Chapter 56 - Selection (Patreon)

The news needed to be told to Makima and, fortunately, that night she came to my room. With two quick knocks on the door after we should all have gone to our own, I knew it was her.

With two quick knocks on the door, after we all should have gone to our rooms, I knew it was her.

"Come in."

Makima opened the door and entered the room. The silk robe she was wearing wrapped around her voluminous figure.

She closed the door behind her, without taking her eyes off mine. "I need to thank you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Thank me?"

She walked toward me and stopped a few steps away. Then, slowly, she knelt in front of me and bowed her head.

"You kept your promise, Milicas. Just as you said would happen... I've regained most of my powers."

"Makima, I..."

"Wait, please. Let me thank you... You trusted me when no one else would. You trusted me, despite who I was. Despite everything I've done."

Her fingers closed over her knees. Her shoulders were more relaxed now. What she was doing required effort. I knew that.

"I didn't choose you out of pity or because I wanted to 'redeem' you. I chose you because I knew your potential. Because you are powerful. Because you can still do so much."

Her golden eyes met my red ones, and the slight curve of her lips showed a subtle smile. "I need to thank you somehow, so I'm going to let you do with me once again what we did the other day."

"I need to thank you somehow. So, I'm going to let you do with me, once again, what we did the other day."

Then, with a slow gesture, she pulled the fabric of her robe to one side, revealing part of her shoulders and a generous view of the tops of her breasts. Seriously... women in this world seemed to suffer from some kind of natural pheromone that was in the air or something.

Seriously... women in this world seemed to be affected by some kind of natural pheromone in the air or something.

I held out my right hand to her. "Stand up."

She seemed surprised by my reaction but accepted. I pulled her up easily, and the few centimeters of height difference between us disappeared when she stepped forward.

"I need to tell you something."

The seriousness in my voice interrupted any of her intentions. Makima didn't move away immediately, but her pupils dilated a little - a clear sign she understood it wasn't an excuse. It was something real.

Makima didn't step back immediately, but her pupils dilated slightly — a clear sign she understood this wasn't just an excuse. It was real.

She straightened up and crossed her arms. "Then say it."

Pointing to the bed, I motioned for her to sit down. Makima obeyed, and I sat down next to her.

"For the title of Duke to be official... I need to get married."

Makima didn't immediately express shock, anger, or even curiosity. She looked at the floor and then at me. "And who will be the bride?"

"It's different from the situation at my cousin's wedding."

"Then you can choose," she said, the realization clearly coming from a logical analysis of the situation.

"Technically, yes."

"Then why tell me now?"

"Because it's something that will change a lot of things."

"Will it change anything between us?" she asked in such a calm tone, it almost sounded like a test.

"That depends on you."

Makima was silent for a long time. Then a small smile curved her lips.

"I'm not the woman who accepts losing."

"I know."

She stood, opening her robe even further, before sitting on my lap. "If you're telling me all this so seriously, I also have to assume that your fiancée can't be Asia or me."

"Correct," I said, grabbing her waist.

"She'll need to be a devil of noble origin. Even if the lie about you being a devil has stuck, I don't think we could lie again and invent a noble clan for you."

Makima leaned her body slightly forward, pressing her chest against mine and placing her head next to it.

"So... if your bride has to be a noble, how are you going to choose? A tournament? An auction? Will you let your parents decide?"

I slid my hand down the side of her waist to grab her ass.

"I thought I'd make a selection."

"Selection?"

"Exactly. I don't have anyone in mind and, to be honest, I'm not interested in a marriage based on politics. So if I have to choose, I want to do it in a way that benefits me."

"And what kind of selection would that be?"

"I don't know... something like expecting candidates to present the benefits of marrying them. Whoever wants to become my wife wouldn't be bothered by it, and it would make my job of searching the entire underworld for an ideal candidate much easier."

Makima let out a low laugh. "I didn't imagine you'd be like that... the type who likes to exercise the power of their position."

"I think it's a family thing. If I have the power to make something I need to do easier, why not use it?"

Makima leaned back a little and looked me in the eye. "Does that mean you're not interested in getting married for real?"

I ran my hand up her thigh, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath the thin fabric.

"If I'm going to get married, I want someone who's worth it."

She watched my face for a moment, studying my words. Then she slid her fingers down my chest, pulling the fabric of my shirt down enough to reveal more of my collarbone.

"What about me? If I were a noble she-devil... would you choose me?"

I grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into a kiss. Her lips were warm, soft, and as we kissed in response to her question, I pulled her robe aside, revealing more of her fair skin.

"If you were a noble she-devil..." I murmured against her lips. "I wouldn't need a selection."

She smiled against my mouth, then gently bit my lower lip.

"Then it's a shame I'm not."

The conversation was lost for a while, replaced by the warmth of our touches, the slow kisses, and the glide of our hands exploring every inch of exposed skin.

When we finally separated, her robe was almost off her shoulders and my shirt was nowhere to be seen.

Makima took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it back.

"So..." she said, returning to the conversation as if nothing had happened. "Are you really going to go through with this selection idea?"

"Yes."

"And do you already know who's going to take part?"

"I have a vague idea."

"I bet some families will fight you to the death to get their daughters into it."

"I bet they will."

When she got out of bed and straightened her robe, she looked at me once more before heading for the door.

"Good luck choosing your bride, Milicas."

"Wait... you're going to leave me like this?" I said and looked down at my pants.

Makima laughed and looked over her shoulder. "If you're going to get married, you'll have to get used to it. I've heard that a wife leaving her husband in the mood for sex is the most normal thing in a marriage."

So she left the room, and that night I had to take care of myself, just like in the old days.