Daman led her to his apartment, which was on the top floor of the building. When they finally reached his floor, Daman opened the door, allowing Alexandra to step inside first.
As she walked in, Alexandra stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened as she took a look at the apartment. The large windows showcased the twinkling city lights, and the elegant decor gave the place a refined yet cozy feel.
"Daman..." she said, turning to him with a mixture of surprise and amusement, "I didn't know you were living in a place like this! You never mentioned you were this rich."
Daman chuckled, shaking his head as he closed the door behind them. "Rich? Alex, you should be talking about yourself. This isn't even that fancy when compared to the mansion you live in."
Alexandra smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, so you do admit this is fancy."
"Alright, maybe it's a bit fancy." Daman conceded with a grin, "But I tell you, it's nothing compared to your father's estate."
"Touché." Alexandra replied, a small laugh escaping her. "Still, I'm impressed. You live alone, yet you are managing such a big place well."
Daman shrugged. "Well, I have to be capable of doing at least that much."
"Yeah, its good to be capable like that." Alex smiled.
As they continued to chat and explore the apartment, Alexandra's eyes caught sight of something on the floor—a pencil, simple and unassuming. Without thinking, she bent down, picked it up, and then, without any warning, she swung it sharply towards Daman's face. The pencil's lead stopped mere inches from his right eye, the tension in the room skyrocketing. But Daman didn't flinch at all. He stood perfectly still, his gaze steady on hers. If anything, he was calm.
"You didn't even flinch. Interesting." Alex said with a scoff.
"Because I know that you have no intention of hurting me. By the way, what are you doing?" Daman asked.
"This was a test to see how you react." Alexandra said, her voice cold and precise. "Tell me, Daman—are you an assassin working for the Sybellian Royal Family?" She looked at him closely, her face just a few inches away from his.
Daman's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained composed. "Why would you ask that?"
"Astrael," she continued, her grip tightening on the pencil. "That sword you summoned tonight. It's not just any weapon; it belonged to the Crown Prince."
Daman's eyes flickered with surprise at her knowledge, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue."So tell me," she pressed, her gaze intense, "are you working for him? Are you here to spy on me? To kill me?"
Daman took a slow, deep breath before replying, "Alex, I don't know how to explain this to you... Half of what you told is true. I'm not exactly an assassin, but I did work as a Knight and also as a shadow for the Crown Prince. And, me being here has absolutely nothing to do with you. But how do you know about Astrael? That's not something the general public would be aware of."
Alexandra hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered the pencil, though her eyes never left his. "I know because… I once competed with him for that sword. I lost miserably that day... It was a really bad day for me. So, what I mean to say is, I would recognise that sword anywhere. And, in case you're wondering, Ricardo is my cousin."
"You're… the Crown Prince's cousin?" he repeated, his voice mixed with surprise.
"Yes. I didn't stay there much, that must be why we never crossed paths." Alexandra confirmed, her tone steady. "And, you never met my father here, that's why you don't know. My father, William, is the Arch Duke of Rosenberg, the younger brother of the current Emperor of Sybellia.That's why I know about Astrael, and that's why I had to be sure. Well, since its a Royal treasure, there would be no chance of you stealing it. That leaves with you being someone Ricardo trusts. But, Ricardo and I are not in good terms so, I couldn't help but be suspicious." Hearing this, Daman nodded in agreement.
"I understand your concern, Alex. But I'm not here under any orders from the Crown Prince. In fact, he doesn't even know that I'm here." He said, while running his fingers through his hair.
"What? He doesn't know?" Alex looked perplexed.
"I kind of took a break without his permission and now I'm hiding from him." He smiled awkwardly.
Alex couldn't help but facepalm herself. She then studied him for a moment, her gaze searching his face for any sign of deceit. But all she found was sincerity. "Alright," she said finally, her voice softening. "I believe you, Daman. I'm sorry… I just had to be sure."
Daman gave her a reassuring smile. "You have every right to be cautious. But, do tell me. How is that you can trust me?"
"Well, it's kind of an instinct thing, actually. I can sense malice from people around me. Whenever someone has the intention to harm me, I hear ringing sounds in my head... sort of like a warning bell. I myself have no idea how I got this ability. But, I know I can trust it." Alex looked down. "Because I know what happens when I don't trust it..."
"Hey... Thanks for telling me. And thanks for trusting me..." Daman looked emotional. "You don't have to worry about me trying to harm you. And, you will never hear those warning bells because of me." He smiled. A wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Thank you, Daman. That means a lot to me."He nodded, his expression gentle. "Why don't you go freshen up? I'll get some clothes for you, and we can talk more over dinner."
She nodded, still smiling as she made her way to the bathroom. The spacious, modern fixtures and warm atmosphere were a welcome surprise, and as she washed away the grime and sweat of the night, Alex felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders.
After freshening up, Alexandra wrapped herself in a towel, her skin warm and flushed from the shower. Her hair, still wet, fell in soft waves down her back as she stepped out of the bathroom. With a playful smirk, she decided to surprise Daman and headed back into the living room.
When he saw her, his jaw dropped. "A..Alex…?" He stammered, struggling to look at her. "I thought I gave you clothes to wear...?"
"What's the matter?" Alexandra teased, enjoying his flustered reaction. She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a flirtatious tone. "You should get used to seeing me like this if we are going live together in the future."
Daman's face turned red as he tried to maintain his composure. "T...that's in the future! For now—uh, maybe you should get dressed…"
"But I'm comfortable like this." she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she moved even closer. "And besides, I'm eighteen now. Don't you think it's time we take things to the next step?"
Her words sent a jolt through Daman, his heart pounding as she closed the distance between them. He tried to back away and his mind was racing, but in his flustered state, he tripped over the edge of the rug. As he stumbled backward, his hand instinctively reached out to steady himself, but instead, he accidentally grabbed onto Alexandra's arm, pulling her down with him.
With a surprised gasp, Alexandra tumbled forward, landing directly on top of Daman. For a moment, they both froze, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. Alexandra's face was mere inches from Daman's, and their bodies were pressed together in an unexpectedly intimate position.
Their eyes locked, the playful teasing momentarily forgotten as the air between them grew with tension. Alexandra's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing as she realized how close they were.
"Daman…" she whispered, her voice soft.
Daman swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked up at her. Without thinking, he reached up, gently brushing a strand of wet hair away from her face. Alexandra's playful demeanor softened, her expression turning more vulnerable as she leaned down, closing the distance between them.
Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss that quickly deepened, fueled by the emotions they had been holding back. Alexandra's hands moved to cradle his face as she kissed him, her body pressing closer against his. Daman's hands instinctively found her waist, holding her gently as the kiss grew more intense.
As their kiss became more passionate, Daman's hands began to explore, moving up her back in a tender caress. But then, his fingers brushed against something that didn't belong on her otherwise smooth skin —thick, raised on some places. He froze, his heart sinking as he realized what they were.
Daman pulled back from the kiss, his eyes wide with shock and concern as he gently moved his hands to examine her back. "Alex… these are scars on your back, isn't it?" he asked, his voice filled with horror.
Alexandra's eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but Daman held her gently, his eyes searching hers for answers.
"Who did this to you?" he asked softly.
Alex had a pained expression as she looked away and her body started to feel tensed.
Daman's heart ached as he gently traced one of the scars on Alexandra's back. The pain she had endured was evident, and the thought of someone hurting her like this filled him with a deep, simmering anger.
"Was it… your father who did this to you?"
But to his surprise, Alexandra shook her head, her expression darkening as she pulled away slightly, trying to cover the scars with the towel. "No," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "It wasn't my father."
Daman's brow furrowed in confusion. "Then… who?"
Alexandra's eyes lowered, her jaw tightening as she seemed to wrestle with her emotions. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely audible, "I am sorry but I can't tell you now..."
"Is that so...?" Daman felt slightly disappointed but didn't pry for answers any further.
"I'm sorry..." She said, her voice flat, as if she was trying to suppress the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She quickly wrapped the towel more securely around herself. "Because, talking about that person brings me nothing but terrible nightmares."
Daman could see the pain in her eyes, the way her body tensed as if bracing against a storm of memories. He could tell that this was a subject too painful for her to delve into right now, and he didn't want to push her.
"Alright." he said gently, his voice softening as he reached out to take her hand. "We don't have to talk about it. Not now, not ever, unless you're ready."
Alexandra looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and vulnerability. She squeezed his hand, appreciating his understanding and the space he was giving her.
"Thank you, Daman," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you for understanding."
Daman nodded, his expression filled with empathy. "I'm here for you, Alex. You can tell me whenever you're ready, or even if you never want to talk about it, that's okay too. Just know that I'll always be here to listen."
She offered him a small, grateful smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "That means more to me than you know."
Daman pulled her gently into his arms, holding her close as she rested her head on his shoulder. The scars on her back were a painful reminder of the past she had endured, but as she leaned into him, she felt a small measure of comfort. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't facing her demons alone.
"Hey, Daman."
"Hmm...?"
"I love you."