Luzella's small headshake was a subtle movement, her face still nestled against Alaric's shoulder. The muffled whisper of "No..." escaped her lips, a soft, almost inaudible sound that seemed to convey a depth of emotion. Alaric's concerned gaze didn't waver, his eyes softly closed as he held her close.
Despite the turmoil that had driven her to tears, Luzella felt an inexplicable sense of comfort in Alaric's arms. It was as if his warmth and strength were a balm to her emotions, soothing the raw emotions that had overwhelmed her. She hadn't forgotten that he was the one who pushed her to this point and she had been crying because of him, yet his embrace was where she felt most at peace.
Alaric's arms cradled her, a reassuring presence that seemed to wrap around her like a shield. For now, she just let herself be, letting the comfort of his arms wash over her like a gentle wave.
As the comfort of Alaric's arms wrapped around her, Luzella's eyelids grew heavy, her breathing slowing as she let go of her worries and fears. The warmth of his body seeped into hers, calming her nerves and soothing her emotions. She let herself drift off to sleep.
Alaric's arms tightened gently around her, holding her close as she slept. He shifted slightly, adjusting his position to cradle her more securely against him. His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, a gentle rhythm that seemed to match the beating of her heart.
As Luzella slept, her body relaxed completely, her muscles releasing all tension. Her face, still flushed from crying, was peaceful, her features soft and vulnerable. Alaric's gaze was fixed on her face, his eyes filled with a deep tenderness as he watched over her.
The silence between them was comfortable, a sense of stillness that wrapped around them like a warm blanket.
The hours had slipped away unnoticed, and midnight had descended upon them, casting a quiet darkness over the room. Luzella remained fast asleep, securely nestled in Alaric's arms, her gentle breathing a soothing melody that seemed to lull him into a contemplative state.
Alaric's gaze was lost in thought, his golden eyes fixed on Luzella's peaceful face as his mind wandered through the tangled threads of their past, present, and future. The soft glow of the moon outside cast an ethereal light on his features, illuminating the contours of his face and the depth of his eyes.
••••••••••
The person who had given the information about Luzella to Alaric arrived at the mansion, the sound of his approach echoing through the quiet halls. As he entered, Halley, who was still awake, greeted him "Rowan," Halley said softly, acknowledging the visitor's presence.
Rowan's voice was low and inquiring as he greeted Halley and asked him, "Hello, Halley. What is he doing?" His eyes were fixed on Halley, awaiting a response about Alaric.
Halley's gaze lingered on Rowan for a moment before he evaded the question about Alaric and instead asked, "Why did you come again late at night?" His tone was neutral, but his eyes seemed to hold a hint of curiosity or perhaps a subtle warning.
Rowan's expression turned slightly grim as he huffed, "He's the one who ordered us to inform him immediately after finding even a small trace of Deneb. Some sources tracked him, but we're not sure if the information is reliable. So we need to go and check it out. That's why I'm here again, to take him."
Halley's lips curled into a faint, teasing smile as he mocked Rowan, "You just say you're unable to find him, don't you?"
Rowan's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a slightly sharp tone as he replied, "He's kept you cooped up in this mansion, so you don't know how hard it is to track him down outside. So stop with the sarcastic comments. Or I have to make a comment about how you ended up as a butler here."
Before Halley could muster a retort, Rowan cut him off, his voice firm. "I don't have time to bicker with you. Where is he? Tell him I'm here."
"You should call him and tell him yourself," Butler Halley smirked.
Rowan's frustration simmered just below the surface as he snapped to Halley, "If he picked up my call, why should I come all the way here to the mansion? What's he doing that he can't even answer the phone?"
Butler Halley's eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing glint as he gestured toward the room, his tone laced with subtle malice. "He's in there. Go check on him yourself." With that, he allowed Rowan to enter the room where Alaric and luzella were, aware that any disturbance or sound would likely seal Rowan's fate.
With a flicker of annoyance, Rowan turned away from Butler Halley and headed toward the room he had indicated, too frustrated to argue further about the butler's blatant lack of cooperation and duty-bound responsibilities, which seemed to have been conveniently forgotten in favor of outright defiance.
It's not that Butler Halley was neglecting his duties, but rather he was well aware of the precarious situation. Earlier, when he had entered Alaric's room to check on him and Luzella, he was taken aback to find Luzella sleeping in Alaric's arms. As he tried to mention the luzella's untouched dinner, Alaric's piercing glare had silenced him instantly. Having witnessed Alaric's intense reaction firsthand, Butler Halley sensibly chose to let Rowan enter, rather than announcing Rowan arrival himself, lest he suffer the consequences of disturbing Luzella's slumber and triggering Alaric's wrath.
Rowan pushed the door open with a bit too much force, the hinges creaking softly in protest, his irritation with Butler Halley's evasive behavior still simmering just below the surface. His gaze swept the room, and his eyes landed on Luzella nestled in Alaric's arms, her gentle form a stark contrast to Alaric's intense, brooding expression. For a moment, Rowan's face froze, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise, his mouth hanging slightly ajar. His eyes bulged, as if struggling to take in the unexpected scene, his mind racing to process the intimate sight before him. Time seemed to slow as Rowan's shock deepened, his entire focus fixed on the tender way Alaric held Luzella, a sight that seemed almost...impossible.