The Absolute Will: The Lifespan Collector's Harem-Chapter 402: The Power of the Crest

Anri Shiroki quickly learned the harsh reality of social standing.

Back when she was just a maid at the Kofukuji estate, even as the childhood friend of the heir, the elders looked down on her. She was a nobody, a transparent fixture. That was why they had traded her away so easily.

But now that she was Alex’s property—even as a servant—the same nobles treated her with fake smiles and excessive politeness. After Alex left, the family members swarmed her, helping her pack and "kindly" reminding her to put in a good word for them with Alex.

It made Anri see their true faces. She didn’t feel hate, just a weary sense of irony.

After the exhausting evening, she declined their help and returned to her room to pack alone. Looking at the bed where she had spent the afternoon in a tangled mess with Alex, she slapped her burning cheeks.

She reached down and touched the Crest of Lust on her sensitive skin. A jolt ran through her, making her pull her hand back. She could never forget the memory of that sex; it was engraved on her heart.

She looked out at the starry night sky.

Knock, knock, knock—

The sound broke her reverie. Her purple eyes flickered. She knew who it was. With a bitter expression, she opened the door. Sure enough, Ryuya was there.

"Anri."

He looked terrible. His hair was a mess, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. But he hadn’t given up.

"Anri, let’s run away!"

"What?" Anri blinked.

"Let’s leave this place! Anywhere! As long as it’s safe! If I can’t stop my family from giving you away... then we’ll just disappear! We can start over somewhere else!"

He got more excited as he spoke. "Anri, as long as I have you, I don’t care about the family name! We can live as ordinary people!"

Anri was stunned. This was like a plot from a soap opera. She looked at his outstretched hand, her heart heavy. "It’s... too late."

"It’s not late at all!" Ryuya stepped forward. "Alex isn’t here. We can sneak out. As for what happened... I don’t care! Even if he took your virginity, it doesn’t change how I feel!"

As Ryuya got closer, the Crest of Lust on Anri’s skin began to glow with a faint, burning heat. It was a physical reminder: she wasn’t an ordinary maid anymore. She turned cold.

"Even if you don’t care, I do." She looked at him with icy eyes. "Master Kofukuji, please have some self-respect. I belong to Master Alex now. I am his maid. Do not speak to me of such things."

"Wh... what?" Ryuya froze.

"Don’t ever say such foolish things again. I have no interest in running away. Please leave; it’s late, and I don’t want my Master to misunderstand."

"Anri, you..." Ryuya couldn’t believe it. "Why?! Why won’t you come with me?"

It hurts... it hurts more than seeing her with him!

"He’s forcing you, right? You can tell me! You don’t want to be toyed with by that bastard, do you?"

"Master Kofukuji, please leave," Anri said firmly. She had decided to cut ties. It was over. The moment Alex claimed her, her feelings for Ryuya died. Plus, there was the mark she couldn’t erase.

"I WON’T LEAVE!! WHY?!" Ryuya’s face contorted in agony. "Do you really love that guy? Do you like being used by him?!"

Ryuya was losing his mind.

"Yes, I do," Anri lied, biting her lip. "Master is powerful, and he is... incredible in bed. Even though it was my first time, there was no pain—only pleasure. I’m addicted to the feeling. I finally know what it means to be a woman."

Ryuya shook with rage. His eyes turned red. "Anri... Anri... a guy like that... I can do that too! I’m not worse than him! Tonight, I’ll show you—"

He lunged at her, intending to take her by force. But before he could touch her, he hit an invisible barrier. With a scream, he was blasted backward, crashing into the hallway wall.

Ryuya didn’t know about the Crest. He didn’t know how terrifying Alex truly was. But Anri did.

She had just seen the power of the mark. She knew that from now on, no man other than Alex could ever touch her.

She looked at Ryuya with pity, but her resolve was absolute. "Go!"

Slam!

She shut the door. She could hear him crying on the other side. "Anri... please don’t leave... I can’t live without you... waaaaaah!"

Anri walked to the mirror, stripped off her clothes, and looked at the pink brand between her legs. She stroked it gently. "So this is... the power of the Crest."