The crow continued, his voice steady and unyielding.
"This power of mine is controlled subconsciously by Serena. Anyone she perceives as deserving death will meet their end upon touching her. No force can prevent it."
He recalled with a pained expression.
"This ability made her life difficult as a child; everyone feared her. Only her closest family could approach her, and even then, they kept their distance. To everyone else, she was terrifying."
Aiden glanced over at Serena, who looked back with her usual frosty expression, though a small, innocent smile brightened her face.
He struggled to reconcile the image of this gentle woman with such a grim power.
Seeing his disbelief, the crow continued, his gaze softening.
"Serena is like a daughter to me. All I want is for her to find happiness. But as you can see, my hands are tied. Other than talking to her and staying by her side, I can do little else."
The crow paused paused and pointed to Aiden.
"You, however—this is the first time I've seen her react this way to someone without invoking my power. It means you're special to her."
As the crow spoke, his expression shifted from serious to slightly amused, his sharp eyes watching Aiden closely.
Aiden couldn't help feeling uneasy at the crow's words.
He had only purchased Serena for her deadly ability, planning to use it to further his goals.
And yet, he was being told that he meant something to her, that he was somehow… important.
It felt absurd. He knew he was not a good person, not the other way around.
Noting Aiden's silence, the crow let out a low chuckle.
"I trust her judgment completely. She's never been wrong about people, and I doubt this is any different."
Bowing slightly, the crow's voice softened.
"All I ask is that you take care of her. I want her to live the life of a normal girl, the one she lost when I came into her world. If you can, help her learn to control her power. She'll find it immensely useful once she gains mastery over it. And most importantly," he added, his voice firm, "don't hurt her. She's a sensitive soul."
The crow's piercing gaze bore into Aiden as he spoke his final plea.
"If you promise this, I'll not only help with your soul issue but aid you with whatever you might need. My only wish is to see her smile."
A heavy pressure settled on Aiden as he listened.
For him, promises and deals were sacred. Once he gave his word, he would do everything in his power to fulfill it.
But he'd never looked after anyone else in his life, and the crow was asking him for a commitment he wasn't sure he could keep.
His calculating mind screamed at him not to trust them. How could he take care of someone else when he only looked out for himself?
But then he glanced at Serena, who hadn't taken her eyes off him, her innocent smile radiating like a child's.
Aiden felt something stir within him. It would be a shame to lose this opportunity.
No.
He had no choice. This ticking time bomb inside him demanded he take action, and these two were his only chance.
"Fine," Aiden said at last. "I promise to protect her and give her a happy life. Leave her in my care." He extended his hand to the crow, who met it with a wing.
"I'm glad to hear it," the crow replied with a sigh of relief.
Serena's face lit up as she let out a small, delighted squeal.
She practically launched herself at Aiden, knocking him to the ground again. "Yes, yes, we'll be together!" she cried happily, cupping his cheeks and looking deep into his eyes.
Her breath smelled sweet, like lilacs, the fragrance wrapping around him as she held him close, her soft warmth enveloping him.
Aiden found himself staring back, captivated by the innocent look on her face, as if she were gazing at something precious.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, feeling strangely unsettled.
Her expression reminded him of a little puppy looking at its owner.
She looked like a puppy in every sense of the word, complete with wide, shining eyes.
"What's your name?" she asked, tilting her head in that same puppy-like way. "I'm Serena."
"I'm Aiden," he replied, meeting her gaze. "Nice to meet you."
As soon as she heard his name, her hands gripped him tighter, her voice becoming almost a chant.
"Aiden… Aiden… Aiden…"
Looking at her repeating his name. 'Guess I've got a puppy to look after', he thought.
He couldn't shake a sense of guilt because he went against his principles.
The way this girl's presence had upended his life was almost laughable.
She continued caressing his face, giggling softly to herself as she repeated his name, lost in her own happiness.
The crow observed from above, a warm smile on his face as he watched the scene unfold.
After a while, the crow gently pulled Serena off Aiden and spoke.
"Your body is too weak, boy. You'll need to fix your soul problem before you can even think about increasing your strength."
Aiden's jaw clenched at the reminder. He knew he was weak, but he also suspected that Serena's strength was far from ordinary.
Afterward, Aiden turned to Serena.
"Wait here in the room," he told her.
She nodded, sitting back down on the bed, her face calm yet bright with that same innocent smile.
She reminded him of a Labrador retriever waiting for its master—just missing the tail and ears.
Out in the hallway, Aiden called to the first maid he saw and requested a maid outfit.
The maid hurried off to fetch an outfit, and Aiden's mind began to calculate.
He knew he couldn't introduce Serena under any identity, and the safest cover was to have her as his personal maid—a role suited for a scoundrel like him.
Her beauty would be unquestioned as the reason he chose her, and no one would find it suspicious if she followed him wherever he went, even to the academy he'd attend in three months' time.
The maid forehead dotted with sweat as she returned with the uniform, bowing as she handed it over.
"You're free to continue with your work," Aiden said, dismissing her as he entered the room again.
Serena was still seated with her hands on her lap, a smile on her face.
When she saw him, she immediately stood, looking as if she were about to leap on him again.
"Wait, wait, Serena!" he said, holding up a hand to stop her.
At this, her expression shifted, looking almost hurt.
Aiden sighed, holding up the maid outfit.
"I brought something for you."
Her eyes sparkled as she took the outfit, her hands covering her face in surprise.
"A gift? From Aiden?"
She clutched the clothing tightly, her expression shifting to one of pure joy as she inspected it, beaming.
Aiden nodded, walking to the door.
"Put it on; we have things to do."
She tilted her head in a curious, almost childlike way, her innocent eyes wide.
"I don't know how to put it on. Could you help me?"
She looked at him with teary, pleading eyes, her expression too innocent.
Aiden swallowed, realizing this innocence might not be as genuine as it seemed.