[313] True Colors

Meidri's face flushed bright red as she witnessed the scene before her. This was undoubtedly one of her most embarrassing moments, a piece of her past she wished could stay buried.

Instinctively, she moved to snatch back the eggs that August had just revealed, but he swiftly tucked them away, giving her no chance to reclaim them.

The back-and-forth struggle made Meidri even angrier.

"Meidri, there's no point in resisting. I won't ever give up on you," August said with a confident smile.

"Hmph! No matter what you do, I won't pay any attention to you!" she snapped, standing up to leave. But just as she rose, she felt her hand grabbed.

She spun around, intending to demand he release her, only to find August standing right next to her, much closer than she had realized.

For a moment, Meidri froze, unsure of what to do.

"I think it's time I marked you as mine. That way, you'll belong to me forever."

"Mmph!"

With that, August leaned in and kissed her.

Meidri's eyes widened in disbelief. Her mind raced, focusing on one single thought: I've been kissed! By him, of all people!

This was the same man who had repeatedly taken liberties with her, and now he had gone so far as to kiss her. She wanted to push him away, but her strength failed her.

After years of suppressing her desires, Meidri was like a powder keg waiting to explode. And August, with his relentless pursuit, had just lit the fuse.

Slowly, her mind became hazy. She stopped resisting, and, to her own surprise, even began to respond to him.

August, noticing her shift, smiled to himself. Though she often scolded the likes of Stanque and Jer for their lecherous behavior, Meidri herself had always harbored the same desires—just buried deep beneath a facade of restraint.

"Ara, ara, Meidri, you're being quite passionate," a voice suddenly chimed in, breaking through the fog in Meidri's mind.

Startled, Meidri shoved August away, her face flushed with embarrassment as she turned toward the source of the voice.

Standing a short distance away was a woman, her body adorned with leaves and vines.

"Madam..." Meidri muttered in a panic.

"I'm sorry, Meidri, I didn't realize you were at that age already. But to do this here, in the tavern, how bold of you~," the woman teased.

"No, Madam, it's not what you think! Please, let me explain!"

"There's no need, Meidri. I understand," the tavern's mysterious owner said, smiling.

"But it's not true!" Meidri felt utterly helpless, on the verge of tears. If they had actually been meeting in secret, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, but August had just stolen a kiss, and now it looked like they were lovers caught in the act.

While Meidri struggled to explain, August simply chuckled, but his attention shifted more toward the tavern's enigmatic owner.

In the original novel, she'd been mentioned briefly—a treant or dryad, who managed the tavern's kitchen and everything within it. Her vines were incredibly useful, allowing her to chop vegetables, wash dishes, cook, boil water, and clean all at the same time.

Running the entire tavern's kitchen on her own was no small feat, and August couldn't help but admire her abilities.

"Young man, I believe this is our first time meeting. From now on, I'll leave Meidri in your care," the tavern owner said with a playful smile.

"Don't worry, Madam, I'll take good care of her," August replied, equally cheerful.

"Good. Meidri is a wonderful girl."

"She is, and that's why I'm so fond of her."

The two exchanged friendly words, paying no mind to the flustered Meidri, who was standing off to the side, feeling more and more anxious.

"That's it! I've had enough of you both!" Meidri cried out, before stomping up the stairs, leaving August and the tavern owner behind.

As soon as Meidri left, the atmosphere in the room shifted ever so slightly.

August could sense it—this tavern owner possessed a considerable amount of magical power. While she might not rank among the world's most powerful beings, her strength was certainly formidable. In fact, compared to Jer, someone August had already encountered, her magical energy far surpassed his.

"Would you like to have some? Meidri didn't eat much, and it would be a waste to throw it away," August offered casually.

"Sure," the tavern owner replied with a smile as she sat down.

"Give it a try and see how it compares to your own cooking," August said with a teasing grin.

She smiled back, taking a bite of the dish. The flavors were unique, unlike anything she had made before.

After sampling each dish, the tavern owner began to believe that August might really be a traveler. These dishes were unlike anything she'd ever tasted or seen before.

"This is delicious, August," she complimented.

"I'm glad you like it, though I was hoping to impress Meidri. Seems you're the one benefiting instead," August replied, his tone playful.

"I guess I came at the wrong time, then. My apologies for interrupting you two," she said, chuckling.

"No worries. It's a gradual process—pushing too hard wouldn't do any good," August shrugged, his voice nonchalant.

"Actually, I've got a question for you. I wonder if you might help me with something?" the tavern owner asked, her tone shifting slightly.

"Ask away," August responded, his eyes narrowing just a bit. He could sense that this conversation was about to get serious.

August had always known that this mysterious tavern owner wasn't someone to be taken lightly. Though he wasn't sure of her exact origins, he'd figured that she'd confront him sooner or later about his interest in Meidri. He just hadn't expected it to be now.

"I'm curious, August. Who exactly are you, and why are you so interested in Meidri?" she asked, her gaze sharp.

"I'm sure you've already pieced together some of my background. I'm not human—I'm from the House of Demon. As for my interest in Meidri, it's quite simple. I have a thing for beautiful women, and she fits my taste," August stated plainly.

The tavern owner raised an eyebrow at his bluntness. He hadn't bothered to hide his intentions, which weren't driven by love or affection, but purely by his appreciation for beauty.

"I've never heard of the House of Demon before, August," she replied skeptically.

"Well, now you have," August said with a smirk.

"There's a difference between hearing and truly knowing," she countered.

"Perhaps this will help," August said, smiling before releasing a surge of power.

Instantly, a wave of darkness poured from August's body, filling the room with an overwhelming, abyssal energy. Dark runes appeared on his forehead, and the air around him thickened with a tangible force of shadowy magic.

The tavern owner froze in shock as she felt the crushing weight of his power. This was no ordinary aura—it was the raw, oppressive presence of a Demon God, something far beyond her previous experiences.

As she stood just a few steps away from him, her eyes widened with disbelief. Never in her life had she encountered such terrifying magic—dark, dominating, and immensely powerful. It was as if the very embodiment of a Demon God had descended upon the world.

At that moment, she understood the truth. August wasn't lying. He really was a Demon God.

___

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