Gorgeous devil

As soon as Ariel left the room, her elegant footsteps fading into silence, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Her presence had been a strange mix of comforting and stifling, and now that she was gone, the overwhelming solitude pressed in.

I stood, letting the heavy blanket slip from my shoulders. My eyes darted around the grand, ancient room. Every corner seemed to whisper secrets I wasn't privy to. The air was thick, laden with the intense aroma of incense and old wood, like my grandma's room but far stronger—almost suffocating.

Unable to sit still, I approached the tall, gilded mirror standing in one corner. What I saw stopped me cold.

The reflection staring back wasn't just me—it was her. The goddess they all seemed to worship. She looked so much like me it was unnerving, but the differences were stark. Her hair was longer, silkier, flowing like a dark river. Her features were sharper, more defined, her beauty otherworldly. She looked... perfect. Ravishing. Regal.

My heart pounded as I touched the glass, almost expecting the reflection to move independently. "Who are you?" I whispered, as if she might answer.

Shaking my head, I stepped back and turned my attention to the strange sword resting on its stand. The memory of how that infuriating man—Lucius—had handed it to me still lingered. "You're not my wife," he'd said after I failed to unsheathe it. The words had stung, even though they shouldn't have.

But doubt clawed at me. What if they were wrong? What if I was this goddess, this Athena, or whatever name they worshipped?

I reached for the sword, my fingers hesitating before wrapping around the hilt. A strange, dull throbbing began in my head as I held it, a rhythm that felt both foreign and familiar. I pulled, straining against the weight, but the blade didn't move. Not even an inch.

"Well," I muttered, releasing it, "guess that proves I'm not her."

Yet, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind. Why did everything here feel so oddly familiar? Why did my heart insist I belonged?

Before I could dwell on it further, a cold, cutting voice sliced through the quiet.

"What are you doing with that?"

I froze, my blood running cold. Slowly, I turned to face him.

Gorgeous devil.

He stood in the doorway, his piercing blue eyes locked on me with a mixture of irritation and something else I couldn't quite place. His presence filled the room, heavy and commanding.

"I... I was just checking again," I stammered, feeling inexplicably small under his gaze. "You know, to be sure I'm not who you think I am."

His eyes flicked to the sword in my hands, and his jaw tightened. "Drop it. Even if you inhabit her body, you're still human. That sword could kill you if it gets mad."

I blinked at him, dumbfounded. "Did you just say the word gets mad?"

"Drop it," he repeated, his tone sharp.

With a scoff, I placed the sword back on its stand. "So, let me get this straight. Your world has time travel, body-swapping, and temperamental weapons?"

"No," he replied, his voice colder than ice, "but that one does. It took Athena a full year to tame it."

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "You really can't go a few sentences without mentioning her, can you?"

His lips tightened, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then he spoke, his voice soft and laced with pain. "She is everything."

The raw emotion in his eyes caught me off guard, and my tone softened despite myself. "You must miss her."

His gaze dropped, and he gave a small nod. "More than you can imagine," he said quietly, then looked up, his voice hardening again. "And seeing a stranger in her body is driving me mad."

Something inside me snapped. "It's not like I chose to end up here!"

"And that," he said, his voice dripping with disdain, "is the most foolish mistake of all."

I glared at him, my temper flaring. "Then fix it! Take me back! I don't want to be here any more than you want me here!"

Our argument was abruptly interrupted by voices outside the room.

"Who's in there?"

"I heard voices in Her Majesty's chamber."

"Inform the generals and His Highness!"

His expression darkened, and before I could react, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a large wooden closet.

"What—"

He shoved me inside, following close behind and shutting the door just as the sound of boots echoed outside.

"Stay quiet," he hissed, his breath hot against my ear.

The closet was suffocatingly small, the darkness amplifying every sensation. I could feel the warmth of his body, and the steady rhythm of his breathing. My heart pounded, not just from fear but from the unbearable proximity.

"Looks like no one's in here," a voice outside said.

"But I heard something," another replied.

"Maybe it was the wind."

Gradually, the voices faded, and Lucius pushed the door open just enough to let in a sliver of light. I stumbled out, my face burning as I realized how close we had been.

My eyes landed on him, and my breath hitched. His robe had loosened in the commotion, revealing a chiselled chest and a faint sheen of sweat. My cheeks burned, and I quickly looked away, but not before noticing a faint flush creeping up his neck as well.

"Stop gawking," he said, his tone gruff.

"I wasn't!" I shot back, though my face betrayed me.

"Listen," he said, cutting through the awkward tension. "If you want to return to your world, you need to lay low. If anyone finds out you're... not her, it will end badly. For you."

I nodded, swallowing hard.

"I am Lucius," he continued, "King of Decresh. Husband to Athena."

The title rolled off his tongue like a heavyweight. Now everything made sense, this ancient place was a palace paraded with maids and guards so I must stay indoors always.

"Kiara Chen," I said, trying to sound composed. "Twenty-three," I said since nothing was interesting about my life I mean I finished college a virgin.

He nodded. "Good. Then we understand each other."

I extended my hand, only for him to stare at it like I'd grown a second head.

"It's a handshake," I explained. "You know, a gesture of agreement?"

He didn't move.

"Forget it," I muttered, pulling my hand back.

"Go back to bed," he ordered, his tone softening slightly. "Pretend you're still in a trance, as Athena often did after her rituals. It will buy us time."

With a heavy sigh, I crawled back into bed and pulled the blanket over me. "Happy now, Your Majesty?"

"Good," he said, turning to leave. But just before stepping out, he paused. "I'll bring you food and clothes later. Don't do anything reckless."

His voice was softer this time, almost kind. Before I could reply, he was gone, leaving me alone once again.

If pretending to be a goddess meant I could go home sooner, then so be it.