Erik looked at the fork in his hand, then looked back at Felyn sitting on the bed.

"Feeding her."

Disgust immediately surfaced on the face of the man in the electric cart. He was so thin that his cheeks were slightly sunken, his pale skin covered by a bright yellow robe embroidered all over with sun motifs. That outfit alone was ostentatious enough, but what made it hardest for Erik to keep a straight face were the man’s hands.

His fingernails were so long they nearly reached his knees. Two Succubi walking on either side had to carefully support each hand with velvet cushions to keep the nails from striking the cart. His long hair, which nearly touched the floor behind him, was held in the arms of yet another Succubus like the train of a bride’s gown.

Erik looked at the procession before him and stayed silent for a few seconds.

’Did I just accidentally wander backstage at a circus?’

"A man personally feeding a Succubus?" The man repeated coldly, as though he couldn’t believe Erik would dare admit it. "That is exceedingly base behavior, especially with a Succubus as crippled as that one."

The smile vanished from Erik’s face. Felyn couldn’t see the man, but she heard every word, and the hand on her blanket slowly clenched.

The man paid no attention to their reactions, only lifting his chin slightly. "You must stop immediately. A man’s honor does not permit actions that so debase his station."

Erik set the food container down on the table. He wiped the corner of Felyn’s mouth gently with a napkin before standing, his tall frame blocking the space between her and the doorway.

"I don’t care." Erik looked him straight in the eye. "I want to take care of Felyn because I like her. And who are you?"

One of the Succubi immediately drove the cart forward half a meter, as though drawing closer alone would make her master’s standing more intimidating. The man lifted his head, his tone carrying a pride that bordered on comical.

"I am Oriec, a key member of the Council of the Sacred Sun Men."

Erik’s face twitched.

’The Council of the Sacred Sun Men?’

’These people gave themselves that name and not one of them felt embarrassed?’

Oriec apparently mistook that silence for shock. He grew even more satisfied, his gaze shifting to Felyn. "Furthermore, a blind Succubus whose aptitude has fallen to Rank F can barely even care for herself. A useless existence like that only wastes resources by continuing to live."

Felyn stiffened slightly. She couldn’t see Erik’s expression, but his breathing had changed. It was no longer the warm atmosphere from moments ago, but a silence that made the room feel several degrees colder.

"For her to die by the order of a man such as myself," Oriec continued, "would in fact be a most honorable release."

A Succubus standing behind the cart went pale. Oriec tilted his head toward her, his voice as indifferent as if he were sending someone to fetch an object.

"You. Deal with her."

The Succubus trembled. "Lord Oriec..."

"If you’d like to spend tonight in the Long-Eared Wolf pen, by all means keep standing there."

The girl’s body went rigid at once. Tears quickly welled in her eyes, but her shaking hands still drew the magical pistol at her hip. The nurses out in the corridor all changed color, and some moved to call security, but the moment they saw the sun insignia on Oriec’s robe, every one of them hesitated.

He was a man, and a Council member besides.

In this society, very few people dared oppose someone like him directly.

The Succubus stepped into the room one pace at a time. The gun in her hand shook without stopping, the barrel wavering between Erik and Felyn. She wanted to apologize, but her voice caught in her throat.

Felyn could see nothing. She only heard the faint clink of metal, the approaching footsteps, and a weak killing intent smothered by fear. She slowly gripped the edge of the blanket, forcing herself not to tremble.

The instant the barrel lifted higher, a figure stepped in front of her.

Erik.

His back completely blocked Felyn from view. The distance between the barrel and his chest was only a few meters, yet Erik didn’t so much as glance at the trembling Succubus. His gaze rested on Oriec from start to finish.

His calm voice rang out through the utterly silent corridor.

"Felyn is my woman."

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes so cold that the smile on Oriec’s face froze.

"I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on her."

The entire hospital floor went quiet in an instant. The nurses at the door looked at Erik, then at the gun aimed at him. A man standing before a barrel not because he himself was threatened, but simply to protect a blind, Rank F Succubus who had just been carried out of a forest.

To them, the sight was almost absurd.

Behind Erik, Felyn sat motionless. She couldn’t see his back, yet she felt with perfect clarity that this man was standing between her and danger. One simple sentence was enough to make her heart pound until it ached.

Oriec looked at Erik for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Interesting. It seems the rumors weren’t wrong."

He jerked his chin. The Succubus holding the gun lowered her arm almost instantly, then retreated so quickly she nearly tripped. She hurriedly wiped her tears, not daring to look at Erik, but before leaving the doorway she still bowed her head to him in silence.

"Is there anything else?" Erik asked.

The smile disappeared from Oriec’s face. "I came here to deliver notice. Your recent actions have seriously damaged the honor and prestige of men. This afternoon, you are to appear before the Council of the Sacred Sun Men to face questioning."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Does your Council represent the law?"

"The law?" Oriec chuckled as though he’d just heard something extraordinarily naive. "That inferior sort of law exists only to govern the Succubi. We answer to the will of the Sun God of Men."

Erik was silent for a very long moment. Finally, he reached up and rubbed his forehead.

’Just as I thought. Talking to these people is no different from talking to a ward of patients who’ve escaped the hospital.’

"Fine." Erik exhaled. "I’ll be there this afternoon."

Oriec immediately looked pleased. "Very good. I hope by then you’ll know what you ought to say."

He jerked his chin, and the cart turned around at once. The two Succubi resumed supporting his nails, another gathered up his long hair from behind, and the entire procession slowly departed the corridor with such solemn ceremony that Erik didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

Only when the sound of the wheels vanished around the corner did he return to the room. Felyn was still sitting on the bed, both hands clasped tightly together in front of her.

"Erik..."

"Hm?"

"I’ve caused trouble for you again, haven’t I?"

Erik stood still for a moment, then walked over. He sat down on the edge of the bed and drew her hands out from the blanket. Felyn’s fingertips were colder than usual.

"No. This had nothing to do with you from the start."

"But he just tried to kill me."

"Then he’s the one with the problem." Erik placed a hand on her golden hair, his voice slow but certain. "Not you."

Felyn fell silent. She still wanted to say something, but the feeling of that warm hand stroking her hair made the self-blame stuck in her throat gradually dissolve.

Erik looked at the unease still on her face, then leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Felyn’s forehead.

Her body froze instantly.

Every thought in her head was like someone had hit a stop button. The heat from where Erik’s lips touched spread quickly down to her cheeks, then to her pointed ears, which visibly reddened. The moment Erik pulled back, he found her still sitting motionless, her face flushed so red it was practically steaming.

"Felyn?"

She didn’t answer.

"Felyn?"

Her soft body slowly tipped to one side. Erik quickly reached out to catch her, and looking down at the woman who had fainted in his arms, the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

"It was just a kiss on the forehead."

Felyn naturally couldn’t answer. Her flushed face still held the faintest smile, leaving Erik with no choice but to sigh helplessly and gently lower her onto the pillow.

"All right. A nap wouldn’t hurt either."

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