Story: Forever After

Unless it was an emergency, no one would approach Evelyn's room while she was in a meeting with Ryner. The only ones present and nearby were the trusted servants that he had brought along. So, without worry, Ryner reported to Evelyn the results of the interview with the criminal slaves and declared that he would go to the red light district.

Understandably, it made her unhappy.

"Could you repeat that?" [Evelyn]

She politely asked with a chilling smile, a voice devoid of warmth and eyes that held no light in them.

"I'm going to the red light district." [Ryner]

"… Again?" [Evelyn]

"I told you, they're working with us now, so I'm just going to collect any useful information." [Ryner]

Evelyn let out a long, tired sigh and put a hand on her forehead.

"That you spend time with those meeting my standards is one thing, but to fraternize with any woman you could find in the city…" [Evelyn]

"It's information gathering." [Ryner]

"Yes, which is what we have been doing, and without need of their help." [Evelyn]

"Our net still has holes, and useful info can be found in places like red light districts. You can't underestimate the pros there." [Ryner]

"… I don't like it." [Evelyn]

The vampire said and sullenly turned her face away.

"Seriously, I won't be playing around." [Ryner]

"But, I still don't like it!" [Evelyn]

She shouted with teary eyes, her voice more spoiled and childish than usual.

"I've been working hard for three months! Running Roseseed, helping this country, expanding the Stone Table! Of course, I'm fine with it all! From your accounts, whatever organization or country that attacked you in Hossylei Nac is dangerous and DESERVES death! They also killed Mi, so I'm fully onboard with finding and eliminating them! STILL!" [Evelyn]

She said rapidly, letting loose her pent-up frustration.

"We've barely spent time together at all!" [Evelyn]

Evelyn had been working tirelessly for Roseseed as well as magically engraving hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of coins that she used in her transactions to let them circulate in the city. Furthermore, she was trusted and relied on by the royal family. Since she was using their city as a base, she readily offered her help whenever possible.

Also, she dealt with many people who came to see her after hearing of her reputation and wanting to do business with her company. Of course, for someone as talented and competent as her, juggling her numerous tasks was no trouble. Her body was much stronger than any human and her motivation was never an issue because it was for Ryner's sake.

It was to find and destroy those that dared harm the man she loved.

His voice, his expression when he recounted the death of the puppy pained her heart. Evelyn encouraged him as best she could and threw herself in the work needed to set up everything he asked for. However, she wanted to embrace him, to hold him close. But, she had decided not to smother him too much with her feelings.

She had told him that she would keep her distance.

And she did.

For three months.

It was a lot.

"I haven't even touched you at all! I, I, I can't take it anymore!!" [Evelyn]

The blonde-haired woman shouted, her back hunched, her hands clutching her head, a mad look in her eyes and distress distorting her face.

"Uhhh, isn't that something you promised me yourself?" [Ryner]

"I know that, but there are limits! We're living together, but we only ever talk business! You haven't even patted my head at all!!" [Evelyn]

"You're starting to look like someone suffering from withdrawal symptoms." [Ryner]

"Well, maybe I am!!" [Evelyn]

"(She imposes limits on herself and is going crazy by herself. It sadly reminds me of me…)" [Ryner]

Ryner quietly thought in front of the red-eyed woman that was losing it.

"I need a dose of Ryner every day!!" [Evelyn]

"That would have sounded like a joke if you didn't look so serious." [Ryner]

"Because I'm not joking!!" [Evelyn]

Evelyn, her long hair disheveled, took a step towards Ryner, her hands reaching out for him, but quickly stopped herself.

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"I love you! I'm crazy about you! I want to make you adore me, ravage me, throw me on the bed and take me forcefully at least 20 times a day like an animal in heat!!" [Evelyn]

"Too descriptive!" [Ryner]

"Right now, you don't need to love me back!" [Evelyn]

She grasped her chest and stared at Ryner sadly.

"You can even sleep with any woman you've acknowledged! But…! Don't leave me alone to go play in the red light district…!" [Evelyn]

She pleaded as tears rolled down her cheeks, her trembling form appearing small and frail.

"… I guess I've been making you work too hard since coming back from my trip." [Ryner]

Ryner muttered, mostly to himself, after seeing her so upset. Then, he walked up to the crying vampire and wrapped his arms around her slender frame.

"…!" [Evelyn]

Evelyn stopped moving, her eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time they had touched in months.

"I won't be rolling in bed with anyone over there, okay? Feel free to check the Table to confirm, I won't get mad." [Ryner]

He said reassuringly and gently patted her head.

"…" [Evelyn]

Having calmed down, she quietly nodded and hugged him back.

"You gave me some personal space. Thanks, I appreciate that, but you don't have to continue until it stresses you out this much. Do it moderately and feel free to bother me once a day." [Ryner]

"… Uhn." [Evelyn]

She muttered in acknowledgement and buried her face in his chest.

"By the way, why are you giving me permission to sleep with any woman I want while telling me not to go to the red light district?" [Ryner]

"…" [Evelyn]

She silently grinded her forehead in his chest.

"Never mind, forget that part, not important. Right, how about a reward?" [Ryner]

"… A reward?" [Evelyn]

Evelyn softly asked back.

"Yeah, to say thank you for all your hard work. After all, it's true that I owe you a lot. Just tell me whatever it is you want, so long as it is REASONABLE, and I'll do it." [Ryner]

"… Anything?" [Evelyn]

"That's reasonable." [Ryner]

"… Anything…" [Evelyn]

"That's reasonable. You're back to normal already, aren't you?" [Ryner]

Ryner held her shoulders and tried to gently push her away, but she firmly held onto him.

"… We can forget kissing for now. I want to hug like this. Every day. Until I'm satisfied." [Evelyn]

"Done." [Ryner]

Ryner readily agreed, and with that, a huge smile bloomed on Evelyn's blushing face.

A maid standing by the wall in the room quietly observed their interaction without moving an inch, but neither of them paid her any mind.

After Ryner left, Evelyn let out a huge, embarrassed sigh.

"I've shown Ryner an unsightly side of myself again." [Evelyn]

She said, disappointed in herself that she couldn't keep it together, but she couldn't be blamed.

It couldn't be helped.

They were living together.

Certainly, there were a bunch of other people, but the two were living under one roof.

Under such conditions, Evelyn thought that she should be praised for showing unbreakable self-restraints for three months, to the point that she didn't touch, hug or kiss Ryner. Moreover, she didn't stare, didn't enjoy his smell, didn't sleep in his room, didn't use his furniture, or his clothes, or any of his belongings to calm her aches.

In fact, she didn't comfort herself while thinking about him at night at all. Truly, she should be commended for her strong will. The only problem was that she broke down in front of him and shamelessly begged for mercy, breaking her own vow. It was a moment of weakness that she would bitterly remember for the rest of her life, but one that allowed her to walk away with a small, yet monumental victory.

"Ryner is fine with letting me hug him… Every day…!" [Evelyn]

Evelyn said, blushing and giddy at the prospects of what tomorrow would bring, but she quickly reigned herself in.

"No, that is not the goal. I cannot forget my ultimate goal." [Evelyn]

She wiped the drool that leaked from her mouth and tightened her expression.

"It is still far away… Don't you think?" [Evelyn]

"I'm sorry, I cannot say I understand." [Maid]

The vampire asked the black-haired maid that was accompanying her and received an unhelpful reply in a rather emotionless voice.

"No matter. Now that I have some free time, we can check on the Stone Table." [Evelyn]

The two had moved to the basement, where a part of the wall had slid to the side, revealing an elevator. Once they entered, it brought them down, to a secret floor beneath the mansion. When the doors opened, what appeared before Evelyn and the expressionless maid was a spacious room. Its walls, floor and ceiling were made of a monotone gray, with the surfaces flat and smooth. It was well-lit, yet dreary because it held no furniture of any kind to give it some life.

Except for something resembling a rectangular stage that was easily over a meter high and placed at its center.

It was a big, stone slab that was taking up most of the space.

Symbols and patterns were carved on its four sides which emitted pale green particles of light that gathered together to form different shapes. The result was a recreation of the city of Sakael, its miniature version resting on top of the slab. Furthermore, its residents could be seen moving around, carrying out their everyday activities.

"Good, I see there is no problem with the Stone Table." [Evelyn]

It was the Table that had been modified, along with the entire underground basement. Ryner had brought in materials and workforce that he stored in his pocket dimension to do it.

"The Stone Table is a much better name than the other ones that Ryner had suggested, wouldn't you agree?" [Evelyn]

"It is certainly easier to remember." [Maid]

Next to it was a set of stairs of several steps leading to a small platform at the same height as the Table. Evelyn used it to get on top of the magical device and walked across it while making small talk with the maid.

"There are now enough coins in circulation to cover the entire city. Still, it's unfortunate that it's made catching sounds a cacophonous mess." [Evelyn]

She didn't pay any heed to how she disturbed the particles, causing them to lose shape and recreate people, streets and buildings with each step she took. She ignored it all and promptly went to a certain spot on the map, which was Ryner's destination.

"Do you see him?" [Evelyn]

Evelyn asked the maid who elected to stop and stand on the platform instead of following her.

"Yes, but I recommend getting off the Stone Table as it interferes with our surveillance." [Maid]

"Your eyes in the sky can cover for any blind spots I create. Besides, I'm making sure to avoid the important parts." [Evelyn]

She said as she looked at the edges of the Table where her mansion and the castle, in a larger size, were visible. Then, she turned her gaze back to her point of focus, to the red light district. With several waves of her hands, a copy of the establishment that Ryner planned on visiting was enlarged and moved to an empty edge of the Table.

"Send every happening in the Shop centered around Ryner to my phone." [Evelyn]

"Yes, ma'am." [Maid]

"… He asked me why I let him sleep with other women, but that is simply because it is necessary." [Evelyn]

After giving her order, Evelyn took out her smartphone that she had received from Ryner and brought up a personal project that she was working on.

List of possible candidates

- Maya Catallard

- Myra Elkind (pending)

- Tiffany Welston (pending)

- Leila Welston (pending)

"The goal truly is so far away… Do you have any valuable knowledge that could help solve my dilemma…?" [Evelyn]

Tearing her eyes off the screen, the vampire looked back at the maid, at the expressionless, human-like maid whose hair reached below her chin, with two black cords tied in a bun behind her head.

"Avalon?" [Evelyn]

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but as stated earlier, I cannot understand the logic behind your actions." [Avalon]