The torrential rain showed no sign of stopping. The rainwater near the Black Mist area was corrosive and somewhat infectious. A single careless mistake could cause serious problems—not just minor ones. The rain relentlessly battered the land, which was still in the early stages of redevelopment, causing delays in the project’s progress.
After all, no one was willing to risk their life just to work. Besides, Emilia didn’t want any unnecessary losses, especially when it came to personnel. She understood how precarious the Demon Lord’s Castle’s situation was. It was better to be cautious when possible and save whatever could be saved.
If it had been before, with the powerful protective barrier still intact, there would have been no impact whatsoever. But now things were different—the barrier had long since been destroyed.
Emilia, sheltering from the rain inside the Demon Lord’s Castle, would never have run into Sig, who was now soaking wet from head to toe. A sweet-tooth by nature, he had been drinking water his whole life, and now, he was anxiously searching everywhere for his lover, unwilling to miss any detail.
It was likely that he had been unsettled by her sudden disappearance. Anyone would worry and search for her, especially given how close they were—a friendship as deep as that of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. It would have been strange if he didn’t care.
When he spotted the young girl unharmed not far away… he silently breathed a sigh of relief. This level of rain was just a drizzle to him and nothing serious.
Standing silently in the rain, his feet sinking into the muddy road, Sig lifted his gaze with a heavy look toward the silver-haired girl. The rain blurred his vision, but he watched her confused expression for a moment before nodding meaningfully, giving a thumbs-up, then quietly turning and leaving in the rain. He was planning to go back and catch some more sleep.
No words were spoken—perhaps there was no need. Both understood each other perfectly. It was obvious he assumed she would understand, after all, he had just said so much.
He stretched lazily and set off again for home. Probably because he’d been feeling weak lately. After all, a person dies if they don’t sleep.
“What’s wrong with Sig?”
Curious, Emilia tilted her head slightly, her rosy lips moving as she questioned quietly. Her blood-red eyes reflected the scene just now, narrowing as she analyzed her lover’s actions and what he had meant to express.
I saw you, Emilia. You lazy bastard. Well done, well done. I’m off now—you handle it. Goodbye.
After pondering the meaning in her mind, her heart tightened with unease. She was unsure but had a general idea—it wasn’t far off.
She waved her hand and shouted, even ready to rush out into the rain.
She had to stop him and get a proper explanation.
“Sig, wait.”
“What are you doing?” Sig was startled and shuddered in alarm, clearly not expecting things to turn out this way. In an instant, he quickly appeared beside Emilia to stop her, preventing her from rushing out into the rain and risking getting soaked for too long.
Raising his hand, he gently patted her head with a reluctant tenderness.
“Are you stupid? In this heavy rain, you want to rush out? It’s my fault I didn’t stop you earlier. But if you act recklessly again… if you keep this up, I’ll have to activate compulsory measures and show you how serious I can be.”
He paused briefly before adding, remembering what he’d said before.
He pointed toward the pouring rain outside.
“Emilia, this isn’t ordinary rain—it’s rain condensed from the Black Mist. It rarely rains like this, and when it does, it’s best to stay hidden. I’m fine and not afraid, but you’re so fragile with your tiny arms and legs; you probably can’t even hold up against it. If you get sick, I’ll have to take care of you.”
His voice was filled with concern, warming her heart, but also stirring some confusion.
What did he mean just now? And as she sniffed lightly, she thought she caught another scent.
It was the smell of another woman. A very unpleasant scent.
Maybe it was just her imagination. She suppressed her emotions, refusing to let them control her body. It was also one of the ways she showed how much she loved him.
“Um, Sig… what did you mean by ‘just now’? I was right here the whole time… And there’s another woman’s scent on you. Can you explain? Please, I’m begging you to explain, or I might really go crazy, seriously.”
Her delicate body trembled—not from the cold, but from suppressing the dark thoughts within. Her slender hands crossed her arms tightly, her nails digging into her skin. She had been radiant moments ago, but now her eyes grew increasingly complicated, that subtle kind of complexity. It reminded her of unpleasant things from her past life—her family situation was complicated and involved a blended household.
It was clear Emilia intended to have a proper talk. She knew that only through good communication could the problem be solved. Blind stubbornness would only complicate things and possibly cause unnecessary consequences.
Sig, looking bewildered, had intended to explain, but her questions threw him off in an instant. He stroked his chin, trying to grasp the deeper meaning.
After thinking for a moment, he gave up trying to understand but responded matter-of-factly, refusing to brush her off.
Besides… weren’t we together the whole time just now?
“Well, don’t you already know? Where else was I just now?”
Frowning, he continued.
“Woman? You’re the only woman in my life. There’s absolutely no other woman. Please, I’m all about pure love. Besides, now that I have you, I wouldn’t even glance at another woman. You don’t seriously think I’m tired of gourmet meals and want street food, do you? And you really shouldn’t be so suspicious, Emilia. Just trust me. I trust you too—mutual trust is the best. I promise I’ll never betray you. You can rest assured.”
“I know, I know. Sorry. I was too emotional. I’ll be more careful next time.”
She still seemed a bit shaken, her delicate hands nervously clutching her skirt, but at this point, she had no choice but to let it go.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him… or that she wasn’t sensitive. She realized she was overthinking things. After all, Sig’s daily life and work made it impossible to avoid contact with other women. But this time, it had been too close… the scent was too strong—so strong it couldn’t be ignored.
She shook her head, reminding herself not to think too much. In the end, trusting her lover was what mattered, and this matter was put firmly behind her.
“Um… sorry about that, Sig.”
In the end, she chose to apologize sincerely. Unexpectedly, Sig clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.
“We’re family now, yet you still act like this, all thanks and apologies—it makes me uncomfortable. Looks like I’ll have to teach you a lesson tonight, so you understand a man’s charm at all times.”
“I know, I’ll be waiting.”
Seeing the atmosphere gradually ease, she worked hard to cast all these trivial matters from her mind, smiling softly. This was enough. No need to overthink or doubt. After all, Sig wasn’t Gerard—he wasn’t that kind of scoundrel.
Instinctively, she nestled into Sig’s embrace, seeking safety and protection—it was the only place she could feel at ease. But the scent of another woman lingered stubbornly here, and it was far too strong to ignore.