"Ugh, you're such a bore," Sophia interrupted with a smirk.
Seraph paused, his expression shifting to a newfound gravity. "Do you have a moment of spare time?"
"My heart is always spare for you," Sophia whispered. She rose on her tiptoes, leaning in until her breath grazed his ear. "If only you'd take me to your chambers..."
"This way, please," Seraph said quickly, cutting her off and leading the way toward the garden to escape the public eye.
✧ . ✶ . ✡ . ✶ . ✧
He led her to a hexagonal pavilion nestled in the heart of the Stormcloud Citadel gardens. Verdant vines and orchids wound around the stone pillars, shielding them from the sun while infusing the air with a refreshing fragrance.
Ancient trees stood sentinel, their sprawling branches casting deep shadows over the emerald grass that lay like a velvet carpet. Within the sanctuary, various mageia beasts—enchanted avians, fairies, and hares—frolicked in a state of profound peace.
Sophia followed him, seating herself with an expression caught between a smirk and a pout. She looked disappointed that he hadn't escorted her to his private quarters as she'd suggested.
"Do you habitually bring girls to whisper sweet nothings in the middle of a garden?" Sophia asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"There's no tea or coffee here. My apologies... we live simply," Seraph remarked, appearing completely oblivious to her hidden meaning.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a total bore?!" Sophia snapped, her face turning sullen.
Ignoring her remark, Seraph cut straight to the point. "Have you seen and spoken with Nahreb yet?"
"I have. What of it?" Sophia shot back.
"Was there anything unusual about him?" Seraph pressed.
"Not at all! Why would you even ask such a thing?" Sophia's confusion began to mount.
"I sensed a certain dissonance within him. Yet, even I am uncertain of its nature," Seraph stated, his tone hesitant.
"And what leads you to believe that?" Sophia's own suspicion began to stir.
"Intuition," Seraph answered flatly.
"Just intuition? That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Ha ha ha ha!!" Sophia burst into a fit of laughter, fueled by sheer disbelief.
Seraph remained unmoved by her mockery. "Do you truly feel nothing is out of place? I want the perspective of his own sister."
"Hmm... if I'm being serious, there is truly nothing wrong," Sophia replied, her tone leveling out. "He's exactly the same in nearly every aspect. His face, his build—even the blemish of his birthmark is identical. He is the same person he's been for thirteen years. I don't understand what you're doubting."
"And his temperament? His behavior?" Seraph inquired further.
"That's the least unusual part of all," Sophia answered.
"How is that possible?" Seraph asked, recalling every detail of Nahreb's behavior. "From the moment he woke, he was unnaturally taciturn. Usually, a boy his age would show some semblance of shock or terror after facing a demon. Yet, in his eyes, I saw only indifference—and a hardened resolve."
"Then your intuition was spot on!" Sophia exclaimed, her voice thick with frustration. "Nahreb has always been this silently foolish. He was constantly brewing trouble that the rest of us had to scrub away!"
"Trouble? Did he frequent illicit haunts at night like any other?" Seraph asked, his curiosity growing.
"Sigh... it seems you really don't know us at all." Sophia gazed out toward the verdant garden.
"Know you? Are you not a noblewoman? What is so peculiar about your family?" Seraph asked, his expression clouded with bewilderment.
"I'm no noble," Sophia said, turning back to him. "Are you familiar with the Loveless Theatre?"
"The Loveless Grand Opera? Of course. It's the most renowned theatre in Arkflame... why?"
"I am Sophia of Loveless. I am the lead actress, and the daughter of the theatre's proprietor," she answered with a stoic visage.
"You?" Seraph uttered, falling into a sudden silence.
He scrutinized her face once more. At first, he doubted her, but as he studied her features with intent, the truth settled in.
Sophia possessed a singular, striking beauty that set her apart from any other. She was like a flower in full bloom, radiating a captivating fragrance—a woman in the prime of her life. The leading lady of Loveless was famed far and wide; it was whispered that even princes had sent formal proposals, seeking to make her their consort.
Seraph had never once stepped foot inside a theatre. Still, he had seen her mageia portraits before—yet even those enchanted depictions didn't capture half the radiance she possessed in person.
"It really is she," Seraph uttered, his voice low and clinical, as if he were confirming the identity of a specimen rather than speaking to a woman.
He looked through her, not at her, caught off-guard by the realization that the celebrated star of the portraits was indeed the person standing before him.
"I am who I am! You're incredibly discourteous. Has anyone ever told you how tedious you are?!" Sophia exclaimed, her frustration boiling over.
To be looked over like a common inanimate object was an insult no star could bear.
"You did... precisely twelve minutes ago," Seraph replied, his face entirely devoid of emotion.
"You—!" Sophia's voice rose, then she fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
Seeing her go quiet, Seraph pressed on. "And what's so wrong with being an actress? Though most performers aren't nobility, you have fame and honor. At times, you're more admired than the highborn themselves. I fail to see what's so wretched about it."
"The world isn't that beautiful," Sophia said, her voice thick with sorrow. "In the past, we were just a small theatre on the brink of ruin. We've achieved some renown now, but we're still a lowly establishment without real influence. There are countless sharks constantly circling, seeking to devour us. To protect everyone's dreams... I've been forced into the hands of others, unable to resist. As for Nahreb, many have taken an interest in him too. He's fled from home time and time again to escape these tribulations—but this time, his flight spiraled into a catastrophe."
Seraph inhaled deeply, drawing the frigid air into the depths of his chest. Suddenly, a sharp pang of constriction gripped his heart. He understood all too well that behind every radiance, darkness lay in wait. He himself had weathered no small share of atrocities; yet, hearing such agonizing truths from her lips made him feel as though he had carelessly grazed the girl's soul-wound.
The weight of her sorrow became nearly unbearable for the young man to witness. He felt a surge of regret for raising these suspicions, realizing he had pried where he should not have ventured.
"Since your brother is safe, then that is enough... My apologies for taking up your time," Seraph said, rising abruptly to depart.
"Wait!" Sophia lunged forward, seizing his arm to restrain him.
"Are you really going to drain a girl of everything and then just abandon her?" Sophia pleaded piteously.
"I? Drained you? I was the one who—"
"At the very least, you must escort Nahreb and me home today!" Sophia declared. Strangely, her tone had shifted back to an unnerving cheerfulness.
"Escort you?" Seraph asked, bewildered. "My apologies, milady. But I have work. I have to go—"