Aria's Tales - 2.11

Sevianna was sitting on a large bed of flowers. It was an hour before noon, and she found nothing to do so she basked in the sun while making flower crowns. They varied in colours and had a bundle of petals. She placed one on her head, and its beauty was magnified. She had subconsciously hummed “I’m falling in love.”

Not too far away from her, Adounis was standing rooted to the ground – unable to take a step forward and break such a beautiful scene. His heart had warmed just by watching her. When Sevianna’s hum travelled to his ears, he frowned. For some reason, he thought that the song sounded very familiar. But he was pretty sure he hadn’t heard it before.

Sevianna no longer retracted her wings since the banquet incident. She also wanted to get used to it before a sudden emergency comes. It wouldn’t be a good idea for her not to be prepared then. The wings did seem lighter after she left them free for the past few days. Her black wings lazily sat on her back and its silky feathers were glistening under the sun.

“Sevi~” Adounis finally found the courage to enter the scene.

Sevianna’s wings shook as did her heart. She consciously moved her wings back and faced Adounis – it was so that he couldn’t reach her wings easily. These past few days, other than Sevianna getting used to her wings and waiting for the right time to warn the Demon King, she had been constantly being pestered by Adounis.

He’s been asking – begging to touch her wings. But there was no way she would let him! She still remembered that electric feeling on her back the last time he had touched her wings. Her wings were too sensitive! It did feel very pleasant, but that’s the problem! She only worried that if she gave an inch, Adounis would take a mile. If she easily let him touch her wings, then … when they were in bed …

Sevianna’s heart shook with a bit of fear and excitement. She wanted to try it, but she also feared it at the same time. Ey, what should she do?!

Adounis’ eyes narrowed dangerously. How can he not see her subtle movements? It was a shame that he was still unsuccessful in his advances. Although Sevianna no longer drove him away and was showing more and more emotions in front of him, he knew that she hadn’t completely fallen for him yet.

“What are you doing?” He stopped minding her wings for now.

Sevianna held out the finished flower crown in her hands, then paused. She suddenly had an idea. She got up while dragging her wings, stopped just a step away from Adounis, and placed the same styled flower crown as hers on top of his head. She stepped back and admired the view. And nodded in satisfaction when she saw that it surprisingly suited him. He would probably look even better if he used his puppy dog eyes attack to pair with the flower crown. Sevianna’s ears turned red at that thought.

Adounis blinked his eyes in bewilderment and smiled. He didn’t mind the flower since it was made by her. He was about to say something, but the sound of hurried footsteps had stopped him.

“P-Prince! Your Highness!” It was the butler, panting to catch his breath.

Adounis wanted to comment in his disgraceful behaviour, but he restrained himself. “Mn, what is it?”

His voice had calmed the butler. With a grim face, he delivered the news through gritted teeth, “the cities near the border has been besieged.”

Adounis raised his eyebrows in interest, while Sevianna raised her head in surprise. Why was it so early?! She clearly remembered that Brand would only make his move when all of his chess pieces were in place! She had to admit that he was also a genius in stratagems. So why did he initiated the plan a year early??

The butler really dropped the bomb this time. It’s been hundreds of years since the last war that Antitheus had participated. Is the peace going to be broken again? Although the situation seemed grave, Adounis merely thought that it was amusing.

He nodded then turned to Sevianna, who was dazedly looking at the flowers in deep thought. Adounis raised his hand and patted her head – easily getting her attention. “I might not be back for two days. Don’t sleep late.”

He didn’t wait for her reply and had already left by the time she had woken up from her stupor. Sevianna watched his back with a confused gaze. She realized that her intervention in the plot had shifted Sevianna’s original fate. Now even she herself was unable to tell how things were going to end up.

‘Lily, go check what’s happening in the borders.’ Sevianna said in all seriousness. She never liked the feeling of being in the dark.

‘Okay~’ Lily affirmed as she operated her new body – the flying teddy bear – to fly into the forest.

In the end, Adounis only came back after three days. His face was gloomy as he stepped foot into the castle and stopped right in front of Sevianna’s room. It was still dawn, and he knew that she was still sleeping during this time. But he was only given until noon.

He took a deep breath before resolutely knocking on the door. There was a moment of silence before he heard a rustle. The door opened and revealed a sleepy Sevianna wearing another silky nightgown but with a different style.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and squinted at her visitor. She fluttered her eyelashes to clear the blur in her eyes. Adounis?

The frozen Adounis felt his restrained reluctance resurfacing again. He really hated the idea to be apart from her. But he knew that if he didn’t leave to face the man at the border, he would only be waiting for the blade to come cut his neck. He hadn’t even taken Sevianna’s heart yet, and her ex-lover had already reached halfway through the main city!

He was also insecure. His heart didn’t feel any bit of confidence that Sevianna would not leave him for that man.

Adounis suddenly stepped forward and enveloped the surprised girl.

“W- What are you doing!!”

Sevianna’s face rapidly turned red. Her wings were stretched as far as they could, afraid that Adounis might touch them. She tried to push him away but he tightened his embrace instead. His hot breath on her neck melted her heart, but she couldn’t act out of character no matter what.

“Adounis! You – “

“I love you.”

She choked. His voice was incredibly close to her ears so she was directly attacked by his hoarse and slightly husky voice. Sevianna’s heart was about to leap out of her chest. Isn’t his confession wat too sudden?! She wasn’t even able to take the time to prepare. What’s more, she had just woken up!

“W- W- What are you talking? All of a sudde-“

Adounis shifted a bit and buried his head to the crook of her neck. “It’s not sudden.”

Sevianna was speechless. What was she to do in this situation?!

“Sevianna.”

His voice seemed to hold a magical calming effect as she stopped struggling – though her heart was still running a marathon. It was the first time he had called her with her full name.

“I’ll be leaving for a week. Stay here okay?”

Sevianna’s eyes shrunk and her heart skidded to a stop. His sudden action and confession finally made sense. He was going to the border? And from his reaction, she could tell that the enemy was strong!

How could that be?! During this time, Brand should have been waiting for Stella’s cooperation, so the fact that he moved much earlier should mean that he gave up on Stella’s alliance! Stella was the crucial factor in Brand’s plan. Without Stella, he would have to expend more resources to have enough forces for the plan.

And yet, Adounis was leaving personally and he was definitely worried! Sevianna couldn’t simply obey him right then. Especially since Lily hadn’t come back yet and she didn’t know the exact situation in the border.

“No!”

Her outright rejection startled Adounis. He glanced at the girl’s frustrated expression a bit puzzled.

“You have to take me with you.” Sevianna’s eye was burning with stubbornness.

Adounis’ heart sank as well. To bring Sevianna to the border, was the last thing he ever wanted to do. He petted her hair and softened his voice. “Listen to me and stay here-“

“No!” Sevianna pouted to show her grievances. She must come with him. She must!

Sevianna’s expression was scratching at Adounis’ resolve. He wavered for a bit but his worries immediately got him back on track. He pursed his lips as he stared at Sevianna’s eyes. His actions were full of cautiousness as he landed a kiss on her forehead that lasted for a solid three seconds.

“Please Sevianna. Stay here.”

Sevianna was stunned silly. Her eyes were bright and wide as she stared blankly at Adounis. She raised her hand to touch the fading sensation on her forehead. She was feeling giddy for a moment when in the next second she was furious again.

“Why can’t you bring me?!” What was he so worried about that he wouldn’t let me come? Usually, Adounis would say yes to anything she asked. But he adamantly want to keep her in the castle this time.

Adounis caressed the girl’s red cheeks. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Sevianna was once again stunned. Could her Yan gege not be so sweet at this moment?! She had a feeling that this battle was her lost this time. Adounis was even more stubborn than her.

She glared at him – trying the harder approach since the previous ones didn’t work. “I’m going with you.”

Sevianna made a wrong move this time. Adounis misunderstood. Could she really have the idea of leaving him? He gritted his teeth. He could set her free if she really wanted to do, but he wasn’t willing to give her to any other person.

Adounis kissed her forehead again. “I’m sorry… But not to him.”

A magic circle suddenly appeared under their feet. It enlarged until it enclosed the perimeters of the castle and beams of light shot through the sky. For a few seconds, the light continued to shine before gradually fading.

Sevianna knew what he had done, and she also heard him clearly. What do you mean “not to him”?! Adounis you are thinking too much! Who I am worried about is you! Uggh!

Adounis had seeled Sevianna inside his castle.

Adounis’s expression was filled with guilt and resolve. It was so contrasting that he crunched his face in pain. He absolutely didn’t want to do this, but his heart would only be at ease if Sevianna stayed at the castle instead of coming with him to meet that man.

“A- Adounis?” Sevianna’s voice softened in disbelief.

“I’m really sorry. But I need you to stay here. I’ll explain to you when you get back okay?”

Sevianna didn’t know if she should applaud or cry at his stubbornness. Fine then, she’ll try the last card! There was another thing that the original Sevianna feared. She had always feared being abandoned. She feared it to the point that she developed a trauma about it.

Sevianna clutched at his shirt with shaking hands, and with tears on the corner of her eyes, she said, “are you leaving me?”

The sound of Adounis’ glass heart shattered. This was the first time he ever saw her like this. He was filled with remorse. How did it turn from him fearing that she’ll leave him to her suddenly catching the ball and saying that she didn’t want him to leave?

He was filled with remorse and happiness. Didn’t this mean that she never had the intention to leave him? It was definitely the greatest present he ever had. But his stubborn heart still did not curb. Who knows who will win in the fight? He had never felt so doubtful at his own strength.

Adounis wiped away the forming tears in the corner of her eyes, and decisively lowered his head to kiss her.

Sevianna’s well-planned strategy was thoroughly defeated. She was too immersed in the kiss that after it had finished, she ended up standing alone absentminded.

He actually escaped after taking his fill!!! Curses!

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