The moment Rory finished speaking, Aren’s eyes dimmed as though the light had been snuffed out of them. A heavy pall of sorrow and unease settled over him, wrapping around his entire being. He looked as if he might shatter at any second.

Rory hadn’t expected him to rely on her so deeply. After a brief pause, she spoke gently.

"Why don’t I ask Vangar first? If he says it’s alright, I’ll definitely come see you."

At her words, Aren’s expression lit up. He seized Rory’s hand, urgency spilling into his movements as he tugged her toward the door.

"Female Master, let’s go ask Vangar right now."

But before they could take a step further, the door was pushed open from the outside.

Vangar’s tall figure filled the doorway.

The instant he saw that Aren was awake, his forward stride halted. He froze where he stood, as though rooted to the spot, not daring to step inside.

By now, Vangar had developed a reflexive wariness toward Aren, especially after that incident with the fruit.

"Female Master, the people coming to take Aren away will arrive shortly," Vangar said steadily from the doorway.

This time, when Nix saw him, he didn’t call him "father."

Nor did he try to offer him fruit.

His mind had cleared somewhat. He now remembered that his father had long white hair—not short hair like this.

Hearing that Aren would soon be taken away, Rory quickly packed everything she held into his spatial ring. Then she strode up to Vangar and asked,

"Vangar, after Aren goes to the military, will I be able to visit him?"

Vangar nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. You can go wherever you wish, Female Master. As for the military—whenever you want to visit, I can take you there anytime."

After all, the entire army was under his command. For his Female Master, visiting a military base was effortless.

With that reassurance, Rory finally relaxed. She turned to Aren.

"You heard him. Vangar said I can come see you. Focus on your treatment in the military. In a couple of days, once Xarion and Vincent return, I’ll come visit you."

At the thought of Rory coming to see him, Aren nodded eagerly.

"Alright."

Before long, the people arranged by Vangar arrived.

Rory handed over everything she had taken from the storage vault.

"There’s food, daily necessities, and high-grade beast cores and insect cores in here—things you’ll be able to use."

Still uneasy, she added, "If you miss me, call me on your communicator—video call, alright?"

"Female Master..."

Aren pulled her tightly into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply, savoring her familiar, comforting scent.

"I don’t want to leave you."

His voice was muffled, thick with reluctance.

"I don’t want to leave you either."

Rory hugged him back, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

"So you need to get better quickly—and come back soon."

"Mm!" Aren nodded firmly. "I promise. I’ll recover as fast as I can... Female Master... wait for me..."

Wait for him to return—and bind their lives together.

The warship descended into the manor grounds. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Yuel approached, handing Aren a small box of his flowers.

"Training can be exhausting. If it ever becomes too much, take a petal of this—it’ll help you feel better."

"Thank you." Aren accepted the box.

"We’re family. No need for thanks."

Yuel smiled at him, though a trace of sympathy lingered in his gaze—knowing full well the grueling days that awaited Aren ahead.

Vangar glanced at the time, then spoke in a calm, decisive tone. "It’s time. Nix needs to board the warship."

Aren pulled Rory into another tight embrace, far stronger than before—so tight it felt as though he wanted to fuse her into his very bones.

"Female Master, wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

"I’ll be waiting."

Rory rose onto her toes and gently patted his back, her touch soft and reassuring.

She watched as he boarded the warship, turning back again and again with every few steps. A deep ache swelled in her chest—like sending off a lover to war, knowing the distance would stretch between them.

Vangar took in every flicker of emotion on her face. Stepping closer, he spoke in a low, comforting voice.

"Female Master, I’ll personally design Aren’s training plan."

"I’ll make sure he expends the excess energy in his body as quickly as possible... so he can return to you sooner."

At those words, Yuel, standing nearby, couldn’t help the faint twitch at the corner of his eye.

Silently, he lit a metaphorical candle for Aren.

Both he and Vincent had once had the dubious honor of "enjoying" training plans personally crafted by Vangar. Those sessions had been nothing short of inhumane—worse than being dragged through the depths of hell itself.

Yuel couldn’t help but suspect that Vangar was taking the opportunity to settle a score—perhaps revenge for those sour fruits Aren had once fed him.

After Aren left, Rory returned to the living room with Vangar and Yuel.

As soon as they stepped inside, Yuel turned to her with a gentle smile.

"Rory, I’ll start cooking. What would you like for dinner?"

"I’ll come with you," Rory replied. "I’m craving noodles—let’s make braised mutant beast noodles tonight."

As she spoke, she glanced at Vangar, who had been trailing closely behind her.

"You just arrived today, Vangar. Go get some rest. When dinner’s ready, I’ll have Yuel call you."

Despite his imposing stature, Vangar looked almost like a large, eager hound in front of her—one that simply refused to be left out.

There was no way he would agree to rest alone.

"I’m not tired," he said at once. "How should we prepare dinner? I’ll help."

He had no intention of missing even the smallest chance to spend time with his Female Master.

Rory saw straight through him. A soft smile curved her lips as she nodded.

"Alright, then. Come along."

The kitchen was spacious enough, and with more hands, the work would go faster anyway.

***

Upstairs, Jasper had just finished his training. Judging the time to be about right for dinner, he changed his clothes and headed downstairs.

As he passed Paros’s room, he knocked casually.

"Paros, we’re making dinner. You’re coming?"

Recently, Paros had been diligently learning how to cook. Whoever stepped into the kitchen would call him along, guiding him step by step.

"Coming."

At Jasper’s call, Paros set aside what he was doing and quickly stepped out.

The two walked down the stairs side by side. Jasper asked casually,

"You went with Rory to the matching center today, right? Do you know how many new matches she got?"

"One."

Paros’s reply was brief and to the point.

"One?" Jasper raised a brow, surprised.

Females who were specially selected for additional matching opportunities usually received at least two matches. He hadn’t expected the Beast God to grant Rory only one.

"Do you know who it is?" Jasper pressed.

With so many rewards given, yet only a single match... that individual was unlikely to be ordinary.

Before Paros could answer, a voice drifted out from the kitchen—Rory’s, caught somewhere between laughter and exasperation.

"Vangar, the kitchen really isn’t your place. You’d better go rest outside."

The moment her words fell, a tall figure was promptly—and rather unceremoniously—pushed out of the kitchen.

Jasper took one look and nearly lost his composure.

Flour dusted the man’s clothes, and even his handsome face bore a conspicuous white smear.

"Ma—Marshal Reed?"

Jasper stared, stunned, the words slipping out before he could stop himself.

"Aren’t you... dead?"

He had spent the entire afternoon cultivating in his room, completely unaware of everything that had happened.

Already in a poor mood after being evicted from the kitchen, Vangar’s expression darkened instantly at that greeting.

With flour still streaked across his face, he slowly turned his head. His deep black eyes sharpened into something cold and dangerous as they locked onto Jasper.

"...Thank you for your concern."