Seraphina was doing her usual routine in the library. She would arrange the bookshelves, sweep the floor, dust, and read in her spare time. Everything seems peaceful and normal...
Well, not until he met a certain someone who always bugs her all the time. She just recently met him, and he acts like they're buddies.
And you guessed it right! It's Lord Val.
"My lady, would you like to visit the famous teahouse in town with me?"
Val was standing below her as she was on a ladder, arranging books. He was leaning his back on the shelf, folding his arms, and watching her do her thing. She feels uncomfortable with him watching her back, but no matter how many times she told him to go, he just wouldn't.
"No."
"But, why? You don't like teas? But I thought girls love having teas?" He asked her and whispered the last one to himself.
"It's not that I don't like tea. I just don't like to hang out with you," Seraphina blatantly said.
For the past days, she was trying to be polite with rejecting him, but he has a thick face and wouldn't go away! So Seraphina thought if she rejected him more harshly, maybe that would be effective.
"Aww... You're hurting my feelings. I just want to be with you," he said dramatically and wiped his fake tears.
Seraphina's shoulder slumped, and she grunted. She climbed down the ladder and turned to Val with both her hands on her hips.
"Listen closely, Lord Val. First of all, we don't know each other for us to be hanging out casually. Second, we just met 3 days ago, so don't act buddy-buddy with me! Lastly, I HAVE WORK, SO PLEASE STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING," she said annoyed and almost yelling.
"SHHH! QUIET!"
Seraphina could already picture herself like a boiling pot that's about to explode. Val puts his hands on his chin while looking at her, acting like he's thinking about something.
"Hmmm... I didn't know you were this cute when mad, but I still prefer your smiling face. If you could just let me see it once again, I'll be the happiest man alive."
Seraphina froze for a second, and when she was able to get back in her senses, she felt her cheeks burning.
'Deymnnn, I didn't expect him to rizz me up! Tsk! Boys...'she thought to herself.
"Go away! I'll get scolded because of you."
She turned around and grabbed the cart containing the books she's going to arrange. She went to another section of the library, and Lord Val was still following her. The other guests reading in the library just gave them a quick glance when they passed by and returned to what they were reading.
"My Seraphina~"
"My? MY??? Since when did I become yours?" she asked shockingly.
'Ever since I saw you...' Val replied in his thought. But there's no way he'd tell her that.
'You don't want to scare your prey when it's still untamed, right? '
"Don't you have better things to do, Lord Val?"
"I have. But it can wait. What's more important for me is being with you." Val smiled charmingly that Seraphina wanted to cover her eyes.
"Oh geez, stop that already. I said I don't want to. Shoo~" She tried pushing Val, but he wouldn't budge an inch.
"I'll go if you say yes."
"I said NO!"
"SHHHH! QUIET!!!"
"What do you really want?" she annoyedly asks him in a whisper.
"You."
Seraphina rolled her eyes. "Oh please!"
"If you don't say yes, I'll scream that we're together." He threatened her and was still smiling.
"Why you—"
"SERAPHINA AND—"
She immediately covered his mouth when he really did try to scream, inside a freaking library! Her eyes were wide while he just smiled teasingly.
"Fine! Fine! I'll go with you, so please stop!" she agreed in defeat.
This man is really starting to get on her nerves. Who even is he? Was he part of Seraphina's backstory? She admits that she was grateful to him when he saved her, but she didn't know he's this persistent.
He's got looks, but he has a boyfriend already. And besides, she was planning to return back to her own world, so there's no reason for her to attach herself to anyone here.
"Tomorrow. Meet me at the teahouse tomorrow. Just let me work in peace for now."
"Okay, tomorrow then. I'll be waiting for you."
"Can you leave now?"
"Uhuh... Farewell, my beautiful lady! See you tomorrow."
He bent down and reached for her hands; he brought it to his lips and kissed it. Seraphina felt a cold chill down her spine, but she ignored it because it's not right for her to feel that way.
She awkwardly withdrew her hands, and Val was left hanging. But he didn't mind that. What's important is he got what he wanted. He'll fulfill the end of their deal; he'll have to leave right now and wait for their meeting tomorrow.
~~~~~~
Kaelith was waiting for his emperor on their meeting spot. He was shocked to learn that the reason why the emperor was delaying the war was because someone from here caught the attention of the emperor.
It's the first time he saw the emperor get attracted, and to a commoner no less! Though she's quite a beauty, the council will surely be in chaos when they learn that the emperor is interested in a girl of humble background.
"Your Imperial Majesty"
Zephyrion walked in the alley where Kaelith was waiting. The smile and friendliness he had earlier was gone and was replaced by his usual cold demeanor.
But even though he's in his usual self right now, Kaelith knew very well that he's actually in a good mood.
'His mood feels lighter today than the previous month and days. Something good must have happened.' He thought to himself.
Although Kaelith wants nothing but his imperial majesty's happiness, he also thought that they can't delay any longer. Because it's disrupting their plan. They're almost near to capturing the Black Association; if they stop now, they might lose them again.
"Your imperial majesty, when are we going to attack? If we don't strike now, the association will have time to cover up their tracks, and we might lose them again."
"Not yet," he answered coldly.
"But your imperial majesty—"
Kaelith was cut off when Emperor Zephyrion gave him a deadly look.
"Don't worry, they won't do that. They'll think that we're done hunting them, so they'll be more complacent and will let their guard down. Sometimes you need to let your prey breathe so it won't be afraid to come out on its nest. When it does, they won't know that they've fallen into the trap we've laid out outside their nest."
Kaelith was silent as Emperor Zephyrion calmly gave him advice. The Emperor sure is wise; he always thinks one step ahead of his enemy.
"Let's go. I need to prepare for tomorrow."
********