565 Lillias's Night
Back in the private library, Vaan continued reading through the books one after the other, absorbing everything they had to offer. Although the contents were mostly recurring knowledge he had already learned from other books, there were also a few exceptions.
For example, Black Bristleback Bears were known to be commonly found in the outer regions of the Great Ashfallen Forest. A fully grown Black Bristleback Bear generally had the strength of a High-level Rank 2 to Low-level Rank 3.
However, one of the books recorded encountering a Low-level Rank 4 a little past the boundary of Gehenna's Gate in the Great Ashfallen Forest.
After Vaan cross-referenced with his existing knowledge, it was clear that the deeper one ventured into the Great Ashfallen Forest, the stronger the beasts they would encounter.
It was common knowledge that beasts were more physically endowed than humans. Thus, without training, beasts were stronger than humans.
Nevertheless, beasts were still living beings; they weren't free from the limitations of life.
As such, unless they had an extraordinary bloodline or were blessed by the heavens, it was unlikely for ordinary beasts like the Black Bristleback Bears to grow into a Low-level Rank 4 being naturally.
Vaan was curious how the Black Bristleback Bear became a Low-level Rank 4 being.
Considering the region near Gehenna's Gate was blessed with rich mana, he suspected there were plenty of high-quality magic plants north of it. Perhaps the Black Bristleback Bear could become a Low-level Rank 4 being from eating these high-quality magical plants.
Nevertheless, Gehenna's Gate was like a giant rift, dividing the Great Ashfallen Forest's south outer regions from its deeper parts.
People couldn't cross over it by normal means without stumbling into Gehenna.
At the very least, it wasn't possible on feet within the boundary of the Black Rose Kingdom. After all, the Black Rose Kingdom faced the largest part of the dimensional crack.
On the other hand, the easternmost witch kingdom, the Darkwater Kingdom, faced the thinnest area of the dimensional crack.
Many people could leap over Gehenna's Gate from the top of the trees in this easternmost region to access the deeper depths of the Great Ashfallen Forest.
Speaking of the Darkwater Kingdom, its Perilous Land, the Black Swamp, was another point of interest to Vaan.
Supposedly, the Black Swamp was comprised of toxic water that only existed in the Boundless Sea, which lay far beyond the Eastern Sea to the east and the Treacherous Sea to the west of the continent.
The Boundless Sea also had another name - the Sea of Death.
Due to the toxicity of its seawater, it was publicly known to be incapable of nurturing or accommodating any life.
However, Vaan wouldn't be surprised if it secretly hid the most terrifying and poisonous sea monsters known to Pangea.
After all, while it was true that the toxic seawater would kill all life, life also had a way of adapting.
As long as sea creatures in the Eastern Sea and Treacherous Sea weren't exposed to the full brunt of the seawater's toxicity from the get-go, they could build immunity or even acquire its toxic traits over time.
There were many unknowns in the world, and the vast unknown of the ocean depth was one of the places Vaan would like to explore at some point.
The more he traveled, the more he would discover - the world had its fair share of dangers and beauty.
...
After spending several hours in the private library, a pair of tender, fair hands wrapped around Vaan's waist and hugged him from behind.
"Ever since we've met and journeyed together, there's been a growing fire in my chest that can't be quenched without your magical touch," Lillias softly mentioned, resting her head against Vaan's back.
"I've been longing for you day and night, Vahn. You have always been on my mind; I couldn't and wouldn't think of anyone else. I don't need anyone else, just you. I am in love with you, Vahn."
"So, won't you make me one of your women tonight, Vahn?" Lillias requested while trembling nervously after her confession.
"Don't you think you are mistaking admiration, gratitude, and dependence for love, Lady Lillias?" Vaan casually asked with his back still facing her, not in a hurry to agree.
"I can't deny there's admiration, gratitude, and dependence, but isn't that enough?" Lillias replied willfully as her heart shuddered with a growing fear of rejection. "I don't desire a complicated or meaningful love. Your comfort and security are all I need"
"Are you saying your feelings will change one day if I can no longer provide this comfort and security?" Vaan continued to ask.
Lillias's body shuddered.
"It won't!" Lillias shook her head stubbornly and tightened her arms around Vaan before saying, "Once my heart has been set, it won't easily change!"
She believed someone could like another for their character, but their feelings would not become love in the absence of support and trust.
Having stayed in the capital for a period of time, she had seen the stark difference between Vahn and the young masters who tried to court her and her sister.
Flowery words and gifts were only a fraction of the value of trust and support.
She needed someone who could lift her up when she was down, not someone who only knew how to say what she wanted to hear.
Vaan knew how to care for his women and support them; she had already seen it. That was also why she was willing to share him with other women.
People like him were few, and many women needed a person like him.
She couldn't be greedy.
That said, while it was true that Lillias needed Vaan, he didn't need her. His acceptance was just a matter of choice, not a necessity.
"...Is that a no?" Lillias suddenly lost hope after failing to hear Vaan accept her feelings. Her arms slowly lost strength and slipped from their grasp.
There was nothing she could do if Vaan didn't want her.
Lillias was on the verge of crying in despair after jumping to a conclusion when Vaan suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into his embrace.
The suddenness made her heart thump immediately.
"Could I call myself a man if I refuse a fine lady after all the courage and preparation she put into her confession?" Vaan softly whispered to Lillias before warning her, "However, you'll have to steel yourself."
"My affection isn't easy to take," Vaan boldly stated.
Lillias felt something hard poking against her little sister, causing her body to shudder with weakness. It also incited the heat in her body.
"I-I can take it all!" Lillias claimed unconfidently.
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