Year 3988, 30th Day of the 8th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

ARICSON WAS acting normally. It seemed like Elise was the only one affected by what happened three nights ago.

Her whole body shook with restrained fumes as she crushed the herbs while he was just there reading his papers, undisturbed. She didn't like how he was so calm with everything these past few days like nothing happened.

'Like he didn't see me half-naked, my god!'

Her whole mien may be confident and tough but she was honestly conservative when it came to relationships. The sole reason why all three of her exes didn't reach past her neck.

Yet, one thing that confused her was how she didn't have any inhibitions with Aricson who she just met after a couple of weeks.

"Why are you here?" she snarled, notwithstanding the silence anymore.

He simply lifted his brow as if it was a dumb question. She ignored his mocking look and questioned him again.

"You have your study room so why are you being a nuisance here?" she added, putting down the pestle to stare directly at his calm ruby eyes.

"Hm. As far as I can recall, I've been staying here for several days. It perplexed me why you're complaining now?"

'Well... That's true...' He did have a point and besides, he owned the place but her patience had reached its limits today. She did not like how indifferent he was. 

She mentally shook her head. Why did she care? It shouldn't matter to her since she resolved herself to stop herself from falling further.

"So what? I don't want to see your face here," she muttered.

"What made you so irate these days? Did something happen?"

She ignored the worry in his voice before speaking. "If you're not gonna leave, then I'll be the one to go."

Her threat fell on deaf ears. Her face wrinkled as she stood up. She never backed down to her words.

Elise tried to walk past him but she was pulled by a strong hand. She stumbled on her feet and landed on his knees. His arms perfectly encircled her waist and he continued reading.

"W-what are you d-doing?" Her breath quickened along with her pulse. This was their closest contact after the small incident in her room.

Elise squirmed to break free, her body felt small trapped in his.

"Stop. I can't concentrate," Aricson complained.

"Then, let me go, you jerk."

"Should you really insult your lover?"

Her eyes almost jumped out from her sockets. "L-l-lover?"

'How on earth did it even come to that?'.

"I've seen almost half of your body so I'm willing to take responsibility. Therefore, that makes me your lover," Aricson explained as nonchalant as usual.

"Huh?"

"You were asking me how. I'm just stating the facts. What I did was disrespectful to a woman. Father always told us to take responsibility for our actions and we should only be intimate to the woman we care for."

"Are you kidding me? What about Erkhan?" Her whole mind was shaken from what he was implying and the lies he was spewing. It was as if he was a virgin.

She knew he had no past lovers, according to Faylinn, but it was unimaginable for him not to have carnal activities, especially with how amazing he was in kissing and his mesmerizing appearance.

"My brother's a special case," he retorted. "He likes every woman but I only like you."

If she was surprised by his ambiguous words, the straightforwardness of his sudden confession jolted her away from him.

"You... You... How can that be?" She sputtered incoherently as she tried to maintain her composure.

It was already unbelievable that she was able to fall in love with someone in a short time but how could it be mutual?

"Everybody in this palace knew I hate being surrounded by others yet I'm always with you. You are the only woman that can make me feel this way, Elise. I can't really explain it but you're special to me."

As if her memories had become a broken floodgate. She recalled their times together and realized something. Even before that night, he was always touchy with her and regarded her with gentleness. He continued to do so she thought he was not affected since he didn't change the way he treated her. 'But a lover?'

In an instant, she suddenly remembered Dryann saying something about him.

"You talk as if you never have a woman." Her arms crossed as she looked down at him.

"Pardon?"

"Have you forgotten Dryann said something seeing you with a woman?"

Aricson let go of the book and seemed to ponder. "Ah, that? It's for a mission. I never had a woman before in the truest sense."

"What? Don't tell me you're really a virgin?"

He quickly evaded her eyes which furthermore confirmed her assumptions. 'A man this handsome is a virgin? Impossible!'

"I know I don't have much experience and I never had a lover even once. I can be considered old in your world but I am eternally young, thanks to my lineage. That's why I think it's still acceptable for me to be your lover." This time his gaze went through her. "As I've said, I'm willing to uphold your dignity and won't let your reputation be tainted and do my duties as your man."

She could not believe what she was hearing. She had lived in a world where pre-marital sex was normal and the two of them did not even do the act. They only made out and now he was declaring they were lovers and talking gibberish about her dignity and reputation.

It was not like a woman would parade that she had slept with a man. As long as the other party shut up, no one would know yet here he was distressing her image.

'If I am conservative then he's probably worse!' He could definitely be qualified to be as prudes as my grandparents. 'Come to think of it...'

"How old are you, anyway?"

"If I count the years, I'm already 98."

"What!?" She was stunned even more but she was able to calm herself quickly this time.

Dryann was in her sixties so it was obvious he was much older. After the information had sunk, her rationality came back. If they become lovers, it would just end in heartbreak the moment she went back.

There was no assurance that she would but still what if she could?

"I'm not from this world, Aricson," she pointed out.

"I'm ready to risk it. I want to be frank, Elise. I don't waste my time on something I am aware of and deny myself. I care about you, Elise. I'm willing to be your lover as long as you want."

Those ruby-red eyes pierced her as both his hands clutched hers. The seemingly cold man she had met the first time had vanished. Those irises were filled with emotions she could not fathom.

Her heart wanted to agree but her brain could not endure the thought of going through a heartbreak. Jokes must be on her since she knew that they never belong to each other. They were from different worlds. 'Literally.'

She broke free from his hold. "I'm sorry."

Those flaming reds that were filled with passion dimmed. He stood up and spoke, "We're going to the mainland tomorrow."

Aricson's figure disappeared from her view and she quickly regretted her words. In truth, she was confusing herself. She wanted him to acknowledge what was between them yet she didn't want to take things to go further.

In this situation, she had to make a choice but she did not want to.

Minutes passed as she remained daze until her groan rumbled in the room. There was no use to be frustrated. She picked up the mortar and pestle on the side and continued what she was doing.

At least, she could distract herself for some time.