinking in every bit of her sweetness.

Like a startled fawn, she raised her hands to push him away, but how could the “big bad wolf” give her any chance to escape?

Ain easily grabbed her small hands, pressing the backs of them against the pillow. He then gently slid his fingers between hers, intertwining their fingers and locking them tightly together.

“Mmh...”

Her shy whimper echoed through the room.

【The God of Light is deeply pleased by this! He bestows upon you His highest praise and approval!】

【Mana Limit increased!】

【MP: 2657/2657】

This time, the numbers climbed even faster.

2674... 2697... 2733...

A moment later, the wolf easily breached the little rabbit's defenses again, and the predator became intimately entangled with his prey.

【The God of Light looks on in shock! He believes you can take things a step further!】

【Mana Limit increased!】

2779... 2885... 2946...

A few minutes later, Ain finally let go of Lillian. The girl panted heavily, her chest heaving up and down.

“How... are you so experienced...?”

The girl bit her lip hard, looking at Ain with a face full of bashfulness.

But they had barely scratched the surface.

Ain chuckled, pinning the girl beneath him. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Actually, I'm even more experienced at other things...”

Lillian was practically scared to tears by his words.

Only now did she realize one thing.

The true prey often appears in the guise of a hunter.

Ain's movements were as gentle as though he were touching a rare treasure. With the soft rustling of fabric, her delicate, porcelain collarbone finally escaped its confinement, exposed to the cool air.

He lowered his head, pressing his nose into the hollow of her neck, greedily inhaling her sweet scent. His warm breath felt like invisible fingertips, repeatedly tracing and lingering on her delicate skin.