At night, Haruki lay in bed, unable to sleep—not from worry, but because he was simply too happy. The confession had gone better than he ever imagined.
That evening, Haruki personally cooked dinner, showing off the best culinary skills of his life. He prepared a lavish feast that had the girls exclaiming in delight at how delicious everything was.
And for the first time, Haruki, who usually stayed away from alcohol, even brought out the King's Wine Cup from the Gate of Babylon.
The King's Wine Cup was crafted entirely from gold, encrusted with dazzling gemstones. It felt heavy in the hand, regal and radiant. As one of the many treasures stored in the Gate of Babylon, it naturally wasn't just for show. The cup wasn't only a wine vessel—it was also a magical tool for creating fine wine. When clear water was poured into it, it would, in moments, transform the water into rich, fragrant liquor, rivaling even the finest vintages aged for centuries.
In his joy, Haruki drank freely with the girls.
It was his first time drinking, and he didn't bother to pace himself. Even with his formidable constitution, he ended up a little tipsy.
The girls fared far worse. As former assassins, they had never touched alcohol, since it dulled their reactions and judgment. This was their first time drinking, and in their excitement, they went all in, downing glass after glass without restraint.
The wine from the King's Wine Cup was not only smooth and aromatic—it packed a serious punch. Without Haruki's monstrous endurance, the girls were soon completely drunk. By the end of dinner, they were stumbling, barely able to walk straight. The maids had to help them back to their rooms.
Just as Haruki was reminiscing about everything that had happened, he suddenly heard the softest creak from the door. A slender silhouette slipped quietly into the room. The figure shut the door gently and tiptoed toward his bed.
The room was unlit, and only faint moonlight filtered in. But as a True Ancestor Vampire, Haruki was a child of the night—darkness couldn't hinder his vision.
His eyes tracked the figure, and when he saw who it was, he froze. Tall and slender, long silver hair cascading down to her waist, draped in a loose white satin nightgown—it was Gin. Who else?
"It's this late… what is Gin doing here? Don't tell me..."
That thought instantly chilled Haruki. Whatever lingering trace of alcohol had been in his system vanished on the spot.
He'd always treated Gin well—rescued her from the children meant to be experimented on in the Imperial Capital, taught her his skills, and even helped her take revenge. To Gin, he was more than a mentor—he was a savior, almost family.
And now she was sneaking into his room in the middle of the night?
It didn't sit right with Haruki. For a moment, he even suspected that Gin might be here to assassinate him. Was their entire encounter orchestrated? The only person in the Imperial Capital who knew his identity was the Prime Minister… could this all have been his doing?
Haruki's expression turned ice-cold. He wasn't just angry at the idea of being manipulated—what truly hurt was the thought that his emotions might have been played with.
(If the Prime Minister knew what Haruki was thinking right now, he'd probably be shouting, "I'm getting blamed while lying flat!")
Haruki didn't move. He wanted to see what Gin would do next.
Gin stood quietly by his bed for a while. When she saw that Haruki wasn't reacting, she assumed he was asleep. Still groggy from the alcohol, she didn't think to check more carefully.
Haruki noticed something strange—Gin's cheeks were flushed red, nothing like her usual cool and composed self.
"Her face… even drunk, that's way too red."
But then Gin did something that made Haruki's jaw nearly drop.
Before he could react, she slipped off her fluffy nightgown, revealing what lay underneath.
To his shock, Gin wore nothing but a pair of eye-catching white over-the-knee stockings. Her fair skin glowed against the dim moonlight, pure as milk.
And then, before he could collect his thoughts, Gin climbed into his bed.
That was it—Haruki shot out of bed and landed on the floor.
"Gin, what are you doing? Why are you in my room?"
He tried to keep a straight face, but the way his gaze darted across her body—and the tent forming beneath his blanket—betrayed his thoughts.
Gin was a little surprised to see him awake. Her already red face turned even brighter. But after a moment of hesitation, as if steeling herself for something big, she finally spoke.
"Brother, I really like you. Ever since the day you helped me get revenge, I decided I'd never leave your side. I want to be your wife. I want to stay with you forever. I'm not a little girl anymore—I'm ready to be with you!"
Then, as if to prove it, she lifted the blanket and gave him a teasing shake of her full chest. No one would have guessed that the normally cold and composed Gin would ever make such a bold move.
Seeing Haruki's hungry gaze, she added,
"You want it too, don't you? There's no need to hold back. I am willing!"
Haruki was no saint. Between Gin's actions and her words, whatever restraint he had left crumbled. In an instant, he jumped back into bed and pulled her into his arms.
A soft gasp of pain followed—and nothing more needed to be said.
...
That night, a girl became a woman, and an "old" boy became a true man.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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