Phew.

After carrying Aerin back to my private bedroom, I lay down on the bed with her without a word.

I rested her head against my collarbone, tilting mine to press against hers. A faint floral scent rose from her hair as our bodies stayed tightly pressed together—an undeniably intimate closeness.

But honestly, my mind was blank right now. I was simply holding Aerin on the bed.

"...Master, are you okay?"

Aerin, held firmly in my arms, must have felt the slight tremor in my frame. She called out with a trace of worry—

At this moment, she didn’t call me "Dark Lord," "Xia," or "darling." She called me "Master."

"...I’m fine. Just let me hold you a little longer."

I took several deep breaths, replied to her, then closed my eyes.

Silence settled.

Time crept by. The bedroom stayed eerily quiet.

Aerin, long accustomed to this, shifted slightly in my rough embrace. She settled into a docile pose, snuggling against my chest.

Gradually, my ragged breathing calmed. The faint tremor only noticeable through skin-to-skin contact faded away.

"Master, it’s okay now. Master."

Snuggled close, she gently coiled her tail around my waist, her voice soothing.

"Phew... I’m okay."

After a pause, I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes.

"I’m glad you’re here. Without you, I’d have broken down long ago."

I scratched her ears. She let out a soft moan, then gently nipped my chest.

"Master, you can’t keep going like this," she murmured between nibbles. "If this continues, you might not last until the next [Gap]."

"...Yeah. But after all these years, you know I can’t quit—if I do, no one else can shoulder this burden."

"Why not just keep things as they are?" Aerin released her bite, blinking up at me with pitiful eyes. "Think of Elan and Elu... They’re scared of you."

"...I know."

I stroked her ears, my gaze drifting away.

"But Aerin, you’ve grown selfish. That’s not good."

"I’m selfish for your sake, Master..."

"...Don’t worry about me. Just care for Elan and Elu well. Give me a bit more time."

"You always say that... Ugh—"

Before she could finish, I silenced her lips with mine.

After a brief kiss, I lifted her slightly and buried my face near her collarbone, breathing in her sweet scent.

"Master..."

She whispered, then warmth flooded through me.

My body relaxed—

"...I see... it still won’t work, will it?" She pressed a finger to my lips, watching me. "Look at yourself, Master. Your desire’s rising again... It’s unhealthy to dwell on this."

"...That was love for you. No ill thoughts."

"Ah!"

I stared at her, momentarily speechless. She gasped.

"Ugh... S-sorry, Master..."

Her ears drooped guiltily. Calmly, I smiled at her.

"It’s fine. Doesn’t matter—"

I patted her head, shrugging lightly. "Quiet moments like this are nice too... A little break isn’t bad."

At my words, Aerin buried her face in my chest, silent—whether from shyness or having nothing left to say.

I held her, smiling softly.

Aerin was irreplaceable to me... Her power stood apart from all others.

It was [Healing]—healing in every sense. Just that.

"Phew... I really can’t handle you two sisters."

I muttered, my body and mind slowly unwinding.

"Yeah. Time for a good sleep."

With that thought, I closed my eyes, surrendering to deep slumber.