26 First Demonic Contract: Partnership of Equals (1/2)
Konrad's eyes opened to the sight of Jasmine processing her gains at his front with her body stilled bare, and refined by her improving cultivation. It appeared the flame mark altered his perception of time and he had only left for an instant.
He stopped his cultivation, got dressed and waited for her to finish while pondering the critical issue of whether to reveal his true parentage or not. He wasn't concerned about her freaking out as he could effortlessly modify her memories if he so wished.
But doing so would denaturalize a relationship he was starting to find rather entertaining. And as he tackled the issue within his mind, Jasmine's eyes opened.
”How long have you been staring at me like that?”
Konrad had not realized that while lost in thoughts, his eyes had locked on her naked form with a blank stare.
Disgraceful…
”Hum, hum. I have been meaning to tell you something relatively important.”
”I'm a demon.”
”What?”
”I'm a demon.”
”I heard the first time.”
”It didn't seem like it.”
The fast exchange caused Jasmine's eyes to blink at breakneck speed while droplets of sweat formed on her forehead.
”What kind of demon?”
”An incubus. Wait…that's what you're worried about?”
Seeing her eyes shine with a sense of awareness, Konrad realized she was more concerned about the nature of his demonic heritage than with him being a demon.
”No wonders…the first time we met, I knew there was something off about you, but I couldn't put my fingers on it. Afterward, I thought it was just a result of your cultivation, but now it doesn't seem to be the case.”
Back then, he used his demonic aura to make her more ”open to suggestions.”
”Why aren't you…frightened?”
He could smell no fear from her body, a reaction vastly different and more irrational than Iliana's when she first learned of his true nature.
”All I know about demons is hearsay. Paragon spirits are supposedly the noblest creatures of the Holy Continent, but Wenzel is a true degenerate. In other parts of the world, serpents are supposedly symbols of sneaky and untrustworthy behavior. Yet, in the Holy Flame Empire, they are among the highest-ranking noble races. As for us humans, we are branded as slaves whose sole worth is to serve. Who cares about you being a demon, as long as you're not the type that needs to kill and torture to grow…it doesn't matter.”
”The ”who” is more important than the ”what.”
”Demon or not, I will still conquer you!”
Konrad was speechless. He had not expected her to be this broadminded and somehow felt ashamed of his initial apprehension.
”That being the case, what would you say about signing a contract?”
”A contract? An actual demonic contract like in the legends?”
”Not quite. What I offer you is the Partnership of Equals. If you accept it, you will become a true member of my household, and we shall share mind and blood. Among other things, your cultivation speed will soar.”
”In a nutshell, you will always have a slice of my pie and I of yours.”
Jasmine's eyes lit up. She didn't care about all the mentioned cultivation benefits. What truly grabbed her attention was that the terms were very similar to a marriage contract!
Hehe, she had yet to put a ring on his finger that he was delivering himself to her doorsteps? Of course, she would not let him go!
”I agree!”
In theory, forcing a demonic contract was impossible. Both parties had to be willing for it to occur. Of course, there were ways to force willingness.
Konrad cut his lips, causing blood to trail down his chin and paint his mouth in red.
He then waved his sleeves and conjured five purple pentagrams that hovered around the two of them.
”Jasmine, step forward.”