Almost Succeeded

The white room was silent while the platinum blonde was busy staring out of space. Astell clenched and unclenched his fist every now and then.

Adriana Belladonna, she shows no signs of malice, yet at the same time, she does. A strange woman who came from a peculiar family. But seem to be a bit different from her family members.

Astell heavily sighed for the second time now. The heaviness in his chest wouldn't lift since Adriana laughed at him that way. His head was filled with her, making him think his head was about to burst.

Astell cleared his head and moved to remove the magic chain. There was a way to remove it. Which was to completely remove the presence of his magic.

The only reason why the magic chains were activated was that it detected the mana flowing around his body. He was so close to removing the chains. But when Astell saw the wound on Adriana, his mana started to flow unexpectedly.

Astell had to clear his head and stop his mana flow. It wasn't like someone would hurt him while being protected by Adriana. And speaking of her, Astell wondered if she had treated her wound.

Adriana hissed as she poured the antibacterial ointment on her wound. It was burning that she clenched onto the bedsheet. She gave herself a few seconds to rest, then moved to dress her wound.

"Why did you help him?" Yashiro asked out of nowhere.

"I did not help him," sternly answered Adriana as she laid her back on the bed. "I simply am doing this for my own sake."

"I did what you had asked me to do," Yashiro brought out a rolled brown paper.

"The floor plan. I almost forgot about that. Anything unusual around the mansion?"

"I've been feeling something ominous coming from Raven's room."

"Raven? I'm sure he's preparing to form a contract," Adriana moves to her desk.

"And I don't like the feeling of it," cleared Yashiro, whose voice was much stern than usual. "It doesn't feel like a normal summoning. I suggest you see him now."

"Fine," Adriana stood up and made her way to Raven's room.

Yashiro sounded more wary than usual. He doesn't usually care about what is happening, but this time it was different. Even towards Raven, Yashiro was worried.

Adriana saw two servants standing in front of Raven's door, and they bowed their heads when they saw her.

The two servants looked at each other in panic. One of them even trembled while being started down by Adriana.

"Open the door," ordered Adriana, but the servant did not follow.

"I-I apologize, but the young master has ordered not to let anyone in," stuttered the servant who couldn't keep his eyes par with Adriana.

Adriana furrowed her brow and was about to ask but then heard Raven yelling out loud. Adriana pushed the two servants away and twisted the knob, which was sealed.

"This boy…" Adriana muttered in anger. Then heard Raven yelling out loud once more.

Adriana held her hand out and destroyed the seal. Raven sure did an excellent job with the seal. But Adriana was a lot more powerful.

Adriana broke into the room and saw a human-like monster under the summoning circle. But her eyes averted to Raven, who was on the ground, twitching in pain.

Yashiro was right. This was not a normal summoning. Raven, this boy, was trying to summon a creature on par with the basilisk.

"Raven! Are you alright?" Adriana rushed to his side while Raven couldn't hear her voice. His ears were ringing, and his body was being pushed down by great force.

Adriana heard a burst of deep laughter from the creature. It was a demon, and it looked powerful. Adriana glared at the demon, whose laugh faded.

Her strong aura caught the demon's interest which made him try getting close to her but was pushed back with great force.

The demon looked down and saw that the summoning circle was intact. The only way for him to move freely is if it is broken.

"Stop it now," Adriana ordered the demon.

The creature blankly stared at her and shook its head. The demon then appeared in a human form. A man who looked like he was in his forties had a monocle and wore a white coat.

"Why should I, lady?" asked the demon.

"Sister, don't get in the way, please," begged Raven, who pulled onto her sleeve.

"Raven, don't you know what you are getting into?" Adriana yelled at him.

"I know much, sister. This companion won't heal me but someone else. This creature will suck the life force in me," answered Raven as he tried getting up.

"If you know, then why did you?" Adriana exclaimed, then realized Raven was doing this for her sake. "If you're doing this for me, then stop," Adriana's eyes blur as an image of the past flashes in her head.

If Raven loses his eyesight and his life because of her. Adriana would not be able to forgive herself. In this life, she can't afford to lose Raven.

"Begone, you demon," Adriana ordered the creature, who laughed in amusement. "Don't you dare appear, or I'll eliminate you for good."

The demon laughed and destroyed the summoning circle with his own might. He smirked and raised Adriana's chin, "What makes you think you can eliminate me?"

"Don't make me laugh," smirked Adriana.

"Oh? Is there anyone stronger than me?" asked the creature, knowing there weren't any stronger demons on the same level as him.

"Yes, a reaper who eliminates demons for good, and his name is Hel," answered back Adriana, which made the creature take a step back.

"Y-you. Don't tell me," the creature rushed to the corner of the room.

"Who knows? I wonder," Adriana confidently peered, making the creature back out.

"T-t-t-this. Never summon me again!" The creature disappeared, and the room turned back to normal.

Adriana gazed back at Raven, who fell unconscious. She summoned the two servants earlier and asked them to bring him to his bed.

Adriana observed the summoning circle and observed that Raven had changed a few words. A life-sucking demon. This might be the companion he had never told her about in the past.

"Erase the summoning circle and make sure not a single word passes through father and the two wives."

"Yes, young lady."

That creature summoned earlier was a high-ranking demon. To be exact, any life-sucking demon was high ranking. But a demon healer is a bit different.

Adriana felt relieved that she had stopped Raven from signing a contract with that creature. If not, she may not be able to save him. This might be why Raven had lost his eyesight in the past.

If this was the past, she wouldn't realize that Raven was the one keeping her alive. It should not repeat.

In this life, Adriana wants Raven to live a life without suffering. Raven deserved a lot more. He just needs a few things to fix in his attitude.

Raven deserves to find someone who can love him back. This world does not deserve this boy. And Adriana agrees she doesn't deserve Raven.

"As an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," recited Adriana as she gently placed her hand on Raven's forehead. "Raven, I hate to say this, but it seems like I need to keep an eye on you."

Raven fluttered his eyes as he looked at his surroundings. He saw a figure of a lady sitting on a chair by the side of his bed. It took a few seconds for him to realize who it was.

A long black-haired woman who had her legs crossed and eyes shut. He reached his hand, tapping her lap, worried she might get a stiff neck.

The black-haired woman woke up and saw that Raven had awakened. She slowly stood up and changed the towel on his forehead. Before placing another cool towel, she checked his temperature.

His forehead didn't feel warm, but Adriana placed the cool towel on his forehead just to be sure. Raven pushed himself up, and neither the two said a word.

Raven was afraid Adriana was still mad at him for doing something reckless. And the expression Adriana made earlier clenched his heart.

Adriana had warned him before, but he still went against her. This made him look like a selfish brother. And because of that, Raven couldn't gaze at Adriana. Not even once.

Raven opened his mouth, but no words came out. Raven shut his mouth back, knowing he won't be forgiven by Adriana.