Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

Evian's mouth made an 'O' shape of realization.

"Oh, You heard all that, huh?"

"Have you no shame? Doing such to my daughter under my roof?" Erik asked angrily.

Now that he understood why Erik was acting the way he was acting, Evian was much calmer,

"I did it WITH your daughter, not TO her. There's a difference," he said with a finger raised, "Besides, talking about shame, we should be asking you that question instead- Have you no shame?"

Erik's ears went red in anger,

"What?" he asked, stunned by Evian's retort.

Evian nodded,

"What were you doing listening in? That was a private moment between Ember and myself. You intruded on it and have no right to react to what you heard," Evian said, his tone stable and confident.

Erik flushed so red, that he looked ready to blow his top like a kettle,

"Boy, Are- Are you being serious right now?"

"Dead serious," Evian answered nonchalantly. Anger and potential disapproval aside, he had nothing to worry about from Erik Lockheart, and loud words were certainly not enough to make him feel threatened.

Besides, while there were some things he could ashamed of, satisfying a lady was not one of them.

Erik opened his mouth and closed it quickly more than a few times finding it hard to formulate a sentence. Eventually, he turned his eyes to Daria,

"And you're okay with this?" he asked her.

Daria, who had been quite satisfied watching the exchange like a neutral observer, blinked hard when the conversation was thrust in her direction,

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're a couple, are you not?" Erik asked, wondering why the topic of infidelity was not riling Daria up.

Daria blinked hard once again,

"Well-" she started to say but then stopped in the realization that she and Evian had never defined what exactly they were. There had never been a real reason to define it and she certainly did not like to be thrust into such deep thinking on such short notice.

Evian stepped in at the moment by stretching an arm out across her shoulder and pulling her against his body.

Daria blushed but she quickly controlled herself as she nudged her body closer to Evian's and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

"And what if we are?" Evian asked Erik staring right into the Merchant's brown eyes.

"Brat! Who do you think you are to play with my daughter's heart in this manner?" Erik said, his voice shaking with the intensity of his emotions, "You-"

"We're here!" the Coachman called from the front of the Carriage, bringing all topics to a halt.

Evian looked out the Carriage and they had indeed arrived at a large space that preceded the large gates of an Estate. He found it noteworthy that the journey had been so short. With a glance at Erik, he smiled lightly at the realization that the close distance was a choice.

'The Quicker the commute, the more frequent the casual drop-ins,' Evian analyzed with a smirk.

He was right about the frequency of Erik's visit. When Guards inspected the interior of the Carriage, they greeted Erik with Familiarity, and had he not currently been boiling with his anger at Evian, the Merchant would have responded in kind.

"The Lordess is expecting us," he said curtly instead. The Gates were pulled open and the carriage chugged along and pulled through them.

The Renan Estate was beautiful in its architecture- Large and grand as was expected of the home of a Territorial Lord. Following the feel Evian had gotten ever since his arrival at the Territory, there was a serene air over the grounds. It was a tad reminiscent of the air that used to be over the Stygian Estate before the infiltration and talks of a Turf War turned things topsy-turvy.

All through the trip from the gates to the buildings, there was silence in the Carriage. Whatever comments Erik Lockheart still had for Evian, he decided to keep it to himself until after the meeting. Instead, he took multiple calming breaths and exercised his facial muscles all so he could at least bring himself to smile.

When they stepped down from the Carriage, they were quickly approached by workers who greeted Erik with similar familiarity as the Guards at the gates before they led the way through long winding corridors, across finely plated stone floors into a small quaint hall with hardwood floors.

It looked like a study; There was a large desk and behind it was a grand chair with ornately carved armrests and a plush cushion that looked made of velvet. There were also comfortable seats in front of the desk for Visitors, however, the single alternative entrance behind the desk as well as archs built into the ceiling gave the hall a different feel. Now it felt like a hybrid between a Study and a Throne room.

"The Lordess will be with you soon," said one of the workers that led them here.

"Do have your seat while you wait," said the other.

The chairs were comfortable and before long, Evian found his favorite pose within it. A middle ground between serious brooding and lounging nonchalance. Erik glared at him, almost itching to call him out for his behavior but ultimately holding himself back before getting right back to his breathing exercises.

'It won't do well for Frida to see me tense,' he thought.

Daria sat as she properly should, her legs crossed delicately, one over the other, while she tried to hide the anticipation she felt.

They didn't have to wait long.

Apparently, Lordess Renan gave Erik enough face to not keep him and his companions waiting. The door behind the desk opened, giving a very slight peak at the room behind it but honestly, no one seated in the room cared about that. Their eyes were on the absolute beauty who just stepped out of that room.

Dressed in a white gown gilded with golden designs, with silky black hair that flowed down her back and only just stopped at her wide hips shown off in all its glory.

Frida Renan was beautiful. With blue eyes that had just a tinge of violet, and a mature face that oozed an authoritative might expected of a Territorial Lordess, it was instantly clear why Erik Lockheart was infatuated- It was honestly also clear that she was well out of his league.

It wasn't even about looks alone. It was a dignified air that Frida just exuded so intently and so powerfully backed by her cultivational Pressure as well as the unamused look in her eyes despite her gracious smile.

As the door she just walked through closed shut behind her, Frida eyed them all, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Evian before they moved on.

With every step Lordess Renan took even further into the hall, her large breasts trembled, so delicately held by the small cups and straps of her gown that gave more than an eyeful of her cleavage. Her neck was adorned with more sets of jewelry than Evian had ever seen anyone else wear since his arrival in this world. The closest was Yvette but even that quantity was nowhere near this.

Similar to Yvette's reason, Frida's jewelry served the purpose of showcasing status but it also showed familial affiliations as evidenced by crests etched into some pendants she had on.

Around the waist of her gown was yet another encircling jewelry piece. This one looked stitched into the material.

Evian was awed by not just her looks but her entire appearance.

He had seen beauty since he had been in this world, he had also felt power as well but this was the first time he felt them so perfectly mixed. He felt a bit intimidated. He didn't like that.

Once the workers were done bowing to her, one stepped forward to hold out her chair for her to sit. Only when she was calmly settled in the plush cushions of her highbacked ornately carved chair, did the Lordess pay attention to the visitors.

"Erik," she said to the only one she recognized in a voice so sweet, it was almost surprising the sort of authority that backed it.

"Lordess," Erik said respectfully, "Frida," he added to further their familiarity.

"Who have you brought to me, today?" Frida Renan asked.

Evian finally shook himself out of whatever deep thoughts of lust and intimidation he was pushing himself into as he moved to introduce himself,

"I'm Evian Stygian and this-" he started to say but was soon interrupted by a slightly wide-eyed Frida Renan,

"Evian Stygian? Last I heard, you were a cursed and Talentless Child. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore."

"Thank you," Evian said with a smile. He wasn't sure if that was meant as a compliment but he surely took it as one.

"You're welcome," Frida said and then she stared at him hard,

"But I wonder... Are you still human?"

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