To My Beloved Son, Cian

"...Guh."

Cian found himself trapped in a web of conflicting desires. He couldn't bear the thought of Maya being defiled by this vile man, and his possessive nature craved her love and devotion exclusively. The same held true for his feelings toward Vera—she was his, and his alone. He yearned for both of them, but the proposition before him left him paralyzed with indecision. No matter how he tried to come up with a solution, all he could envision were catastrophic outcomes.

If he were to consume the elixir, he pondered, its supposed power would wipe away all that had shaped him. The thirst for revenge, the tangled web of emotions, even the love he held for Vera—it would all vanish. The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine, for he would either forget his love for her entirely or, worse yet, forget her existence altogether.

"What's the matter? Are you not willing to take a sip?" his father taunted, relishing in Cian's predicament.

Maya observed the unfolding scene, her understanding of the situation gradually deepening. While there were still gaps in her comprehension, she recognized that Cian's ultimate objective was to thwart his father's insidious plan of world domination. In her eyes, Cian's father was a despicable man, driven by a lust for power, and he intended to exploit Cian as a means to achieve his twisted ambitions. However, Cian had taken it upon himself to rebel against this fate, resorting to corruption as a means of undermining his father's grand designs.

Moved by this realization, Maya reached out her hand and gently grasped Cian's, seeking to offer him support and reassurance. Cian, caught off guard, flinched slightly, but he ultimately accepted her touch, finding solace in her presence.

Ciel sneered at the display, attempting to belittle them with his words. "Indulging in a lovers' moment right in front of me? You truly underestimate my patience, Cian. Is witnessing that girl's violation truly worth it?"

He cast a cursory glance at Maya, and suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. "Huh? W-Wait. You're... Heh heh heh, Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I see! So this girl, she is a suitable vessel for my experiment! How fortuitous! You've unwittingly provided me with the perfect subject, Cian! Hmm? Though, at this juncture, I suppose I won't be able to extract the specimen from her. She lacks the necessary capability to conceive a child within her womb..." His voice trailed off as he pondered the limitations of the situation. "Heh, no matter. I can afford to wait for this vessel to ripen," he mused, relishing the thought. His tongue darted across his lips with a hunger that bespoke his twisted desires. "For now, I won't kill her. This girl possesses the potential to surpass even your mother, Cian. I can sense it in her eyes—the eyes of a woman who craves domination. Oh, how I eagerly anticipate her growth."

Drawing closer to them, Ciel's presence felt suffocating and vile.

"Now, both of you, drink this elixir, and you shall be reborn," he commanded, holding out the bottles in his hands.

Cian tightened his grip on Maya's hand, his head lowered, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Tremors coursed through his body, but Maya recognized that his trembling was not a sign of surrender. No, it was a suppressed laughter that rippled within him.

"I see you've finally surrendered," Ciel gloated. "Well, there is only one option left for you—to surrender yourselves to me."

Unaware of the true emotions coursing through Cian, Ciel assumed victory. His voice turned jovial once again, filled with arrogance and triumph. Little did he know that his unwitting actions had ensnared him within Cian's carefully crafted plan.

Cian's silent laughter echoed within him, concealed beneath his trembling facade. He had not given up; instead, he reveled in the knowledge that Ciel had unwittingly fallen into his trap.

'You've unknowingly fallen into my grasp,' Cian thought, a sly smile forming on his lips. 'Now, there is no choice for you but to dance in the palm of my hand.'

Cian lifted his head, his expression now devoid of emotion.

"I will drink the elixir," he declared calmly, his voice steady. "But you must promise me one thing—promise that you will not lay a single hand on Vera. And don't think for a moment that I will simply stand by and let you take Maya away from me. I will resist you, even if my very being is reset."

"Fufu... Resistance is futile, my dear boy," Ciel chuckled, a sinister edge to his voice. "Without the power to resist, it is better not to resist at all. You will grow into what I desire you to be. There is nothing you can do to change that. As for this young girl," he continued, casting a lecherous gaze in Maya's direction, "I will claim her for myself when she blossoms into a fine lady. But fret not, Cian, for I won't be so selfish as to deny you your share. Once I have had my taste, she will be all yours. And...fufu...isn't it thrilling to watch a fruit ripen before indulging in its sweetness? So, I shall keep her as your personal maid, until the time is ripe. She will be my plaything at night, and she will serve you during the day. Doesn't that send a shiver of excitement down your spine?"

Cian locked eyes with his father, his gaze unwavering. "You truly are the epitome of depravity," he stated coldly. "Do not think for a moment that this will be an easy conquest. As long as I am in this house, I will not allow you to lay your filthy hands on her."

Ciel's smile widened, a perverse delight evident in his eyes. "What a possessive brat you are," he taunted. "Now, it is time for both of you to drink the elixirs..."

Cian stole a glance at Maya. A smile graced his lips, sending a wave of warmth through Maya's chest. In that moment, she realized that everything he had done, every calculated move, every word exchanged, had been part of a meticulously crafted plan.

Maya couldn't help but marvel at Cian's astuteness. It was as if all the pieces of a grand puzzle had effortlessly fallen into place.

The first action he took was to kiss Maya. As he glanced at the pendulum clock, he realized that his father would soon enter his room. In anticipation, he approached Maya and kissed her. Ciel, who harbored a deep aversion towards desires, fearing their ability to corrupt intellect, seethed with anger at this display. He longed to eliminate Maya, seeing her as a threat to his creation, but her potential as a vessel stayed his hand. Instead, he schemed to make her a maid in their household, an opportunity to keep a watchful eye on her, unwilling to let go of the chance to possess a new worthy vessel. Eventually, when the time was right, he would make his move.

But Cian was determined to prevent that from happening. Although Maya couldn't quite explain where her newfound confidence came from, she somehow knew that Cian wouldn't allow his father to violate her.

And all of this had been orchestrated with the ultimate goal of appointing Maya as Cian's personal maid.

'So, all of this was orchestrated to ensure my position as your personal maid. Oh, young master, your cunning nature surpasses my wildest expectations. From the very moment our eyes met, I sensed that you were the master I was destined to serve. Now, having caught a glimpse of your remarkable capabilities, my affection for you grows deeper with each passing moment.♡'

Everything that unfolded in the room had unfolded just as Cian had envisioned. He wanted Ciel to become aware of Maya's existence. Cian understood that Maya possessed the qualities that appealed to Ciel's preferences—warm on the surface, yet cold and cunning beneath it all. All the women who had fallen into Ciel's grasp had shared similar traits.

By revealing Maya to his father, there was a slim chance she might be immediately snatched away, if Ciel had a fetish for such things... you know, being intimate with young girls. However, that seemed unlikely. Ciel was more inclined towards mature women who could bear children. Yet now that Ciel had seen Maya, he was determined not to let this opportunity slip away. He would keep a watchful eye on her until she grew into the type of woman he desired.

So, Cian made the decision to accept the elixir, ensuring that Maya would become his personal maid. Everything that had been orchestrated was solely to have her by his side. Cian knew that the effects of the elixir were temporary, and thus, he believed that in a few years or so, their memories and the suppressed desires would resurface.

However, there was a significant drawback. Consuming the elixir meant losing his love for Vera. Cian had already shared this painful truth with Vera, explaining that his feelings for her would be erased upon drinking the elixir. Vera, naturally, was devastated by this revelation. She didn't want Cian to lose his love for her.

Nevertheless, all of this was necessary to ensure Ciel's ultimate downfall. Maya was a crucial piece in Cian's plan, and he couldn't afford to let her slip away. He needed her involvement for his scheme to succeed. And so, he made the difficult decision to sacrifice his memories of Vera in order to secure Maya's employment here.

With the bottles of elixir mere inches from his lips, he leaned his head slightly and placed his mouth on the bottle's opening. Ciel slowly lifted it, causing the black liquid to trickle into Cian's mouth.

*Gulp*

He swallowed the elixir. And then... He collapsed.

"Hehe... And now, it's your turn," he said, his eyes filled with lust as he ogled her body. Licking his lips, he continued, "Drink this and be reborn. When you mature, I will show you the most exquisite pleasure imaginable. Prepare yourself, little girl, for a future you won't forget."

Maya, however, didn't flinch this time. Instead, she smirked at him with a devilish grin. "I'm sorry, but you won't have me," she replied with confidence. "My virginity is reserved for the young master alone. No one else will have access to me." With those words, she took the very elixir Cian had just consumed. Sensually, she licked the rim, savoring the lingering taste of Cian's saliva, as if sharing an indirect kiss. Then, she confidently gulped down the liquid.

*Gulp*

After swallowing the elixir, she too collapsed, her body giving way to its effects.

Ciel gazed at their motionless forms and burst into wicked laughter. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Struggle as you might, but in the end, I will have the final laugh!" he exclaimed triumphantly.

Carefully, Ciel carried both of them and placed them gently on the bed. He tucked them in, ensuring their comfort, and then turned to walk toward the door.

"...I eagerly await the future, Cian," he whispered, his voice filled with anticipation, before closing the door behind him.

•••••

Back in the present time...

In a certain room within the Elesia Kingdom, knights of the royal family stood in a somber circle around the lifeless body of an aristocrat. It was none other than Ciel Lambhart, the esteemed Earl of Lambhart Earldom.

One of the knights, donned in shimmering gold armor, sheathed her sword and removed her helmet. As the metal protection was lifted, her youthful and captivating face emerged, accentuated by her flowing golden locks and piercing blue eyes. She appeared to be around eighteen years old, though her skill and maturity surpassed her youthful visage.

"This is a momentous event," she remarked, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and concern. "It's the first time in history that a court noble has been slain within the palace walls. The assassin responsible must possess remarkable skill."

While examining Ciel's lifeless body, his face frozen in a twisted grin and his eyes wide open, the knight's gaze was drawn to something protruding from his pocket, catching her attention.

"What could this be?"

Bending over, the golden-haired knight, Celia, retrieved the item from Ciel's pocket. It was a folded piece of paper, with writing inscribed upon it. As she unfolded it, her eyes fell upon the words: "To my beloved son, Cian."

Curiosity filled the air, prompting the knight adorned in silver armor to speak up. Her voice carried a jovial and melodious tone, adding a touch of warmth to the solemn room.

"What's that, Celia? Is it some kind of clue?"

Celia shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "No, it doesn't seem like a clue," she responded. "I believe this is simply a farewell message to his son..."