Upon catching sight of Skylar, he averted his gaze and proceeded to walk past her. Instantly, she trailed behind him as they continued their walk until they reached the staircase. Coming to a halt, he inadvertently collided with a lady who was attempting to keep up with his pace.
As she stepped back, head lowered, the lady apologized, addressing him as "Your Highness." Ramiel then turned his attention towards her, his gaze darkening, and inquired why she persistently followed him, confessing his growing irritation.
Prompted by Skylar's question about her presumed role as his maid, given that he was the last prince to leave the throne room, Ramiel disregarded her previous statement and posed his query. The lady confirmed that she had been sent by Arya, prompting his following proposition: would she be interested in becoming his assistant, or rather, his maid?
Replying affirmatively with a smile, Skylar, Ramiel let out a heavy sigh before casting his gaze upon the lady who had transitioned from despondent to remarkable and attractive. Irritation welled up within him at the thought.
"It's time for you to depart," he declared.
"I apologize, Your Highness, but I cannot leave. I have been assigned as your maid, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill that role," she responded, summoning her courage as she met his intimidating yet captivating gaze. Ramiel smirked in response, causing Skylar's heart to skip a beat. She knew she would come to regret speaking to him in such a manner.
"How many stories does this building have?" he inquired.
"I am unaware, as I only recently commenced my duties," she replied in a softer tone.
"This is a four-story building, and everything beyond the last floor is off-limits. Do you know why?" he questioned, receiving no response. Continuing, he stated, "Because a monster like me resides up there, as it currently stands." Ramiel whispered these words to Skylar, causing her to close her eyes and reminisce about all that she had endured. She resolved that she would no longer be the naïve girl from before-she would allow him to proceed with whatever he desired.
"I do not fear whether you are a monster, demon, vampire, witch, or any horror movie creature. I am different from others, and I am here to serve you and always will be," she declared with unwavering courage, gazing resolutely at him. Ramiel was momentarily confused before smirking, his eyes fixed on the courageous lady before him. If he were unable to sense her heartbeat, he might have believed her. Despite finding herself in a strange world, she swiftly adapted and summoned a great deal of courage. Something about her felt ancient-perhaps it was her scent, or perhaps there was more to it.
•••••••••••••••••••
Earlier today, Ramiel abruptly materialized in Liquor 26, a bar. Upon entering the bar, time froze as he walked in, causing the ladies performing lap dances to come to a halt, while the men stared at them with longing. The bartender attentively served drinks, including various wines and alcoholic beverages.
His attention was drawn to a woman sitting at the bar, who was given a shot by the bartender, but remained frozen due to the paused time. He delved into her thoughts and discovered her true nature, realizing she was incredibly naive. Suddenly, he heard some noise from the back and swiftly disappeared, causing time to resume its normal flow.
As Ramiel reached the fifth block, he unknowingly passed by the pitiful woman. It was there that he spotted his men, including his brother, as well as the vampire he had been searching for. The man knelt before him.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I did not intend to do it," the man pleaded.
"You didn't intend to do it," he responded with a sinister grin.
"Spare me, Your Highness. I beg you! It will never happen again."
"Your apology is insufficient. You have broken one of our rules and regulations, and now you must face the consequences. I could kill you swiftly, or perhaps I should let Damien take care of it," he suggested, as Damien smirked and the man remained silent.
"I thought so," Ramiel said with a smirk, summoning a sword from his hand. He struck the man in the ribs, causing black blood to pour from his mouth. "This is not an ordinary sword."
Suddenly, he sensed an unfamiliar presence and glanced back, finding the same lady from the bar. Feeling exhausted and weary of it all, he approached her. He sensed her heartbeat weakening, and just as he was about to kill her, she fainted in his arms. Damien approached him, casually placing his hand in his pocket.
"What a frightened little fox. She is stunning but unlucky. Let's proceed with the execution," Damien remarked with a smirk.
"Damien," Ramiel called out, raising an eyebrow. "Today seems to be lucky for me. Shall I make her suffer? She is a terrified creature, but a single strike will suffice. Seeing her beauty fade away without yielding to temptation is quite an interesting sight."
"The others, including Damien, are dismissed. I will handle this," he declared, referring to his companions.
"You truly are a peculiar assassin. She is incredibly captivating, but you remain unmoved. You are a man with a heart of stone," Damien remarked before winking and disappearing into smoke along with the others. Ramiel sighed, disapproving of Damien's childish antics.
In his arms, he observed the unconscious woman, perplexed by her dramatic behavior even though he hadn't done anything to provoke it. She seemed pitiful and exaggerated, an unusual trait for a human. The scent that filled his nostrils was strangely familiar, leaving him speechless. In an instant, he vanished from the scene and reappeared in Arya's room, with Elina still cradled in his arms.
Arya, pretending to be both angry and righteous, addressed him, "You know you're being unfair, treating me like a lady."
Apologizing with a smile, Ramiel responded, "I am truly sorry for that. How have you been?"
"I have been well, and yourself?" Arya inquired.
"Alright," he replied.
Curiosity sparked within Arya as she pointed at Elina and asked, "Who is she?"
"I require her presence here temporarily. Could you arrange a position for her?" Ramiel asked, his face lighting up with anticipation. Arya flashed a smile and began to engage in conversation.
"Brother, I implore you to return," pleaded Arya, echoing the countless times they had discussed this issue before. "What is your answer?"
"No, but do you believe I would easily surrender? Father is consumed by sorrow each day, his love for you is immense, but you fail to perceive it due to your blinded hatred. Can't you see that his decision wasn't merely a punishment? He trusts and loves you, believing that only you can fulfill this crucial task. Please, come back. I don't trust Louise and Derek. Spend time with him before it's too late," she pleaded, her gaze shifting towards the woman lying on the bed.
"And as for the woman, there is no need for concern. Please consider it, Father needs you," Arya stated before Ramiel vanished from sight.
•••••••••••••••••••
"I reside on the fourth floor. I'll meet you there, my dear foxy," he remarked before suddenly vanishing.
"Did he just call me 'Foxy'? He should have asked for my name," she muttered, frustration evident in her voice. She glanced at the staircase, realizing that this was only the beginning. He had disappeared, leaving her to struggle.
"Why aren't there any elevators?" she exclaimed, her frustration growing as she embarked on the tiresome climb of the stairs.