Red of Pain

Semiramis: "If you're leaving, then hurry up and get out. Don't interfere with my continued governance of the city." Her face was full of disdain.

Ever since that day, Semiramis had kept that tone and that expression. Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought the Count and Countess had fallen out.

Those in the know said that what one could not have would always stir the heart, but once obtained, it could be discarded without a second thought. That saying about being heartless fit the current situation, though the positions seemed to be reversed. Then again, perhaps some people simply liked that sort of thing.

The gritted-teeth expression Sajyou Manaka wore from beginning to end explained everything.

However, with his Fairy Eyes, Yuan Shikai naturally knew those were merely angry words—the tsundere side of a woman, or perhaps flirtation before their next meeting.

He believed that the next time he came here, he would surely be met with passion as scorching as magma.

The date of his return from this journey was uncertain. He would first make a trip to the Clock Tower, then visit Aozaki Hachisuke and ask what had truly happened with that matter back then.

Why had Yumina entered, while he had not? Why had the gate been sealed once more? While he was at it, he would also check on Aoko's current situation.

After confirming everything, he still had to return to the New World and see whether anything strange had happened there. Given the wives' fondness for stirring things up, he could never quite put his mind at ease.

He made a slight detour and visited Lorelei's estate first. If he skipped her and went straight to the Clock Tower, she might give him the cold shoulder.

As he stepped into this solemn place