Dimitri was beyond exhausted, his body ached from the countless battles he had fought. His mind was fatigued and his spirit was weary. He had engaged in many conversations, trying to make difficult decisions while his mind and body cried out for rest. 

All he yearned for was to lay in the embrace of his beloved (Y/n) and find solace in her comforting presence. However, the weight of his responsibilities made it seem like an unattainable desire. The tasks before him appeared daunting, and his duties stretched out endlessly, a constant burden on his shoulders. 

He was stressed and frustrated. He really wanted nothing more than to be with (Y/n). He wanted to brush her hair as she slept or feed her delicious meals since she was still weak and vulnerable. 

Dimitri decided to delegate his tasks and put off a few things for later, giving him a small window to spend with his beloved. This did not come without protests from Tristan but he decided to ignore the hacker in favor of flirting with his beautiful girlfriend. 

(Y/n) was moved to a more comfortable location but still within close proximity to the medical staff. Dimitri had given her a temporary recovery room to recuperate from the poison. 

He pushed open the door where he finally found (Y/n) sitting upright in her bed while Belladonna 618 peeled apples beside her. They were speaking so amicably that they didn't notice his presence. Dimitri paused for a bit taking in the beauty before his eyes. 

The last time he saw her was when she was so fragile she couldn't even rise from her bed or open her eyes. Her skin had grown pale and her appearance was so sickly. The memory of it haunted him that he could not rest for days on end. Now that she's well, Dimitri couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth spreading through his chest. 

Thankfully, Eidanne had administered another dose of antidote and it seems to have fixed what was left of the poison. Now, (Y/n) is once again vibrant and lively. 

His steps echoed against the tiles capturing the attention of the two women in the room. (Y/n) gave a nod to her cousin who handed her the sliced apples before standing up. "I'm gonna go write my name on Thanatos' cast. See you later."

"Okay, get something to eat, darling. I don't want you missing out on lunch." (Y/n) said, warmth and love visible in her eyes. 

Dimitri suddenly felt a pang of envy. She never gazed at him the same way like she truly loved him. The way she gazed at the Belladonna was full of fondness and a deep sense of bond and affection, it was pure filial love. He wanted that for himself. He needed it. 

"I'll get something for you too." Eidanne turned to Dimitri and whispered, "There's a 60% chance that she'll slap you because of what you did so please brace yourself, boss."

"Thank you for the info. Please enjoy bullying Thanatos."

"I will." replied the Belladonna before running off. 

The two were finally alone and Dimitri took a seat on the chair beside (Y/n)'s bed. Up close he could better behold her beauty. Her hair was still disheveled but it was the charming kind of mess that made her pretty. She wore a white night dress, exposing her delicate shoulders and bare neck. 

Like a vampire, he wanted to sink his fangs into her pretty neck and just kiss her. He remembers how wonderfully she moaned his name while he assaulted her neck with love bites which are still visible. 

"You're still in your crime hoodie," (Y/n) began, her voice hesitant. There was a nervous smile on her lips, something so unfamiliar. 

Crime hoodie? What a cute way to describe his combat suit but he liked it. 

"How are you feeling?" He picked up an apple slice, offering to feed it to her. (Y/n) stared at it for a good second before taking a small bite. She refused to finish the slice so he decided to eat it instead. 

"I'm doing alright."

Dimitri savored the juicy fruit and the fact that he shared it with (Y/n)'s luscious pink lips. Speaking of which, her lips seem a bit dry right now, maybe he should help her out and moisten them for her. 

"Is that your blood?"

"No, it was someone else's. I'll remove it if it unnerves you." 

"That won't be necessary."

Dimitri looked away guiltily. "I should have changed and bathed before coming to see you but I was just excited to finally see you again after three days of talking to you asleep." 

"I really missed you. It felt like torture when I couldn't talk to you and hear you laugh. I missed your sarcasm and witty remarks. You're always so smart. You're so good at making me laugh... At making me happy." 

Dimitri's eyes softened when he met her gaze. "I'll do what you told me to do. I'll be a better man."

"What you tried to do to me," (Y/n) paused her lips quivering. She wrapped her arms around herself as a form of comfort before continuing with her speech. "I didn't like it. You made me feel trapped and afraid. You took away my choice. I hated you at that moment..."

Her words made Dimitri bite his lips, fear and guilt swimming in his eyes. "I'm really sorry. I won't do it again. Never."

(Y/n) refused to meet his eyes and it destroyed him. 

"I think we need some time off from each other..."

"What? No!" Dimitri protested firmly. (Y/n) had averted her eyes. "Baby, I just got you back. I need you. I want you." 

His desperation was beginning to look more and more obvious. He held her hand, insanity dancing in his eyes.

"I'm being summoned by the Matriarch's council anyway. This will be good for us. You can focus on rebuilding your organization while I'm away." 

"No, I'll go with you. I'll keep you safe. Where is it? How long should we prepare for? Is it out of the city?"

"You're our ally now but you're not part of the Garden. Let's talk again once we meet. I'm tired. Please leave." 

"(Y/n) please. I'm begging you. Just this once... I need you. I've lost too much. You're the only one I have..." Dimitri embraced her but (Y/n) ignored him. 

"I've been bad. Please punish me, I don't care how harsh you do it but please don't abandon me. I'm yours."

"Dimitri, you need to understand that there are consequences for your actions. It's difficult to cultivate my love, but it's very easy to lose it too."

"You don't love me anymore?"

(Y/n)'s face seems to change. Her misery warped into something sinister, something that made his skin crawl. "Dimitri, I never loved you. You are your father's son. You're a monster just like him."

The room started to turn darker as if something was devouring all of the lights. A sinking feeling was beginning to gather in his stomach. She wasn't supposed to know about that... 

"(Y/n), what are you saying? That has nothing to do with me."

"I knew everything. Your father killed my mother. He ruined my life. He deserves to die and because you're an extension of him... You don't deserve to live too."

"(Y/n)," A dagger plunged into his chest. He could feel it piercing through his beating heart. It hurts so much but not as much as the betrayal of his most beloved who twisted the knife deeper in his chest. Who knew that such beautiful hands could do something so wretched?

"My dear son," Dimitri felt a heavy presence looming behind him like a ghost. It was pure dread as a malevolent entity made its presence known. 

"Why would you choose to love such a traitorous woman? You really shouldn't have chosen someone so wicked." Dimitri heard his father's voice. It was chiding him as if he was once again a child but this time it was more foreboding. 

Malcolm Morozov stepped closer and went beside (Y/n). She was smiling like a perfect porcelain doll. His father raised his gun and pointed it at her head. Dimitri tried to protest, to stop him and protect (Y/n) but he couldn't move. He couldn't do anything but watch while Father pulled the safety. 

"Don't do it, dad. I love her."

"I used to love someone too but I couldn't really get her so I killed her instead... Just like this." The loud gunshot resonated through the air, soon after (Y/n)'s lifeless body crumpled on the bed. Her blood pooled out like the crimson roses blooming in his mother's garden. 

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" 

"Boss, are you okay?" 

Dimitri jolted awake, he had fallen asleep at the command center of the Paragon while he was dealing with some reports. He was only supposed to close his eyes and rest for a bit but it seems that tiredness has gotten the best of him. 

"How long was I out?" He placed a hand on his heart where a phantom blade still pierced it. 

"About 2 hours. I would have let you sleep some more but Miss (Y/n) asked me to call you."

"She wanted to see me?"

"Yup. She told me that if you weren't that busy, you should drop by and talk to her. She's in the room you gave her with Belladonna 618."

"I see. Thank you, Trismegistus."

Dimitri immediately went to the said location. Although the memory of his foreboding dream still haunted him, he didn't let it deter him from seeing his beloved. Despite this, he couldn't help but feel anxious. 

He opened the door and just like in his dream, Eidanne was there peeling an apple, speaking happily with (Y/n). Meanwhile, his beloved was... wearing the same thing she wore in his dream... How ominous. 

They soon detected his presence and the Belladonna left after some remarks about bullying Thanatos. Dimitri took his seat. His eyes, refusing to meet her dazzling gaze, had now set upon some interesting stitches on his pants. 

"You're still in your crime hoodie," she noted, making him wince. Why is everything going just like his dream? Should he take out his gun and shoot his father if he ever steps out of the shadows? Is (Y/n) really going to stab him? 

"What's wrong?" she asked. Dimitri sighed, taking her hand and placing it on his cheek. The warmth of her fingertips instantly relaxed his weary mind, temporarily forgetting all his worries. 

"Beloved, do you think I'm a monster? Do you hate me for what I did to you? Do you hate me for... who my parents are?" 

Dimitri finally met her gaze. Her eyes were soft and full of serene gentleness while his pale ones were full of guilt and anxiety. He's not the kind of person who is easily swayed by vivid dreams, however, he can't help but think about how his subconsciousness seems to be telling him something. 

"Do I think that you're a monster?" (Y/n) seems to contemplate his question before providing her answer with a delicate smile. The little gesture alone made his heart skip a beat. "I don't think so. You can be annoying, stalkerish, and possessive but you're also really sweet and romantic. Plus, you're loyal and you never look at other girls the way you look at me and it makes me feel special."

Dimitri's gaze softened, his heart began singing. Hearing her positive description made him instantly elated. "What you tried to do was super annoying but I can forgive you. I think you've learned your lesson, but it doesn't go without punishments of course. And as for the thing about your parents, you may be their child but that doesn't make you liable for whatever they're doing with their life. You may be a Morozov but you're also Dimitri, my obnoxious boyfriend."

"You finally consider me as your boyfriend?" (Y/n) nodded. At her words, the dark clouds plaguing his mind seem to dissipate in an instant allowing rays of sunshine to pass through. Dimitri immediately encased her in a tight embrace, loving the feeling of her soft body against his own. He kissed the crown of her hair and pulled away by a fraction to deliver more kisses to her cheeks.

"(Y/n)... I'm so happy. I... I promise I will take care of you. I will give you everything you could ever want. I will respect your boundaries, well... at least I'll try to. I will be gentle, loyal... I'll learn how to cook and clean and do your skin care with you. I will always root for your victory and if you ask me to... I will even kill for you for free." Dimitri finally sat back down but his arms were still around her waist. He snuggled his face against her chest, listening to her heartbeat. 

(Y/n) stoked his head making him purr. "I've thought about it and I realized that I really like you. I've had some time to reflect on our relationship and it might seem crazy but I... I wanna see what we'll become."

"I also think that as sexual partners we're pretty compatible with each other." (Y/n) went closer, whispering in his ear. "Since you've allowed me to have my fun, one of these days I'll let you do whatever you want with me."

"Oh, can I now? Are you sure, my love?" Dimitri's tone took a darker, more sexual edge, his gaze had changed from fondness to unrestrained desires. 

"Honestly speaking, that assassin get-up is working wonders for me. It adds mystery to your overall persona. I feel like if you'd worn this outfit and pinned me on the wall when you confessed to me, we would already have our first baby by now."

"I'm glad that I've found your weakness. I'll be sure to exploit it well in the future."

"Anyway, now that that's out of the way I needed to tell you about something."

"What is it?"

"I slipped away earlier when everyone was busy and attended the summons of the Garden. There's a few things we need to talk about."

"First, as punishment for my offenses, I will be the one responsible for the funerary rites of your fallen members. I will coordinate with their families and for those with no families, I'll have to discuss them with you."

"Ah, perhaps I can finally see you in your Lycoris Radiata outfit. Eidanne said that you were like a goddess every time you wore that outfit. I'll be sure to attend."

"You're required to attend." 

"Perfect."

“Let's talk about the budget later. Please make it big, I want to throw the best funeral the Garden has ever hosted.”

“It's not supposed to be a party but okay…” Dimitri agreed wholeheartedly, loving how much she seems to be enjoying herself. 

"Next, because I was the one who secured an alliance with you, my position in the Garden has been elevated. I will receive more funds and get more personnel under my command. I finally got my own squad of Belladonnas and Hibiscuses. Eidanne has been transferred under my authority so we'll be seeing more of her." 

"Congratulations! I'm happy for you. I hope that this doesn't mean that we'll have less time to spend with each other."

"On the contrary, I'll have less work to do. These Nymphs have independent actions, they'll take some of my menial tasks. I'll only have to give them their assignment and they'll be fine. Basically, I now have the power of an Iris (handler) but I maintain my status as a Wayfarer." 

(Y/n) returned his hug, a mysterious edge glinting in her eyes. "Thank you so much for being so clever and so strong, darling. The fruits of your labor are benefiting me a lot."

Dimitri smirked. He could almost taste her insatiable ambition, he relished the fact that he fell in love with a cunning woman. She makes calculated moves and ensures that she wins her battles. She truly is a goddess. 

Weak, unambitious, and overly kind women do not interest him. He doesn't want a woman who would cower behind him every time there's a crisis. Thankfully, (Y/n) is not that kind of woman. 

She's a bad bitch. 

She knows what she wants and how to get it. She's using him like a piece in her chessboard, like a knight that decimates all of her enemies. Oh, the thrill of having his entire being completely under the mercy of this cruel queen. His life is exhilarating. 

Dimitri chuckled, pulling away to face her.  "Doesn't this mean that I get a reward, darling?" 

His hand slowly trailed the length of her thigh, pushing past the hem of her dress and resting on the fabric of her panties. His eyes were full of lust, his intentions couldn't be any more clear. (Y/n) giggled, a seductive smile decorating her lips. 

"As much reward as you want, darling."