Chapter 42: New Schemes

In the steamy bath, Anselm, leaning against Yura, let out a soft sigh.

“…What’s wrong, Master?” The musician girl nervously tightened her arms around Anselm’s firm waist. “Is the temperature too high?”

“No, just thinking about some things.”

Having emerged from that filthy prison and immediately returned to bathe, Anselm rested against the soft, damp cushion, closing his eyes as he said: “Some things that require self-reflection.”

Though the final outcome did not deviate from Anselm’s expectations, the slight loss of control during the training process forced him to reflect on himself once again.

He was well aware this had nothing to do with fate; it was simply a matter of failing to restrain himself.

This was unacceptable to Anselm, for it was not yet time to indulge himself.

“Desire…”

Anselm placed his hand on his chest, murmuring to himself: “My desires are consuming me.”

The madness flowing through the bones and soul of the Hydra had already begun to show itself when Anselm was sixteen.

Even though Anselm had long since learned to vent it in various controlled ways, he could not stop the ancient madness and desire that once sought to devour the world itself.

It was a curse he could not escape, the source of countless despairs he had witnessed.

Hearing the word “desire,” Yura gently licked Anselm’s earlobe for a moment before deftly slipping beneath the bathwater, silent as a shadow.

Anselm showed little reaction, merely squinting his eyes slightly in comfort and leaning back against the edge of the bath.

The curse in his bloodline was an unavoidable destiny, one he accounted for, but even with intent, he was sometimes powerless against it.

Fortunately, though the training process had its fluctuations, it remained within Anselm’s acceptable range.

Hitana’s feelings toward him were perfectly controlled within an ideal range—a delicate balance where she occasionally recalled his merits, was utterly defenseless in ways she didn’t realize, yet constantly dwelt on his flaws, making her highly susceptible to the interference of fate.

However, this state would not last long.

Once the young wolf reached the culmination of this training and underwent a complete transformation…

“I will help you break free.”

Thus whispered Hydra, baring his fangs at the fate he despised.

***

In the room shared by Hitana and Marina, the two sisters, having finished their conversation and meal, were also bathing.

Marina rubbed her younger sister’s soft, short hair, gazing at her slender, fair shoulders with a tender sigh.

She should have been furious.

Upon learning that Hitana had caused trouble again, even dragging His Excellency Hydra into sharing the punishment, Marina had been utterly shocked and enraged.

But when Hitana returned, when she saw her exhausted, fragile expression, when Hitana tearfully threw herself into her arms, incoherently apologizing, Marina’s softness prevented her from saying anything more.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already gently bathing Hitana.

“Disgusting. Whoever’s running that prison—I still feel sick thinking about that slop.”

The young wolf, sitting on a small stool, grumbled indignantly: “It’s outrageous! Lina, why don’t you tell Hydra to fire the prison warden?”

Marina, half-laughing, half-exasperated, tapped the girl’s head: “You hate people abusing power, so why are you doing it now?”

“How is this abusing power? The food was so bad, it’s obvious the warden’s pocketing the funds.”

Miss Hitana felt her reasoning was sound: “There’s definitely something fishy!”

“Even so, your words carry more weight than mine,” Marina said, scratching behind Hitana’s ear.

“Him? He’d never listen to me. Even if he did, he’d probably find a way to get back at me later. Forget it,” Hitana said, pursing her lips.

Marina sighed inwardly.

She wanted to stress the importance of respecting Anselm, but saying so now would only upset Hitana, so she let it go.

Besides… His Excellency Hydra was willing to share Hitana’s punishment for her misdeeds.

He must care for her far more than I imagined.

The girl without extraordinary talent looked at her humming sister, her eyes filled with envy.

[How wonderful…]

She didn’t know how many times she’d thought this.

“Oh, right, Lina, I’ve got great news!”

Hitana suddenly perked up, turning her head so quickly that foam splattered Marina, her face beaming with excitement: “We can go home! For a whole seven days! Hydra’s even providing resources. We can leave today!”

She stood up, hands on her hips, her lively, snowy figure bouncing with energy.

“This is what they call… a triumphant return! Right? It’s time to show everyone how awesome we are!”

“…”

Marina looked at her sister’s joyful expression, her lips trembling slightly, unable to speak.

“…What’s wrong, Lina?” Hitana tilted her head. “Isn’t this good news? Why do you look… not very happy?”

After two or three seconds of silence, the snow-haired girl with waist-length locks reached out to pat Hitana’s foam-covered head, saying gently: “No, I’m happy. It’s just… Hit, you should go back alone. I want to stay here.”

Hitana froze, looking at her sister’s calm, gentle expression. Instead of shouting, she cautiously reached out to touch Marina’s face.

“Um, Lina… Sister, did I do something to upset you again? Tell me, I’ll change. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Marina smiled, touching the hand on her face: “Hit didn’t do anything wrong. It’s my own reason.”

“Sister… you don’t want to go back?”

“No,” Marina shook her head. “It’s that I can’t waste any opportunity.”

“…Opportunity?” Hitana looked at Marina, puzzled. “What opportunity?”

“Hit, I’m not like you. I don’t have the extraordinary talent that makes His Excellency Hydra treat you so specially.”

Marina’s voice was gentle, without a trace of jealousy: “Staying by His Excellency Hydra’s side is the only chance I have to gain knowledge and grow. If I don’t cherish it, I’ll regret it.”

“Even if it’s just seven days… What if, in those seven days, someone more talented is recommended to His Excellency Hydra? And how much knowledge could I gain by staying with him during that time?”

Marina said this, burying her melancholy and sorrow deep within.

How could she not miss her family, her friends in the village?

But she lacked the capital, the freedom to be as willful as her sister.

All she could do was seize the moment.

“Tell Father and Mother I’m doing well,” Marina said, smiling as she lifted a basin to rinse the foam from Hitana’s head. “Tell them not to worry. Things will get better.”

Hitana wiped her face, then plopped onto the floor, mumbling: “Then I’m not going back either. There’s no point without you, Lina.”

“Hit, you—”

“There’s always time to go back! Worst case, I’ll beg that Hydra guy. What’s the big deal?”

Hitana looked up at Marina: “Lina, how long do you want to stay by his side? You can’t stay forever, right?”

Meeting her sister’s hopeful, expectant gaze, Marina was silent for a long time before sighing helplessly, indulgently.

“Then… a month. In a month, I should learn a lot. And I… I’m confident—no, in a month, I’ll definitely make His Excellency Hydra see my worth!”

“Then we can go back for a bit, no problem.”

“Deal! One month from now!”

Hitana jumped up, grabbing a towel from the side and dashing out: “I’m going to talk to Hydra now. You finish bathing, Lina!”

Marina watched the exuberant figure run out of the bathroom, shaking her head with a wry smile.

Then, for some reason, her eyes lowered slightly.

Just ask, and he’ll agree…

I’m so jealous of you, Hit.

***

Having changed clothes, her hair still damp, Hitana hurriedly arrived at Anselm’s study door to discuss the vacation.

When she was about two or three meters from the door, she suddenly heard voices from inside.

“Young Master, your decree is set to take effect tomorrow, but there seem to be some unresolved issues…”

Hitana’s steps slowly came to a halt.

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