The moment those words left her lips, she suddenly intensified her touch.

Feigning disappointment, she withdrew her hand, her fingertips still tinged with his warmth.

But just as her hand left, Alza grabbed hold of it.

He enclosed her forearm tightly with both hands.

Strangely, though he was the one being oppressed, kneeling on the ground, he seemed like a fish thirsting for three days and finally encountering water, his eyes filled with a plea for help.

"Female Master, don’t leave... I can do it, I really can."

He choked out the words, trembling with a kind of desperation that defied everything.

He held her hand against his burning face, his fingertips slightly quivering.

Selene wasn’t the type to hold herself back.

She always believed in taking advantage when the opportunity arose.

When good fortune presents itself, it’s foolish to pass it up.

Especially when it’s the kind of rare excitement that makes her heart race and blood boil, there’s no way she’d let it slip away.

"Host, can you pause for a moment?"

The system’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind, catching her off guard.

"Do Not Disturb mode activated, stop bothering me."

She reacted almost on reflex, her tone irritated, as her fingertips lightly brushed against Alza’s neck.

"This isn’t a joke; someone’s coming!"

The system’s voice grew louder, tinged with urgency.

Selene was already too deep in, her passions flaring.

She ignored the system’s warning.

She raised her hand, her fingertips hooking onto his shirt button.

Alza didn’t dodge, didn’t even lose his breath.

He let her press him into the sofa, his back sinking into the soft cushions, fingers clutching the hem tightly.

Yet, despite this, he let her slowly tear open the fabric, emitting a soft ripping sound.

It’s fine...

He closed his eyes, eyelashes fluttering gently, teeth biting the lower lip, nearly drawing blood.

As long as Miss Kane still wants him, as long as she is willing to give him another look.

In this place, with all its shame and embarrassment, he can endure.

No matter if the whole world ridicules him, he doesn’t care.

She leaned against his chest, straddling him, knees slightly apart, her weight on his most vulnerable spot.

She didn’t expect this sickly guy to be so robust, far from a bed-ridden patient.

She thought he’d collapse under a touch, but... he held firm.

Males really get advantages, even when passive, still making one feel dangerous and alluring.

The system said someone is here?

She didn’t listen at all.

This is her home, her territory; even if the emperor stands at the door, there’s no stopping her.

Her hand slid toward his belt, without hesitation.

"Ahem."

A soft cough came from the doorway, neither loud nor quiet.

Lady Lynn stood at the entrance, backlit.

She calmly cleared her throat twice, no anger or embarrassment visible on her face.

Selene: "...Heh."

She slowly stood up, her movements unhurried and even carrying a hint of disdain.

Evan and Ethan, who initially wore a gleeful expression of returning home, had their anger flare at the sight.

Their eyes were instantly bloodshot, faces turning from crimson to pale, like having been slapped hard.

"You wicked woman!"

Ethan’s voice trembled, his anger almost breaking it.

"We were almost crying ourselves to death, and you do this? We were abandoned outside, nearly dying on the road, and you, you’re here, here."

Too angry to continue, his throat choked.

Ethan rushed forward, wrenching Selene away from Alza.

Alza neither dodged nor adjusted his posture.

He simply stared eagerly at Selene, his gaze moist.

"Female Master..."

Lady Lynn had been compelled by her sons’ cries, their pleas of wanting to come home, to make this trip.

When she opened the door and saw the scene, her face turned red, her ears blushing.

She coughed lightly, wishing she could disappear instantly, quickly saying: "Carry on..."

To Selene, anyone who came could be considered air.

No matter who it was, even if royalty came, she wasn’t about to yield.

But this one... was her nominal mother-in-law.

Etiquette couldn’t be abandoned, face couldn’t be lost, no matter her displeasure, she had to endure.

She had to stop.

She shook her wrist, adjusted her clothing, and sat down on the nearby sofa, face cold and silent.

Alza’s ears drooped, he curled up into a ball.

Evan and Ethan berated him.

Such a sly fox!

The three sat rigidly.

The air was frozen like ice.

Evan and Ethan folded their arms, glaring at her with eyes sharp as knives, flanking her left and right.

Neither spoke, waiting for the other to break.

"Do you know," Evan finally spoke, "We risked our lives to return?"

Ethan was so aggrieved he wanted to cry, his eyes completely red, nose tinged with acid.

He muttered lowly.

"I spoke such things as cutting myself to be brought back... begged them, begged like a dog... and here you are, as soon as we left, you were here, with him..."

Unable to continue, his chest heaved violently.

Males really get advantages.

This fox is usually so taciturn, like a mute.

Yet, as soon as they left, he dared to unbutton before her?

His movements were deliberate, long fingers gracefully undoing each one.

Evan’s situation was worse, his heart like it was being violently pulled, the pain suffocating.

Ethan, his brother, had been intimate with the Female Master, was even permitted to stay in the main residence, but him?

He gripped Selene’s corner of the shirt, knuckles pale, the sleeve crumpled under his clutch.

"Female Master... I’ve missed you."

He murmured softly, so light it was almost a whisper. "Stop."

Selene raised a hand to rub her temples, her brow furrowed tightly.

"Did your mom really just let you return like this? Didn’t mention anything that happened? Not a single question?"

Ethan and Evan exchanged a glance, their gaze locking momentarily.

Then simultaneously shrugged, expressions uniformly bewildered.

"No, she just said to come home for a while, said it’s quiet and good for recuperating."

Ethan raised his chin proudly, a sly glint in his eyes.

"I told mom that we are yours, can’t just linger at the in-laws, it’s improper. She was so annoyed she couldn’t stand it and hurriedly sent us back to spare herself our presence."

He glanced out the window.

He recognized that male being beaten mercilessly; it was the scientist from The Royal Palace always conducting bizarre experiments.

Always torturing people with various concoctions, not sparing even the weakest lower-class ones.

Deserves the punishment, such people should be taught a lesson.

But... recalling the image of that person being flogged until his skin opened, he shivered inexplicably.

Yet as he spoke, he suddenly recalled that scenario.

This time... he should withstand it too, right?

"Female Master, we’ve prepared a surprise for you!"

Ethan abruptly raised his head, his eyes shining.

Selene felt like lighting a cigarette, deeply inhaling once, then slowly exhaling the pent-up frustration.

Lady Lynn’s face must be steel-plated?

Her sons were taken away, tried, nearly lost their spiritual totems, yet she could pretend nothing happened, sending them back without a word?

Can such things be ignored?

Truly absurd.

"No need, don’t bother."