After a brief pause, the door opened.
He was different from what Cordelia had imagined. He was neither a devil with horns nor one with three eyes.
Maximilian was a handsome man with dark blond hair and green eyes. His likable appearance seemed gentle and kind to anyone who saw him.
“I heard you called for me.”
“Oh, yes. Maximilian. Come here. There’s someone here you’ll be happy to meet.”
“I don’t seem to recognize you.”
Maximilian lightly nodded in greeting and walked towards Cordelia. She noticed something subtly strange about his gait.
“Hello. I am Maximilian Attilay. And you are, madam?”
“I’m Cordelia, Abrams.”
She took a deep breath before speaking her name.
“Abrams, is it? Located in the northeast of Erche, rich in iron ore.”
“……Yes.”
It was the first time someone knew exactly where Abrams was located. Just that was enough to send chills down Cordelia’s spine.
“Menuphio mentioned you were someone I’d be glad to meet, but I’m sorry, I don’t know you well.”
He appeared so polite and gentle, it was hard to believe he was Leonard’s brother.
That made him even more frightening. That face had desecrated his mother’s remains and killed his own brother.
“Maximilian. Don’t be surprised. She’s said to be Leonard’s disciple.”
“My brother’s disciple? He left a disciple?”
“Yes. Ha ha. Seems he did prepare for after his death.”
“He always surprised us.”
Maximilian smiled gently at Cordelia. She instinctively avoided meeting his eyes. He kindly asked her.
“Excuse me, but may I see your seal?”
“The seal?”
“Yes. Not that I doubt you, but it’s better to be certain in front of the Sirius.”
“It’s alright, but…”
“Is there a problem?”
“I don’t know how to show it.”
A silence fell in the room after Cordelia’s words. One of the Sirius sighed.
“Oh, my head. We’re about to seat someone who can’t even manifest their seal as a Sirius.”
“Enough. Maximilian. Help her with it.”
“Yes, then excuse me.”
He gently touched her wrist with a finger. It was as if a butterfly had landed; she felt nothing.
Soon, as happened with Rosenbluer at the entrance, the seal carved on her body began to shine.
The other Sirius didn’t react much, but Maximilian’s reaction was different.
His eyes shone brightly at Cordelia as if a farmer had found a treasure in his field.
“The official successor of Acheron has appeared. A great blessing for the Magician’s Association.”
“Yes. It’s significant that Leonard’s research won’t be lost. Although Abrams has only studied magic for a year, she will lead Acheron as a Sirius. Just as you helped your brother, help Abrams.”
“Of course. But to think she’s only been studying magic for a year. Brother must have hastily taken Ms. Abrams as his disciple.”
“Yes, it’s regrettable. But it’s better than not having a successor.”
“By the way, Maximilian. Ms. Abrams wants to visit Leonard’s lab. Would you guide her?”
“Ah. The lab. Right. You came just in time. We were going to permanently close it in a day.”
He spoke with a strangely regretful tone.
The other magicians had already shifted their focus to their conversations, missing the oddity.
“Please follow me. I’ll guide you to my brother’s lab.”
“Thank you.”
Cordelia glanced around and then followed him. Getting out of this strange room was the priority. She’d find a way to escape later.
She fiddled with the ring on her finger.
Maximilian, like the first time he came, created a large rectangular door out of thin air and pushed through it.
Blinking a few times, the scenery changed to a deserted corridor with no one around.
“How did you meet your brother?”
“Just, by chance.”
“There’s no coincidence for wizards. Only fate exists.”
“Then it must have been fate. Me and my master.”
It was just a casual remark thrown out without much thought. Then, Maximilian laughed silently.
“You resemble him.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Seeing you reminds me of Mr. Abrams.”
Cordelia couldn’t bring herself to say to call her ‘Cordelia’ instead of ‘Abrams’. Nor did she ask why she reminded him of his master.
Walking tensely, Cordelia noticed something.
Maximilian dragged his right foot as he walked. It seemed he had a congenital condition, one leg shorter than the other. It was apparent from his walking posture from behind.
“We’re here.”
“Oh, already?”
It seemed too easy to be guided to Leonard’s laboratory. Her intense nervousness seemed almost pointless.
“I received this key. With it…”
Surprisingly, the laboratory door opened effortlessly at Maximilian’s slight gesture. Cordelia gasped in shock, her mouth forming an ‘O’.
Surely Baron had said that no one but the master could open it. How did he do it?
“Come in.”
Putting her questions aside, she stepped inside. The first thing that greeted her was the scent of flowers.
There were an immense number of books, all neatly organized. The place was more normal than she expected.
“Is this your master’s laboratory?”
“No.”
“……What?”
“It’s my laboratory. I wanted to talk with you.”
No wonder he guided her so easily. Cordelia, who had momentarily relaxed, tensed up again, like a wary cat.
Then, a skinny man in a white robe hurriedly ran through the numerous bookshelves.
“You’re here.”
“Charon. This is a guest. She’s my brother’s disciple.”
“What? Sirius of Acheron left a disciple?”
“So it seems. Lucky, I thought Acheron might be completely forgotten.”
“He said he would never take a disciple…”
Charon stared intensely at Cordelia, so much so that she had to turn her face slightly to avoid his gaze.
“Oh, I’ve kept Miss Abrams standing too long. Charon.”
“Yes?”
“Could you prepare a meal?”
“A meal? What should I make?”
“Hmm. Since we don’t know the guest’s preference, maybe lamb?”
Charon’s face suddenly paled. He bit his lip and bowed his head slightly.
“That’s, not well-prepared…”
“Oh, don’t worry. I recently stocked up on some quality lamb.”
“……Okay, I understand. I’ll prepare it.”
Maximilian added cheerfully.
“Miss Abrams, please follow me.”
“Sorry, but I need to go to my master’s lab. Let’s have the meal another time.”
She couldn’t be led by him any longer. Cordelia took a step back with a firm resolve.
Maximilian, walking ahead, laughed lightly at her words.
“I’ll escort you. After the meal.”
“No, right now. I don’t have time.”
“Why the rush? You’ll be living here until you die anyway.”
When saying ‘until you die’, Maximilian slightly lifted one corner of his mouth, visible only to Cordelia.
“My husband is waiting outside. So I need to go.”
“Husband? You married early. Then Abrams isn’t your original surname. May I ask what your maiden name was?”
His manner was polite, but his tone was not. It was oppressive, like talking down to a subordinate.
“Vasquez.”
“Vasquez? Are you talking about that Vasquez?”
“Is there another who could use that name in Ersh?”
“It’s unexpected. That the only disciple chosen by my brother is a Vasquez.”
“I’ve answered all your questions, now let me go.”
“Hmm. You haven’t answered my last question yet.”
“Last question?”
Maximilian ignored Cordelia’s question and turned to walk away. Cordelia looked back, wondering if she should flee now. Charon, standing behind, awkwardly smiled and nodded his head.
“Please wait a little. The meal will be ready soon.”
Cordelia asked Charon.
“Are you his servant?”
“Servant… No, I am his disciple.”
“Then you must be a wizard. Can you guide me to Leo, no, my master’s laboratory?”
“Oh, I can’t do that. If I just send a guest away on my own, I would die.”
Charon jumped up, urgently dissuading Cordelia. He pleaded with her to talk to Maximilian.
Cordelia alternately looked at the closed door and the direction Maximilian had gone. Charon subtly blocked the door with his body, urging her.
“The master is waiting for you.”
“Alright.”
Eventually, Cordelia had no choice but to follow the path taken by Maximilian.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
