Colla stilled. She had heard Aya, but her mind refused to process it.
"What?" she asked, blinking as if she had misheard.
Aya exhaled, her fingers tightening around the delicate porcelain cup she held. The tea inside had long since cooled, but she barely noticed.
"Lust," she repeated, quieter this time. The word felt heavier when spoken aloud.
Colla, rather than responding immediately, wordlessly shoved an entire piece of bread into her mouth. She chewed slowly, deliberately, as though the act would somehow help her digest the insanity she had just been told.
Aya sighed. "We're moving. Again."
Colla swallowed, then let out a long breath through her nose. Leaning against the carved wooden railing of the balcony, she cast her gaze over the sprawling gardens below, where the golden afternoon sun bathed the flowers in soft, dappled light.
Nine was walking with Seven, the toddler's bright laughter drifting up to them, carried by the warm breeze. A father and son, completely oblivious to the quiet storm brewing above.
"He's a lord now," Colla murmured. "His palace will be in the south, then."
Aya nodded, though there was an unease in her posture that hadn't yet settled. "It will be."
Colla was silent for a long moment. Then she turned, her expression unreadable. "You know, you don't have to keep me tied to you," she said, tilting her head slightly. "I can leave, if that makes things easier."
Bitterness laced Aya's next words. "I won't stop you." But despite the casual offer, there was something fragile behind her tone.
Colla reached for her coffee and downed it in one go, ignoring the scalding heat. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before setting the empty cup down.
"Remember when I told you that holding on can be just as painful as letting go?" she mused, smirking slightly. "And yet, here you are."
Aya said nothing.
Colla chuckled, shaking her head. "I think I get it now."
She handed the porcelain cup back to Aya, who hesitated before taking it.
"Let's go," Colla said, grinning.
Aya's lips trembled before she threw her arms around her, pulling her into a fierce embrace. "Thank you, Colla."
"Whoa—easy," Colla chuckled, though she didn't pull away. She patted Aya's back. "Nine would be jealous if he saw us."
Aya sniffed, managing a weak laugh. "You'd really stay? Even though you're scared of him?"
Colla smirked. "That's why I stay out of his sight."
A genuine laugh escaped them both, easing the tension between them.
Colla's thoughts flickered, unbidden, to her sister—the one she had lost. If only she could see this moment.
"I already consider you family," she admitted, softer this time. "And besides, I'm rich now, thanks to him."
Aya arched a brow. "You should spend that and explore more as a mercenary."
Colla only shrugged. "This is my choice."
Aya held her gaze, then finally said, more firmly this time, "Then promise me. Stay alive."
Colla exhaled, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Will I get paid for doing so?"
"No." Aya deadpanned, though there was humor in her eyes.
Colla scoffed, jabbing a playful finger against her forehead before they both dissolved into laughter.
---
The roads were clear. The weather was fair. The days stretched beneath cloudless skies.
And yet, traveling with Nine was never peaceful.
He was relentless in his pursuit of amusement, dragging Aya into whatever ridiculous idea struck him—whether it was riding pandas, leaping off waterfalls, or attempting to "be one with the monkeys."
Colla, much to her suffering, had become his favorite bait during hunts. Not that he needed it—he just enjoyed making her suffer.
And now, there he was, waist-deep in a lake, wrestling a fish half his size, while Seven clung to his chest in a secured cloth wrap. The toddler squealed in delight, tiny hands gripping his father's clothes as the water splashed around them.
"Pretty happy about being a lord, huh?" Aya remarked as she approached the shoreline, holding a plate of sizzling meat fresh from the fire.
Nine pulled another thrashing fish from the water, his grin wide and unguarded. "Because I'm not alone," he said simply.
He hadn't told her yet—about the essence that had split within her.
Aya hummed, unaware of the weight behind his words.
Funny. She had begged him to stop competing, to stay away from the Sins. And now, unknowingly, she had joined him in this fate.
Nine bent his head toward her, mouth open expectantly. "Ah~"
Aya rolled her eyes but indulged him, placing a piece of meat between his lips. Before she could pull her hand away, he caught her fingers, sucking lightly, swallowing the lingering juices from the meat.
Her entire face turned crimson.
"Bad!" she yelped, instinctively slapping his cheek.
Nine only grinned. "Woof."
Colla, still by the fire, scoffed. "You two are disgusting." She took a dramatic bite of her food.
Aya bolted before Nine could do more.
Nine, laughing wickedly, chased after her.
Seven, not understanding anything, giggled along with his parents.
---
They hadn't yet reached the borders when a lone figure appeared ahead, standing directly in their path.
A man dressed in fine noble attire, his posture straight, his face unreadable. He carried the air of quiet authority—not the kind granted by birthright, but the kind earned through experience.
Nine stepped down from the carriage first, curiosity flickering in his golden eyes. Colla followed, her stance cautious, fingers idly resting on the hilts of her weapons.
The nobleman observed Nine for a moment before bowing deeply.
"Lord of Lust," he greeted, his tone formal. "I am Shin. I will be escorting you to your palace."
Nine arched a brow. "Huh?"
Shin continued, smooth and measured. "I serve the demonic cult faction. Our leader was slain, and in response, we have aligned ourselves with the Seven Deadly Sins. Each Lord has been provided a palace, built in their honor. The Sin of Pride was the first to be announced, giving us the means to detect the other Lords. We have been awaiting your arrival."
Nine let out a low whistle, grinning. "Okay, that's genius." He clapped his hands, nodding in approval.
A strategic move. By accommodating the Lords, the demonic faction secured influence, power, and protection. And more than that, they were solidifying the Sins as a foundation for their rise.
Shin inclined his head. "The Sin of Lust was the last to be taken in. If you do not like the design, we can adjust it to your preferences."
Before Nine could respond, Aya stepped down from the carriage, adjusting Seven in her arms. "Nine, Seven needs a bath. He took a poo—"
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes narrowing slightly when she noticed Shin staring at her.
Nine immediately stepped forward, blocking Shin's view. The air around him darkened.
"Colla, go with Aya," he ordered, voice dangerously low.
Colla nodded, quickly ushering Aya away.
Once they were gone, Shin exhaled. "She…"
Nine's eyes gleamed. "Shhh."
A beat of silence.
Then, unexpectedly, a polite smile curved Shin's lips. "What a lovely wife you have, my Lord."
Nine blinked.
He had expected Shin to notice the essence within Aya—but no. He was simply admiring her.
"I will ensure the palace is comfortable for your wife and son," Shin continued smoothly.