Chapter 35 : Confession
Raven and Seraphine wandered through the old city of Valeria, their eyes taking in the market that seemed almost frozen in time.
The place had an ancient charm, with cobblestone streets winding between rustic shops selling all sorts of trinkets and artifacts.
The market was like something out of a forgotten era. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and the chatter of merchants calling out to potential customers. The wooden stalls, worn yet sturdy, displayed handmade crafts, jewelry, and delicate fabrics dyed in vivid colors. Everything about the city felt ancient, like a relic of a different age.
They strolled through the bustling streets, occasionally stopping at stalls that caught their interest.
They bought a couple of small things here and there — nothing too expensive, just souvenirs that captured the spirit of the city.
Seraphine's crimson hair and golden eyes made her appear almost unreal against the backdrop of the ancient city.
Raven, with his white hair, black eyes, and a body built for stealth, looked like a dangerously beautiful model. They drew attention wherever they went, but the two of them seemed lost in their own world, enjoying the simplicity of their walk.
Raven couldn't help but steal glances at Seraphine. The way her eyes sparkled with curiosity, her delighted smile whenever she found something interesting — it was all captivating to him.
As they continued wandering, someone else was moving through the marketplace. Ethan was casually purchasing something when his gaze landed on Raven and Seraphine. With a friendly smile, he approached them.
"Hey, Raven!" Ethan called out.
Raven's smile faltered for a split second, his annoyance spiking at the interruption. He was enjoying his time with Seraphine, and Ethan's sudden appearance was far from welcome. But Raven hid his irritation behind a polite smile and greeted him, "What are you doing here, Ethan?"
"Oh! I was just taking a stroll in this city," Ethan replied, his eyes quickly darting to Seraphine. "By the way, who is she? She's pretty."
Raven's muscles tensed, but he kept his composure. The last thing he wanted was to reveal his irritation in front of Seraphine. Forcing a calm smile, he replied, "She's Seraphine. My girlfriend."
Ethan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh! Nice to meet you. I'm Ethan," he said, extending his hand toward Seraphine for a handshake.
Seraphine was about to accept it when Raven stepped between them and clasped Ethan's hand instead. "She's shy," Raven said smoothly. "She doesn't approach others easily, so forgive her, will you? I'll tell you some other time."
Without waiting for Ethan's response, Raven grabbed Seraphine's hand and pulled her away, his steps quick and determined. Seraphine allowed herself to be dragged along, glancing at Raven's back with amusement.
"I'm your girlfriend?" Seraphine teased, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "And I'm shy? I don't shake other people's hands?"
Raven's face turned red from embarrassment. He stopped walking, turning around to face her, his eyes locking onto hers. His cheeks were flushed, but his gaze was unwavering.
"Yes, you are my girlfriend," Raven declared, his voice steady but his embarrassment clear.
Seraphine's golden eyes widened, her expression briefly stunned before a blush crept over her face. She quickly looked away. "Is this how you propose?" she murmured, her tone light but a little flustered.
"Yes. I like you," Raven admitted, his voice sincere even as his face grew redder.
Seraphine stared at him, her own cheeks burning. After a moment, she spoke with a playful yet serious tone, "I'm not your girlfriend yet. We'll date first, and then I'll think about it."
She brushed past him and continued walking. Raven stood frozen for a moment before rushing forward. His arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a tight hug. His hands rested on her stomach, feeling the toned muscles she had worked hard to build.
Seraphine's face turned scarlet, her body stiffening in surprise. "Let go," she mumbled, her voice low and embarrassed.
Raven's grip only tightened. He didn't say anything, just continued holding her as if he was afraid she might disappear.
"Let go," she repeated, her voice trembling slightly.
"Not until you agree," Raven replied, his tone firm.
Seraphine let out a frustrated sigh, her embarrassment now mixed with amusement. "Okay," she said.
Raven's arms still held her firmly. "And you won't even shake hands with other boys," he added, his voice almost possessive as he pressed her against him.
"Okay, now let go," Seraphine grumbled, her face still flushed.
Raven leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek before releasing her. They both stood there, their faces burning with embarrassment. Neither of them said anything, their hearts pounding as they tried to process what had just happened.
Without another word, they hurried back to their room, the playful atmosphere between them replaced by a heavy, awkward silence.
---
Back in their room, Raven and Seraphine sat in uncomfortable silence. The air felt thick, their earlier awkward moment lingering between them.
Seraphine busied herself by unpacking the small artifacts they had bought from the market, her hands moving a bit too quickly as if trying to distract herself. Raven, on the other hand, stared at nothing in particular, still processing what he had just done.
He had confessed to her. Just like that. And hugged her so possessively. The memory of her warmth against him made his chest tighten.
Clearing his throat, Raven finally broke the silence. "Uh… Sorry if I made things awkward."
Seraphine paused, glancing at him before letting out a small chuckle. "You think?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, but her golden eyes shimmered with something gentler. "But… I guess it's fine."
Raven looked at her, surprised. "It is?"
Seraphine shrugged, pretending to focus on the souvenirs. "It's just… you were pretty straightforward. Not that I hate it or anything."
He scratched the back of his head, his cheeks still tinged pink. "I just… I didn't want to lie. And I didn't want him trying anything with you."
A playful smile curled at her lips. "So you told him I'm your girlfriend and acted all possessive? Quite the statement."
Raven's blush deepened. "I couldn't help it. I… I just didn't want to see you with anyone else."
Seraphine's expression softened, the teasing edge melting away. "I get it. And... I guess I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would."
Raven's eyes widened. "You didn't?"
"Nope." Seraphine looked away, her voice lowering. "It was… kinda sweet, in a way."
A silence settled over them, but this time it felt warmer, more comfortable.
Seraphine let out a sigh and flopped down on the bed, her hair splaying around her like crimson flames. "Well, now that you've made things all awkward and weird, what's next?"
Raven blinked. "Uh… what do you mean?"
She glanced at him, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "If we're going to be 'dating,' then we should do something about it, right?"
Raven's heart skipped a beat. "You mean…?"
"Yes, you idiot. If you want me to be your girlfriend, you have to try harder than just blurting it out in the middle of the street," Seraphine said with a smirk. "Maybe a proper date? Or something that doesn't involve you manhandling me in public?"
Raven chuckled, his nerves easing. "Alright, let's go on a proper date after we return home."
Seraphine's cheeks flushed slightly, but she smiled. "Good. I'll hold you to that."
As their conversation settled into something more comfortable, the door opened, and Lyra walked in, a book in her hand. She immediately noticed the odd atmosphere between the two.
Raven's eyes widened. "Uh, I have some work to do. I'll be going," he said hurriedly, avoiding eye contact as he slipped past Lyra and left the room.
Lyra's curious gaze followed him before turning to Seraphine, her eyes sharp and mischievous. "Alright, what happened?"
Seraphine's gaze shifted away. "Nothing happened."
"Liar," Lyra sang, her playful smirk growing wider. She stepped closer, grabbed Seraphine from behind, and hugged her tightly. "I'm not letting go until you tell me."
Seraphine's face reddened as she glanced at Lyra, her golden eyes meeting Lyra's black ones. Finally, she sighed and told Lyra everything, her embarrassment only deepening as she spoke.
Lyra laughed, a light, cheerful sound. "So, are you two together now?"
"I… I think so," Seraphine admitted, her face clearly flustered.
Lyra's grin turned smug. "Well, you're already family, you know. Ever since Grim got together with Sister-in-law, he's already accepted you as his. He may not say it out loud, but his actions show it. So if you think you can escape from the Cross family's protection, you're wrong."
"Really?" Seraphine asked, blinking in surprise.
Lyra nodded. "Yes, brother Grim is the most possessive of all. He's always been watching over both of us — you and me — even before all of this happened. And ever since he got together with Sister-in-law, his protectiveness only grew stronger. To him, you've been part of the family from the start, and he's already accepted you as his. He's like a father to both of us now. And now that you're with Raven, you can be sure Grim will be just as protective over you."
Seraphine chuckled softly. "Yeah… Sister told me to listen to him and not disappoint him. I guess that's her way of saying he's in charge."
Lyra giggled. "Exactly. And if you want something, just ask Grim. He'll give it to you without question. Same with Raven. Now that you're his girlfriend, I can't even imagine what he'll do for you."
Seraphine's blush returned, but she smiled, nodding shyly.
Seraphine shifted the conversation with a curious smile. "By the way, Lyra, what book are you holding?"
Lyra glanced at the book in her hand and then looked at Seraphine. "Oh, this? It's about my ability. Sister-in-law suggested I go to the library, so I borrowed this book. And... I think my ability is more useful than I thought."
"The Necromancer, huh?" Seraphine read the title with interest. "Looks like you're diving deep into it. By the way, today sister is challenging the tutorial room. What do you think?"
Lyra's lips curled into a confident smile. "She can easily handle it. After all, she's already managed brother Grim."
---
Inside the Tutorial Room
Aurelia stood amidst a frozen wasteland, the entire area covered in thick, glistening ice. An icy aura radiated around her, her crimson hair appearing even more breathtaking against the backdrop of frost and chill.
Her golden eyes calmly scanned her stats as she murmured to herself, "Quite a shameful ability I got. But... I guess I'll make do."
She let out a sigh, her breath misting in the cold air. "Well, that was easier than I expected."
Satisfied, Aurelia turned and walked toward the exit. "Let's see if Grim has already cleared his room."
---
Outside the Tutorial Room
Grim was already waiting for her, his expression as stoic as ever. His white hair fell to his shoulders, and his dark eyes seemed to pierce through the gate as if watching her every move.
Aurelia's eyes brightened as she ran toward him and hugged him tightly. "I cleared it!"
Grim's arms wrapped around her, his touch firm and possessive. "You're cold," he stated flatly, his voice deep and rough.
"Yeah... then you should make me hot," she replied with a teasing smile.
Grim's lips curled into a smirk. "You should go and tell the children you won't be coming to the room for the next five days."
Aurelia chuckled before leaning in to kiss him softly. "Alright. But will you be able to handle me? I've got some powerful abilities now that I can use against you."
Grim laughed, a dark and thrilling sound. "We'll see about that." His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer before he kissed her deeply and possessively. As their lips parted, he whispered, "Go and come back fast. Don't make me wait."
Aurelia gazed into his eyes, a spark of excitement in her own. "Yeah, I'll be back before you know it."