The sharp clink of boots echoed before Edric Zander emerged from the shadows, his imposing figure dominating the dim light cast by Zelda's lantern. His presence was suffocating, a weight that made the crows in the distance grow silent, their cries swallowed by the unnatural stillness. The cool night air seemed to bow to him, stagnant and cold.
He stepped closer, the gleam of his polished boots catching the light. His black long coat rippled in the starry night. His hair, black as night, was combed neatly behind his head as if he'd just stepped out of a meeting. The sharp lines of his face were framed by the strands of his hair, and his coat, with its silver cuffs, shimmered softly in the light.
Edric's gaze landed on them, piercing through the fog of tension like a dagger. His sharp jawline, framed by a faint shadow of stubble, clenched as his eyes flicked between Seb's hand on Zelda's arm and the tremor in her shoulders.
"Out for a midnight stroll, are we?" His voice was velvet laced with steel, soft enough to deceive but heavy with unspoken authority.
Seb froze, jerking his hand back from Zelda's arm as if he had been burned. "My lord—"
"I wasn't speaking to you," Edric interrupted, his tone cutting like frost. His eyes lingered on Zelda, tracing the way the nightgown clung to her in the faint wind. Her scent hit him then soft, intoxicating, unlike anything he had ever known. A primal heat stirred within him, unwelcome and impossible to ignore.
His hands twitched at his sides, curling briefly into fists. She's not yours. You can't have her. The thought burned in his mind.
"A little late for lovers' quarrels, don't you think?" he drawled, his lips curling into a faint smirk. The sarcasm was a blade he wielded well, though his voice betrayed nothing of the jealousy simmering beneath.
Zelda's breath hitched, her heart pounding. "It's not—"
"It is," Seb cut her off, desperate to salvage himself. "My lord, forgive us. We didn't mean to disturb."
Edric arched a brow, his gaze hardening. "Couples, is it? Interesting." His tone dipped, mockery woven into every word. "I didn't take you for the romantic type, Seb. Or her, for that matter."
Seb stammered, his throat working as he searched for a response. Edric took a slow, deliberate step forward, towering over them now.
"Tell me, Zelda," he said, his voice soft but biting, "is this the kind of man you waste your time with?"
Her eyes widened, her mouth opening to protest, but Edric's hand brushed her shoulder, not harsh but firm. It sent a shiver down her spine, the heat of his touch stark against the cold night.
"She's… shy, my lord," Seb offered weakly, taking a half-step back.
Edric's hand lingered for a moment longer, his fingers twitching as if battling the urge to grip her tighter. His jaw clenched, the lie only stoking the fire inside him. "Shy, is she?" he repeated, his voice a deadly whisper. "And yet here you are, clinging to her like a frightened pup." he removed his hands.
Seb flinched, but didn't dare respond.
Edric's gaze dipped back to Zelda, searching her face, lingering on her trembling lips. "Well?"
"I-it's as he says," Zelda stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She gave a hesitant nod, her eyes pleading for Edric to let it go.
Edric exhaled sharply through his nose, turning his head to hide the way his lip curled. His control was slipping. He touched her. The thought was unbearable, the rage barely contained.
"Run along then, Seb," he said, waving a dismissive hand.
Seb's face paled, his movements jerky as he stumbled backwards, nearly tripping over a bush before disappearing.
"I'll make sure to throw more work his way," Edric thought, his gaze still locked on Zelda.
She stood frozen, blinking slowly, her breath shaky as she tried to calm herself. She kept her head bowed low, never daring to look up at him. Her dark hair fell over her face, hiding her expression, but the way her shoulders trembled told him everything.
Her head was tilted downward, just inches from his chest. The sight of her shivering in the cold stirred something deep inside Edric. He fought the instinct to reach out and pull her close, to wrap her in the warmth of his coat. His hands twitched at his sides, betraying the restraint it took not to take her in his arms.
Zelda flinched, feeling the weight of his gaze even though she refused to look up. It was strange that someone like him, a king, would even remember the name of a mere servant, like her and Seb. She wanted to escape, but all she could do was stand there, her heart racing as fear began to settle deep in her chest.
"Have they known our identity all this time?" she thought, an icy shiver running down her spine. "we too will end up in that basement, just like the others." The thought made her stomach drop, but she swallowed it down, trying to focus on steadying her breath.
Edric stepped closer, his boots crunching softly against the gravel. The dim lantern light flickered, casting shadows across his strong jawline, the dimples, the curve of his lips pressed into a line, and the faint scar tracing above his left brow.
His eyes lingered on her for a moment too long, tracing the curve of her trembling fingers clutching the shawl, her exposed collarbone, and the rise and fall of her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.
Edric's nostrils flared ever so slightly, catching that maddening scent of hers again. It wasn't perfume or anything artificial; it was her, a natural, subtle sweetness that wrapped around his senses and refused to let go. He clenched his fists at his sides, his nails biting into his palms as he fought the surge of heat that coursed through him. She was intoxicating, and he hated it.
"You smell like trouble," he murmured, his voice low, the faintest edge of sarcasm breaking through.
Zelda stiffened, her eyes snapping up to meet his. "I apologise, your highness. We were just-"
"I didn't ask for an explanation," Edric interrupted smoothly, his tone carrying a mix of annoyance yet something softer, something unspoken. He leaned in slightly, just enough for her to feel the faint warmth radiating from him, though his expression remained unreadable. "But if you're going to sneak out, you could at least wear something warmer. You look like a ghost wandering the gardens."
Her cheeks burned, but she lifted her chin, unwilling to cower under his sharp words. "I can manage, your highness" she replied, though her voice faltered slightly, betraying her nervousness.
Edric's gaze dipped to the shawl she clutched so tightly. A flicker of something dark crossed his features, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "Of course you can," he said. The corner of his mouth slightly lifted as his dimples became visible. "You seem to handle everything so well... including your 'couple's quarrels.'" His voice dripped with sarcasm, but his jaw tensed as he recalled Seb's hand on her arm.
Zelda flinched, her fingers tightening around the lantern. "It wasn't—"
"Oh, I know," he cut her off, stepping even closer. His hand brushed hers, deliberately slow, as he took the lantern from her grip. The touch sent a shiver racing down her spine. "But next time, I'd suggest finding a less public place for... private discussions."
She glared at him, her lips parting as if to retort, but the words caught in her throat. He was too close now, his height towering over her, his scent a mix of cedar and something rich and earthy filling the space between them.
"Go inside," he said quietly, his tone softer now, almost a whisper. "Before the wolves decide they're hungry."
For a moment, Zelda hesitated, caught in the intensity of his gaze. But then she nodded, her fingers brushing against his as she reached for the lantern. The contact was brief, but it lingered in her mind as she turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest while she recalled that dimple of his.
Edric watched her retreat, his expression unreadable. The pull she had over him, the way she made his carefully controlled world feel like it was slipping through his fingers, was infuriating. And yet, as she disappeared into the shadows, he found himself standing there, unable to move, the faint trace of her scent still clinging to the air.