KFBRV Pt 2 Ch 92

Wh—what?

Vanessa looked down at the Count's struggling back and murmured.

[Becker] "I hesitated. Killing you right now brings the most gain to both my son and me, but it feels unfair. You fell into my hands in such a pathetic state, and I almost killed you without getting my revenge."

[Ulrich] "Va—Vane."

[Becker] "I nearly died because of you. My precious son rarely saw the light of day. I survived, but you left me with a limp."

[Ulrich] "……"

Seized by a dark omen, the Count crawled desperately toward the servant's bell cord. Vanessa mocked him with a cold laugh.

[Becker] "I thought about it so many times. Should I leave you like your father? Should I make you spend the rest of your life trapped in a bed, unable to die? That impulse nearly won……."

His father had wasted away in total paralysis, able only to roll his eyes until death finally took him. The Count's face turned pale as he imagined himself rotting in this room.

[Becker] "But a problem arose. Odette is trying to steal my child's title. She is trying to overturn the law so women can inherit. Revenge is important, but my child comes first."

[Ulrich] "Va—Vane."

[Becker] "What I mean is, you need to die quickly before the law changes. That is the only way my son keeps the title."

He managed to reach the cord and lifted his head, but a pillow suddenly slammed down over his face, cutting off his air.

A strangled, gurgling sound escaped his throat. He thrashed his arms, trying to claw the pillow away, but his strength failed him.

[Becker] "Still, isn't it better for your son to become the Count than Odette? So, cooperate."

No matter how much he twisted his body, he couldn't break her grip.

Only days ago, she was no match for his strength; now, she overpowered him with terrifying ease.

[Becker] "You won't have a proper funeral. Your body won't rest in the family vault. I intend to make you pay for forcing the next Count to be born in an attic. This petty revenge is the only thing that makes me feel less cheated."

The pillow pressed harder against his nose and mouth. His frantic kicking slowed, then stopped.

Vanessa kept the weight there for a long time. Only after she felt certain he was dead did she remove the pillow, her expression one of pure relief.

She reached out and pulled the bell cord for him. When the maids rushed in, they found Vanessa sobbing, her face wet with tears.

[Becker] "The Master is dead. I stepped away for just a moment, and he passed away."

---

After Odette's audience with the Emperor, Zion convinced her to stay at his mansion.

He used a logical excuse: "If you aren't there, won't it be easier for Mrs. Becker to commit the murder without worrying about you?"

But that was merely a front. He brought her here because of the followers swarming the Albrecht estate.

Those other bastards don't need to see all the Transcendents staying at her house.

Odette was popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender, but the fanatical admirers who showed up at her door were mostly men.

He hated the thought of them even seeing her walk with the Transcendents. They pretended to respect her, but Zion knew they looked at her with the eyes of a predator, just as he did.

Sharing Odette with the other Transcendents was frustrating enough. Zion's temper couldn't handle her existing in the minds of other men.

Furthermore, he didn't trust the servants at the Albrecht estate to keep their mouths shut. If those amateurs started gossiping—

[Odette] "……Ah."

Her sigh broke his train of thought. Dressed neatly in a shirt and trousers, he rose from the side table and moved toward the bed.

[Zion] "Are you awake?"

She had slept like someone in a trance and was finally opening her eyes. She reached out, trying to wrap the blanket around her body.

[Zion] "Don't cover yourself with that. It's messy."

The bed and blankets remained a disaster even though the sun was high in the sky. He hadn't changed the linens because he feared disturbing her deep sleep.

To be honest, he simply didn't want to break the spell of this private space. He wanted her to stay there, sleeping in his bed forever. That sight alone fed the low, possessive hunger he usually kept hidden.

However, Odette pulled the blanket tight anyway.

[Zion] "I told you not to."

She wasn't ignoring him; she simply lacked the energy to argue.

He smiled and rubbed scented oil into his palms. He gently took her foot as it peeked out from the covers. He intended to massage her.

[Odette] "That's enough."

She gave a weak kick to shake him off, but he began to knead the muscles.

[Zion] "Your muscles are knotted. Even on such tiny feet."

[Odette] "And whose fault is that?"

She glared at him with sharp eyes, and he gave an embarrassed laugh.

Usually, Zion worried about upsetting her, but whenever he became immersed in her presence, he turned into a different person—someone who knew nothing of self-control.

The silent sinner closed his mouth and focused on her feet. Though she resisted at first, the massage felt better than expected, and she eventually went still.

The fact that he could be this close to her filled him with wonder. To hold her and serve her like this made him want to kneel and kiss her feet.

She would probably scream and wash her feet immediately, so I can't actually do that.

Naturally, Zion still hadn't won even a small part of her heart. She treated his "turn" like a chore she hated, delaying it as long as possible until she finally came to him out of necessity.

He forced himself to ignore that painful truth and focus on the joy of the moment.

[Zion] "Sleep a little more."

[Odette] "I have to get up. Karl will be waiting."

His hand froze. Karl's trick—using Odette's guilt—had worked perfectly. She had developed a bad habit: every time she finished purifying another Transcendent, she rushed to comfort Karl.

Rage flared in his chest, but Zion forced a smile. He kissed her cheek as if nothing was wrong. He couldn't let her worry about his feelings.

Odette, enjoying the massage, suddenly spoke up.

[Odette] "Your Excellency, what is happening with the House of Lords?"

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