Jax was completely unaware of what he'd achieved last night.

The long, intense session with Nerith had pushed him past a milestone. His devotion points now sat at 1013. Enough for a new affinity he wanted.

But he didn't know that. Because he was sleeping like a log.

Until a voice pierced through his unconsciousness.

"Jax, wake up! Hurry, mother is outside!"

His eyes cracked open. Zero understanding of the situation registered in his brain.

"I don't have a mother."

He turned over and went back to sleep.

Nerith shook him harder. "It's MY mother! She wants to talk!"

Jax mumbled into the pillow. "Then go talk. What do I have to do with it?"

A pillow slammed into his face.

"Come on, be in your senses!" Nerith's voice was panicked. "I can't open the door with you lying here naked! And she wants to talk with YOU too!"

Jax finally grasped a sliver of the situation. "Give me one more minute."

Then promptly returned to sleep.

Nerith's eye twitched. "I KNOW that one minute won't be over for you!"

She leaned in to shake his face. But before her hands could reach him, Jax moved.

He grabbed her like a pillow. Pulled her down onto the bed. Pressed his lips against hers.

Then smiled. "Good morning."

Her face flushed with blush. She found herself embracing him despite everything. "We are in no position for romance right now—"

A voice came from outside the door.

"Nerith, if it will take too long, I can leave. But make sure to be present in your father's cabin within the next half hour."

Nerith's panic skyrocketed. "Okay mother! We will be there!"

She turned to Jax, who still had a comfortable grip on her waist. "Did you hear that?"

Jax nodded lazily. "Yup. Half an hour is enough for you and me in bed."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Of course, I meant sleep."

She bit his hand.

"OW!"

Nerith freed herself and got up. She was wearing a simple nightgown, her white hair disheveled from sleep and other activities.

"Don't you understand? We're already in a mess!"

She started pacing.

"Our relationship. Then there's Father, who will definitely ask about you. He'll want to know if our love was real. If yes, then since when? And your background WILL be checked!"

She spun to face him.

"Do you know how much we need to prepare? And here you are sleeping like a dog when it's already 11:30!"

Jax gave her his brightest smile. "Trust me. I got this."

Nerith sighed deeply. "You're not serious again."

Jax threw off the blanket and stood up. Completely naked. His cock hanging freely as he stretched.

"Don't worry. Next quest: confront your dad. That's it."

Several minutes passed.

Jax stood before the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt. He looked presentable enough. Clean. Proper. Almost respectable.

His eyes drifted to Nerith's reflection.

She wore a formal dress befitting demon royalty. Deep burgundy fabric that hugged her figure elegantly before flowing down past her knees. Silver embroidery traced intricate patterns along the bodice.

The neckline was modest but showed just enough collarbone to remain tasteful. Her wings were folded neatly against her back, and her white hair had been styled into a neat arrangement around her obsidian horns.

Beautiful. Regal. Every inch a general's daughter.

Jax admired her for a moment. Then his gaze moved to her horns.

Then to his own reflection.

No horns.

His head was completely bare.

"Nerith?"

She looked at him through the mirror. "What?"

"Were you serious about opening the door and talking to your mother a few minutes ago?"

"Yes..."

Jax sighed and pointed at his head. "With me like THIS?"

Her face went pale.

Then shocked.

Then horrified.

She had completely forgotten. In all her panic and tension about the meeting, she'd overlooked the most crucial detail.

Her husband had no horns.

Jax rubbed his temples. "Do you have any spare horns I can put on? Like the ones my student made before?"

"Why would we have spare horns when we already HAVE them?"

"Don't you guys have, like..." Jax gestured vaguely. "Suppose I break someone's horn. Wouldn't it be shameful to walk around with broken ones? Or what about kids? Don't they have horn headbands before their real ones grow in?"

Nerith stared at him. "No. And why do you think you could walk around with children's headbands without people noticing? Are you stupid?"

Then she paused.

An idea flickered in her eyes.

"Wait."

She went to the cupboard and rummaged through it. Emerged holding what looked like a pair of hollow demon horns.

"We have these. They're horn covers. Meant to protect real horns during combat training or other activities."

Jax examined them. They looked even worse than a child's playing headband. Completely hollow. Obviously fake upon close inspection.

"So you're dumber than I thought."

Nerith glared at him murderously. But instead of responding, she grabbed one of her jackets from the closet.

Made him wear it.

Put the horn covers on his head.

Then pulled the hood up.

"Look for yourself."

Jax turned to the mirror.

And understood.

The plan was actually flawless.

Demon horns curved backward naturally. With the hood covering his head, the horn covers looked like real horns hidden beneath fabric. It appeared as though he'd simply covered his horns for style. A fashion choice. Swag.

As long as he didn't fight. As long as he didn't lose the hood. No one would suspect a thing.

"Sorry for questioning your intelligence," Jax said genuinely. "Turns out it was working overtime."

She pouted but accepted the apology.

More time passed.

Jax stood outside the cabin of General Ithris. Nerith's father. His father-in-law.

A hand touched his arm.

He turned. Nerith stood beside him, panic written across her face. Her composure from earlier had crumbled completely.

Jax grabbed her hand. Squeezed it gently. Gave her a reassuring smile.

'It's okay. I've got this.'

She took a breath. Nodded.

They entered together.

The meeting lasted nearly twenty minutes.

General Ithris sat behind his desk. Beside him was his wife. Nerith and Jax occupied the chairs across from him. Just the four of them in the room.

The questions came one after another.

And Jax answered every single one. With lies woven so seamlessly into truth that even he almost believed them.

He told the General it had started as a pretend marriage. A desperate solution to save Nerith from Eryndel. But somewhere along the way, the pretense became real. He had fallen for her.

He explained his background. A small village that had recently been reduced to ashes by rogue demons. Everyone he knew and loved, slaughtered. He was the sole survivor, driven by a burning need for vengeance.

He needed time, he said. Time to hunt down those responsible. Time to fulfill his oath to the dead. But he swore he would never abandon Nerith. Once his revenge was complete, he would return. He would be the husband she deserved.

The story was perfect. Tragic. Sympathetic. Bulletproof.

The questioning proceeded smoothly.

Until General Ithris leaned back in his chair and laughed.

"So let me understand this correctly."

His voice dripped with condescension.

"My daughter chose a random nobody with no proper background. No proper bloodline. No family name worth mentioning. No one standing on his side."

He smiled coldly.

"A nobody with a tragic past he refuses to let go of."

Something inside Jax ignited.

He stood from his chair. Slowly. Deliberately.

His eyes locked onto the General's with barely contained fury.

"You pathetic scum of a father."

The room went silent.

"How DARE you say that from that filth of a mouth of yours."

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