The wind on the terrace seemed to stagnate for a moment. Only Cantarella's oath, carrying lethal temptation and absolute devotion, lingered in the air, mixing with the rich fragrance of roses and the bewitching, exotic scent on her body.
Rover gazed at Cantarella, who was mere inches away.
A hazy mist swirled within her blue-purple eyes, reflecting his silhouette, along with a near-fanatical loyalty churning in their depths and an undisguised desire to completely possess him.
Her words were not a plea, but a declaration—a dedication placing herself and the entire Fesale family completely in the palm of his hand.
He remained silent for a moment. The wine glass in his hand swirled slightly, the deep red liquid flowing like a liquid gemstone.
Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice a notch lower than usual: "I have never doubted Fesale's loyalty. And your value, Cantarella, goes far beyond being a mere tool in my hands."
These words were like a key, flawlessly unlocking the floodgates of some suppressed emotion in Cantarella's heart.
The corners of her lips curved into an exquisitely beautiful yet dangerous arc. She leaned forward a bit more, her body almost pressing against his chest.
That cold, exotic fragrance grew even richer, carrying an intoxicating potency.
"Oh? Then in the eyes of My Lord... what exactly am I?"
Her voice dropped even lower, like the most intimate whisper between lovers, carrying a bewitching huskiness. "An ally? A subordinate? Or..."
She paused her words deliberately, leaving ample room for imagination.
Immediately after, she gently raised her hand. Her icy fingertips brushed fleetingly over the back of the hand Rover used to hold his glass, bringing a faint shiver.
"I have heard..."
Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming languid and carrying a trace of playfulness, as if merely discussing an interesting anecdote. Yet a sharp glint flashed deep within her blue-purple eyes. "During your trip to Mt. Firmament in Jinzhou, you seemed to get along quite harmoniously with a good friend of mine... Counselor Changli?"
Her intelligence network was indeed pervasive, having learned even of such private matters.
One couldn't discern joy or anger from her tone, but her slightly raised brow and deepening smile clearly exuded an "I know everything" vibe, along with a trace of competitive spirit unwilling to fall behind.
Meeting her gaze, Rover neither denied it nor explained in detail. He simply gave a faint smile: "Counselor Changli... indeed provided me with a great deal of 'help'."
"Help..."
Cantarella repeated the word softly, as if savoring its deeper meaning.
She suddenly let out an incredibly soft, low chuckle. Her body, soft and boneless as water, leaned closer. Her red lips almost touched his ear, her warm breath—laced with the scent of wine—spraying against the side of his neck.
"Then... I wonder if My Lord might also require some 'help' from the Head of the Fesale family tonight?"
Her implication was so explicit it was practically blatant. At the same time, she raised her hand slightly, giving a subtle signal.
The old butler, who had been standing in the distance like a shadow, bowed silently and quietly retreated. He gently closed the door connecting the terrace to the inner hall, leaving this space entirely to the two of them.
At this moment, the ambiguity and tension in the air instantly soared to their absolute peak.
Rover lowered his head, looking at the Fesale Family Head in his arms—as gorgeously alluring as a blooming poisonous flower, yet incredibly dangerous.
He recalled the gentleness and subtlety of Counselor Changli in the hot springs of Mt. Firmament prior, which formed a stark contrast to Cantarella's bold and direct offensive right before his eyes.
The Fire Phoenix of Jinzhou and the Deep-Sea Jellyfish of Laguna. These two women, vastly different in every sense and separated by an entire ocean, had actually become close confidantes who talked about everything.
Water of Kan and Fire of Li, each possessed their own unique merits. And right now, both of them were connected because of the exact same man.
He also clearly remembered the last time he returned from the Sea of the Netherworld. Exhausted in body and mind, the blurry yet scorching memory fragments of what happened between him and this "Poison" Family Head deep within this castle—
The shiver of icy fingertips sliding across skin, the intertwining pants carrying the exotic fragrance of the purple silk tree, and the suffocating, unrestrained pleasure and indulgence deep within her eyes that felt like sinking into the deep sea.
Only that time, it carried too much catharsis and probing after surviving a catastrophe.
But this time...
Cantarella seemed to notice his momentary lapse in concentration. Displeased, she lightly traced his jawline with her fingertips, pulling his attention back to her: "My Lord... in my arms right now, yet thinking of another? That is hardly fair..."
Her tone seemed to carry a trace of coquettish complaint, but mostly it was the confidence of someone bound to get what she wanted.
A dark glint flashed through Rover's eyes. He backhanded the hand causing mischief on his jaw, grasping it firmly, while his other hand downed the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp.
Immediately after, he lowered his head, flawlessly capturing those alluring red lips just inches away, which exhaled breath like orchids.
This kiss was different from any previous one, carrying an unquestionable dominance and a sense of plunder. It was as if he was responding to her bold provocation, and also as if confirming a certain kind of ownership.
Cantarella froze slightly, then began to respond passionately, like a night rose finally receiving sweet rain, blooming her bewitching beauty to the fullest.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Cantarella panted slightly, her cheeks dyed a passionate flush, yet her eyes were even more blurry and triumphant. She licked the corner of her lips, as if savoring the aftertaste: "It seems... My Lord has accepted my 'help'?"
Who was Rover? A man of action who never wasted time on empty chatter when he could just make a move. He didn't answer, directly expressing his intent through action.
He wrapped his arms around her plush, supple waist and scooped her up into his arms.
Cantarella let out a short gasp of surprise, then obediently nestled into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her burning cheeks into the crook of his neck, letting out a satisfied, cat-like sigh.
Carrying her, he walked through the silent, empty, magnificent corridors, heading deep into the castle toward the bedroom belonging to the Fesale Family Head, permeated with an eternal, faint fragrance.
Returning to that familiar, splendidly magnificent bedroom, a muffled thud of a heavy object landing on the bed was accompanied by a flirtatious, soft gasp.
Unlike the gradual progression and soft whispers on Mt. Firmament, here there was only a reckless, frontal assault and high-pitched cheers.
In mere moments, several pieces of men's and women's clothing appeared on the floor—from shoes and socks to accessories, from outer coats to inner linings, from fabric dresses to undergarments...
The heavy curtains fell, blocking out the moonlight and city lights outside the window. Only faint, decadent sounds could be heard from within the room.
Tonight, destined to belong to Fesale, she would leave her own mark upon him right here.
Tonight, the "Poison" of Castello Portovino was destined to once again offer everything to her one and only "My Lord."
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