Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

His hand was large and rough and had a freezing icy temperature that lingered unexpectedly.

Feeling his hand, something shifted inside her.

This was the first time she had ever shaken hands with a man, and to her surprise, a strange feeling bloomed inside her.

It was a quiet reluctance to let go as she found herself wanting to hold on to his hand for a little longer.

Her gaze lifted toward his vibrant crimson eyes and the faint enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

Their eyes locked for a heartbeat, and a silent exchange of something unnamed passed through the two of them before Ethan pulled his hand back abruptly and spoke,

"Thank you for the warning, Miss Adeline. I look forward to meeting you again in the Abyssal Sanctum."

With that, he turned gracefully and leapt out of the small window while being closely followed by the cloaked dark elf, Aurae.

Adeline stepped forward towards the spire's window and silently watched on as the two shadowed figures bounded across the rooftops and disappeared into the sleeping city's darkness, lit up slightly by the Blood Moon's moonlight.

She lingered for a moment and then looked down at her gloved hand.

Suddenly, she raised it slowly and rested it against her cheek beneath the veil.

The chill he had left behind still clung to her skin, and its lingering presence cooled the quiet storm of thoughts swirling within her.

Her fingers moved of their own accord and rose near her nose as she instinctively inhaled.

A distinct masculine scent mixed with a subtle blend of soap, musk, and faint floral notes washed over her senses.

For a fleeting moment, Adeline forgot her surroundings entirely.

Her eyes were closed as she brought her hand closer and breathed in the trace he had left behind.

She had no idea why she was doing this and why this involuntary act felt so natural to her, yet she continued as she lost herself in the lingering impression of him.

Then, as if waking from a dream, her consciousness suddenly snapped back.

Realization crashed into her like a cold wave and her face flushed crimson.

Her misty eyes widened as a swirl of unfamiliar emotions roiled within her chest.

She didn't understand this feeling and didn't dare to name it, but she rebuked still herself all the same.

Turning her gaze to the ominous glow of the Blood Moon beyond the window, her eyes slowly regained their earlier calm.

The turmoil within her stilled as purpose returned to her voice.

"The time for your destruction draws near, Gaylord," she whispered with icy resolve.

With that, she turned away from the window, and the soft light lighting up the room faded.

The small circular room at the top of the spire fell into a quiet and impenetrable darkness once more.

---

Ethan was making his way back to the Imperial Velvet Inn, having already accomplished the purpose for which he had ventured out in the night in the first place.

Just as he was about a block away, the dark elf Aurae suddenly came to a halt on the roof of a building.

Noticing her abrupt stop, Ethan slowed down too and walked over to her.

Sensing his approach, Aurae lowered her hood, and their eyes met in a charged silence.

As they stared at each other, the air between them grew awkward and became taut with unspoken thoughts as neither of them seemed to know how to begin.

Ethan exhaled quietly and broke the silence between them with a calm sincerity in his words.

"Do you need my help, Miss Aurae? If there is truly something on your mind or if you want to ask anything, don't hold it back.

I won't mock you, and I will certainly try to help you as much as I can."

He spoke gently and tried to ease the tension that seemed to weigh on her.

He suspected her nerves were still unsettled, mostly from his earlier compliments about her beauty, her unintentional spying of his private moment with his woman, and the confrontation that had followed.

Her gaze faltered on hearing his gentle tone.

Looking down, she bit her lip before speaking in a voice laced with quiet embarrassment.

"I—I don't need any help from you, Young Master Eryndor.

And... about last time, I wasn't able to properly explain the real reason for what I did outside your room."

She paused briefly before continuing in a soft but earnest tone.

"The truth is, I was actually trying to warn you about the same thing that veiled lady Adeline just told you a few moments ago."

Ethan nodded slowly as her words sank in.

Observing her hesitant expression, he reached out without thinking and gently placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze.

With an encouraging smile, he spoke in a warm and steady voice.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of.

I truly appreciate that you were concerned enough to want to warn me about the Duke's forces.

And as for what I said earlier about your beauty, you shouldn't think I was joking or making fun of you."

His crimson eyes held hers and unwavering.

"What I said was honest and exactly what I felt in that moment."

He had only intended to express his appreciation for her beauty, nothing more.

But his actions seemed to have been gravely misunderstood by the elf.

To Aurae, his gesture had come across as far too bold, and the intentions behind his flowery words too dubious.

Her face flushed instantly, and in a motion so swift that her hand blurred, she slapped his hand away and leapt back several steps.

"W-What do you think you're doing?" she stammered while her voice became tinged with alarm.

Ethan blinked and was caught off guard by her sudden reaction.

Seeing the usually composed and mature guild receptionist stumbling over her words like a flustered schoolgirl, he was momentarily stunned.