Chapter 205. His red door

As Asher and Ivy shared what they thought would be their final moments together, Liloth was engaged in her own private war—a mission to uncover who the Duke truly was, and more importantly, who he was working with.For the past several days, she’d played the obedient pawn, moving when told, speaking only when spoken to, doing everything he asked—all while carefully hiding her wrists beneath long sleeves. If he ever noticed that the curse binding her had vanished, the illusion would shatter. When he demanded to sleep with her, she’d offered the excuse that she was on her periods. It worked for now but the lie was running out of time.he Duke had ever brought under his roof after the death of his wife. The only one who’d ever mattered.

So why deny him now?

Her thoughts spiraled with no answers. The Duke was secretive—painfully so. There was a room in the mansion that no one was allowed to enter. Not even the cleaners. He handled it personally. Locked it tight after each use. Steel burglar bars reinforced the red door, and a strange talisman hung over the handle—its purpose unknown, but its presence ominous.

Today, she watched him. Dressed in a long, flowing dark robe, he slipped into that room again. She waited in silence, watching him lock himself inside with almost ritualistic precision.

When it was safe, she crept close and pressed her ear against the wall, straining to hear anything—anything at all. All that came through was a low, eerie hum. It was barely audible, yet something about it made her stomach clench. The air itself seemed to shift, heavy and cold.



A sinister energy seeped through the wall, and the hair on her neck stood on end. Her lungs seized. Her knees weakened. She stumbled away, dragging herself through the hallway until she collapsed onto a bed in a nearby room, gasping for air.

What... was that?

She’d never felt anything like it—an aura so malevolent, so suffocating, that even the faintest exposure made her feel physically ill. Whatever was behind that door wasn’t human.

Her instincts screamed to act. A stubborn part of her, a part that believed in muscles urged her to ambush the Duke, beat the truth out of him, and drag him to the guilds jail. But something deeper, more primal, said no. A voice she didn’t recognize. A voice filled with fear.

She swallowed hard, throat dry. Her heart raced.

"I never thought I’d be afraid of anything. Some S-rank hunter I am..." she muttered, curling her fingers into trembling fists.

And then there was the other problem—her excuse. Her period. It wouldn’t hold up much longer. Eventually, the Duke would come demanding to use her as his plaything, a cum slut.

But now, all her body seemed to crave... was Asher Reynolds.

The thought startled her.

Had he really tamed her like he claimed to have did? Was there more to his words than empty provocation? Why else did she feel this pull—this strange, helpless attachment to that boy?

She stood abruptly, placing a hand on her chest.

"If I can’t do this alone... then maybe I should report to my new master."

She froze.

Had she really just said that?

Asher—that Asher—the one she’d nearly executed for a petty sin. Now, she was calling him her master?

She let out a slow sigh. "Well... at least he saved me from the Duke’s chains. That’s more than I can say for anyone else."

She didn’t bother informing the Duke she was leaving. She simply walked out—briskly, her heart pounding with each step. The choice she’d made wasn’t without consequence. If the Duke realized she could disobey him, he’d know the spell was broken.

But she didn’t care. She had to get away.

She needed help.



**

Her mansion welcomed her with silence—a cold, cavernous quiet that made the space feel more like a tomb than a home. From the outside, it was luxury. Inside, it was a void. No friends. No laughter. No warmth. Just the occasional dinner, a lonely bed, and brief, stilted conversations with her daughter.

She headed upstairs.

Knock knock.

"I’m coming in," she said softly, pushing the door open.

Lorraine lay curled on her bed, dark circles under her eyes. A tray of untouched food sat nearby.

Liloth sat at the edge of the bed, gently brushing her daughter’s cheek. "Hey, sweetheart. What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Lorraine muttered, voice thick and dry.

Liloth touched her forehead—hot. Her fingers traced the faint streaks on her daughter’s cheeks.

"Have you been crying?" she asked gently. "You’ve got a fever..."

"I said I’m fine," Lorraine grumbled, swatting her mother’s hand away. "Shouldn’t you be off protecting the world or something? It’s weird seeing you home this early."

Liloth’s smile faltered. "Sometimes, a mother needs to be with her child. I wanted to spend some time with you."

"No thanks." Lorraine pulled the covers over her head, leaving Liloth stunned for a moment. The rejection stung. She thought those words might bring a smile... but maybe that was years too late.

She sighed.

Some mother I am...

"Is it because of the first-year tournament—"

"NOOOO!" Lorraine shouted, throwing the blanket off. "It’s not..."

She froze, lips quivering.

Liloth gave a small, understanding smile. "It’s okay to lose, darling. Everyone does."



Lorraine’s voice broke. "But I embarrassed you! I lost... to a boy, no less!"

Tears spilled again, and this time Liloth didn’t hesitate. She pulled her daughter into a warm embrace, rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"Don’t cry, sweetheart. Believe it or not, I’ve lost more times than I can count. And every loss taught me something. They weren’t failures—they were lessons. Learn from this, grow from it. That’s what makes a real champion."

Lorraine sniffled, burying her face into her mother’s shoulder.

Liloth held her tight, but inside... her heart ached with guilt. Motivational words from a failure like me... I haven’t even managed to uncover anything for Asher.

She hesitated, then gently pulled back.

"You know where Asher lives, right?"

Lorraine blinked, confused. "Yeah... why?"

Liloth smiled softly. "How about we go for a walk together? Just you and me."

Lorraine’s eyes widened. "WHAT?! Why do you want to go see that smug little bastard?"

Liloth chuckled, shaking her head. "Let’s just say... I owe him a visit."

TBC