After all, this was the same man who had accused her of casting spells just for sitting quietly in her room.

Now that he knew she could control crows, he was probably even more concerned. It was likely that the crows that had flown in uninvited earlier were the root of the problem.

“I didn’t summon the crows. And these relics… they have no effect on me. They never have.”

They were just heavy, though at least not as unbearably heavy as the shackles she’d once worn, which had been hard to bear even when just on her wrists.

Vienny fiddled with the chains, which sparkled in different colours as they caught the light with every movement. No matter how she looked at them, these so-called holy relics seemed more like decorative cuffs and a collar than tools to keep evil at bay.

Why go to the trouble of making cuffs and a collar designed to contain evil look so elegant?

“Yes, it doesn’t seem to have any effect.”

McClart acknowledged her words with a quiet nod. Vienny looked up at him, hoping he would release her now, but he simply pressed his lips together and continued to stare at her impassively, making no move to remove the chains.

It seemed that the incident with the crows had still left him on edge. Perhaps the realisation that the holy relics had no effect on her only deepened his suspicions.

Vienny decided to give up. He would release her when he thought the time was right. After all, a year ago she had lived with cuffs, collars and even shackles.

Back then they had been crude, heavy pieces of iron, not those normal chains. Surely this was a better situation by comparison.

Just as she was about to turn away in resignation, McClart, who had been standing silently with his hands behind his back, took a step forward.

“This is strange.”

Vienny, already standing close to him, instinctively took a step back at his sudden movement.

“It suits you.”

Despite her step back, the distance between them remained close. McClart, his eyes narrowed as if genuinely intrigued, dropped a hand from behind his back and reached for her neck.

“A holy relic suits you, of all people.”

It was hard to tell if he was touching her collar or her neck. Vienny blinked quickly, trying to shake off her nervous feelings, and lowered her eyes.

His hand rested on her throat, pressing lightly as she swallowed nervously. His skin was rough, hardened by calluses, and radiated an intense warmth, almost as if he held fire within.

“These are cuffs and a collar.”

“But they are still holy relics.”

Yes, they were relics – but relics meant to bind demons. Vienny swallowed again, and every movement of her throat brushed against his hand, creating a sensation that was strangely unsettling.

” They said demons cloud the eyes with beauty and dull the mind with sweet words.”

McClart muttered softly and took another step closer. Vienny instinctively took another step back, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“If you’re not a demon, then what are you?”

“Does it really matter?”

“Of course it does. It determines whether we go to hell or heaven when we die.”

Though he hadn’t unleashed his holy power, his hand felt intensely warm. His fingers, which had been resting on her neck, brushed along her shoulder, leaving a trail of heat that made her acutely aware of his touch.

McClart’s gaze moved to her lips and he murmured in a slightly sardonic tone.

“Then again, it doesn’t matter. We’ll end up together anyway.”

Vienny’s eyelashes quivered as she unconsciously bit her lip, hard enough to quickly stain her mouth with blood.

“I stopped the beasts from biting you and now you’re doing it to yourself.”

Startled, Vienny released her lip, but the metallic taste of blood had already reached her tongue. Confused by how much she was bleeding, she began to babble.

“I’m sorry, you said you hated the smell of my blood…”

“Didn’t I say that?”

Concentrating on the hand gripping her shoulder, Vienny hadn’t even noticed his other arm slipping around her waist. With a firm tug, McClart pulled her close, pressing her tightly against his chest, leaving her no room to escape.

Being of small stature, Vienny found herself almost engulfed in his embrace, his frame completely encircling hers.

“I’ve never been one for sweet things.”

The comment seemed strangely out of place. Unsure of the meaning behind his sudden embrace, Vienny tilted her head back and looked up at him with questioning eyes.

Then, as if he’d been waiting, he leaned down and licked her lips. The warm pressure of his tongue brushed against her wounded lip, drawing a few more drops of blood.

“Except for your blood.”

His words were immediately followed by a deep, uninhibited kiss. His tongue slid between her parted lips, intertwining with hers as their breath and saliva mingled, consuming her completely.

His intensity left her no choice but to submit, as she always did. The wet sounds of their kiss filled her ears, a gentle yet tantalising sensation that sent shivers down her spine.

As her mind began to blur, a sudden thought crossed Vienny’s mind: If demons truly bewitch with beauty and ensnare reason with sweet words, then wasn’t he the real demon here?

* * *

McClart decided to admit it. He really was a wretch.

“Inquisitor…”

There was no other way to explain why he felt such a surge of excitement just by looking at her. Yes, he admitted it again.

Ever since he had taken that relic from his desk drawer – or perhaps from the moment he had learned of its existence – he had been expecting a moment like this.

“Inquisitor, I think… it would be best if you removed this.”

“Why?”

“It’s not like it has any effect on me…”

Vienny, who had been quickly moved to the bed by McClart, seemed visibly uncomfortable with the relic’s restraints. Since the cuffs and collar were connected, she couldn’t fully extend her arms. She had to keep them close together and any attempt to stretch them out pulled uncomfortably on the collar around her neck. She tried to loosen it herself, her fingers fiddling with the collar, but all she got was the soft clanking of the chains.

“No effect, you say.”

It certainly had an effect – increasing his own arousal. Even if he had to repent later for using a sacred relic in this way, he had no intention of freeing her now.

It suited her far too well. And it would probably look even better against her bare skin. Even the gods couldn’t deny that.

“Oh, damn.”

McClart frowned as he tried to remove her clothes, only to find that the chains attached to the cuffs made it impossible to do so in the usual way.

Noticing his irritation, Vienny quickly held out her wrists, her red eyes looking up at him in complete confidence that he would release her.

But McClart made his decision quickly.

“Inquisitor?”

With a quick, forceful movement, her clothes ripped apart with a loud ripping sound. Vienny looked down in shock at the tattered remains, clearly not expecting him to just rip them off.

McClart spoke in an indifferent tone as she sat, momentarily speechless.

“The fabric was pathetically weak. I’ll make sure you get better clothes next time.”

The torn fabric showed faint reddish marks from the previous night. McClart let out an involuntary sigh.

This was truly like sinking into a quagmire – a sand pit from which there was no escape. His depraved desire to mark her grew stronger every day, to the point where he felt an uneasy restlessness if he went even one day without leaving his mark on her.

The only consolation he found in these lazy days was that he hadn’t taken a vow of chastity. At least he wasn’t breaking a sacred oath to the gods, he told himself – a weak attempt to rationalise his behaviour.

But in the face of Vienny, even that justification crumbled to dust, leaving only his unquenchable thirst for her.

“Ah…!”

As he slowly pushed aside the torn fabric and traced his fingers over her exposed skin, Vienny’s body shivered. Goosebumps rose on the freshly exposed flesh, and he found the tender reaction unexpectedly endearing.

“W-Wait, not there!”

As his hand moved lower, reaching her v*gina, Vienny reacted instinctively. With her hands tied, she was powerless to stop him and she tried to push away, shifting on the bed.

McClart, now sitting beside her, caught her easily as she tried to back away. He began to rub her gently, and Vienny’s face flushed a deep red in response.

“Ahh… ugh… ugh…”

Her reactions became more intense, her body more receptive. McClart found the change deeply satisfying.

Seeing her pale face flush with pleasure brought a unique sense of vibrancy to her expression. To be alone to witness this transformation was a rare joy, a rare blessing.

As Vienny’s breathing quickened and her body shook, she clung to his shirt with trembling fingers, holding on to him for support.

In stark contrast to McClart, who hadn’t even undone a single button, Vienny was wearing nothing but cuffs and collar.

Cuffs and collar.

McClart let out a soft, ironic laugh at his own words. Moments ago he had insisted that these were holy relics, yet now they were nothing more than elegant, glittering restraints on her delicate form.

Acknowledging this caused him a deep pain that caused him to shift his position slightly. Vienny, who had been clinging desperately to him, wavered as her grip on his clothes slipped.

He wrapped his arm around her bare shoulder, his fingers slipping between the delicate lines of her collarbone, feeling the added weight of her leaning against him.

“Please… please take it off…”

Her breathless plea came as she pressed her forehead against his arm, looking up at him with eyes softened by pleasure.

“Inquisitor, it’s uncomfortable… ugh…”

As he pushed in his two fingers, Vienny’s crimson pupils dilated in response. McClart kept his gaze on her eyes as he persistently probed her inner walls.