As the conversation shifted, Alia pouted and glanced at Gavin with a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "By the way, Gavin, I'm no longer a princess. Just call me Alia now. If you call me 'princess' again, I might get angry," she murmured softly, her tone light but carrying a playful undertone.
Gavin, who had always been attentive to Alia's emotions, sighed softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He was used to her subtle shifts in mood, but despite the years they had known each other, he still couldn't shake the mixture of awe and affection he felt for her. "Uh, got it," he replied obediently, a quiet tenderness lacing his voice. "All right, Alia, you're right."
The way he said her name made Alia hum contentedly, a soft sound that bridged the gap between them. It was more than just a name — it was an acknowledgment of their shared history, a recognition of the bond they had formed through years of pain, struggle, and companionship. There was intimacy in that hum, a fleeting connection between two souls who had seen too much.
But soon, Alia's playful demeanor faded, replaced by a more serious tone. "Oh, and could you investigate whether there has been any recent activity among the werewolves?" she asked, her voice sharpening with determination. "One of my teammates this time is a werewolf. Do you know if there's any connection between the traitors and the werewolves? I can't shake the feeling that there was a third party involved in the rebellion within the castle that night."
At the mention of werewolves, Gavin's expression darkened, his usual relaxed features tightening with concern. "Werewolves?" he repeated, his voice laced with worry. "I'm not really sure about that. I'll investigate when I get back. If the traitors aren't connected to the werewolves, perhaps they could be allies in our revenge."
Alia's eyes flared with emotion as she shook her head vehemently. "No, I'll reclaim the throne on my own. I won't seek help from the werewolves," she said suddenly, her voice tinged with both excitement and defiance.
Realizing he had misspoken, Gavin immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over him. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I misspoke," he apologized quickly, hoping to soothe the storm he had inadvertently stirred within her.
Alia, however, didn't seem angry. Instead, she gazed at him with a mixture of sadness and understanding. "Gavin, don't blame me for being overly sensitive and angry about this. When Ed… Henry, the traitor, rebelled, he said my bloodline was impure, which earned the support of other vampire dukes. So I want to fight back and use my own strength and the power of vampires properly," she explained, her voice growing quieter with each word, the weight of her burdens evident in her tone.
Gavin immediately understood how deeply his earlier words had affected her. "Princess, I was just thinking how useless I've been all these years, still no tangible progress in helping our revenge plan, and yet I managed to make such a foolish suggestion," he said, his voice low and filled with remorse.
Alia's eyes softened as she listened to Gavin's heartfelt apology. She could sense the heavy weight of guilt he carried, and it pained her to see him blame himself. After all, he had been her rock through all the turmoil. Without him, she wasn't sure she would have made it this far.
"Gavin, look, you called me 'princess' twice again. Are you angry?" Alia teased, her voice trembling slightly as tears shimmered in her eyes. She could no longer hold back the emotions welling up inside her. "You've done so much for me, not only risking your life to save me but also teaching me various vampire skills over the years. You've helped me secretly contact other vampire dukes, and above all, you've been the only person I can confide in," she continued, her words spilling out like a dam that had finally burst.
Overwhelmed by her gratitude and the intensity of her emotions, Alia could no longer contain herself. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she embraced Gavin, burying her face in his chest. In that moment, all of the pain and turmoil she had kept locked away for so long finally poured out, her body trembling with the release of her pent-up anguish.
Gavin, though caught off guard by the sudden display of emotion, wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. For years, he had been focused solely on their shared quest for revenge, suppressing his own feelings to remain strong for her. But now, as he held Alia in his arms, he realized that despite everything she had been through, despite her strength and determination, she was still the girl who had lost everything at eighteen.
In her embrace, Gavin could feel the vulnerability beneath her usual strength, the cracks in the armor she wore so bravely. His heart ached for her, and he couldn't help but tighten his hold on her, as if trying to shield her from the world that had hurt her so much.
"Alia, rest assured," he whispered, his voice soft yet firm, "no matter what happens, no matter what decisions you make, I'll fully support you. You're not alone in this."
Alia pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and something else — something deeper, more complex. There was warmth in his words, but there was also a sincerity that reached the very core of her. She had never doubted Gavin's loyalty, but hearing him say those words now, in this moment of vulnerability, meant more than he could ever know.
With a shy smile, she blinked away the tears still clinging to her lashes. "Gavin, have I lost the demeanor of a queen now?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with the faintest hint of mischief, as if trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
Gavin chuckled, though his heart was still pounding from the emotions swirling between them. "No," he said after a moment, his voice gentle as he looked down at her. "You're still a queen, Alia. You've always been one."
Their eyes met once more, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them under the quiet glow of the moonlight. But before the tension between them could grow too thick, Alia took a step back, her cheeks flushing slightly as she averted her gaze.
"If you're going to the palace, be careful," she said softly, her voice returning to its usual steady tone. "The Lord's warning makes me think things might not be as simple as they seem. We must be cautious."
Gavin nodded, understanding both the spoken and unspoken words between them.