The Boundaries of Possession - Chapter 40
Hern’s eyes twitched slightly. He was visibly startled.
It was rare for Andreas to show such interest in a woman—this was a first.
Hern averted his gaze, doing his best to avoid looking directly at Andreas, who was glaring at him with an intensity that could kill.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you show interest in a woman, Milord.”
There was clear irritation on Andreas’s face.
Hern grimaced, wondering if he would start sweating from the tension in the air.
Only after a long silence did Andreas finally speak, his voice heavy.
“There’s something suspicious about her. I believe she’s connected to Karmaut.”
It had only been a faint trace—a barely noticeable pheromone—but in that brief moment, it had turned his suspicion into certainty.
The lingering scent was unmistakable.
Andreas pressed his lips into a firm line.
‘She’s the leader of the Karmaut guild.’
His resolve hardened. Looking at Hern, he gave his order.
“Put a tail on her.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Assign someone to follow that omega and report her movements to me.”
Andreas didn’t move from his seat even after Hern hurriedly left the room.
He ran a stiff fingertip over the edge of his desk, exhaling.
“Haa…”
Elysia’s expression, desperately suppressing emotion, lingered in his mind.
Normally, he would have discarded such thoughts with ease—but this time was different.
Her delicate lips, her elegant features, and the subtle trace of her pheromones came to him vividly.
“Damn it… stop thinking about her.”
He had barely even touched her, and yet, the sensation of her presence refused to leave him.
Forcing his trembling fingers away from his own, he scoffed at himself.
No excuse could make this seem anything but pathetic.
***
It was the day of her visit to Karmaut.
Elysia couldn’t bring herself to scold Sei for wasting time fussing over her appearance all morning.
Leaving her maid bowing behind her, she ascended the steps of Karmaut.
This time, she did not take the hidden path she usually used while in disguise.
Instead, she entered through the main entrance—the one used by merchants.
The scrutinizing gazes that had briefly fixed on her scattered just as quickly.
“Right this way! Fresh silk, just arrived yesterday!”
“Selling Tarnarose oil!”
It wasn’t unusual to see noble participants at auctions, so her presence drew little attention.
From the moment one set foot inside Karmaut, it was clear just how wealthy the guild was.
Back when Karmaut was still expanding, Elysia had hired architects—who had designed museums and cathedrals—to reconstruct the entire building.
Even before she had officially become Karmaut’s leader, her influence had been undeniable.
With her keen judgment, she had turned the Asterite trade into a booming success.
Despite her young age, she had demonstrated extraordinary talent in managing the network.
Unlike most noblewomen, she was exceptionally skilled in secret dealings and diplomacy.
Holding complete control over Karmaut, she led it with formidable authority, transforming it from a mere merchant guild into the economic heart of the empire.
The position of Karmaut’s leader had been vacant, and it was only a matter of time before she officially claimed it.
As if on cue, a man approached her with an openly disgruntled expression.
The closer he got, the deeper his scowl became, making Elysia feel a slight twinge of sympathy.
He was Karmaut’s deputy leader.
“Why are you only arriving now, Master? Were you able to sleep soundly after leaving me in this hell?”
Alisen muttered resentfully, furrowing his brows.
Elysia, seeing the dark circles under his eyes, felt a tinge of guilt.
She absentmindedly rubbed her temple with her finger.
His medium-length hair, a shade of deep wine-red, cascaded naturally over his golden eyes, creating an understated contrast.
His shirt was loosely unbuttoned, leaving the intricate tattoo on his chest exposed.
To Elysia, Alisen was one of the bravest people she knew.
He had no interest in being labeled a ‘reckless libertine’—hence his extravagant, gold-adorned attire.
“It was inconvenient for me to come sooner.”
Alisen clicked his tongue, making no effort to hide his irritation.
They had known each other for a long time, and their familiarity was evident in his tone.
He was one of the rare few who treated her with respect—not as an omega, not as a woman, but as an equal.
That was why he had remained as Karmaut’s deputy leader for so long.
More importantly, he was also one of the few who knew her true identity.
Alisen scrutinized her face, then let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping.
“So why did you agree to marry that man?”
He was referring to her engagement with Andreas.
As Karmaut’s vice leader and an informant, Alisen had no need for further explanation—he already knew everything.
That was precisely why Elysia valued him.
“It’s obvious—this arrangement is to your disadvantage, Master.”
