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Seven Sins System Chapter 508. Silent Rivalry
🕑 Added 2024-11-04 09:29:58 +0000 UTCSeven Sins System Chapter 508. Silent Rivalry
After that incident, Penelope and Katrina never came to the infirmary again to deliver my schedule. I wasn’t sure if it was by their choice or if someone else pulled the strings, but honestly? It was a relief. Now, it was Red who took on the task, marching in every morning with that cheerful smile, a bit too pleased with herself. Each visit was more than just a schedule drop-off; it was her way of claiming her space in my day. She’d bring news of her investigation, updates on the academy, and anything else she felt I should know. And, well… she took advantage of the private time too, diving into things that… something far less official.
Red was a pro, flipping between roles like it was second nature. With everyone else, she was the icy, untouchable academy owner—strict, professional, a figure of authority who rarely showed a hint of weakness.
But with me? She was still the same teenager I’d left behind centuries ago. She let down her guard, acting a bit childish, a bit reckless, sometimes petulant even, as if she were making up for all the years we hadn’t spent together. She’d laugh at things that weren’t funny, poke at me until I gave her some attention, or sit on my lap like she owned the place. It was… amusing, and admittedly, a comfort I hadn’t expected to find in this strange new era.
But while Red’s visits were good for my mood, they weren’t exactly without consequences. Puriel, for one, had taken notice, though she tried to hide it behind that stoic mask of hers. I could see the jealousy in her eyes, though, festering and growing with each day Red strolled in, laughing and flirting in a way that Puriel simply… didn’t.
Sometimes, Puriel would avoid me altogether when Red was around, saying she had other things to attend to, leaving me with just a fleeting look of disappointment as she walked away.
Other times, she’d stay, pointedly ignoring the two of us, her gaze fixed on a book as if she couldn’t care less about Red practically curled up in my lap. She was quiet, dignified, but even then, the tension like a storm about to break. I was stuck between them, unable to bridge the gap, unable to fully understand where I stood with either of them.
Red was my servant, a loyal companion since centuries ago. She’d been with me through blood and battle, loyal to the end. Puriel… well, she was a different matter. Our bond was something else, something undefined. She was, in some sense, my fiancée. But there was no denying the fact that her relationship with me was vastly different from the easy, almost playful intimacy I shared with Red. And the two of them weren’t about to make it easy for me to ignore their silent rivalry.
As if that wasn’t enough, the other threats in my life had, for now, gone silent. The demons, the angels—they hadn’t made a move since the last attack, and things had been quiet, almost too quiet. It felt like the calm before the storm, but with everything else going on, I could only wait and watch, biding my time until the next clash. The investigation was also supposed to kick off next week, giving me little breathing room before the academy’s upcoming mission. For now, though, all I could do was prepare for the weekend, which promised to be the busiest one yet.
Red had been planning a dinner with her family, but with everything else on my schedule, I asked her to speed things up. I needed to attend Asmo’s birthday, a chaotic event at best, and I was almost certain that it would leave me in no mood for formalities afterward. I didn’t want to arrive at dinner with the effects of whatever chaos Asmo’s celebration would bring, so it was better to handle things now.
Finally, the night arrived, and here I was, standing in front of the mansion gate. I’d gone with a semi-formal suit—neat, sharp, but nothing over the top. After all, mortal standards were different. They didn’t expect the extravagant robes or heavy armor like in my realm, and I preferred to blend in, at least somewhat.
I adjusted my cuffs, taking in the quiet elegance of the mansion before me, appreciating the architecture in a detached way. Red’s home was impressive, a blend of modern design and timeless architecture, sprawling across this massive estate like some fortress from old.
There was no car, no entourage. When I can simply open a portal and step through, what’s the point of riding around in a metal box? So, here I was, appearing right at her gate, the cool night air settling around me as I took a deep breath. ‘Alright. Time to make an entrance.’
I pressed the bell, and a voice crackled through the intercom. “Good evening,” they said, crisp and polite, with that careful tone reserved for distinguished guests.
I leaned in a bit, speaking clearly. “My name is Dr. Allen, and I’m here to meet Re—” I caught myself, pausing awkwardly. “…Mrs. Elara.” Damn it. Her name slipped out of my mouth instinctively. Old habits die hard, I guess. After all, Red was just… Red. I wasn’t used to addressing her by anything else, and certainly not something as formal as “Mrs. Elara.”
There was a short pause, and then the voice from the intercom replied, “We will open the door for you, sir.”
With a quiet click, the large iron gate swung open, and I stepped inside, the path ahead flanked by tall hedges and soft lights illuminating the way. But as I looked out, I noticed just how huge the yard was. It stretched on and on, vast and empty, with just a sprinkling of manicured gardens here and there. My brow furrowed in irritation; this was far more distance than I wanted to walk. Seriously, what prince would actually trudge all the way up a mile-long driveway?
