The Dragon Clan's Family Precepts!  

Her lips were pale and bloodless, her delicate face glistening with cold sweat, her beautiful pupils filled with panic. Earlier, the violent fluctuations in her emotions had left her unable to think clearly. But now that Ryuusuke had suppressed her psychic powers, rationality returned to her mind. Alone in a room with a man, thrown onto a bed—Caitlin was finally afraid. 

Instinctively, Caitlin gripped the Poké Ball at her waist. She wasn't some defenseless little girl. If she released her Pokémon and Ryuusuke couldn't instantly defeat them, the commotion would draw attention, and she would be saved. 

Ryuusuke ignored Caitlin's subtle movement, merely frowning as he studied her. He hadn't expected the girl's "condition" to be this severe. Rather than just psychic instability, it seemed she was suffering from deep psychological issues that had led to this state. 

Though I studied psychology in my past life, I have no clinical experience. I'm not a therapist—I don't even know where to start. 

Ryuusuke sighed inwardly. 

"Calmed down now?" he asked softly, deciding to ease Caitlin's agitation first. If she really did release her Pokémon and fought him here, whatever remained of his reputation would be ruined. 

A scandal like "forcing himself on a noble heiress from Sinnoh in his bedroom, met with fierce resistance"—tabloids worldwide would feast on that. Ryuusuke wasn't ready for that kind of infamy. Stabilizing Caitlin took priority. 

"Huh? Y-yes..." 

Seeing that Ryuusuke wasn't making any untoward moves, Caitlin relaxed slightly, just as he had anticipated. Her grip on the Poké Ball loosened. 

But the current situation was still far too suggestive. She lay on the bed, weakened by her psychic outburst, her cheeks flushed. Ryuusuke stood beside the bed, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top from changing earlier. Caitlin wasn't some naive child—at fifteen, she had received strict education, including basic sex education, as her family feared their young lady might be deceived. And precisely because she knew more, she now felt an awkward shyness. 

"...Be elegant!" 

To dispel the awkwardness, Ryuusuke decided to channel his inner Tokiomi Tohsaka. 

"You think I'm lying to you? That I'm just playing around?" 

Ryuusuke leaned down, his expression solemn. Their faces were now close enough that he could clearly smell the fragrance of her skin and see every flawless detail of her features. 

Impeccable. Her complexion lacked even the slightest blemish or roughness. This is what a true noble lady should be like—the very image of a princess. 

Caitlin tensed, gripping the bedsheet as if to retreat. But Ryuusuke's stern expression gave her pause. Suppressing her embarrassment, she forced herself to speak. 

"W-what do you mean?" 

"I'm saying I'm not deceiving you or mocking you. When I tell you to 'be elegant,' I don't mean superficial grace—I mean inner elegance!" 

"To control your psychic powers, you must first learn to control your heart. Remind yourself at all times—you are a noble lady. No matter what happens, you must not lose your temper. Stay composed, stay dignified, remain above the petty emotions of others!" 

"...Remember, even in battle, fight with elegance. Even in defeat, smile gracefully. Even in the face of death, wither like a rose—with poise. This is the Dragon Clan's family precept!" 

"You are Caitlin—a true aristocrat. You were born superior. You possess psychic powers others envy. So you must master them with an elegance that makes all women jealous. You must, and will, surpass everyone!" 

The Dragon Clan's family precept? What nonsense is that? Ryuusuke had no idea if Lance even knew of such a thing. But it doesn't matter—as long as it works. 

Caitlin's biggest issue wasn't her powers—it was her mind. She had long since given up on herself, and that was why she had deteriorated to this state. 

Her family had undoubtedly said similar things to her, probably even more earnestly. But Caitlin, in her rebellious phase, had refused to listen. The more they lectured, the more irritable she became—until her family, disappointed, finally abandoned her. And that was when she truly broke. 

The root of the problem was simple: her family couldn't truly understand her. They couldn't empathize with her suffering. To Caitlin, their comforting words felt hollow—like lies. 

But Ryuusuke was different. He possessed psychic powers even Caitlin marveled at—powers he wielded effortlessly. To her, he was her equal, someone who understood her, who knew exactly what she needed. 

And since this equal was stronger than her, his words carried weight. They were authoritative. 

People always listen to authority. 

Once Caitlin's psychological issues were addressed, once she could face herself—the rest would be easy. Teaching her to refine her psychic abilities would come naturally. 

Ryuusuke might not have Sabrina's unique insights into psychic powers, but his extensive experience was more than enough to guide Caitlin. 

Honestly, I have to admire Sabrina—she overcame her own trauma and mastered her powers through sheer will. That level of maturity is something Caitlin can't match right now. 

"R-really?!" 

Caitlin's eyes sparkled with hope, her breathing quickening as she impulsively grabbed Ryuusuke's collar. 

"Why would I lie to you? Fine—though I'm busy, I can spare some time to teach you. Your psychic energy and your rage are intertwined. For the next few days, I'll seal your powers so you won't be as volatile. Use this time to learn true elegance!" 

Though his approach was partly improvisation, Ryuusuke had quickly devised a treatment plan—one that, aside from him, only Sabrina could realistically execute on Caitlin. 

But getting that ice queen to help? Nearly impossible. Caitlin's lucky she ran into me. 

"Y-yes! Be elegant, be elegant... So, should I be elegant right now too?" 

Seeing Caitlin's flustered expression, Ryuusuke's eye twitched. 

"...No. Elegance depends on the situation. Right now, you should be blushing." 

If you're still "elegant" during intimate moments, you'd give men performance anxiety! 

Just then— 

"Yo, Ryuu! I'm here—when are we heading out? Uh... Sorry, wrong room!" 

Ash, standing at the doorway, took one look inside, politely bowed, and— 

SLAM! 

—shut the door behind him.

To be continued…

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