"It's been a while..."
Only these words and a cheesy smile melted the princess of the Vientienne family and she felt something pull at her heartstrings. She barely managed to squeeze an 'Mhm' before blushing and lowering her head to see the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Seeing his daughter act like this not to mention Orion, but everybody else who paid attention was stunned by the famous ice-beauty's reaction.
Still, Orion being the head of one of the most powerful forces in the sub-region quickly made a connection and started to grin.
"So you're the rascal who wants to take my daughter away?" He joked with Nova.
Hearing this the spectators were stunned once again, leaving even Nova speechless for a while, before he too connected the dots.
"Father-in-law, nice to meet you, I'm Nova!" He quickly entered into Orion's game.
"Who... Who's your father-in-law, you hooligan!!" Said a blushing Imperia barely keeping her voice straight.
"Hahaha!"Orion laughed so hard that he started punching his chest. He suddenly got closer to Nova before whispering to him; "Listen here kid, you better not make my daughter cry or I'll kick your ass." Said a serious Orion.
Nova was taken aback by his father-in-law's change of attitude. Imperia was again shocked by her father selling her like this, and she started to get angry.
"You both! You're a pair of idiots, I'm not talking to you ever again!" Imperia prepared to leave when she heard an angry voice behind her back.
"Who angered my little niece?!" Said a man approaching with his wife.
"Uncle Martin, Aunt Arin! These two idiots took it too far and are making fun of me!" Said Imperia feeling pissed at the two clowns.
"Let your uncle teach them a less..." Martin was stunned seeing his son and Orion, his best friend, with arms around each other backs and giving Imperia a teasing smile.
"Umm.." Martin was beginning to have a headache seeing these two so close, before realizing something and also starting to grin like an idiot.
Seeing her husband grinning from ear to ear, Arin clenched her fist and hit Martin in the back of his head sending him to the floor, stunning both Imperia and the other spectators.
"Aunt, why did you hit Uncle Martin like that?!" Imperia tried to make sense of the situation unfurling before her.
"You see... That boy over there, Nova is Martin and mine's son..."
Imperia was petrified on her spot hearing that because while she expected her Aunt Arin and Uncle Martin to somewhat be related to Nova when she heard him say his last name, she surely didn't expect this.
Like a general losing all of her troops, Imperia once again lowered her head and didn't look at anyone around her. She started walking to the Vientienne family's designed table in silence.
Seeing her like this, everyone chuckled for a good amount of time. Especially the trio formed of Nova-Martin-Orion.
After a few moments of talking with his parents and future father-in-law, Nova made his way back to his table.
Arriving at the table Nova saw the strange looks given by the girls and the approving looks of the guys and he was caught before laughing or crying.
"Good job there, brother Nova, for being on the same team as your father-in-law!" Said Melissa, once again smiling foolishly.
Nova didn't know what to do with this girl and her big mouth, because he was sure Orion and his parents heard her. After all, they were looking at him once again.
After the little commotion ended, food was served and after that, the people were invited to dance.
Looking toward Imperia, Nova saw her turning her head from him and not looking back.
'So I guess she doesn't like dancing.' Nova made a mental note for the future. He couldn't even tell she was just still pissed at him, what a fool.
After a few hours of dancing, it was time for the other powers to introduce their young generation's capabilities to the Star Sect.
The majority of the youths were in Stage 6 with a few dozens in Stage 7, and only three Stage 8's, with Imperia being one of them. The other two were a man from the Death Shrine and another woman from the Sword Clan.
The top ten forces of the sub-region are all present right now. The Two Shrines, Space-Time and Death.
The Three Clans of Sword, Spear, and Bow.
The Four Families, Vientienne Family, Polaris Family, Castello Family, and Terence Family.
The Regional Auction House.
But without question the most glorified force right now was the Star Sect, taking the center of attention from every other power.
Especially Nova, who was seemingly in a good relationship with the Vientienne Family's princess. He was truly the center of attention.
Making signs with his eyes Nova looked at Imperia hoping to talk alone for a little while. For a few minutes, she had an internal struggle with herself wondering if she should go or not.
Finally making her decision she rose from her seat and looked at Nova. He, too, saw her standing up, and a smile couldn't help but form on his lips.
Seeing him preparing to go along with Imperia, Melissa couldn't contain herself from speaking up.
"Brother Nova, don't exhaust yourself too much, we still have a tournament after this, you know?" Hearing her say this, the girls blushed thinking of something and the guys couldn't help laughing.
Nova was rendered speechless by this pervert of a little sister he just recognized.
Shaking his head,Nova headed to the entrance again where he met with Imperia and the two made their way out of the banquet under the gaze of everyone.
.....
After they got out of the hallway they started walking to a nearby park a few minutes away. The park was empty and the two found a random bench to sit on. After sitting down the two looked at each other and didn't know where to begin from
Seeing the complex emotions in Nova's eyes, Imperia hesitated to speak.
"To be honest, I didn't think we would meet again so soon. I thought it would take a few months or years like in the novels I read." Nova started to speak nonsense after a while.
Hearing him say that Imperia forgot her previous hesitation and started to laugh.
"Haha, really now, how could you say the stupidest things ever and manage to make me laugh!"
Soon the two forgot the awkward atmosphere from before and chatted about little things in their lives.
From describing the world they grew up in, to their childhood and even things they like or dislike. A laugh or two could be heard from time to time.
The two of them were sitting closer to each other, and as if sensing the change in the air they locked their eyes on each other before getting closer.
Imperia started blushing and her mind raced thinking of the moment that Nova kissed her in the dungeon, taking her by surprise.
'Will he kiss me again by surprise? How should I react? Noo! Why am I thinking of these stupid things? Really now, it's his fault for making me like this.' After ending her internal monologue, Imperia didn't even realize she was standing so close to Nova that she almost leaned on his shoulder.
Seeing her slowly starting to lean on him, Nova got a weird feeling in his heart. When he looked at her blurry eyes almost on the verge of tears and lost in thought, probably thinking of what was going to happen next, he suddenly felt that he was maybe too pushy and pressured her.
Clearing his mind a little he mustered his courage to hug her; "Don't think too hard about the future, it may hold endless possibilities, the best we can do is enjoy the present and the company of each other, of course, if you want that too."
Not expecting to hear that from Nova, Imperia was taken aback and her heart started to beat a little bit faster than before.
"I didn't say I don't want to take part in your future... our future... it's just that for the first time in my entire life, I was thrown into this position.
Many people wanted to get closer to me, but I rejected them all, even earning nicknames like ice-beauty or cold Princess." Speaking on to this point Imperia chuckled a little before continuing.
"Still none of them gave me the same feeling as you, I don't feel rejection from you, it's something that its drawing me in. You are sometimes serious, other times a bit foolish, and even majestic or a total clown." Once again she laughed at her analysis.
"It's just like you said about time and maybe we should feel joy in the present, not the future."
Speaking to this point Imperia looked like she made up her mind and looked Nova straight in the eyes with expectations and a little bit of fear.
Hearing her saying so much in one go, Nova was stunned by her so much that in his mind she became a piece of him. He too looked her straight in the eyes and slowly got closer.
The two sitting on the bench looked like opposites but also a perfect match.
One of them was a beauty with blue oceanic hair and eyes, the other with golden hair and eyes, truly a handsome man.
Feeling each other's emotions from their eyes, their mouths slowly got closer to each other until; under the beautiful sunset, their lips touched.
Feeling the moist lips slowly sealing his, Nova was amazed by their taste as the previous time he touched them it was more of an innocent peck.
But this time he felt amazingly good from feeling them entirely. It was also a novel sensation from Imperia who didn't think she would get kissed so delicately by Nova.
After a few minutes of kissing, Nova used his arm to bring Imperia onto his lap. She was surprisingly soft and besides a little panicking, she seemed fine with what will happen next.
Putting his arms around her back, Nova looked her in the eyes with a burning gaze that melted her barriers down.
She too put her arms around Nova's neck and prepared to continue only to be surprised by his action.
After touching their lips again, Imperia felt Nova's tongue trying to invade her mouth. Still, she didn't struggle much when she saw his feelings for her and after a few seconds allowed him to enter her mouth.
When their lips touched, it was like a spark traversed both their bodies at the same time, inducing a low moan from Imperia.
"Ahh, mm." Imperia started to moan from their kissing.
Hearing her moaning for a little, Nova was fired up and in his pants rose a tent, until it touched Imperia.
Seemingly feeling it, Imperia was aroused by this, and instead of feeling rejection, she pressed her body a little more until her lower part touched it again.
A few moans escaped her voice once again and she barely separated her mouth from Nova's, leaving a line of spit in between them.
"Slowly, please." She barely managed to utter these words when Nova once again invaded her mouth.