Adelia blinked up at him twice, feeling a bit dazed. Then she opened her mouth to speak, "Just… Az?"
Azel gave her an inquisitive look, and tilted his head. "Yes, just Az," he replied simply. "Is something the matter, milady?"
"No, it's nothing," Adelia shook her head. "It's just that the name sounds so unfamiliar…"
"Does it now…?" Azel's lips curled, and she looked up at him with panicked eyes.
"No, don't get me wrong!" She quickly defended herself. "Your name sounds strange, but it's not by any means bad."
His eyes seemed to bore into her. "Do you truly think so?"
Adelia swallowed at the intensity of his stare, her knees weakening, as it always did when his beautiful eyes took on that gleam. "Yes," she managed to answer. "Your name is… fine."
"Just fine?"
"It's lovely," she corrected, and Azel laughed.
"How am I to be sure that this isn't pure lip service?"
Adelia's lips curved. "Trust me, it's not," she assured him. "Considering that I openly called you a pervert to your face."
Azel's lips twitched subtly, his amusement slightly toned down. "You make… a fair point."
She laughed and then gracefully took the sides of her gown, managing the most elegant curtsy she had done today. "Thank you… Az," she voiced. "For everything you've done for me today, I will always be indebted to you."
Azel managed a faint smile and then it wavered ever so slightly… if only he could tell her that he hadn't done it for her but for himself.
If he could only tell her that he was being a bit selfish at that time. He had saved her because he didn't want to see his mate die, that he didn't want to go through unbearable pain, not because he wanted to keep her alive.
But for now... for now it didn't matter, because she was well and she was safe.
Azel exhaled quietly. "I suppose you're welcome, milady," he finally said.
Adelia raised her brows at him uncertainly. "Suppose?"
"Yes," Azel answered with his usual gleam of amusement. "You will only be truly welcome once you tell me your name."
Adelia sucked in a breath at his proposal. Was he really being serious right now?
She didn't want to tell him her name, she didn't! All she wanted him to know was that she was a noble and nothing more.
He didn't need the extra information, and she wasn't about to give it to him…
An idea suddenly struck her… or maybe she would…
Adelia had to stop herself from smiling. Yes, she would give him her name.
But she wanted him to work for it; it was a small price to pay for annoying her ever since she stepped foot into this establishment…
Ever since she met him in the forest...
She smirked. "But... I've grown quite fond of the title you've given me, Az," she said. "I'd like to stick with it, which is why I don't find it necessary to give you my name."
Azel frowned at her explanation. "I'm honored that you've already taken a liking to my title, milady," he began. "But knowing someone's name is the first step in getting to know them."
"But we've skipped that step so many times over," Adelia argued with a smile. "We already know each other quite well by now, so there's no real need for names."
"I suppose there isn't," he agreed. "But… I've told you mine, milady, isn't it only fair you tell me yours?"
Adelia tilted her head inquisitively to the side, "Is it?" She asked. "I don't think so..."
The crease between Azel's brows increased. "Why?"
"I asked for your name because I had nothing else to call you... except 'pervert' of course," she said and his lips tugged. "And I can't call you 'pervert', it's inappropriate. But you, you already had something to call me, that's why I don't think it serves any purpose giving you my name."
"Is that so…?" Azel asked with a smirk. "A shame you won't answer… I thought nobles took pride in blurting out their names for the whole world to hear to make their dominance known… I suppose you aren't noble then?"
Adelia's nostrils nearly flared at his comeback but she managed to keep herself composed.
"Well, I suppose I'm not," she said then smiled when she saw Azel's surprised expression. 'For today, at least.' She thought.
Azel looked dumbfounded at her response, he didn't expect her to deny her title. "What...? But—"
She yawned, interrupting him. "Good night, Az," she said, prying open the wooden door. Her lips were now pressed together to suppress a smile. "I'm tired now… we'll see tomorrow morning. I hope you rest well."
With that, she quickly entered the room and closed the door. Azel stood in shock, staring at the wooden door for a while before a defeated smirk appeared on his lips.
"Minx…" he muttered. "She played me…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Adelia was trying hard to contain her laughter the moment she closed the door shut behind her.
The look on his face… it was absolutely priceless!
She didn't think it would be this satisfying. He always had something witty to say, a joke ready for every sentence, it had been like that ever since she saw him in the forest just two days ago
Seeing him rendered speechless was more satisfying than she had imagined and she was glad it was her who accomplished that feat.
Well... All that was over now.
Adelia's expression instantly turned solemn as she took a deep breath and stepped away from the door, her eyes scanning the now dark room. Still, she could see just fine... she could always see in darkness.
But she wanted all the light she could get for what she was about to do.
Az had taught her how to light the oil lamps before they went down for dinner, and so she did, managing to handle them, barely enough not to burn her hands.
Adelia's gaze then settled on Edward, and she instantly grew weary. It was now she realized how much Az's presence had helped her cope with all that happened today.
She mustered a smile at the thought.
Her Knight had been in his unconscious state for hours, showing no signs of improvement.
He couldn't remain in this condition for much longer; she wouldn't let him, because it felt as if he would never wake up.
Taking another deep breath, she approached his bed, which was supposed to be for Az's companion.
The thought of what he did warmed her heart. It was kind of him, of both of them, truly. But she couldn't help but wonder how they would manage to cover the cost of two accommodations.
She made a mental note to settle that for them once she got the chance, as she reached her Knight and Knelt beside his bed.
Adelia cautiously began to loosen the bandages around Edward's torso. As she removed the final one, she nearly curved forward to empty her stomach.
Now that she was seeing it properly, the wound ran deep and the skin around it appeared a sickly faded green.
She swallowed.
The healer had certainly done her best and the danger of the poison was gone, but with such basic treatment, Edward wasn't going to be getting up anytime soon.
And they needed to leave this place as soon as they could.
Her hands hovered over the long gash; she knew the cost of what she was about to do... but it didn't matter, as long as her Knight would recover sooner.
She had never healed an injury as serious as this one before, but she would never know until she tried.
Adelia inhaled to still herself and chanted, "Curare infirmitatem."
Nothing happened.
She frowned and huffed, then chanted again, "Curare infirmitatem."
Still, nothing...
Adelia swallowed, with the heavy realization that it wasn't going to work.
A bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
She knew that the spell was for the sole purpose of helping her mother, mostly for soothing weaknesses rather than wounds.
Still, it had an effect on small cuts and bruises but it seemed that Edward's wound was too much for it.
'Far too much…' she thought and bit her lower lip in frustration. Deep down, she somehow knew it wouldn't work, but she still wanted to try...
And this was the result.
She clutched the folds of her dress so tightly that she almost ripped it.
First, she couldn't protect herself; she couldn't even bring herself to run! She had been unable to protect Edward, and now she couldn't even heal him, relieve him of his pain.
What was the purpose of all the power she was born with if she couldn't bring herself to use it properly...?
She was useless... utterly and completely useless…
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