CHAPTER 145: RIN’S PROPOSAL!

The forest still smouldered with embers from Rin’s wrath. The assassins had long abandoned their posts, crouching in shadows and whispering to each other.

"I hope we won’t get caught during the crossfire!"

"I never knew the golden goose was a demon. He’s even hot in his demon form,"

"Care about your life before you care about how hot he is,"

"Ugh! Right!"

They were too afraid to even breathe loudly. None of them dared lift their eyes at the young royal, whose body still crackled with demonic residue.

Rin stood over the blackened corpse of the enforcer. His clawed hand flexed once, then curled into a fist. His golden eye glowed brighter than the burning fire, the other crimson, both burning in a way that was not entirely his own. Smoke coiled from his horns as if eager to crown him.

"This is so powerful!"

Lirien stepped forward, keeping her voice even though her chest thudded with unease.

"That’s enough, Rin! You ended up killing him!"

He tilted his head, slow and lazy, like a predator toying with prey.

"Enough? Auntie... he tried to kill me first. He also wore Lucien’s shirt as a trophy. You want me to stop before I’ve even begun?"

"You don’t understand what you’re doing," she snapped, her crimson eyes flashing. "Every second you stay like this, you’re letting the demon world brand you. Do you know what that means?"

Rin chuckled darkly.

"That I finally look like what I am? A monster?"

Lirien’s jaw clenched. She didn’t answer. Instead, she lunged, her own demon form unfurling with crimson glow. Her eyes bled red across both irises, her nails sharpening into curved blades. Shadows snapped and whirled around her like broken glass.

The assassins gasped.

"I don’t want to fight you, Rin! Snap out of it!"

"No!"

She growled and lunged forward.

The battle began... Again!

Rin moved first. He blurred, vanishing into smoke before appearing behind her. His claws slashed for her spine.

Lirien spun, catching his strike with her own sharpened nails. Sparks burst like flint. The ground beneath them cracked as their auras collided.

"You’ve gotten bold," she hissed. "But don’t think your bloodline makes you invincible."

Rin’s lips twisted into a grin.

"Careful, Auntie. You sound jealous."

"Tsk! This brat..."

They clashed again. Rin’s claws slashed wild arcs, each swipe leaving burning streaks of gold across the air. Lirien countered with precise strikes, her movements honed and disciplined. Their fight tore through the clearing, snapping branches, ripping curtains of flame from still-burning trees.

The assassins scattered further back. One muttered,

"If this continues, they’ll bring the whole forest down."

Steel, fire, and shadow blurred. Rin fought without restraint, his body driven by rage more than skill. Lirien, though powerful, was forced on the defensive. Her breath grew heavier as the minutes dragged on.

"You’re not even in control!" she shouted, blocking another strike. "Is this what you want? To kill me without even realising it?"

"Maybe yes, maybe no," Rin said flatly. His golden eye glowed brighter, his claws slicing closer and closer.

Lirien ducked under one swing, but his next kick caught her ribs. She flew back, crashing through a bed of ferns and into a tree. Blood dripped from her lips as she staggered upright, glaring at him.

He didn’t stop. He advanced, his aura suffocating, his horns gleaming sharper. His nails slashed again, tearing through her shoulder and down her arm. Blood sprayed across the leaves.

Lirien hissed, clutching her side, but her eyes never left him.

"Rin. If you don’t stop now... Lucien will die."

The words hit him like a blade.

Rin froze mid-swipe. His breathing turned ragged. His golden glow flickered.

"...What did you say?"

"Lucien will die," Lirien repeated, voice trembling but firm. She reached up with her uninjured hand, cupping his cheek even as his horns still curled above her. "You can kill me if you want. Tear me apart. But if you don’t go to him right now, you’ll never forgive yourself. If he’s dead, your rage will mean nothing. Go. Go to him,"

She didn’t know if it was true. But it was the only way she could reach him. By calling Lucien’s name. She regretted not thinking of that idea at the beginning instead of getting beaten up by him.

Rin’s claws shook at his sides. His breath came in uneven gasps. A single tear welled in his golden eye and slid down his cheek, landing on hers.

As it did, his horns cracked and dissolved into smoke. His claws shrank back to pale fingers. His golden strands bled away, leaving only his white hair. He collapsed to his knees in front of her, shaking violently.

"Is he alive?" His voice broke. "Tell me he’s alive."

Lirien’s heart twisted. She forced her voice steady. "Go and find out yourself."

Rin pressed his palms to the dirt, trembling. Then he stood, shoulders shaking. He turned toward the forest path.

But before leaving, he stopped. Slowly, he raised his hand, snapped his fingers, and dark energy spread across Lirien’s torn body. Her wounds sealed, her broken arm straightened.

He glanced back at her, his eyes wet. "I’m sorry. You can punish me later, Aunt"

Then he ran.

Lirien watched his fading figure. For the first time in hours, she let out a weary sigh and smiled faintly.

"I’ll take the real Rin over the demon one any day."

She turned back to the assassins, her crimson eyes flaring.

"You saw nothing. If a single word leaves your mouth, I’ll cut your tongues out myself."

They nodded frantically.

Her gaze then shifted to Sasha, who still dangled from the tree where Rin had pinned him. His face was pale, sweat dripping as the demon smoke coiled around him.

She stalked forward, seized the shadowy neck of his demon form, and slammed it down until it withered into smoke. Sasha fell to the dirt, gasping.

"I’m sorry!" he blurted instantly, clutching his chest. "I didn’t mean it... I swear! I didn’t mean to hurt Rin!"

Lirien studied him. She wanted to break him apart for carrying Rin out of the brothel. But she knew. The way his eyes shook wasn’t malice. It was heartbreak. His feelings had never reached Rin. And now Rin’s heart belonged to another.

"I won’t kill you, Sasha" she said coldly. "But punishment is coming."

He bowed his head, relief and despair tangled together. "Thank you, Mistress,"

"Don’t thank me yet," she muttered. "Not until we know what happens if Lucien is truly gone. Who knows, he would burn the whole city,"

.

.

Meanwhile, far from the forest, in the Vortellion estate, Lucien sat slumped on his bed. Blood soaked the floor and the mattress beneath him. The dagger lay discarded, its blade bent from where he’d pulled it free. His shirt was missing, stolen by the enforcer, and his side throbbed with searing pain.

He pressed a towel against the wound, gritting his teeth. His skin was pale, his breath uneven.

"Why...?" His voice rasped, low. "Why the hell did that bastard come after me?"

He remembered the patch-eyed man’s sneer, the hatred in his tone.

"He wasn’t after me. He took the shiry because of Rin. Always Rin. Why is everyone after Rin?".

Lucien groaned, trying to push himself upright. His legs trembled, but he managed to stand, clutching his side.

’I have to move quickly. I have to find Rin before that bastard does,’

Then...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

His head jerked toward the door, breath catching. His sword was in his hand instantly.

Another knock came and it was louder this time.

Lucien’s grip tightened. He staggered toward the door, blade raised, but stopped. The sound wasn’t from the front door. It was from the balcony.

His breath quickened. He stumbled across the room, pushed the curtains aside...

And froze.

Rin stood there as he looked pale and his white hair dishevelled, his eyes raw with tears. For a heartbeat, Lucien thought it was a dream.

"Lucien!" Rin burst forward, slamming into him with desperate force. His arms wrapped around him tight, clutching, trembling, refusing to let go. His cheek pressed into Lucien’s chest, sobbing openly.

Lucien grunted at the sudden pain from his wound but laughed weakly. He rested his hand on Rin’s back, stroking it.

"You’ll kill me hugging that hard, idiot."

Rin shook his head against him, tears soaking his skin.

"If anything had happened to you... If you had died... I would burn this world down and just end this stupid story."

Lucien froze. He looked down, eyes wide, then chuckled faintly.

"You sound serious."

"I am." Rin pulled back just enough to grab his face, his hands shaking. His crimson eyes blazed, wet and furious. "Don’t you ever scare me like that again. Don’t you fucking dare or I’ll burn you too."

Lucien’s chest warmed despite the pain. He had always thought himself untouchable, but here was Rin, trembling like his entire world was crumbling without him.

"Thank you," Rin whispered, voice breaking. He kissed Lucien’s cheek. Then another kiss, on his temple. Then his jaw. "Thank you for being alive."

Lucien’s breath hitched.

"Rin...ugh... Hold on,"

But Rin didn’t stop. His lips brushed along his face, his throat, desperate and reverent. Lucien’s body tensed, heat stirring in his chest, lower. He caught Rin’s wrists, panting.

"Stop. If you keep kissing me like that, I’ll..." He broke off, his ears flushing red.

Rin stared at him with wet eyes. Then, suddenly, he said:

"Let’s get married."

Lucien froze again when he heard that. His hand went slack. His eyes widened in disbelief.

The pain in his side dulled to nothing. His heart thundered instead.

"You... what did you just say?"

Rin’s voice cracked but was steady.

"Marry me. Let’s hurry before anything else happens. Before this world tries to take you from me or before someone steals me from you."

Lucien stared, stunned. The words rang in his ears like a vow. He couldn’t believe Rin was proposing to him.