The Extra's Rise

Chapter 286  Rose Springshaper (5)

I nodded, though focusing was becoming an issue. His arms curled around me—one resting lightly against my waist, the other reaching for his desk. Every movement, every slight shift, sent a new wave of awareness through me.

I could feel his breath against my neck.

His chest, firm and steady, pressed against my back.

The subtle scent of his cologne—something woodsy and expensive—enveloped me.

'Snap out of it, Rose!' I scolded myself, shutting my eyes for a second to recenter. I was Marquis Springshaper's daughter, heir to Vakrt Industries. I couldn't be reduced to a flustered schoolgirl just because Arthur Nightingale had pulled me onto his lap.

Except, apparently, I could.

Then—

A bright blue glow flooded my vision.

The holographic display came to life, expanding around us in intricate layers of data, graphs, and schematics. Three-dimensional projections filled the air, rotating slowly to showcase complex logistics chains, resource allocation models, and what appeared to be geological surveys.

"What... is this?" I whispered, momentarily stunned by the sheer magnitude of information on the screen. My business instincts kicked in immediately, eyes darting from projection to projection, trying to piece together the overall picture.

"Something I need your help with," Arthur murmured, his voice calm—too calm, considering the classified nature of what I was seeing. This wasn't just guild business. This was something far more ambitious.

His arm tightened slightly around my stomach, drawing me in as he navigated the holo-display with his free hand, bringing certain projections forward while minimizing others.

I barely registered his movements. My attention was locked on the floating projections before me, particularly on what appeared to be a detailed map of the Ashen Territories—the most resource-rich and politically volatile region in the Eastern Continent.

"This…" I hesitated, piecing together the fragmented data, business acumen kicking in as I recognized supply chain models and distribution networks that would make even my father raise an eyebrow in appreciation. "You want Vakrt's help with this?"

Arthur nodded, his chin brushing against my shoulder with the movement.

I frowned, mind racing as I processed the implications. "Arthur... shouldn't a bigger guild be handling something like this?"

"Technically, yes," he admitted, fingers tapping the interface with precise control, bringing up another layer of data—this one showing projected profit margins that were, frankly, staggering. "But I don't want to give it up."

I turned my head slightly to look at him, our faces now inches apart. "Give it up?"

His azure eyes gleamed with quiet conviction. "If I take this to a larger guild, sure, they'd handle it. But then they'd own it. The profits, the connections, the influence—it would all go to them." His voice hardened slightly. "And I'd just be the junior member who brought them a good lead."

I studied him for a moment, understanding dawning. This wasn't just about business. This was about establishing himself, about creating a foundation solid enough to support his seemingly impossible ambitions.

"But still, it's dangerous," I quipped, my eyes scanning the massive projection before us, focusing on the statistical models that predicted various risk factors. "The Ashen Territories are practically a war zone. And how exactly do you plan on getting access to this place in the first place?"

Arthur chuckled, the sound low and annoyingly confident. "Did you forget about Rachel?"

Ah.

Of course.

"With her, I don't need to worry about access," he continued, "I just need Vakrt's help with the processing and distribution."

I tapped my fingers against the armrest of his chair, considering his words, the complex business proposal taking shape in my mind. "You're not targeting the West? You could use Kali's connections."

Kali Maelkith. Daughter of the one of Western Continent's most powerful families. The fact that Arthur had somehow managed to recruit her as his guild's vice leader was still something that boggled my mind.

"West is locked down when it comes to this," he said, shaking his head, bringing up yet another projection that showed failed business ventures in the region. "That's the reason Vakrt hasn't been able to break into that continent, isn't it?"

I sighed. He was right.

The Western Continent—ruled by necromancers and the infamous Ashbluff family—was a fortress, nearly impenetrable when it came to foreign business interests. My father's company, Vakrt, had tried to expand there multiple times, but every attempt had been blocked by a combination of protectionist policies and outright hostility.

"But still," I muttered, chewing on my lower lip, a habit I'd never quite managed to break. "If no one else has done this before... doesn't that mean it's too dangerous?"

Arthur leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered by concerns that would keep most business magnates awake at night. "I have a solution."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident. "Do you, now?"

He smirked, that infuriatingly confident expression that made me want to both kiss him and push him out of his chair. "I always have a solution, Rose. But don't worry, this isn't happening now—this is for later. I wanted to show you early because I want to set up a preliminary contract with Vakrt for something else."

I narrowed my eyes, instantly on alert. When someone pivots like that in a business conversation, it usually means the second proposal is the real aim. "Something else?"

"A smaller side project."

"Go on." I kept my voice neutral, though curiosity piqued my interest.

"I need a Zombie Princess."

I blinked, certain I'd misheard. "A what?"

Arthur's face remained perfectly neutral, not a hint of humor or uncertainty. "A Zombie Princess."

I tilted my head, studying him for a moment, trying to determine if this was some sort of bizarre joke. The term wasn't completely unknown to me—a rare and powerful undead classification in the Western Continent, beings who retained their intelligence and gained significant magical abilities after death.

"We can't make one," I said slowly, testing the waters.

"No," he agreed, still frustratingly calm, "but we can turn someone into one."

I waited, the silence stretching between us like a physical thing.

He waited, patient as always when it came to his schemes.

Then, he continued far too casually—

"I want Kali to become a Zombie Princess."

I stared at him.

I stared at him for a long time, trying to process the sheer audacity of what he was suggesting. Kali Maelkith was the daughter of one of Western Continent's most powerful families. A powerful dark mge in her own right. And Arthur wanted to turn her into an undead being.

The political ramifications alone were enough to make my head spin. Not to mention the ethical considerations, the magical requirements, the risks involved.

Then, I smiled, the expression probably too sweet to be genuine.

"Arthur," I said, maintaining that sugary tone, "it seems my boy has gone completely insane."

The corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Crazy, huh?" he asked as I nodded emphatically.

"You—" I began to speak, ready to list the dozen reasons why this plan was absolute madness, why it could start an international incident, why it might very well get us all killed—

But before I could get another word out, he pulled me in.

And kissed me.

Deeply.

One hand cradled the back of my neck, the other at my waist, holding me steady as his lips moved against mine with practiced skill. All my carefully prepared arguments dissolved instantly, replaced by a rush of warmth that spread from my lips to the tips of my toes.

After a long time of deep kissing—long enough that my thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm—he let me go as I panted, struggling to remember what we'd been discussing.

"Art—" I began again, determined to get back to the topic, to tell him exactly why turning Kali Maelkith into a Zombie Princess was perhaps the worst idea in recorded history—

He pulled me in to kiss me again, effectively cutting off my protest. This time his kiss was softer, more teasing, but no less effective at derailing my thoughts.

'Dammit, I don't want to admit but this is a good strategy to shut me up,' I thought hazily, knowing I should pull away but finding myself entirely unwilling to do so.

When he finally released me again, I was breathless, my heart racing and my thoughts in disarray. I pressed a hand against his chest, creating a small space between us.

"You can't just kiss me every time I'm about to call you out on your ridiculous plans," I said, trying to sound stern despite my flushed cheeks and quickened breathing.

Arthur's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Can't I?"

"No," I insisted, though my protest lacked conviction. "And this plan of yours—it's madness, Arthur. Even if Kali agreed, which I seriously doubt, the process would be dangerous, potentially fatal, and definitely illegal in most jurisdictions."

He nodded, as if I'd simply confirmed something he already knew. "All true. But necessary."