Top Tier Perversion: Dual Cultivate Secretly

Knock. Knock.

"Vanessa, it’s me."

The door opened.

Felicia stood on the other side in a dark nightgown. Only her face and faint green hair could be seen beneath the dim candlelight coming from inside.

The same as before.

"Come in."

Vincent stepped inside.

The room was cold.

A window had been left slightly open, allowing the night breeze to move through the curtains. Only a single candle burned beside Vanessa’s bed.

She sat at the edge in a thin nightgown, her red hair falling loosely across her back instead of being tied as it had been throughout the day.

Due to the candlelight, he could see through her nightgown but kept his focus on her eyes, not looking elsewhere.

This moment was important.

Vincent stopped before her.

Their height matched even when she was sitting.

"I’ve been called to the Capital urgently. Can you do me a favor?"

Vanessa stared at him for a moment before tapping the empty space beside her.

"Sit first."

Vincent sat.

The conversation that followed was almost identical to the one he remembered.

He explained the second infestation inside Copper Town’s grain storages, the plague scare from the first incident, and his concern that frightened residents might burn everything if the situation became uncontrollable.

Vanessa listened until he began explaining why he could not remain.

She placed a finger against his lips.

"This is not a favor. It is duty."

The familiar cedar and pine scent reached Vincent.

He remained quiet.

Vanessa continued, reminding him that she and their mother had been handling D’Arc County long before he decided to take responsibility.

He did not have to personally solve every problem.

Then came the insult Vincent remembered very well.

"You can’t even kill a chicken."

Vincent’s eyelid twitched.

’There it is.’

Vanessa continued as if she had not attacked his dignity.

The rats were monsters believed to have come from the Highlands. Reports also mentioned an increasing number of monsters leaving the northeastern region.

She handed him the same report.

Vincent accepted it and briefly read through the contents despite already knowing every relevant line.

This time, when Vanessa lifted the candle to help him see, Vincent kept his eyes firmly on the paper.

He had made one mistake there during the previous iteration.

He would not make it twice.

Probably.

Vincent lowered the report.

"How did I miss this information?"

"You’ve only recently taken command. Reports unrelated to your direct orders are still sent to me or the Capital."

"Right."

Vincent placed the paper aside.

He stood and took both of Vanessa’s hands.

"Please save the grains. I’ll return as soon as I can and take responsibility for the situation again."

Vanessa lightly nodded.

"Don’t run away from the axe lessons either."

"I won’t."

She nodded again.

Vincent did not release her hands immediately.

This was where he had turned around last time.

Then he remembered his low Entanglement, came back, hugged Vanessa, apologized as quickly as possible, declared his love, and fled before she could respond.

Vincent remembered every detail due to Fate Archive.

He also remembered what he had learned afterward.

About the old Vincent.

About Vanessa.

About himself.

’Alright.’

He took a slow breath.

’Time to actually do what I came here to do.’

Vincent let go of Vanessa’s hands and stared into her eyes.

Vanessa raised her gaze at his sudden seriousness.

"What?"

"I need to apologize properly."

Her expression changed slightly.

"For what?"

Vincent sighed.

"I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for what I’ve done all these years."

Vanessa stared at him with knitted brows.

Felicia remained near the wall, quietly watching the siblings without interfering.

Vincent stepped closer.

He placed both hands on Vanessa’s shoulders.

Vanessa’s eyes lowered toward them.

"Vanessa..."

Vincent paused and collected his words.

"I treated you terribly. I blamed you for things that were never your fault. I was jealous because you were stronger than me, taller than me, better at martial arts, and probably better at almost everything I thought mattered."

Vanessa looked back at him.

Vincent’s sad expression turned into a faint smile.

"The height part still annoys me, but that’s a different matter altogether, don’t think much about it."

"..."

"Anyway... as I was saying..."

The smile on Vincent’s face disappeared.

"You never did anything to deserve what I did to you. The way I treated you was unfair, unjust, unsolicited, un—"

"Unfair is enough," Vanessa’s furrow deepened.

Vincent nodded. "Right, so..."

Vincent remembered Anastasia describing their childhood.

She had joined House D’Arc when she was six and Vincent and Vanessa were six too.

Vanessa trained every day.

Vincent spent most of his childhood playing with other noble children.

Then puberty arrived.

Vanessa grew taller, stronger, and increasingly talented.

Instead of feeling proud of his twin sister, the previous Vincent turned everything into a comparison he could never win.

Eventually, he found alcohol.

Vincent tightened his hands around her shoulders.

"You know what bothers me most?"

Vanessa did not answer.

"I had such a lovely, talented, easygoing, kind, beautiful, strong, and amazing little sister—"

"I’m older," Vanessa interrupted.

"—such an amazing little sister but I spent my days away from you, mingling with idiots who never even cared for me. I could’ve spent the whole time training beside you instead, growing up with you instead, you know?"

Vanessa lowered her gaze. Partly thinking about the past, partly feeling regretful, and partly not understanding how she could respond to such words.

"Training with you would’ve been really fun."

Vincent chuckled lightly.

"I probably would’ve complained every day because you beat my ass. I’d probably accuse you of cheating whenever you won too."

A faint change appeared around Vanessa’s lips.

"But I would’ve kept coming back."

Vincent raised her chin and stared directly into her eyes.

"They say the best time to do something is always now. The past is the past. It can’t be changed, but the present..."

Vincent leaned and hugged Vanessa with a bit of force.

She leaned back a little and due to the height difference, his feet slipped.

With a soft thud, Vanessa fell back on the bed with Vincent on top of her.

In the corner, Felicia lowered her eyes and tried not to see what her mistress and master were doing.

Vanessa’s expression changed.

Vincent felt softness on his face but quickly leaned back a little.

The weight of his body was still pressing on her and he let it be.

He held her shoulders and continued.

"The present is in my hands and I’ve come to the realization that I want to be better."

He stared into her crimson eyes.

She stared into his.

"I want to spend time with you. Get to know you, correct every mistake I’ve made in the past, and shower you with all the love you deserve. I wanna make up for the lost time but I don’t know how."

Vanessa remained silent.

"In any case, you’re strong. You’ve stayed strong all these years and kept the county afloat. You became a support for mother too when I was busy being an asshole."

Vanessa turned her face to the side, really having a difficult time to think of something to respond.

Vincent leaned closer.

"I’m proud of you."

Vanessa turned to face him.

Vincent’s face was really close, but she surprisingly did not hate it.

Her brother’s words were heartfelt. He was really sincere with it.

Noticing her gaze, Vincent smiled and continued.

"One last time... I’m sorry..."

"I’m sorry I wasted so many years."

Vanessa’s fingers slowly curled against the bedsheet.

Vincent continued.

"I can’t get our childhood back."

He thought of the axe lessons waiting for him.

"But we can make up for it."

Vanessa’s eyes had turned slightly hazy.

Vincent leaned further close.

"Teach me martial arts."

Her eyes gained slight clarity.

"Not just the axe."

Vincent smiled.

"Whatever you know and whatever I’m capable of learning."

Vanessa’s lips parted.

"You won’t be able to match my pace."

"I know."

"You will complain."

"Definitely."

"You might get hurt."

"I’ll complain about that too."

Vanessa stared at him.

Vincent shrugged.

"But I’ll still come tomorrow."

Vanessa’s gaze softened considerably.

Vincent leaned even closer, being two inches away from their noses touching.

Vanessa turned to the side, once again not understanding how to respond to his words or to the physical gesture of his.

Push him away? Accept his apology? What was she supposed to do?

Vincent looked at her turned face and sighed lightly.

’She probably is put on the spot and doesn’t know how to deal with it.’

Regardless, he had said everything there was to say.

It was time to say goodbye and leave.

Vincent leaned forward, intending to kiss her cheek.

Nothing dramatic, just enough to end the conversation properly without running away like last time.

"I love you, Vanessa."

Vanessa’s eyes widened.

She turned toward him.

Vincent’s lips touched hers at this very moment.

"..."

"..."

Vincent tasted winter.

Vanesssa tasted chamomile and could smell his musky scent.

In the corner, Felicia wondered why the room had suddenly gone quiet. Despite the curiosity, she did not glance up to see her mistress and master.

The room continued to remain silent.

Vincent continued to kiss Vanessa.

Neither moved.

Neither immediately pulled away either.

The contact lasted for a good few seconds, and Vincent finally realized what just happened.

He broke the kiss and slowly leaned back.

Vanessa stared at him without averting her gaze.

Vincent stared back.

His heart began beating much faster than it had any right to.

While flustered, he unknowingly wiped the drool from the corner of Vanessa’s lips with his sleeves.

"That was an accident."

Vanessa said nothing. She continued to stare at him.

Vincent cleared his throat.

"We’re siblings anyway, so it doesn’t count."

She still said nothing.

Vincent nodded as if he had just established an internationally recognized law.

"Good talk."

He got up and helped her sit properly.

"Please save the grains. Sleep well. Love you."

He quickly kissed her forehead and turned around, calmly walking out of the door without rushing like last time.

Vincent opened the door.

Click.

It closed behind him.

Felicia finally looked up and saw Vanessa alone in the room, staring at the door.

The candle beside her bed flickered.

A few seconds passed.

’He’s changed so much.’

She knew that.

Everyone around Vincent knew that.

However, the person who stood before her moments ago felt even more different from the brother she had breakfast with that morning.

He was no longer simply trying to behave better.

There was conviction behind his words.

Experience that shouldn’t have existed.

Vanessa lowered her gaze.

’He changed a lot after spending time in the county.’

Her fingers tightened against the bed.

’What exactly did he experience?’

...

Outside the bedroom.

Vincent took three steps.

His calm expression immediately collapsed.

He placed a hand against his chest.

’What the fuck did I just do?’

His heart hammered beneath his palm.

’Holy shit, I’m dumb.’

He had planned a heartfelt apology.

He had planned a hug.

Maybe a forehead kiss if the mood allowed it.

He certainly had not planned to kiss Vanessa on the lips.

’She turned!’

Vincent covered his face.

’Why did she turn at that exact moment!?’

Thankfully the hallway was empty and nobody saw his expression or body language.

A few seconds passed.

Vincent lowered his hands.

A concern suddenly surfaced.

’Wait.’

There had been no notification.

Vincent froze.

’Did I mess up?’

He tried recalling Vanessa’s Entanglement before entering.

Friction Link.

The last time, a simple apology and hug had caused a massive increase.

This time he had poured out everything he genuinely felt.

Nothing.

’Was kissing her that bad?’

Vincent’s stomach sank.

...

Inside the bedroom.

Vanessa remained in the same position.

Vincent’s words continued passing through her mind.

He was proud of her.

He wanted to learn martial arts beside her.

He regretted the years they lost.

He loved her.

Vanessa raised her fingers.

They stopped before her lips.

She lightly touched them.

There was still a faint warmth left behind.

Perhaps it was her imagination. Perhaps it was real. She didn’t care.

She slowly rubbed her lower lip with her thumb.

’He’s developed a sister complex.’

Vanessa reached the most reasonable conclusion available to her.

Her brother had clearly become attached to his family after spending time away from home.

Perhaps the county’s crises had finally made him appreciate what he possessed.

Their mother had told Vanessa more than once to give Vincent a second chance if he sincerely changed.

Vanessa had been reluctant.

She had spent years tolerating his insults, drunken behavior, and resentment.

However, the person who just stood before her was different.

’As his older sister, I shouldn’t remain stuck in the past.’

They shared the same birthday and were only five minutes apart.

The difference was marginal, but she had always considered herself as the older sibling and took it upon her to protect her ’younger’ brother.

She looked toward the closed door.

’If I reject his affection now, he might misunderstand and return to his previous behavior.’

That would be troublesome.

Unacceptable, even.

’I’ll reciprocate his feelings.’

Vanessa touched her lips again.

’He already has a fiancée and his marriage is in a month, but he still wishes to pursue me, his actual sister...’

Vanessa fell back on bed and closed her eyes, remembering the kiss.

’It must’ve taken a lot of courage to actually confess so much. He’s also going against society to commit such taboos. He’s gotten really bold and daring. This only shows how much he loves me...’

A faint smile formed on her face.

’He also said we’re siblings so the kiss didn’t count. He didn’t say it directly, probably because he wanted me to take the hint or probably because Felicia was in the room, but I’m sure...’

’He probably meant that he will make me his wife in the future and give me a real kiss—one that would count.’

She opened her eyes and let out a small smile.

’How naughty...’

She got up and stared at the closed door.

’Whatever happened to him in the county...’

She touched her lips again.

’...I am really grateful to it.’

...

[Ding!]

Vincent jumped.

He had changed into his outdoor clothes and was ready to leave for the train station when he suddenly got the notification.

Lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[Major Entanglement Upgrade!]

[Major Entanglement Upgrade!]

[Subject: Vanessa D’Arc]

[Friction Link(Stable) → Bound Link(Stable)]

Vincent froze.

He read it once.

Then again.

’What?’

[Friction Link(stable) → Bound Link(stable)]

Vincent stared at the enormous jump.

’Bound Link!?’

’Two major realms!?’

Vincent pinched himself.

It hurt.

This was real!

’What in the world did she think to suddenly develop such a close bond with me...’

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!