Creed let out a slight sigh as he helped Navia up from her seat.
Suddenly, he caught a familiar scent coming from her.
'Huh?'
Without realizing it, Creed buried his face in her nape, inhaling the fragrance.
Startled!
Navia shivered slightly with tension, and Creed, with a somewhat relaxed face, muttered softly,
"You smell like me."
It was indeed his scent.
A fresh forest-like fragrance emanated from Navia's entire body.
As if marking his territory, as if she had become his.
It was intoxicatingly exhilarating.
Navia clutched the hem of her skirt. Her nape was flushed red.
"Uh, I absorbed your magic, so…"
It was just for that reason, but Creed's reaction was peculiar.
Navia swallowed dryly and stepped back. Creed, inadvertently wrapping his arm near her waist, quickly moved it away to avoid contact.
It wasn't yet time to reveal his feelings.
Confessions should be made with patience, at the moment of certainty, shouldn't they?
His heart was too vast, revealing it might scare and chase her away.
Creed wasn't skilled in this. He had only ever liked and loved one person, so it wasn't easy to control and reveal his feelings.
'So, I should hide it.'
Creed bit back a smile.
It was time to become her kind brother again.
"Then, can you use the same magic as me?"
Navia relaxed her expression as the heavy atmosphere lightened.
"Because I've absorbed your abilities exactly."
"But I'm different from a typical magician, can you use it well?"
Navia tilted her head and tried to draw up her magical power.
"Ah, right. Since there's no specific attribute, I'm not sure how it will manifest."
"Should I teach you?"
Creed leaned in.
"Every day. Like this."
Navia was flustered, babbling more than she ever had been.
"Ah... Of course, I have to absorb your magic, so, yes."
Creed smiled pleasantly.
"I'll come again tomorrow."
He walked to the window without hesitation and leaped out.
Navia was dazed as if snapped out of a spell, then approached the window Creed had jumped from, looking down.
"Ah..."
Creed stood still, looking up at her room.
The wind blew softly.
The chilly April night was unusually warm and sultry.
The pale moonlight flowed over Creed's serene face.
There was no conversation between them.
The height was not suitable for talking, after all.
They simply stood, lips sealed, gazing at each other.
Again, an unfamiliar feeling crept over Navia, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
Seeing this, Creed mistook it for her feeling cold.
Just looking at her filled him with happiness, endlessly holding her in his gaze.
The affectionate sister was, perhaps, willingly caught in his whims.
He grinned.
At that moment, Navia felt Creed was not the brother she knew, an unfamiliarity in his playful smile.
Creed waved his hand.
"Sleep well."
Simultaneously, the wind swept up flower petals, creating a dreamlike scene.
And then he left.
Navia watched where he disappeared for a while, then quietly closed the window.
Her flushed cheeks wouldn't cool down.
'Yes, let's admit it.'
Creed had grown up to be incredibly charming. He retained his childhood appearance while possessing an utterly captivating look.
A face anyone could fall for, a smile that hung on those features, a dignified demeanor.
It was unfamiliar for a moment, making her heart flutter.
Navia took several deep breaths to compose herself.
Knock knock.
Startled!
"Miss, shall we change into your pajamas?"
The maid came in with pajamas in hand.
"Uh, yes. That's right."
Navia quickly checked her own attire in a rush. It was wrinkled but not too out of sorts.
At that moment, the maid asked in surprise.
"Miss? Your cheeks are red, are you feeling unwell...?"
"No, no. It's just a bit hot."
"Hot? But it's April......?"
The maid tilted her head in confusion but didn't think much of it and helped her change.
"If our young lady says so, then it must be so," she thought.
Navia sighed softly as she changed into her pajamas.
'I'll see him at the victory party tomorrow, and if he comes to my room...'
Wouldn't he come late since parties usually don't end early? ...Is that okay?
'No, what does time matter? He's just my brother after all.'
"......What should I do?"
She had no idea how to face him tomorrow.
|
Debutante
|
On the morning of the banquet.
Ares gazed through the gap in the curtains with his still unkempt, ashy hair.
"Disgusting creatures."
Despite his elegant speech and pleasant voice, his words were filled with contempt.
Not just his voice, but his gaze too.
Insects.
His eyes looked down upon the carriages entering the palace with a detached view.
Since becoming an incarnation, all humans seemed like mere insects to him. Or pigs and dogs.
It wasn't because of the inherent aristocratic bloodline supremacy. Humans were just insignificant. He wanted to crush and burst them all.
Ares was immersed in a chilling murderous intent before shaking his head.
The power of a deity was strong, and dominating the world with this power seemed effortless.
He even had a capable brother, Creed......
"Always so annoying."
Despite his immense power, Ares wasn't sure he could overpower Creed. He was a monster, just as Diana had said.
A true monster, not dying even with all his magical power unleashed.
"But that won't last long."
Ares smiled pleasantly.
No matter how strong the power, the human body has its limits.
'Unless he becomes an incarnation like me, he'll never be able to handle that power.'
He planned to use his pitiable brother to his advantage until his death.
However, factions among the nobility had become clear recently. It wasn't new for the nobles to divide and fight, but the current atmosphere was different. It was about the succession to the throne.
Some regretted that Creed had given up the throne. Others noted that the powerful Creed did not support Ares.
That was fine. It didn't matter.
Until Monica claimed her right to the throne.
"How should I deal with such an arrogant sister?"
His half-sister Monica, until now, he had never considered a competitor, not even acknowledged her existence.
He had always seen her as a tool for an advantageous marriage alliance as she aged.
But recently, Ares' intelligence organization had noticed something odd about Monica's activities.
"Your Highness, we've found out why Princess Monica often visited Lady Bonard. She seems to have been secretly meeting with Lady Eseled."
Why did they meet secretly, unnoticed by anyone? Why did Navia want to be friends with Monica?
Was it just to gain favor with the royal family?
But she didn't need to. That became clear after yesterday's incident.
"The owner of the Familie Workshop was Lady Eseled."
She also owned boutiques and workshops.
Ares sighed softly.
"Navia, you're the only one who makes me this troubled."
His grumbling voice carried a strange heat.
He opened the curtains, brightening the room, and walked towards a large portrait on the wall.
It was a portrait of the adult Navia.
Ares sat in front of it, sighing with painful longing. His hand, touching the portrait, was soaked in deep desire.
"She is beautiful, isn't she."
Ares had always possessed great patience.
He could wait quietly for almost 10 years to let his guard down. If he could have Navia that way, then it was worth it.
"I can't hide like I've done until now."
Navia in the portrait smiled faintly but said nothing.
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