“Ah, you’re back,” she murmured, her voice lacking its usual sharpness. Without waiting for a response, she stepped forward, closing the distance between you and wrapping her arms around you in a tight embrace. The suddenness of the gesture caught you off guard, but the warmth of her touch was undeniable.

“Faust was concerned,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “You were gone longer than expected.”

You stood there, stunned by her uncharacteristic display of affection. Faust, the ever-distant and calculating Sinner, was clinging to you as though you were her anchor in a storm.

“Faust doesn’t often show it,” she continued, her grip tightening slightly, “but she value your presence more than Faust cares to admit.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity. For a moment, everything seemed to fade away, replaced by the warmth of her embrace.

As she pulled back slightly to look at you, her eyes softened. “Stay close,” she requested, her tone gentle yet firm. “Faust doesn’t want to lose you.”

In that moment, you realized that beneath her detached exterior, Faust harbored a deep-seated need for connection and affection. Her clinginess, though unexpected, was a testament to the bond you shared—a bond she cherished more than she let on.