“We should p-probably get g-going now,” said Cessilia, standing up, all ready.

“Lady Cessilia, you’re stunning! This dress really suits you... Are you not going to change, Lady Tessa?” asked Naptunie.

Tessandra grimaced. She had clearly made no effort to change her clothes and didn’t want to move from the couch either. Still, she slowly sat up.

“I told you it’s fine to just call me Tessa. ...And I’m only going as a bodyguard. I’m no princess like Cessi. It’s also pretty clear they are only interested in her. I only regret that you can’t come too, Nana.”

“It’s alright! I will stay with my uncle and read this book! Now that I’ve read a few lines, I feel like re-reading it... Maybe I will find something useful for the banquet! Something that doesn’t include a dark and scary underwater tunnel... I should probably prepare some sort of performance too, although I’m not interested.”

“You’ll d-do great.” Cessilia smiled. “J-just make sure you d-don’t stay around my b-bedroom. There might b-be another attack...”

Naptunie looked around the room, as if she suddenly became cautious of it.

“...I understand. I’ll be careful then!”

“I want to grab some dinner before we go, will you come with me, Nana?”

“Aren’t we invited t-to dinner already?” said Cessilia, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, and we don’t know how long it will take, if it will be bad, or worse…poisoned. I would rather have a snack before to be sure not to starve later. Let’s just make a detour on the way out.”

Cessilia chuckled, but she suspected Tessandra’s sudden need for a snack had to do with the fact that the kitchens were about halfway to Counselor Yamino’s office. She probably wanted to accompany Naptunie and make sure nothing happened to her before she got safely to her uncle. The young Dorosef girl had no idea, either, and was only excited to grab a little treat with Tessandra.

The three girls left the room, and this time, Cessilia took a good look around before closing the door behind her. She was suspicious of how easy it had been for intruders to get in, and even Jisel had come in without the guards notifying her. Either the King’s mistress had caused a distraction to be able to sneak past them, or those people were more easily bribed than Ashen thought. Maybe because of that, she felt particularly on edge and cautious of her surroundings while the three girls moved around the castle. She looked out for any shadow at a corner, glanced at the guards to try and feel if there was any ill intent toward their trio, and kept close to Tessa and Nana.

Because of that, she didn’t miss the steps following them shortly after. However, she couldn’t feel any maliciousness, and whoever was following them was careful not to approach either.

“T-Tessa, t-take Nana to Uncle Yamino’s office, p-please.”

“...What about you?” asked her cousin, frowning.

“I th-think I forgot something,” she lied. “D-don’t worry, I’ll meet you at th-the entrance!”

“...Alright.”

Tessandra nodded, and while she and Nana walked away, Cessilia took a different corridor. She now knew the castle well enough to find her way to the entrance, and as soon as she found an isolated enough area with a wide window, she turned around, glaring at the shadow.

She was about to ask whoever followed her to reveal their presence, but they stepped forward before she opened her mouth. Cessi calmed down as she recognized the large figure that came up to her.

“Ash–!”

His lips were on hers before she could even finish, claiming a passionate kiss. Cessilia blushed helplessly, surprised by his fervor. His overwhelming stature was pushing her against the wall, wrapping his arms around her body and slightly lifting her off her feet. Cessilia grabbed his large shoulders by reflex, answering his kiss with a smile, relieved and happy to see him again.

When he stopped, a bit out of breath, she chuckled and caressed his cheek.

“D-did you miss me?” she whispered.

Their faces were so close, she could see every detail of his skin, of his irises, and the small scars on his messily shaved cheeks and chin.

“...Like crazy,” he admitted in a breath. “I was dying to see you again after this morning... I couldn’t focus on anything else.”

Cessilia chuckled, and they exchanged a gentler, slower kiss. They were almost hidden in a narrow and deserted corridor with Ashen’s cloak covering them. His dark eyes looked almost in a daze, staring at her as if he was worried he’d forget her face if he looked away for even a second. His large hand was holding on to her waist, his thumb slowly rubbing, spreading his warmth everywhere he touched, and more importantly, keeping their bodies close.

“....You look beautiful,” he said, glancing from her high ponytail to her dress.

He kissed her shoulder, before noticing the simple necklace of nacre around her neck.

“Didn’t you like what I sent?”

“I like th-this too.” Cessilia smiled. “I b-bought it with Nana at the m-market... P-plus, your mistress c-came to visit b-before I could ch-check it...”

“Jisel?” His eyes darkened. “What the fuck did she want with you?”

“How c-could she c-come into my room?” Cessilia ignored his question.

Ashen stepped back, looking angry.

“I gave orders for her to not approach you,” he said.

“She d-did. I d-don’t know who you ordered, Ashen, b-but it’s not working.”

The King’s expression got even darker, and Cessilia felt the same. This meant he had even less authority than he thought, or the castle was full of corrupt guards.

“...I’ll talk to her,” he hissed.

Cessilia felt a bit upset that he wouldn’t already have. Had he avoided his mistress purposely, or simply forgotten to tell her to stay away? Either way, she wasn’t very satisfied with this. She looked away, a bit sullen, but Ashen gently caressed her cheek.

“...I’m sorry, Cessilia. I swear it won’t happen again.”

“Next t-time, I won’t be as p-polite,” she muttered.

He chuckled.

“You don’t have to be.”

He sighed, and hoping to lighten her mood a bit, leaned forward to kiss her temple this time. His stubble tickled her a bit causing Cessilia to smile. Turning back toward him, she found Ashen was frowning again.

“...W-what is it?”

“Nothing.”

“D-don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

“Sorry. It’s... things are a bit tense. And with that thing with the guards... I’m worried someone is going to attack you again.”

“I c-can take c-care of myself, Ashen.”

He smirked, not as a means to mock her, but because he knew that to be the truth. His hands went down around her, caressing her waist and back, sending excited shivers down her spine.