What a Succubus Has to Lose II

Ferdinand is already at the door, appearing with all his glory and greeting them like the debonair gentleman that he is.

At that moment, the three of them are the only ones who are not in their proper places. Everyone else is already done. Now, they stick out like some sore thumbs whose faces have paled at that very second, which then eventually earns the nobleman's flummoxed reaction. He came to a halt as soon as he laid eyes on one particular person among the crowd –

And it's this mound of filth that seems to be the size of a little girl.

"Oh my… Have I intruded at the children's playtime?" Ferdinand asked with an enigmatic tone and expression – seemingly neither disgusted nor repulsed by such a sight.

"No, my lord. Forgive me for letting you see something like this. I'm very, very sorry…" the Headmistress shamefully apologized as she dragged the two children out of the way.

"And good day to you too. It's a pleasure to have you here today, Count Esmeralde."

While Clement only keeps silent and lets their guardian tug him by his arm, Seraphine is too stiff to even react to anything.

She stays still and quiet during the whole exchange. Deep within, though, her rioting storm of emotions is on the rise once more. She can't believe that she is seeing her adoptive father again – or rather, meeting his younger version for the very first time.

From then on, she is not sure of what she is truly feeling. She just goes numb. It's as if her senses are no longer working. She doesn't know what to do or how to take his inscrutable response.

Yet as soon as Seraphine makes eye contact with Ferdinand, things become a little clearer.

'Oh, he is…' she thought the instant she understood.

It turns out that he is only hiding how grossed out he is this whole time.

There is the faintest look of repulsion in his eyes, giving her the impression that she is making his skin crawl. He appears sickened enough that he can't help but look away from her immediately.

And as Ferdinand walks further inside the room with the Headmistress in tow, leaving both Seraphine and Clement to fend for themselves, she can see how much she has repelled him.

She did it. She repelled him.

'I see… So, then… This power doesn't work all the time. How relieving…' Seraphine then mused in surprise and enlightenment.

'In that case, as long as I cover my face or something, the power won't activate. Perhaps, a disguise can work too?'

"Sera…?" Clement called from beside her, concern laced in his voice.

"Why do you seem to be tearing up?"

"H-Huh?"

Without her realizing it, tears are starting to pool in her eyelids.

All of the sudden, she feels like crying. She knows what has caused it, but she doesn't want to admit it. In fact, she refuses to even pay any attention to the feeling – to the feelings of neglect and abandonment that tried to resurface when her supposedly adoptive father downright ignored her.

Indeed, as much as she doesn't want to admit it, she is hurt.

Even though Ferdinand had done much worse to her, Seraphine still felt hurt. After all, she already got used to being loved and cared by him. He had spoiled her so much that she forgot how it felt like to be lonely at some point. She couldn't help but miss those old times.

Surely by now, though, there is no going back. She can't let history repeat itself. She can't deceive anyone again, and she can't let anyone deceive her as well.

'Father will adopt a different child. That is fine…' Seraphine quietly told herself, not wanting to regret this decision.

'Yeah. That's right. This should be for the better."

And yet, she can't stop the tears from flowing.