Aerine's eyes were tight shut as she sincerely called for her contract in her mind while she touched her left chest, where the mark was located. She didn't even want to talk about what would happen if he ignored her call; all that was on her mind was her desperation to escape.
It might not have been that intense, like when she was on the brink of death, but her will to live was there.
While she was closing his eyes, suddenly, a deep and amused voice shattered the silence, and Aerine almost jumped from being startled as she quickly opened her eyes.
And there, just in front of her, a man was sitting at the top of the railing while staring at her with curiosity. Her deep black eyes seemed to judge every fiber of Aerine's being.
"You're one unlucky fellow, my siren."
The one in front of her, her contractor, Mr. Devil.
Aerine's heartbeat instinctively sped up, for some reason. And she couldn't react for a moment. It was as if his presence completely overwhelmed Aerine's fear, and what was left was her awe, respect, and even instinctual fear for someone more powerful than her.
Thinking of it, this was Aerine's first time to really interact with this contractor of hers. As the first time, she was in a desperate situation, and she didn't dare observe her surroundings too much. After being exhausted, she directly fainted.
And then she never met him again. That one on her audition didn't count since she technically didn't see him.
"Ah... uhm..." Aerine had barely recovered, and she couldn't even formulate some words!
What to do? She was extremely indicated at this moment. Aerine almost hit her head from embarassing herself in front of her contractor.
The smile of the man in front of her arched up as he watched her, although he didn't speak but only waited for Aerine to process what was happening.
Aerine finally took a deep breath and calmed her heart from beating so fast. Since she already embarrassed herself in front of him, she might as well continue.
She only hoped that he didn't mind.
"I'm sorry." She bowed slightly and then lifted her head again, but she didn't directly meet Mr. Devil's eyes, as she thought it was disrespectful to do so, so she only looked at his neck. "I... I bothered you again."
Aerine bit her lips in shame. It was not even a month, but she was involved in another hopeless situation again.
"Mm... Indeed. You should be sorry."
At this, Aerine's heart sank, and her nervousness from being stuck in this place was even incomparable to what she was feeling at this moment. She bowed again and was about to apologize again, but he spoke once.
"You're mine." Aerine instinctively lifted her head when she heard this; her eyes couldn't help but look at Mr. Devil as he continued. "Your life is now mine, so try to be more cautious in the future."
Inwardly, Lucian thought it was mere bullshit, although he was more inclined to see Aerine not being killed at the moment of her carelessness; she was someone he saved after all.
His words, for Aerine, were more of a big deal. Her eyes shone with gratitude as she eyed Lucian with a heated gaze, to the point that even Lucian was a bit uncomfortable about it.
Imagine, Aerine's gaze was pure, to begin with, and when she fervently looked at someone, she looked prim and proper, but as she looked at Lucian at this moment, there was even an impression of starlight in her eyes, as if looking at her most trusted man in the world.
Lucian didn't even know what was on the siren's mind, and it was not befitting of his status to ask, so he let it be. Just as he thought, no one in their right mind would contract a devil, and this Siren was no different.
And so Lucian couldn't help but clear his throat, changing the subject. He only changed his position above the railing, appearing calm and casual like his usual image; his expression didn't change much.
"What happened?" he asked.
Aerine's fervent gaze didn't diminish, though, and instead, she didn't conceal her admiration in the slightest. For her, Mr. Devil was indeed someone she trusted, as her everything was his, after all.
Quickly, she calmed down. She wasn't even the slightest worried anymore about the anomaly in this town. Aerine began to tell him the story of what was happening in this town, from the time that their group arrived to the time that her groupmates were assimilated into the town, leaving her to be the only normal one.
After a while, Mr. Devil inquired while watching her.
"Are you really normal?"
Aerine couldn't help but shut up at this question; her eyes gawked at him, not knowing how to answer him. Although she was a bit offended by that.
Well, was she really normal? She didn't know what Mr. Devil wanted for an answer.
After not hearing an answer for a few seconds, Mr. Devil waved his hand, dismissing it.
"Clearly, well..." Lucian looked at Aerine, then reluctantly continued, "You're normal, at least."
Aerine was completely unguarded against Lucian, and even the way she looked at him was completely different from that of his subordinates or those who heard of his name. This was his first time experiencing someone talking at him casually, and so whether Aerine was normal was something to be determined in the future.
Still, Lucian rather liked the novelty.
Aerine was completely unaware of what was on Lucian's mind, and she continued talking with him.
"What should we do?" She suddenly asked, and her eyes looked at Lucian with complete trust.
Lucian was speechless about it and sighed.
"Why are you asking me?"
Aerine stared at him as if it were a matter of course. And the words, You are the one powerful here, were written in her eyes. Lucian burst into laughter; this woman was truly... interesting.
And so Lucian decided to go along, and since this woman was his contractee, wasn't it reasonable to help her? Lucian then rubbed his chin and thought of what to do.
Aerine watched Mr. Devil contemplate, and she didn't dare distract him.