After Jax finished boasting about his popularity, he finally had the actual conversation with Astrid.

He told her to forget everything that happened between them. Every moment. Every argument. Every uncomfortable silence during those times.

He also told her to forget everything they witnessed in the demon realm. The marriage. The confession. Nerith. All of it.

Then he gave her the cover story they would both follow. They were teleported to the demon realm by that demon's magical artifact during the battle. The two of them survived through wit and luck. Then escaped back to the mainland.

Simple. Clean. Believable.

He also shared the knowledge about those rogue demons and their plans. Information that would help her during the inevitable interrogation process her family would conduct.

Jax didn't expect her to agree to any of it.

And technically, she never did. Not verbally.

But her expression said everything. That coldness in her eyes. The way she processed the information without argument. The slight nod that was barely perceptible.

She had accepted the terms.

After that, she walked away without another word. And Jax found himself sitting alone in Nyara's restaurant, surrounded by empty dishes and the lingering scent of her cooking.

Some time passed before Nyara emerged from the kitchen. She looked exhausted. Wiping her hands with a small towel. The fatigue of running a business alone evident in her movements.

Jax smiled. "Where's our mischievous one?"

"Brian's at home right now. He wasn't feeling well, so I sent him back early."

"Ah. That explains things."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Anything major happen while I was gone? Like some shorties causing trouble or—"

She cut him off gently. "Everything was fine. Except your rumors."

Jax waved dismissively. "Don't worry about me. I have a pact with the gods themselves. They can't let a man like me die."

The sarcasm dripped from every word.

Nyara smiled softly. "That's good to hear. You should have told me before. Brian and I wouldn't have been so worried."

"Sorry about that. I forgot to mention my divine protection."

Silence settled between them. Neither knowing what to say next. The comfortable kind of quiet that exists between people who understand each other.

Finally, Nyara spoke.

"So, Professor... what will you do next?"

She fidgeted with the towel in her hands.

"I mean, if you're free, you could come to our house for fun—"

She caught herself.

"I mean, Brian will be happy seeing you."

Jax caught her expression immediately. The hesitation. The poorly hidden desire. She wanted his cock so badly that she couldn't even disguise the invitation properly.

And Jax wanted her pussy too. Maybe even her asshole if she was willing. His devotion points bank had been emptied after his recent spendings and he needed to refill it. Along with the fun he could have.

So he played along.

"Nyara, I just came back. Got some things to take care of today. And tomorrow will be even more tiring."

Her face fell slightly.

"But I promise..."

He paused. Let the anticipation build.

"Tomorrow night, I'll be there."

Then he gave her that vicious smile.

"Of course, to play with Brian."

Her face exploded into blush. She hid behind the towel, shame radiating from every pore.

Jax stood and waved as he walked away.

"Don't be embarrassed, Nyara. Of course I love playing with you.. i mean Brian too."

And then he left.

The journey home took Jax an entire hour.

Not because it was far. But because he was absolutely terrible with directions.

Every street looked the same. Every building blended together. And his focus kept getting disrupted by countless students staring at him like they'd seen a ghost walking among the living.

Which, technically, they believed they had.

Finally, Jax reached his house. He opened the door and immediately heard noises coming from inside.

Arguing. Pleading. Glass clinking.

He followed the sounds to the living room.

And found chaos.

Rudiger was standing helplessly, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Lady Roxana, please control yourself—"

CRASH.

Roxana shattered an empty beer bottle against the table.

The entire surface was covered with bottles. All empty. A graveyard of alcohol consumption. In her other hand, she held yet another empty bottle, tilted completely upside down, trying to squeeze every last drop onto her tongue.

She was completely, utterly, devastatingly drunk.

"Rudiger..." Her words slurred together. "Don't make me... hick... don't make me repeat myself."

She swayed dangerously.

"Bring another one."

That's when Jax stepped in.

"What the fuck is going on in my house?"

Roxana's head snapped toward him. Her face brightened like the sun emerging from clouds.

"Professor! You're back! Hick!"

Jax's expression darkened. "Answer my question."

Her face crumbled. From joy to absolute despair in a heartbeat.

"We're drinking because... hick... because we lost Jax."

She grabbed another glass bottle. Stared at it with unfocused eyes.

"Those demons..." She smashed it against the table. "I'll kill them all!"

Glass scattered everywhere.

"He was a nice guy, you know? And he died before I could apologize to him."

Her voice cracked.

"He was an arrogant and horny bastard... but he died before I could understand him."

Tears formed in her eyes. Spilling down her cheeks.

"It's all my fault, Professor. It's all because I wasn't there with him."

She hiccupped.

"I failed as his assistant. I couldn't repay the favor he did protecting my kingdom. I couldn't trade what he gave me."

Her body swayed.

"I'm feeling sad. Depressed. Totally out of zone."

She grabbed yet another empty bottle. Tilted it. Squeezed desperately for any remaining drops.

"Therefore... I have to drink. Hick."

She turned to Rudiger.

"Bring another stock. This one... hick... is over."

Jax stared at her in complete disbelief.

"Come to your senses, Roxana. I'm still alive."

She completely ignored him. Her glazed eyes looked through him rather than at him.

"He looked just like you, Professor. Strong and cold."

She smiled sadly.

"I still remember him scolding me on his first day just like you are doing. You resemble him a lot."

Jax's patience evaporated.

He slapped her.

Not hard enough to hurt. But hard enough to snap her out of whatever delusion she was drowning in.

She clicked her tongue. Was about to launch herself at him in retaliation.

Then she saw Rudiger approaching with two fresh beer bottles.

Her face lit up like a child seeing presents on their birthday. She extended her hands. Reaching. Desperate. Like a mother welcoming her baby.

She was inches away from claiming them.

Jax grabbed both bottles first.

And smashed them on the floor.

Roxana hissed. Fury replacing the drunken haze momentarily. She stood from the sofa and charged at him.

But her legs had no strength. She stumbled. Tripped over her own feet. Started falling directly toward the shattered glass covering the floor.

Jax moved instantly.

Caught her mid-fall.

Lifted her into his arms. Princess style.

"Leave me!" She squirmed weakly. "I'm not finished with you!"

She tried to push his face away. Her hands slapping uselessly against his cheeks.

Jax was completely unbothered.

"Rudiger. Clean this shit right now."

He carried her to the master bedroom. Laid her gently on the bed.

"Don't move from here. Be a good girl and sleep."

His voice was firm.

"Because tomorrow will be a very hard day for you."

She looked up at him with unfocused eyes. Her voice came out innocent. Childlike.

"I want more beer."

Jax sighed.

"When you wake up, I'll put an entire tank of it in front of your eyes."

Her expression brightened. "Really?"

He pulled a blanket over her body.

"Sleep now."

He turned to leave.

"Professor?"

He paused.

"Can you sleep with me?"

"Absolutely not." He continued walking.

Then her voice reached him. Small. Vulnerable. Nothing like the fierce warrior princess he knew.

"I'm scared, Professor. Don't leave me alone again."

Jax stopped.

He was so pissed at her. At this entire situation.

But he walked back. Sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

"I'm here. Now sleep."

Then he gave her a devilish grin.

"Because I'm pretty sure you'll die of embarrassment when I tease you about this tomorrow."

She didn't reply.

Her hand found his. Grabbed it tightly. Used it as a pillow.

And she was gone. Unconscious in seconds.

Jax stared at her sleeping face.

'This stupid girl. What if I wasn't assigned here? What if some other professor found her in this state? Some bastard who would take advantage of her vulnerability?'

The thought made himself look superior.

Of course, Jax himself wouldn't mind devouring her. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't leave even a saint untouched if the opportunity presented itself.

But not like this. Never like this. Jax fucked those who were fuckable, hateable or likeable and she was not in any of those list.

After some time, he carefully extracted his hand from her grip. Stood up. Went to another room to sleep.

'Tomorrow would be hectic.'

[NEXT MORNING]

Jax was completely frustrated.

He had spent hours recounting his tale to Lysandra. And that bitch was using him like a recording device, making him repeat everything to various higher-ups who kept cycling through her office.

The demon involvement had already been reported by his students who returned a week earlier. But Jax added crucial insight that changed everything.

Those rogue demons weren't part of any official plan by the demon realm. The Emperor wasn't orchestrating these attacks. These were independent actors working against the established peace.

That information made the situation infinitely more complex.

Finally, when every last detail had been extracted from him, Lysandra leaned back in her chair.

"You look perfectly fine."

Jax shot back instantly. "I was. Before seeing your face."

She held her anger. Barely.

"That's good to hear. Because there will be a competition happening soon. The most important event for our academy. Occurs every two years."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me this? Don't tell me I have to participate."

Lysandra smiled.

"Kind of."

She turned away, hiding her satisfied expression. Her petty revenge.

"Professor Jax, choose the students for your team wisely. It will affect your ranking and reputation. Not just in front of citizens here, but people from the entire world will be watching you."

Jax stared at her with complete confusion.

"What the fuck are you saying, bitch?"

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