Dax was furious—so furious he felt as though his chest might burst apart. A hot, volatile storm churned in his mind, leaving him dizzy with rage.
And then there was Paros.
What in the abyss was wrong with that man?
Paros was one of the Domain Lords of the Three Domains, a Dragon Kind whose name alone made entire regions tremble. He was infamous for his dominance, for taking what he desired without hesitation or permission.
Power, territory, treasures—if Paros wanted them, they became his. That was how it had always been.
And yet now?
Here he was, calmly handing over obscene amounts of star coins just to gain favor with a single female.
Where was his arrogance? Where was the primal instinct to seize, to dominate, to claim outright? Where was the ruthlessness everyone feared?
Dax couldn't reconcile the image in his head with the reality before him.
Paros, utterly indifferent to Dax's internal meltdown, finished the last dumpling in his bowl. He moved with unhurried elegance, dabbing his lips with precise, almost ceremonial care. Then he stood, towering and composed, and turned his attention to Rory.
"Will you be able to soothe me again tonight?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
Rory nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
Of course she can. Of course she will. Dax's fury was soaring now.
Paros appeared satisfied with her answer. Without sparing Dax even a glance, he turned and left the dining room, his presence lingering long after he was gone.
"You're… really going to soothe him again?" Dax's composure shattered the moment Paros disappeared from view. Jealousy flared sharp and raw in his chest. He reached out and seized Rory's hand, his voice tight and strained. "Don't tell me he paid you for that too?"
This isn't right. This is absolutely not right!
Rory nodded seriously, her expression calm and unflinching. "Yes. Fifty million star coins each time."
Fifty million?!
Dax nearly screamed. His vision went dark around the edges.
What kind of madness was this? Had Paros completely lost his mind?
Rory hid her smile well, her tone softening as she spoke again, almost gently. "I know you don't have star coins. It must feel unfair."
Dax's ears drooped as he nodded, looking utterly miserable. "It's my fault. I'm useless. I can't pay anything." His voice dropped lower. "But I… I really want to try your cooking. And I want you to soothe me too."
Wishful thinking. Don't even try that again.
Rory rolled her eyes inwardly, though her face remained composed. She suspected he was angling for benefits without offering anything in return, but without proof, she could only observe and wait.
"I understand," she said calmly.
"Don't be sad. Between you and Paros, of course I care about you more."
It was her three-part comfort strategy—soft reassurance, emotional validation, and just enough hope to keep him steady.
"It doesn't matter if you don't have star coins right now," she continued. "We can work hard and earn them together. With your Rank 5 strength, making tens of millions won't be difficult."
No one gets anything for free from me!
She patted his shoulder lightly, smiling. "Actually, someone invited me to form a team to hunt beasts in the northern forest. With your strength, you'd be very useful. You should come with me."
Dax didn't answer immediately.
So she won't feed me, but she wants me to work?
Absolutely not.
He looked at her pitifully, about to refuse. "But I—"
Rory cut him off smoothly before he could finish. "I know you don't have the money for equipment. Don't worry. I've already bought everything."
She glanced at the time, her tone shifting briskly. "It's getting late, and I'm tired. I need to rest—I still have to soothe Paros later."
With that, she turned and left, moving so quickly it was almost as if she'd taken flight.
Dax stood frozen in the kitchen, glaring at the smart robot as it cleaned with cheerful efficiency. He was so close to smashing it apart just to vent his rage.
Damn it. I got so distracted by food and jealousy that I almost forgot my real objective!
***
Up on the third floor, Rory soaked in a steaming hot bath, the tension slowly draining from her muscles.
Afterward, she changed into fresh clothes while a robot gently dried her hair with warm currents of air. S
he adored the conveniences of interstellar life—aside from cooking, machines did nearly everything better than humans. A true blessing for someone who valued efficiency and comfort.
At exactly 9:45 p.m., Rory headed downstairs to provide mental soothing for Paros.
She didn't make it far.
A pink blur suddenly crashed into her.
"Female Master, you're finally out!" Dax exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her tightly and burying his face against her. "I've been waiting forever!"
Her scent washed over him—warm, calming, intoxicating. If not for the urgent thoughts pressing at his mind, he might have stayed like that all night.
But Rory could barely breathe, her face crushed painfully against his chest.
She shoved him away, heart pounding. Irritation—and a flash of sharp anger—burned in her eyes. "Don't touch me without permission again."
She wasn't overreacting. Experience had taught her caution. She despised people with hidden agendas trying to get close under false pretenses.
Chastised, Dax softened instantly. He tugged at her sleeve, his expression pitiful. "I was wrong, Female Master. Please don't be angry."
Rory pulled her hand free. "Then why are you here?"
Remembering his true purpose, Dax straightened. "Earlier, in the kitchen, you said you were going to hunt beasts. I was worried my level might be too low to protect you properly." He hesitated, then asked, "When will the other matched partners arrive? Can we go together?"
Trying to make me actually work? Impossible. He grinned to himself.
"I don't know," Rory replied evenly. "Aside from you and Paros, two dissolved the match. I haven't heard from the rest."
Better he understands my situation now. Maybe then he'll finally show his true intentions.
"What?" Dax's eyes widened in disbelief. "They still haven't contacted you?"
Rory nodded. "That's right. They haven't."
"And the two who dissolved the match? Who were they?" Dax pressed.