beast chapter 7

Was it a hallucination? Even after rubbing her eyes and looking again, it was still there. Beelzebub’s gaze was fixed on it, too.

“Do you… see that?”

“Yes, I see it.”

The black pupils within his crimson irises constricted. He murmured softly, “You’re the key.” His eyes, shimmering with a strange light, held Ariette captive. The moment their gazes met, she froze, like a mouse before a snake. When Ariette couldn’t even breathe, let alone speak, Beelzebub closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his pupils had returned to their normal round shape. Ariette finally gasped, releasing the breath she’d been holding. The beastly aura that had prickled her skin receded, and the blockage in her throat cleared.

“Hmm, you seem weaker than I thought.” His troubled smile was infuriating. Ariette glared at him.

“I’m not weak. You’re just excessively strong.”

“I’ll be careful from now on. I want to treat you preciously, since you’re my key.”

“Key…? What do you mean?” Confusion clouded Ariette’s face. Beelzebub slowly blinked, his voice utterly indifferent as he spoke. “While I’ve been trapped here, I’ve never sensed another presence. But yesterday, I felt one for the first time, and suddenly, a key fell from the sky.”

“…A key? This one?” She instinctively raised her hand, looking at the key.

“Yes, the one you’re holding right now.” Beelzebub’s gaze shifted from the key to her face. “And the owner of that presence was you.”

“….”

“I can visit the dreams of others. So, I didn’t hesitate to visit yours.” His voice dropped, as if sharing a secret. “I thought you were the only one who could release me with that key.” A faint smile touched his lips. Beyond that smile, a predator’s nature flickered before vanishing.

“But now I see… the real key isn’t that piece of metal.” He slowly tilted his head forward, the distance between their faces shrinking alarmingly. “It’s you.”

Ariette held her breath.

“So…” His eyes, filled with a strange longing, pierced hers.

“Melt the chains with your arousal, my lady.” It was a soft whisper, but a command that brooked no refusal.

“….” Ariette’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Her mind was blank. She stumbled backward, putting distance between them, and her thoughts finally began to function again.

“Th-that’s impossible…” She stammered, pointing at the chains, her fingertip trembling slightly. “H-how could such a fluid melt these thick chains?”

“We won’t know until we try, will we?”

“…I can’t.” Ariette shook her head, near tears.

“You can.”

“No, I can’t.”

“I said you can.”

“I-I said I can’t…!”

Beelzebub’s eyes sparkled with amusement, as if her heightened voice was adorable. “How cute, are you flustered?”

“No, how can you say that in this situation…?”

“My lady, there’s nothing you can’t do. And this isn’t even that difficult. It’s quite simple, actually.” Beelzebub’s voice softened, as if soothing a child. “Now, calm down. Why don’t you listen first?”

I really don’t want to… Before she could speak, his soft whisper reached her ears.

“Let me bite your neck.”

“Excuse me…?” Ariette blinked, replaying his words in her mind. She wondered if she’d misheard, but Beelzebub was still looking at her with a gentle smile.

“My venom acts as an aphrodisiac, as long as it’s not a lethal dose. Once injected, you’ll become aroused, and then all you have to do is apply your fluids to the chains.” He explained it as calmly as if reciting a recipe, leaving Ariette half-dazed.

“Simple, right?”

“No, not at all…”

“Hmm…” He furrowed his brows and tilted his head slightly, appearing deep in thought. Then, with an “Ah!” of realization, he asked seriously, “Are you afraid of being bitten?”