Ordem Especial de Amor: Mimando a Esposa de Alto Valor

The night lay like a pool of thick black ink, so deep it seemed impossible to stir. There was no moon, no stars, only the occasional glimmer of distant lights, flickering like fireflies. Darkness had swallowed the clamor of day and the splendor of the world. A soft breeze stirred, leaves rustling in the trees. Inside a small house on the mountainside, a dim lamp glowed. On the table within stood a statue of a woman, exquisitely carved, so lifelike it might have breathed, yet her garments were strange, and no one could tell from which dynasty she came.

A young man, dressed in clothing similar to that of the statue, held an object of peculiar design. His arm swayed lightly, producing a sound like a bell. With his eyes closed, he stepped through a strange pattern, murmuring without pause, as though chanting an incantation. All around him were symbols that flashed and hissed softly, eerie and uncanny.

Suddenly, he lurched, and the smoothness of his movements faltered. A man standing not far away hurried over. Shorter in stature, his voice was hoarse and broken. “Did it work?”

“Just as it was about to finish, it was interrupted,” the young man said after a moment of silence. “Is this method really effective?”

“Hmph. The way I found to break it could never fail.” With a trace of sarcasm, the hoarse voice gave a cold laugh. “Whether it works or not, we’ll know once we try. If it fails, we do it again.”

“If we do it again, she may not be able to endure it.” The young man seemed to show a hint of pity.

“Hmph. If she can’t endure it, then she ca