The Song of Us

The scene was eerily familiar.

As the most well-known beast-taming family in the city, the Wyndhams had made countless enemies over the years.

In Selene's past life, when she and Vanessa attended a festival, they were ambushed by bandits. Zirion was Selene's familiar, yet he went to protect Vanessa.

With no one shielding her, the bandits wounded Selene grievously. Out of anger, Selene's mom, Hilda Bailey, locked Zirion in a water prison for three days and nights. Then, she made him kneel outside Selene's bedchamber to beg for her forgiveness.

It had also been a rainy night like this one.

Although Selene wasn't pleased with Zirion, she still felt sorry for him when he was in such a pitiful state. She allowed him to rise after a short while.

"Why don't you want me, Ms. Wyndham?" Zirion asked.

As Selene looked at Zirion, she suddenly found her past self ridiculous. Zirion had done his part as her familiar most of the time, yet she had always gotten a faint inkling that something was off from his actions and behavior.

Selene had believed that he was the one who had saved her back then, so she had tolerated him again and again. She had never expected that her feelings born from that debt of gratitude would ultimately lead to her own demise.

She gave a cold laugh and folded her arms. "Who are you?"

"I… I am Zirion. At the beast pit, you picked…"

His Adam's apple bobbed, as though he could not bear to say the words. After a while, he said almost inaudibly, "I'm the beastman you originally picked."

"Still trying to cling to me, huh?" Selene thought, making her way down the stairs until she stood right before him.

"Then tell me, Zirion."

She looked down at him, standing one step away from him as he kneeled right outside where the eaves didn't shield him from the rain.

"Why would I want you?" Selene asked with a smile, but her tone was icy and cutting.

At her words, Zirion lowered his gaze and slowly undid his sash. At once, the thin and drenched white shirt slipped from his body.

Selene knew what he was doing. He wanted her to see the scar on his waist and go soft on him. So, she thought she would let him have his way. As her eyes lingered on the scar, her smile faded.

She faintly heard Zirion let out a breath of air, as if in relief.

"This scar of yours…" Selene whispered, tracing it from his abdomen to his waist with her finger. Though his scar was in the exact same spot as Fenric's, Selene realized it was newer the moment she touched it. It was not an old wound at all. It was just as she thought… Zirion was as shameless as ever!

"Zirion, this scar of yours is truly ugly."

At once, Zirion's body stiffened. His eyes widened with disbelief.

"Fenric!" Selene called out.

At once, Fenric emerged from her bedchamber. "H-Here!"

Now dressed in a guard's uniform, he strode quickly to Selene's side at her order.

Upon seeing Fenric, Zirion's eyes dimmed completely. His lips moved weakly, and he asked almost inaudibly, "Why… Why did he come out of your…"

Selene ignored his murmurs. Instead, she smiled at Fenric and said, "What did I just teach you? What must a personal guard do?"

"I must always stay by your side and kill anyone who tries to harm you…" Fenric's voice trailed off when he noticed the kneeling Zirion. At the next moment, he asked, "Should I kill him?"

Selene's gaze became steely. "This is your first lesson. He entered my quarters without my permission. Tell me, should he be killed?"

Fenric thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "He should."

Selene stepped back. "Then do it."

Without hesitation, Fenric drew his sword.

"Ms. Wyndham!" Zirion's voice broke in near despair. His forehead hit the ground hard as he prostrated himself and begged, "No, Ms. Wyndham… I begged so hard… for this chance. There… is no chance anymore…"

His voice grew weaker and weaker until his body collapsed to the ground as he fell unconscious. The downpour continued to pelt down on his frail form mercilessly.