Chapter 24

… What can I say?

Hearing that you want to possess me more than “it” does, should I be happy?

It’s too embarrassing. But no matter how I answer this question, it’s embarrassing. After thinking for a moment, I decided to change the topic. However, before I could speak, Lambert lifted my chin again. The male pheromones, like a mating call, invaded my nostrils. More unbearable than this intense smell was his suffocatingly aggressive gaze.

“Don’t zone out in front of me. It makes me think you’re thinking about ‘it’ again.” His voice was low and cold. “Don’t make me angry, Rosa.”
“I wasn’t…”

He ignored my response, released my chin, and walked straight into the library. He had been standing in a dark, unlit place, so I could only see limited details. But now, in the bright light, I noticed that the dark aura around him had become too severe to ignore, and his hair and eye color were getting darker. Although he appeared very calm, I was so nervous that my breathing trembled.

He walked to the dark brown desk, flipped through the pages with two fingers, and looked up at me: “If you want to know about the ‘Seven Deadly Sins,’ you can ask me.”

I didn’t expect him to care about what books I read. I was at a loss for words for a moment, then carefully replied, “At that time, you didn’t look well… I was afraid of disturbing you.”

“So that’s it. Rosa is really considerate.” He nodded lightly, then, with one hand, lifted the book, muttered a few incantations and a wisp of dark blue flame ignited at the corner of the book, consuming it completely within seconds. The ashes fell and piled up at his boots.

…What is he doing? Is he angry with me or jealous that I read this book?

What surprised me even more was that he knew witchcraft. I always thought he was a rational and rule-abiding person, but now it seems he is much more unconventional than I imagined. Although he outwardly rejects the beast’s existence, I always feel there are many subtle similarities between him and the beast.

At this moment, I saw the clock sneakily hiding under the desk, its thin arms helplessly hugging its body, with the hour and minute hands trembling like a sieve. Lambert was jealous of even a book; if he found out the clock and I were in the same room, the consequences would be unimaginable. Seeing him about to walk past the clock, I called out to him: “Lambert!”

He stopped and turned back: “Hmm?”

“I hadn’t finished reading that book, and you burned it…”

“So, do you think what I did was wrong?” Lambert’s boots turned, brushing past the clock, and walked towards me. The clock, as if granted amnesty, collapsed on the carpet, wiping non-existent sweat.

“Everything you do is right!” I quickly said, but my voice was hoarse from tension. “I just hope you can tell me how can the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ be lifted?”

“You want to know, and of course, I will tell you everything. There are two ways to lift the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ curse: one is to satisfy all the desires of the person under the curse; the other is to wait three days, and the curse will lift itself.” As he said this, he walked over, and that intense sense of oppression came again. “Which method does Rosa want to use on me?”

“Rosa,” a simple word, but when it came from his mouth, it was as elegant and luxurious as a blooming rose. I couldn’t take it and covered my burning ears with my cold hands.

It took a long time for my heart to remember what he had just said. The curse would lift itself after three days. That was too long, but satisfying all his desires was impossible.

“Is there any other way?”

He didn’t answer this question, his head lowered, looking at his fingers, lost in thought. After a while, he called my name: “Come here, Rosa.”

“What?”

“Come to my side.”

I hesitated for a moment but still walked to his side. It was already closer than the usual distance for conversation, but he shook his head: “Closer.”

I had no choice but to get closer to him. He looked down at me for a moment, then suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto him. I was caught off guard, my hands braced against his chest, and a sense of crisis quickly crawled up my back. Before I could struggle to break free from his control, the next moment, his burning lips pressed down. It was too hot, like boiling water, scalding me into a shiver. I struggled desperately, but his control became even stronger. He pinched my jaw with one hand, forcing me to open my mouth, while the other hand held both my wrists, not allowing me to move an inch. At the same time, his legs blocked my retreat. This was a kiss that devoured me alive. At that moment, I felt like a living sacrifice on an altar, like a lamb chop being devoured by knives and forks. Greed, jealousy, anger… even repressed instincts were vividly displayed in this kiss.

After a while, he left my lips, rubbed my cheek with his thumb, and said, “Hide, Rosa.” His fingertip was burning hot, but his voice was cold, “Don’t let ‘it’ find you, and don’t let ‘it’ get close to you.”

I was a bit dazed by his kiss and didn’t immediately understand what he meant until he grabbed my wrist and pushed me out of the library. Only then did I react.

If witnessing him regain his human form was like witnessing a miracle, then watching him transform into a beast was like witnessing the arrival of a dark curse. He stood in the center of the library, his form towering, his long and elegant fingers suddenly turning grotesque, with nails sharp as scythes. Black scales, dense as storm clouds, quickly crawled up his gaunt cheeks, and soon, snake scales covered half of his body. Just then, thunder rumbled through the night sky, and a fierce storm was about to arrive.

…What should I do?

Should I hide as he said? But the grandfather clock was still in the library.

I took two steps back, hiding by the library door, and peered inside. The grandfather clock, utterly terrified by Lambert’s transformation, curled up in his shadow, trembling as if buffeted by wind and rain. Meeting my gaze, it made a gesture for help with its thin arms. It wouldn’t have come to the library if it weren’t for helping me find a book. Lambert wouldn’t hurt me, but it is uncertain whether he would hurt it. However, to save it, I must attract Lambert’s attention…

What should I do?

At this moment, Lambert lowered his head, slowly and leisurely looking around as if searching for something. The clock crawled to the table leg, sticking close to the desk. Its movements seemed orderly, but in reality, the three hands were spinning anxiously. I looked around, trying to find a stone to throw, but couldn’t find a suitable one. After hesitating for a few seconds, I stomped heavily on the pile of fallen leaves.

Lambert’s ears twitched, and he immediately walked towards me. At the same time, I turned and ran. But I underestimated the vastness of this castle, with its numerous towers, countless arches, and aerial bridges. I ran for a long time before finally exiting the library tower. Looking back, I saw Lambert standing behind a high arch, looking down at me from above. Tonight, his beast transformation wasn’t as severe as before; the snake head hadn’t appeared, but black snake scales still covered half of his skin. His white shirt, stretched by his enlarged form, was tattered and hung on him like a scorched, broken flag. His golden snake eyes had turned pitch black, making it impossible to tell if his pupils were slit or round, giving his gaze a cold and hollow look that sent chills down my spine.

At the same time, thunder rumbled, dark clouds covered the sky, and a storm was imminent. I looked around, not knowing where to run.

As I hesitated, Lambert suddenly supported himself on the stone railing of the arch, leaning down as if he wanted to jump. My heart seemed to pause. The arch was at least twenty meters high; even in his beast form, he might get hurt. Fortunately, he wasn’t that crazy. He just stared at me in that position, his neck muscles tense, his Adam’s apple trembling, as if he was saying something to me.

The thunder was too loud; I couldn’t hear his voice.

It wasn’t until lightning flashed and the thunder paused for a second that I heard his voice, which turned out to be a series of increasingly sharp goat bleats.

Why was he imitating a goat?

Wait, wait.

It seems that some animals make this special sound when seeking a mate. Under the influence of the “Seven Deadly Sins,” he is very likely in heat now.

Thinking of this, heat rushed to my cheeks. He seemed to have lost all shame in his beast form, making such sounds at me from above. I shouldn’t have looked back at him!

Taking advantage of the heavy rain that hadn’t started yet, I turned and ran into the nearby colonnade. Lambert’s figure also disappeared behind the arch. Following my memory, I ran towards the castle hall, but for some reason, the surroundings always looked the same. After passing the same arch for the third time, I finally realized I was lost. Lambert’s sharp mating calls were getting closer, seemingly right behind me, and he would soon appear in front of me.

He would soon appear in front of me.

It seemed I had nowhere to go. As if to make matters worse, the heavy rain poured down, quickly forming rushing streams. The lawn was washed into a deep green, and the rain was so powerful that even the thick thorns seemed to bow down. The wind blew the rain into the colonnade, soaking my long dress and shoes instantly. The bone-chilling cold spread through my body, and I sneezed, looking around, not knowing where to go.

When the body is cold, it easily gets tired. I squatted in the corner of the colonnade, putting my hands inside my clothes to keep warm, but there was no warmth anywhere on my body. Gradually, my fingers became numb with cold. I didn’t want to run anymore; let Lambert find me. After all, he wouldn’t hurt me.

In my dazed state, a pair of pure white boots came into my view, with two golden lion emblems embedded below the knees. Looking up through the pouring rain, I saw Ulysses standing before me. Seeing my disheveled state, he smiled in surprise: “It’s you, Miss Rose. Where is my brother? Why didn’t he come to hold an umbrella for you? He is best at taking care of delicate ladies like you.”

No need to think about it, it’s definitely an attempt to sow discord. I ignored his words and asked directly, “How do I get to the castle hall?”

“So, you’re lost.” Actually, his clothes were also soaked, with large water stains appearing on his finely tailored coat, but like a hardy pine tree, he remained very composed. “Although you look very pitiful, I’m sorry, I won’t give directions to my brother’s lover.”

Previously, Lambert said he was a child, and I thought it was a way of mocking him. Now I realize that his thoughts and actions are indeed childlike. Compared to what Lambert has experienced and endured, he is indeed naive, with straightforward and simple thoughts that are easy to see through.

Not wanting to talk to him any longer, I thought for a moment and said concisely, “Lambert is under the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ curse and has turned into a beast.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Ulysses’ face changed with apprehension. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” He bent down, grabbed my shoulders, and tried to pull me up from the ground. “Where is he now?”

Having squatted on the ground for a long time, my feet were already numb. When he pulled me up, I couldn’t stand steadily and stumbled against him. For a moment, both of us were stiff. It was clear that Ulysses didn’t like me much, and I didn’t have a good impression of him either. Instinctively, I wanted to push him away. However, he suddenly smiled slightly, hugged me, and lifted my chin with his knuckles. “Did my brother ever tell you that you have a very peculiar scent that is quite captivating?”

As he spoke, he leaned down towards me. Facing the closeness of someone I didn’t like, I felt deeply offended and uncomfortable. I pushed his shoulder with all my strength and turned my head away. Ulysses, however, acted as if he didn’t see it and chuckled, “I wonder how you get along with Ophelia… Did she ever tell you that you are my beloved?”

“Go away!”

“Come back to the capital with me.” He said with false gentleness, smiling. “A beautiful and delicate girl like you should be cherished in the palace, nourished with gold and jewels. What’s the point of staying here with my rigid brother? He is just an unwanted, unloved beast, who has lost his status and the love of his people, spending his days roaring and eating raw meat… Come back with me, and I will let you enjoy the most beautiful and luxurious things in the world… What do you think, Miss Rose?”

I’m not a fool; why would I believe such nonsense? “Let go of me, Ulysses!”

Ulysses’ expression darkened instantly. “Don’t anger me, Rosalind. Being noticed by me is your honor.”

The difference in strength between men and women is too great. I pushed for a long time but couldn’t move him an inch. At this moment, a long shadow suddenly appeared at the end of the colonnade. Lambert had found us. My heart skipped a beat, and my nose tingled. Never before had Lambert’s presence felt so reassuring. Filled with confidence, I looked up into Ulysses’ eyes, smiled slightly, and said word by word, “Sorry, I’m not interested in you.”

“You—” Ulysses’ face turned grim. He grabbed my jaw tightly and lifted it, leaning in to kiss me. I didn’t expect him to kiss me. In a flash, I only had time to turn my head away and was about to lift my knee to strike when my shoulder suddenly felt lighter.

Lambert had teleported over, grabbed Ulysses by the back of the neck with one hand, and threw him onto the lawn outside the arch.

With a loud “bang,” water splashed everywhere. Seeing Ulysses lying in the mud, covered in dirt, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, feeling extremely relieved, but soon, I couldn’t laugh anymore.

Lambert stood where Ulysses had been, lifting my chin with his rough, terrifying lizard-like fingers. His gaze was cold as he scanned the places Ulysses had touched, his breathing heavy with jealousy.