CHAPTER 137: GET MARRIED, RIN!

Theron tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he repeated his question, his voice soft but insistent. He’d only been at the brothel for a few days, but the rumours about the "golden goose" had already reached his ears. The name was infamous, tied to someone with an irresistible allure, and that someone was Rin.

Theron had never imagined Rin, the sharp-tongued, fiercely independent man he knew, would end up as a courtesan. It didn’t add up, and his mind raced with possibilities.

’Maybe he was forced into this life, Theron thought. Or maybe he has a debt to pay, no way to settle it as a commoner,’

He just wanted to check Rin’s health, to make sure he was holding up under the strain of everything he’d been through. But Rin wasn’t making it easy, dodging his attempts with a stubbornness that only raised more questions.

’Could he be... pregnant?’

"Why would you think I’m pregnant?" Rin asked, his voice sharp with disbelief as he rubbed his temples, a headache forming from the absurdity of the idea.

Theron hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Because you’ve been spending time with so many people. There’s a high risk you could be..."

Rin sighed, his fingers pressing harder against his aching head.

"I appreciate you caring about me, but I’m not pregnant," he said, his frown deepening. The very idea was unthinkable. A bulge in his stomach, a new life growing inside him... it felt wrong, impossible. Where he came from, men didn’t get pregnant. It was abnormal, something he couldn’t wrap his mind around. But in this world, it was apparently normal, a fact that made his skin crawl.

"I apologise, Rin. I’m just worried about you," Theron said, packing up his medical tools with a sigh. "You should rest. It’ll help you feel better."

"I know that. Thank you, Theron," Rin said, managing a small smile, though his eyes were tired.

Theron paused, staring at Rin for a long moment, his lips parting as if he wanted to say more. But no words came. He pressed his lips together and headed for the door. As he opened it, he nearly bumped into the brothel’s Madame, Lirien, and Sasha, who rushed past him without a glance, their focus entirely on Rin.

"Oh my! Rin! You have no idea how worried I was when I heard the news," Lirien exclaimed, her voice thick with relief as she hurried to Rin’s side.

"Are you alright, Rin?" Sasha asked, his eyes scanning Rin for any sign of injury.

"I’m fine, Aunt. Everything was already taken care of," Rin said, his tone calm but weary.

Theron closed the door behind him, his brow furrowing as he caught the word "Aunt" from Rin. Aunt?

’Is he calling the brothel’s Madame his aunt? Does that mean Rin chose to become a courtesan? What’s going on here?’ His thoughts churned as he walked away, the mystery of Rin deepening with every step.

.

.

Inside the small, cosy room, Rin sat on the edge of his bed, recounting the events at the palace to Lirien and Sasha. The air was warm, scented with the faint perfume of the brothel, but the weight of his words made it feel heavier. He explained the attack, the assassins, and how Caspian had revealed his identity as the Second Duke, tying him to the Draven family.

Sasha rubbed his chin, his expression thoughtful. "I never knew the Second Duke’s family were demon summoners," he said, his voice low.

Lirien nodded, adjusting her silk robe as she leaned back in her chair. "It was obvious. The Duke was obsessed with Elyria, the demon realm. It was proof he could no longer summon demons to protect the kingdom. His only option was to create a demon of his own... and that’s you, Rin."

Rin’s stomach twisted at the revelation.

"So, my father wanted to use me for the kingdom," he said, his voice flat, hiding the unease creeping up his spine.

"Yes. You and your mother," Lirien said, her tone gentle but firm. "Anyway, you did a good thing hiding your identity as a demon. If the prince had found out, you could’ve been suspected of being part of the demons destroying cities. Since he knows you’re a Draven, it’s better to make him trust you."

Rin frowned, his arms crossing. "But how do I explain the part where I can summon a demon?" He shrugged, his mind racing for a solution.

Lirien’s eyes gleamed with a knowing look. "You can summon me. I’m a demon, after all."

Rin’s face fell, worry etching his features. Lirien had already done so much for him, living a quiet life in the city without drawing attention. If he summoned her in her demon form, it could expose the brothel, put everyone at risk. "I don’t know, Aunt. That could cause trouble for you."

Lirien placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "I know you’re worried about me, but don’t be. If you summon me, I’ll only appear in my demon form. No one can connect my human form to it. They’ll never know it’s me."

"Is that true?" Rin asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement, a spark of hope cutting through his doubts.

Lirien laughed, wrapping her arms around him in a quick hug. "I’m happy you’re worried about me, Rin. But it’s you I’m worried about. You have so many men flocking around you. You need to end all those connections."

"Huh? Connections? But I have none," Rin said, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Lirien smiled, poking his forehead as she pulled back. "I know you don’t have relationships with them. What I’m saying is you should get married."

Rin’s mind screamed, WHAT? MARRIAGE?! But he forced a fake smile, keeping his reaction hidden. "I’m not sure I’d like to get married now, Aunt," he said, his voice calm but strained.

"If you don’t want to get married, how about a temporary bonding?" Lirien suggested, her tone light but serious.

Rin’s brows furrowed. Temporary bonding meant letting an alpha mark him temporarily, masking his pheromones and signalling to others he had a mate. It wasn’t a bad idea... it could protect him from unwanted attention. But it required renewing every two weeks through intimacy and a bite, a commitment he wasn’t sure he could handle.

’And it has to be someone I trust,’ he thought. ’Sasha? No, if Caspian finds out, he might kill Sasha, just like in the original story. I can’t let that happen.’

"Can I have more time to think about it?" Rin asked, his voice cautious.

Lirien nodded, tapping his shoulder. "Be careful. And if that prince comes to visit, don’t meet him alone. Call me or Sasha."

"Yes, Aunt," Rin said, offering a small smile.

Lirien’s cheeks flushed slightly as she walked out, perhaps warmed by being called "Aunt" so often. The door closed softly behind her, leaving Rin and Sasha alone in the room. The silence was awkward, heavy with unspoken words.

Rin didn’t know what to say, so he sprang up from the couch, walked to the bed, and stretched his arms with a fake yawn.

"Oh my, I’m so sleepy," he said, hoping to avoid further conversation.

Sasha shifted, his voice hesitant.

"Rin... about the temporary bonding. After you’ve thought about it, can you give me the chance to..."

"Huh? Chance of...?" Rin interrupted, pretending not to understand. "Oh! Don’t worry, Sasha. There’s no way I won’t let you know once I’ve chosen a temporary partner," he said with a bright smile, though his heart sank at the hurt in Sasha’s eyes.

Sasha bit the inside of his mouth, his forced smile not reaching his eyes. "Thanks, Rin," he said quietly before leaving the room.

Rin fell back onto the bed, whispering to himself, "Forgive me, Sasha. But I’d rather choose someone else than you. Choosing you could get you killed, and I don’t want you dead." His voice was soft, heavy with guilt.

.

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Meanwhile, at the Vortellion estate, a storm was brewing. Lucien, still reeling from the events at the palace, stormed through the grand halls, ignoring the greetings of maids and guards. His brother, Julian, had tried to kill Rin... not once, but possibly multiple times.

’Who knows how many attempts I don’t even know about?’ he thought, his grey eyes burning with anger.

He reached the eastern wing, where Julian’s chambers were, and kicked the door open with a loud bang. Inside, Julian lay asleep on a lavish bed, his dark hair splayed across the pillow. Dorian, his former loyal guard, stood by the window, his posture tense. Lucien unsheathed his sword, striding toward the bed, but Dorian stepped in front of him, his hand raised.

"Young master... why have you come here?" Dorian asked, his voice steady but cautious.

"Do I have to answer your question now? What right do you have to question me?!" Lucien yelled, his grip tightening on his sword.

Dorian glanced back at Julian, still asleep, and pressed his lips together.

"Can it wait? Whatever discussion you wish to have with Young Master Julian..."

"Dorian..." Lucien’s voice was ice-cold, his grey eyes narrowing. "The reason I’m stopping myself from driving this sword into your chest is that you were once my trusted man. Don’t ruin that. Move!"

Dorian hesitated, his loyalty torn between Lucien and Julian. "Forgive me, young master... but I cannot allow you to hurt Julian," he said, standing his ground.

"Dorian..." Julian’s voice came from behind, soft but clear as he slipped out of bed, his robe pooling around him. "It’s alright. Even if he’s holding a sword, he won’t kill me. I’m his brother, after all."

Dorian’s face twisted with worry, but he stepped aside reluctantly. Lucien rushed forward, pointing his sword at Julian’s neck, the blade glinting in the dim light.

"You have ten seconds to explain yourself. Why did you go after Rin?"

"Ten seconds?" Julian smirked, unfazed, and walked to a small table, pouring cold tea into a cup. He used a mana crystal to heat it, the steam rising as he offered it to Lucien. "Have a seat, brother."

Lucien swatted the cup away, the porcelain shattering against the wall.

"Explain yourself! Why? Why are you trying to kill Rin? Are you trying to separate him from me?" His voice trembled with rage.

Julian took a slow sip from his own cup, his eyes locking onto Lucien’s.

"Yes," he said, his smirk widening. "I indeed tried to kill Rin and separate the two of you. You’re only supposed to look at me, Lucien. That’s why we came to this world together. For that, I’ll continue to eliminate anyone who gets close to you."