Seraphina followed Damian through the dark forest.
With his firm grip on her hand, he led the way, and she followed closely behind him.
His eyes scanned the surroundings as they ventured deeper into the forest.
The further they walked, the deeper they seemed to go.
"How much farther do we have to go?" Sera asked, tugging slightly on his hand.
He turned to look at her, her panting breaths not deterring her unwavering gaze at him. Her eyes fixated on his strong, well-built back.
"Just a little bit more. Can you keep going?" he inquired.
"Or else what? Are you going to carry me?" she retorted.
Damian glanced back at her with a playful smirk. "I'd be delighted, but I wouldn't want to risk stirring up any feelings, princess."
Sera's jaw dropped at his remark. 'Stir up feelings? He can go ahead and dream that I have any feelings for him.'
"It was a joke. Just a little bit further. Once we pass those orchid trees, we'll be right at the entrance to the kingdom. It's best if you don't say anything to anyone and don't challenge any Darkling you come across," Damian explained, pausing briefly before looking behind him. He sighed upon seeing Sera listening intently to his words.
"Who was that earlier? The one speaking? Do you know them?" she pressed.
Damian halted in his tracks.
"What is it?" she asked again.
"Sera, for your own sake, do not inquire about that person. Yes, I know them, and it's someone you should definitely stay away from," he cautioned, scanning the dark forest.
Sera followed his gaze, surveying the mysterious surroundings.
There was nothing but silence.
In an instant, Damian swiftly opened the imposing gates that stood before them. It felt as though the entrance to the kingdom was guarded by those gates, simultaneously alluring and foreboding.
Seraphina couldn't help but pause, taking a moment to truly observe what lay ahead. Why were they venturing into a place where individuals with dark energy resided? It seemed unwise.
She briefly entertained the idea of taking Damian back to her own palace to discuss matters, but she quickly dismissed it as a foolish thought. If Genghis's mother, the lady of the house, discovered their meeting, Seraphina would surely face dire consequences.
Hence, she couldn't bring Damian to the palace, nor could she risk her life by staying outside the kingdom walls.
"Are you suggesting we stay here, motionless, until someone far more powerful arrives and tears us apart? If that's the case, I wouldn't mind. However, considering that we need to discuss matters concerning our... future, the most sensible choice is to go somewhere... safe," Damian whispered in his deep, masculine voice, conscious of the knights patrolling the kingdom.
With his explanation, Seraphina understood the gravity of the situation. She nodded in agreement, instantly convinced.
"Let's enter," she whispered.
-
Sera and Damian discreetly maneuvered around the castle, making their way to the farthest building at the back. Damian, with his tall and broad frame, did his best to shield Seraphina from prying eyes. They encountered several maids, three knights, and various members of the royal court who inhabited the palace grounds.
"Shh..." Damian hushed the woman walking behind him.
"Well, why don't we take the stairs? I thought you said your bedroom was this way," Sera whispered, perplexed by the sudden change in direction.
Damian frowned at her, momentarily halting their progress. Sera couldn't comprehend what was transpiring.
She had followed him inside and had gone to great lengths to remain hidden from prying eyes. She even held her breath for what felt like an eternity. Yet, the imposing man had the audacity to pause and give her a disapproving look.
He maintained his gaze on her, hoping she would grasp the gravity of the situation, but eventually, he relented and sighed.
"What?" she questioned once more.
"Nothing, this way," he sighed again and took her hand.
They turned right, entering a dimly lit section of the kingdom. Following a dark, stone alleyway, they reached the first door they encountered and slipped inside.
-
Sera took in her surroundings, observing the grey-toned bedroom. The dark color scheme extended to everything in the room, from the bed to the walls and the furnishings.
"Is this where you live?" she inquired.
Damian looked at her and let out a sigh.
"Well, our arrangement is turning out to be more challenging than I anticipated," he admitted.
"What do you mean?" she pressed, seeking clarification.
He walked around the bed, while Sera remained seated upon it, and approached the door. Opening it, he quickly surveyed the area outside before closing it behind him.
"Well," he began, his tone weighted with implications. "For starters, you seem to be getting too comfortable with me, oblivious to the fact that I possess the authority to end your life at this very moment."
Sera frowned at his words and shook her head. Countless questions swirled in her mind, causing her to glance at Damian and then cast her gaze downward, unable to maintain direct eye contact.
"Lord Damian, may I ask you something?" she inquired after a pause.
He nodded in consent, positioning himself against the bed frame.
"What does that say about you?" she questioned, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"What do you mean, princess?" he asked, leaning in slightly.
Sera's attention was captivated by the slight flexing of his arm muscles. She gasped softly, realizing how drawn she was to him in that moment, leaving her momentarily speechless.
His gaze locked onto her, his blue eyes devoid of empathy or affection.
'How long did it take me to realize how cold he always appears?' she pondered to herself.
"Uh?" Damian urged, prompting her to continue.
"You mentioned that anyone in the kingdom could potentially kill me, or any human for that matter," she stated, meeting his gaze.
"That's true."
"You also said that we are... your enemies?"
Damian's brow furrowed, as if contemplating when he had made such a statement.
"The first d-" Sera interrupted.
"I remember," Damian cut her off shortly, recalling the exact moment when he had uttered those words. "And it's true. It's not just humans; the history traces back to your forefathers. That's why my mother refused to reside in the nearest palace."
Everything suddenly fell into place. 'So that's the reason,' Sera realized.
"Yes, princess?"
"No, I don't have any more questions, Lord Damian," she replied, her voice tinged with determination.
A satisfied smirk played on Damian's lips.
"Very well," he said. "Why don't we discuss our little arrangement then? But please, try not to make too much noise. Unless you want the slumbering residents to come searching for you here. Trust me, I won't be able to protect you from that."
"Please, lay out the details."
"Right. Kingdom Lumina—my father, King Oberon, is on the throne now. And, he's very sick—"
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Which," Damian glared at her. "Which makes the perfect opportunity for us to appear in the coronation next month. But there are problems," he said and pointed towards the bed. It was a gesture to ask if he could have a seat.
"Please," Sera said and immediately stood up.
She showed him the respect that she thought he deserved. He was a prince in the kingdom, and she realized that she was nothing more than a human. Thus, respect.
"You're going to stand?" he questioned again.
Sera nodded. "I'll be fine, please continue."
"Okay, whatever you wish," he started to explain. "My brother is a darkling. And—I'm not."
Sera frowned at his confession. "You're not?"
He nodded. "Yes, I'm not." He looked up at her and realized the major confusion on her face. He was right. She was immediately taken aback.
"What do—"
"I'd rather not go into details, Seraphina," he said, turning into his stern self once again.
This was not news to Sera. In their very few encounters, she had seen how he would switch between being serious and not-so-serious. How he would make jokes and then suddenly become stern, reminding her not to venture into the wilderness.
But this time, Sera wanted to know more.
"I'd love to know," she insisted.
"Someday. But listen to what is more important right now because you need to know these before dusk." Damian sucked in a deep breath. "I'll drop you off at your palace and come to pick you up when the time is right. But for that, you should know when the time is right too."
"Enlighten me, Lord."
And now, she was all ears. 'Anything to escape Genghis,' she thought to herself.
"Next month... Coronation. As you know, the kingdom values a household or a man with a woman..." Thus, he started explaining every detail of what she needed to know.