Edric spoke gravely. "Corvin has the highest clearance in the Empire's network. If he wants to find you, it'll take him seconds. Emma, you might have to meet him." Corvin's record was notoriously complicated. If he had come all this way and she refused to see him, he might cling on and cause serious trouble. Emma hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll meet him and hear what he has to say." Once she agreed, Edric granted Corvin access and allowed him to approach the cabin. Ten minutes later, Corvin stepped into the living room. He looked terrible—dust-covered and disheveled, one lens of his glasses cracked. Through the broken frame, his blue eyes stared at her with raw misery. He looked like he'd been through an explosion.For some reason, his expression stirred a faint guilt in Emma's chest. "So... what do you want from me?" she asked, sitting beside Edric and meeting his gaze directly. With a Rank 10 male Etherian at Corvin's side, she could afford to stay civil. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been this composed. After all, he was the one who had filed for dissolution—and she had agreed almost immediately, so he had no right to act as if she were the one who had wronged him. Seeing her displeasure, Corvin's shoulders sagged. His voice came out hoarse. "Ms. Tibarn, why did you delete me? Was the star coin I sent not enough?" Emma blinked. His tone—hurt, confused, almost pleading—left her momentarily speechless. "Didn't you tell me to delete you and apply for dissolution?" Corvin froze, his world collapsing in that instant. His reddening eyes flickered with disbelief. "Ms. Tibarn, you actually filed for dissolution?" "Yes." Emma frowned slightly. "Wasn't that what you wanted when you contacted me?" Do I misunderstand him? That can't be, right? Corvin's voice turned thick with grievance. "I never said I wanted to dissolve our bond. I was just busy. The Empire's army kept pressuring me to finish a new batch of warships. When you messaged me, I hadn't slept for half a month. I was exhausted." He had been so overworked that he barely managed to take in nutrient fluid—and nearly collapsed in the manufacturing lab. Emma fell silent. "I even transferred you the star coin," Corvin continued miserably. "I thought you'd like it. I never expected you to block me." And worse—she hadn't only blocked him. She'd gone ahead and applied for dissolution.Good thing he had rushed over as soon as his work ended. The dissolution window hadn't gone into effect yet. If it had, he would've lost his huntress for good. The older Rank 10 Etherian beside him, Jimmy Draemont, stepped forward to explain. "Honorable Ms. Tibarn, Corvin's telling the truth. "That batch of warships was bound for the outer battlefield—he really couldn't drop everything to visit you immediately. But he never intended to end your match." Jimmy went on earnestly, "Corvin's a sweetheart—obedient and clingy as they come. As soon as he finished the work, he didn't even clean up or sleep. He ran straight here to see you. We stopped at F-268 first, didn't find you there, then tracked your new location and rushed here." So it was all a misunderstanding.Emma looked at Corvin—messy, pitiful, and sincere—and gave him a small, apologetic smile. "Corvin, what do you plan to do now?" "I want to stay bonded with you, Ms. Tibarn," he said at once. "I don't want dissolution." Jimmy nodded eagerly. "Exactly! A liger beast has never been turned away by his mate." Emma glanced at Edric. He smiled. "Emma, Corvin's your suitor. Whatever you decide, I'll support you." She nodded. Since she was the one who had misunderstood, she owed Corvin the chance to fix it. Facing him seriously, she said, "Corvin, I can revoke the dissolution request—but think carefully. A suitor only gets one chance to apply for dissolution." "I understand," Corvin replied firmly. "I don't regret it. I want to stay bonded with you, Ms. Tibarn." "Alright then." Emma opened her lightcore and swiftly withdrew the dissolution application. "There. You're my suitor again." She paused. "Are you planning to stay here or—" Before she could finish, a flash of white light enveloped Corvin. In the next instant, a small pale-blue liger beast appeared in his place. The creature was the size of a kitten. It rolled clumsily across the floor before curling up obediently at Emma's feet. Emma stared wordlessly. Jimmy cleared his throat. "Corvin exhausted his abilities building those warships. He can't maintain human form right now." He gave her a sheepish smile. "Ms. Tibarn, I need to return to headquarters to report in. Could I trouble you to look after Corvin for a few days? Once his ability stabilizes, he'll be fine again."