Even though Ais had never visited the Empyrean Citadel before, Charlie had described the location of his residence in enough detail that she had a clear enough map in her head to keep from getting lost.
Throughout her trek from the park to Charlie's neighborhood, Ais remained the inescapable focal point for every passerby.
After all, Ais was not merely a beautiful girl whose looks rivaled the goddesses; she was the Sword Princess. Her reputation as one of Orario's strongest adventurers—a Level 6 whose name was whispered in hushed awe by rookies and spoken with profound respect by veterans—made her impossible to ignore for anyone with eyes in their head.
Ais simply ignored the gazes directed her way. Her expression remained flat, her eyes fixed forward, and her pace steady, neither quickening nor slowing. She had long since grown accustomed to being the object of the public's scrutiny.
However, what Ais failed to realize was that these stares contained far more than mere admiration, respect, fear, or envy. They were saturated with a smoldering, primal lust.
In the animal kingdom, when a female is in heat or at her peak fertility, her body produces specific pheromones to signal her readiness to mate. Such was Ais's situation now.
Vile thoughts swirled through the minds of the men around her like trash caught in a gale. They harbored brutal fantasies of taking her—forcing her to the ground, tearing her clothes away, and claiming her by force to leave their seed in her. It wasn't born of love or affection, but a gutter instinct to pass their genes into the womb of the most powerful female they had ever laid eyes upon.
Fortunately for them, these filthy fantasies remained locked behind their teeth. Ais was no ordinary woman they could lay a hand on; she was a formidable Level 6 adventurer standing at the very peak of the world's hierarchy of power.
And so, the men simply stood frozen, mouths half-open, eyes glazed, and hands clenched deep in their pockets. A few, unable to bear the mounting tension, turned away to vent their libidos however they could—seeking out streetwalkers in Orario's dark alleys or taking matters into their own hands behind the locked doors of their rooms.
Ais walked past them all, blissfully unaware of the "sins" she had inadvertently provoked.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Fifteen minutes into her walk to the Empyrean Citadel, Ais's footsteps faltered. She stared toward the gate, noticing another girl already there.
Ais observed her with sharp, discerning eyes. It was a young woman—perhaps her own age or slightly younger—with blonde hair nearly as bright as her own. The girl stood awkwardly before the gate, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her white dress, her beautiful but innocent face twisted in an expression of clear distress.
"Who are you?" Ais asked. Her voice was flat as usual—neither cold nor warm, merely neutral. "What are you doing here?"
Ais approached with unhurried steps, her white skirt fluttering softly in the breeze.
"Ah!"
The girl let out a startled, dainty cry and spun around. Her eyes widened as she realized exactly who was speaking to her: the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein.
For a moment, Anna was starstruck—not just by the woman's reputation, but by her sheer beauty. However, as Anna wasn't one to daydream for long, she quickly caught her breath, gave a slight curtsy, and introduced herself politely.
"Greetings, Sword Princess. My name is Anna Claes." Her voice shook slightly with nerves, but she spoke clearly. "I am a florist; Charlie-san is a regular customer of mine. I came here to check on him."
Anna looked down, her brow furrowed in genuine concern. "He buys flowers from my shop routinely, but lately, he hasn't come by. It's been over a week since I last saw him. I got worried, so I decided to come and see for myself."
Unaware of the true nature of the relationship between Charlie and Ais, Anna chose to be perfectly blunt about her reasons for being there.
"I see..." Ais nodded slowly. She looked Anna over from head to toe—not with suspicion, but with a quiet curiosity. "Just call me Ais. Like you, I came to see Charlie. I haven't seen him in a while either."
Ais had no idea that the florist standing before her harbored "inappropriate" feelings for her lover. She didn't know that every time Charlie visited the shop, Anna had to struggle to keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. She didn't know that every small smile from Charlie was a treasure Anna stored in her memory, replaying it every night before sleep.
What Ais did know was that Charlie had a habit of buying flowers.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
The two blondes stood together—no jealousy, no rivalry, at least not from the unsuspecting Ais—only a silent understanding that they shared a common goal.
Ais pushed open the black iron gate and stepped inside, with Anna following close behind.
After only a few steps, they were both struck with wonder as the scenery changed drastically. Upon crossing the threshold of the gate, they were greeted by a sprawling expanse of lush green grass, various rare flowers in full bloom, and butterflies and dragonflies fluttering gaily through the air.
This jarring phenomenon was actually the result of an illusion array Charlie had placed on the Empyrean Citadel. However, Ais and Anna were oblivious to the mechanics. They simply stood there, transfixed, taking in the sight with feelings that defied words.
"This... this place is beautiful. It's like a utopia hidden from the outside world."
"I never... I never imagined a place like this existed in Orario..." Anna whispered, as if afraid a loud voice might shatter the magic surrounding them.
"..."
On the other hand, while Ais's face remained expressionless, the shimmering light in her eyes betrayed her profound shock.
They followed a path of white paving stones until they reached the front door. Ais raised her hand and gave a soft knock.
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!*
Shortly after, footsteps echoed from within, and the door swung open. Standing in the doorway was a beautiful girl who was no less stunning than the two visitors. Her hair was the color of a peach, her features delicate and symmetrical, and her skin a flawless porcelain with a natural rosy tint to her cheeks. She looked at Ais and Anna with a flat expression that nearly mirrored Ais's own.
"Ais, Anna. Welcome." Aishia greeted them, her voice crystal clear. "This is the first time the Empyrean Citadel has received guests. Please, come in. I will prepare some tea for you."
Aishia stepped aside, beckoning them forward.
"E-excuse me..." Anna stammered. She was nervous—painfully so. Her heart was pounding so hard she was certain Ais could hear it. Her hands trembled slightly as she crossed the threshold, her legs feeling as if they were made of cotton.
"Excuse me..." Anna muttered again as she stepped inside, feeling intimidated by the elegant atmosphere of the building. Ais, meanwhile, walked in with her usual calm, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
Once they arrived in the living room, the two blonde girls sat opposite each other. Aishia disappeared into the kitchen for a moment and returned with a tray of warm tea and light snacks before joining them. She crossed her slender legs gracefully, rested her hands in her lap, and looked at Ais and Anna with a neutral gaze.
"So, what brings you both here?" Aishia asked, opening the conversation.
Anna spoke up immediately, her tone laced with anxiety. "Aishia-san, I just wanted to know why Charlie-san hasn't stopped by the flower shop in so long. Is he busy?"
Ais followed with a similar question. "I want to know too... Is he on a long expedition? It's been a while since anyone has seen him in the city."
"..."
Aishia fell silent for a moment. The light in her eyes dimmed, and a sudden, heavy atmosphere settled over the room.
"Charlie... He is currently in a coma. It has been a week since he lost consciousness, and so far, he hasn't shown any signs of waking up."
The news hit them like a physical blow. Ais could no longer maintain her mask of composure; a deep, visible anguish etched itself onto her beautiful face. Anna was far worse; she clamped her hands over her mouth, her eyes going wide as tears began to well up.
"Is this... is this because of me? Was Charlie-san hurt because he saved me that night?" Anna asked, her voice shaking with a crushing weight of guilt.
At those words, Ais's head snapped toward her. Her eyes narrowed sharply, pinning Anna with a gaze that demanded an explanation.
"Saved you? What do you mean? Explain everything."
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