Henry lay naked, his body resting on the bed beside Sargonas. Calloused fingers, evidence of the work he had done to survive, traced paths across the aristocrat's hairless chest. Despite the tickling sensation of those caresses, it didn't bother him; his mind delved into deep reflections.

"Thank you for granting such a selfish request," said Sargonas, stretching in an embrace, pressing her bare chest against Henry's left arm.

Henry remained silent. However, he knew that prolonging the silence for too long would be counterproductive. Yet, he couldn't help but reflect on the fact that they had just engaged in sexual intercourse, something he never expected to experience with someone he considered his savior.

"Is something bothering you? The bed might be a bit cramped for both of us," she said with a mischievous laugh, observing him remaining silent.

Henry took the rough hands of the demon king with his right hand and said:

"It's not that…" He sighed, keeping his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Are you worried about us?" Sargonas asked sadly.

"Neither. I fear for the future."

"The future?"

"Yes. Since I arrived here, I always had someone dictating what to do, I loathed it with all my being. But when I faced you in that battle and you defeated me, you freed me a bit."

"What do you mean?" she inquired, stopping her hand's movement on his chest.

"This is something very few people know, but I'm not from this world," he said after a pause, trying to find the right words. "In my past life, I was a human in a reality quite similar to this one. Hundreds of years ago, I died in an earthquake, crushed by debris."

"What are you talking about?" she interrupted, bewildered by the unexpected revelation.

"I don't belong in this world. I was reborn as a Drakontos amidst a war. I was captured and manipulated to fight in a conflict I couldn't escape. Look at the choker around my neck, it's a magical control artifact; I'm still being manipulated by the empire," he explained, bringing his small, rugged hands to his neck.

The choker, as black as ebony, seemed more like a metallic ribbon, its texture reminding Sargonas of the tempered steel of a knife. She tried to loosen it, but it remained fixed in place.

"It's a mark of my enslavement. If I weren't useful for the empire, they would have eliminated me long ago," he confessed tearfully. "In the end, I was always the slave."

The aristocrat remained silent, unsure of how to react to that revelation, observing the man's face, afflicted by anguish. Finally, Henry spoke with a serious tone:

"You're right, it's dangerous for you to stay here. I lured you into a trap. I'll prepare money for you to leave tomorrow, but you need—"

Sargonas pushed herself up, now straddling him. She held his face in both hands and kissed him intensely, seemingly stealing his breath. The kiss lingered for several seconds until she let go, moved away from his face, and said with determination, looking into his eyes:

"I won't leave!"

His dark eyes, deep as the night, seemed to shine with an intensity that disturbed him. He wanted to avert his gaze from her, but he was trapped, mesmerized by her gaze.

Stolen novel; please report.

"But…"

Sargonas leaned in again, surrendering to a passionate kiss she had never experienced before, not even as a man. Its intensity grew with each passing second, as if the contained desire suddenly broke free. Sargonas' lips pressing against Henry's conveyed a fiery and voracious passion. In that fervor, her teeth, sharp like his, inadvertently grazed Henry's lower lip, leaving a bleeding wound.

"If you fear the future, then you're free! A slave doesn't fear tomorrow; their life is controlled, they only fear the consequences of disobedience! A slave doesn't plan beyond what their master expects! Is there someone you care about and don't want to see suffer in the future!?"

"Yes!" he replied, wiping tears with his right hand as a thread of blood trickled from his lips due to the teeth's contact.

"Then what is it that truly worries you?" she asked, placing her hands on his chest.

"If you're with me, I fear nothing," he said, standing up, keeping her close as he hugged her, tracing with his hands the path of some scars on her naked back. Then he whispered in her ear, "I love you."

With his injured lip, Henry began kissing her neck tenderly, leaving a few marks on her skin. His lip's blood slid across her skin but blended with her crimson hue, dissolving until it disappeared as if it were part of her body.

Sargonas began to moan, excited by Henry's kisses and caresses; it was the second time he had made her feel like a woman. She began searching for the Drakontos' member that was growing beneath the sheet, gently caressing it with both hands to avoid hurting him with her long nails. The fabric was an obstruction, making her anxious, but she found contentment in her lover's expression.

Henry panted incessantly, feeling his excitement grow rapidly. More eager than Sargonas, he withdrew from her neck and focused his attention on her petite lips. With both hands on her cheeks, he kissed her with unbridled passion, leaving her breathless.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door sounded, a sudden knock that made them freeze. Henry quickly got up from the bed, entangled in the sheets, and began dressing hurriedly. Sargonas observed the scene with an amused grin. For someone of the demon race, nudity wasn't usually a concern around others.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door sounded again, this time followed by a voice from the hallway:

"Master, dinner is served," announced a female voice.

"It's Beatriz," murmured Henry, concerned, and continued, "We'll be down in a moment, we still have things to discuss."

"We're almost done!" replied Sargonas with laughter.

Henry approached her quickly and covered her mouth with both hands, addressing Beatriz:

"Can we have 10 more minutes alone?!" he pleaded desperately.

"Alright," responded the woman, as her footsteps moved away from the room.

"What are you doing?" exclaimed Sargonas, annoyed, removing Henry's hands from her mouth.

"She doesn't know about us yet. I'm waiting for the right moment to tell her," he said, scratching his head and ruffling his gray hair.

"What does it matter what someone from the household staff thinks?" replied Sargonas disdainfully, aware that it was his family, just to tease him.

"Sargonas, you don't understand, I—"

"Eleuteria Valente," she interrupted, curtly.

"Excuse me?" he asked, confused.

"I want you to call me Eleuteria Valente from now on. 'Sargonas Xul'tharac' is a male name belonging to an ancient king who died, remember?" she stood up from the bed naked and hugged Henry, who was halfway dressed, resting her forehead on his chest. "I want you to treat me as a woman from now on. That's how I've lived for many years, and that's how I want you to treat me."

"Eleuteria Valente?" he returned the hug and added, "I like that name," planting a kiss on her dark hair, leaning down a little.

The night covered the mansion, and although the room was dim, Henry could see Eleuteria's embarrassed expression clearly due to his night vision, a trait he still retained as a Drakontos.

"We still have eight minutes," Eleuteria said, hugging him tighter. "Can we just stay like this for the rest of the time?"

Sargonas discovered that what she valued most in the world was feeling loved by someone. And knowing that person loved her too filled her heart with happiness, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a very long time.

"I haven't finished dressing; I only managed to put on my underwear and shirt," he said as he slid a hand through her black hair, delicately tangling it and playing with the small horns that peeked out, resembling cat ears.

"I've seen you naked already," she whispered, exploring the expanse of his back with her hands. "Demons love feeling the bare skin of those we love."

They remained embraced until Henry stepped away, clapping to turn on the lights. He picked up his clothes from the floor and dressed completely. Before leaving, Eleuteria took his arm, pulling him in for a farewell kiss. Henry reciprocated and left the room, casting one last glance at her naked figure before departing.

"Do I even deserve to be happy?" murmured Sargonas as Henry's steps faded down the hallway.