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Could it be... could this be —

"Very well, open your eyes."

Seraphina\'s cheeks flushed with warmth as she reopened her eyes, just in time to see Ansel fastening a collar around his own neck.

"An-Ansel..." the young girl\'s voice quivered with an unusual emotion, "Is this... Is this..."

"This is my gift to you."

Ansel said, taking Seraphina\'s hand and guiding it to the collar. "Feel the engraving here."

With her mind a blank slate, Seraphina traced the indentations on the collar under Ansel\'s direction, which seemed to be a line of recessed lettering.

"Dedicated to my love."

Ansel wrapped an arm around Seraphina\'s waist and whispered, "These are the words etched on the outside. Inside, there\'s more... Ah, I should have let you see it before putting it on. I was so eager to surprise you that I didn\'t consider this. My apologies, Seraphina."

The girl hurriedly unfastened the collar, her excitement and haste making her fumble, until Ansel, with a smile, helped her remove it.

Seraphina\'s heart pounded as she eagerly inspected the inside of the collar, where the inscription was much longer, nearly filling the inner surface.

"To my dearest Seraphina, this is the proof of your eternal bond to me, and my everlasting vow never to forsake you..."

"...Ansel of Hydral."

Seraphina murmured the words inscribed within the collar, her eyes brimming with luminous tears.

"Seraphina, I once said that when you wear the ring of the pact head, my heartbeat will be at your fingertips," Ansel caressed her face tenderly.

"That was a metaphor, but now, I make it reality."

He carefully placed the collar back around her neck, his touch meticulous, then spoke with immense tenderness:

"Through this collar, you will always feel my heartbeat, my pulse, my presence within your reach."

As Ansel finished speaking, the words on the inner wall of the collar warmed slightly, and then... Seraphina felt it, a comforting, gentle throb that eased her into a sense of security so profound she could fall asleep without a hint of wariness.

The pulsation seemed to merge with the beat of her own neck, a blissful and secure sensation emanating from the collar, spreading throughout her body. She placed her hand on Ansel\'s chest, feeling the heartbeat that matched the one against her neck, bringing Seraphina closer to Ansel… than ever before.

She loved resting on Ansel\'s chest after a day\'s fatigue, lulled to sleep by the steady, strong beat of his heart. Now, that rhythm accompanied her constantly, each rise and fall, each vibration, imbuing Seraphina with an indescribable strength that surged through her veins.

Ansel embraced the dazed Seraphina, whispering in her ear:

"Seraphina, as long as you exist, you are the proof of my life."

"An…sel."

At that moment, Seraphina found herself at a loss for words. She did not kiss him passionately or cry out in joy; instead, she clung to Ansel, repeatedly murmuring his name.

"Ansel... Ansel..."

The collar... an object of extraordinary significance to Seraphina.

With it began Ansel\'s taming of her, and with it would end.

It was her resolve to show loyalty to Ansel, even at the cost of her life, and the reason for Ansel\'s inexplicable favor towards her.

Her dedication and assistance to Ansel began with this collar, but it would never see an end.

The young girl reached out once more to touch the engraved words on the outside of the collar.

"Dedicated to my love."

This was the rightful response to her devotion to Ansel.

Embracing Ansel, Seraphina experienced an unprecedented tranquility.

The chaotic thoughts that once plagued her mind had dissipated, leaving her to relish the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, desiring nothing more than to slumber blissfully in his arms.

It dawned on her that… this was the epitome of happiness.

Bereft of fervent emotions or burning desires, only a serene peace that made the world seem wondrous and comforting.

"Ansel..." Seraphina murmured dreamily, leaning on his shoulder, "Can-can you… call me by a different name?"

"...Em?"

"You call Ravena by Venna, why not call me with more intimacy as well?"

"Is that so..." Ansel chuckled, gently stroking Seraphina\'s hair, "Then, shall I call you... Seri?"

The young girl shuddered with delight, twisting slightly to embrace Ansel more tightly, as if wishing to meld into his very being.

"Can you say it again… please?" she implored cutely, playfully nibbling on his ear.

"Seri."

"Yes! One-once more, please!"

"Seri."

"Hehehe…Again, again!"

This time, the room was filled with no heated sensual scenes, just two foolish young lovers—one patiently repeating her affectionate nickname, the other blissfully urging him to continue.

Meanwhile, the delicate puppet, seated with knees drawn up inside the wardrobe, kept her eyes shut, unwilling to witness the scene before her.

Even when Ansel had forced her to watch his and Seraphina\'s "battles" throughout that night, she had never felt such reluctance.

Yet, simultaneously… her current emotions were not merely the result of this differential treatment and the pain it brought.

She was not the type to wallow in self-pity endlessly, lamenting her current sorrows without taking any action.

On the contrary, what Ravenna now found even more unbearable and unacceptable… was the harm inflicted by Ansel — a harm unknown to Seraphina, and even to Ansel himself.

Harm...

As Annelisa had described, even using his feelings for Seraphina, Ansel did not hesitate to exploit, without even realizing it.

If it were merely a matter of leaving her behind as a form of simple revenge or a cruel amusement, Ravenna might have been able to… accept it.

However, however, Ansel was not that kind of person.

Everything he did, he did with a purpose. Even in the moment when he was wholeheartedly and unreservedly expressing his feelings to Seraphina, he did not forget… to use that gap in his emotions to scheme against her, against others, and against all those he considered enemies.

Ravenna felt that even Annelisa had not grasped the core of the issue, nor had anyone else.

Yet, paradoxically, she found herself unwanted, despised, and unqualified.

Ravenna did not see herself as a tragic figure; she was acutely aware that her misery was self-inflicted. What tormented her, what rendered her powerless and in pain, was the reality that she couldn\'t change anything.

Nevertheless, Ravenna, you must still act.

Even if Ansel does not need you, even if you are unqualified, you have reasons that compel you to act.

She forced herself to open her eyes, to see Ansel as he was now, to see Hydral, who, despite wholeheartedly devoting his feelings to the girl in his arms, still cast a mocking glance her way.

This mockery, this unconsciousness, this abnormal change—these are the reasons you must take action.

In this bedroom, there lies a pair of lovers connected by their heartbeats, and a scattered heart.

*