Chapter 6

Leon followed Aric down the long corridor, their footsteps echoing like the steady beat of a drum. With each step, the oppressive atmosphere of the wedding ceremony they left behind seemed to fade, but Leon’s heartbeat only quickened in its place.

He couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Aric, who walked ahead with an unshakable presence. The broad shoulders, the graceful line of his back, and the undeniable aura of strength he exuded stirred a tangle of emotions within Leon—confusing, unnameable, and impossible to ignore.

They finally entered a spacious bedroom. The room was simply furnished, yet luxurious in its own way. The dark-toned furniture exuded a quiet authority, while the half-drawn curtains allowed a sliver of moonlight to spill in, casting a cold, distant glow over the entire space.

Leon stood at the edge of the soft carpet, raising his head, wanting to say something, but he realized that his voice was still trapped within him. He bit his lip in frustration, then turned to Elian standing beside him, silently gesturing with his hands: "Can you help me release this?"

Elian clearly understood, nodding slightly before gently waving his hand. Within a second, a warm current of air passed through Leon’s throat. Leon cleared his throat tentatively and was relieved to find that he could speak once more. Just as he was about to voice his thanks, he watched Elian bow quietly and exit the room, leaving him alone with Aric in the stillness of the space.

“Turns out you're not mute after all?” The low voice, laced with a hint of mockery, drifted from nearby. Leon looked up to find Aric lounging casually by the desk, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he watched him.

Leon instinctively shook his head.

Aric raised an eyebrow, taking a few steps closer. “Then let me ask you this—do you like that brat?”

Leon was momentarily stunned but quickly realized Aric was referring to Jasper. He shook his head again, this time with even more conviction than before.

“Oh?” Aric’s expression shifted a subtle change, with a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “So, you’re being forced into this?”

Leon nodded vigorously, the motion itself could convey the deep, painful unwillingness he felt, a memory he’d rather not revisit.

Aric let out a low, almost magnetic chuckle. “I see… if you're really not mute, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Leon finally gathered the courage to speak, breaking his silence for the first time in hours. “Thank you for saving me. I... I owe you a favor.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Aric’s smile twisted into something far more dangerous. He slowly turned to face Leon, appraising the young man before him. “Owe me a favor?” He scoffed softly, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking grin. “Should I call you brave, or just ignorant?”

Leon froze, stunned. “Ignorant?” What had he done to earn such a label?

"I’ll assume you're the former, then," Aric’s gaze suddenly turned intense, his smile now sharp and predatory, like a hunter locking onto its prey. He took a step closer, the space between them shrinking to the point where Leon could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Since you're so brave," Aric’s voice dropped, becoming a whisper right by Leon’s ear, "how about we do something... equally bold together?"

"W-What?" Before Leon could even finish his question, Aric suddenly swept him off his feet.

His world spun in an instant, the disorienting rush of motion lasting only until his body was gently set down on the nearby table. The smooth wooden surface sent an uneasy shiver through him, and he realized with a start that the table was both wide and high—he had no way of getting down.

"What... What are you going to do?" Leon struggled, but Aric effortlessly seized both of his wrists, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding determination that left no room for refusal.

"Quiet," Aric’s command barely left his lips before he leaned down and kissed Leon.

It was an overwhelming kiss—forceful, assertive, leaving Leon with no room to pull away. His breath was stolen in an instant, his mind spiraling into a dizzying storm of confusion.

The kiss came again, but this time it was different from the one they had shared in the wedding hall. This kiss wasn’t gentle; it felt endless, as though it aimed to consume him completely, to steal not just his breath but his very soul.

Aric's lips were cool, carrying a subtle hint of mint, yet they burned with the intensity of fire. It ignited something deep inside Leon—a foreign, unsettling sensation.

Leon’s body stiffened; his eyes squeezed shut. His heart raced wildly in his chest, threatening to burst free from its cage. He wanted to push Aric away, to escape, but his body betrayed him. He couldn’t summon the strength to resist.

Finally, Aric pulled back, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mockery. His voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with amusement. "You really are inexperienced, aren’t you?"

Leon’s face flushed. He instinctively tried to retreat, but no matter how he moved, he remained trapped within the reach of Aric’s arms, bound by the undeniable control the other man had over him. His body trembled slightly from the tension, unable to escape, caught in a whirlwind of unease.

"It seems you're truly ignorant." Aric shook his head, lifting a hand to gently graze the side of his neck. He pressed down on the back of his neck, pulling him closer. His voice was low, tinged with a hint of pity. "But I have to admit, in this alluring state of yours, it's hard to bring myself to let that brat have you."

As he spoke, he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the left side of Leon's neck, with an indescribable pressure. Immediately after, a faint sting followed—soon, a bright red mark appeared clearly on his skin.

Before Leon could react, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the right side of his neck. It was a clear bite mark; it had been deliberately left behind as a sign.

Leon dared not move, sitting there rigidly as he heard Aric’s low chuckle fade away. Aric took a moment to admire his "work" with evident satisfaction, then turned and left without a second thought. Leon was left alone at the table, his fingers trembling as they gently traced over the marks on his neck. The instant his fingers brushed against them, his cheeks flushed a deep red.

Leon, still lost in the chaotic and heated memory, was suddenly snapped back to reality by the sound of the door opening once more. He looked up to see Elian, the gentleman who had been with Aric earlier, stepping gracefully into the room. His dark suit seemed to mold perfectly to his frame, exuding an air of calm composure and quiet confidence.

Leon quickly tidied his clothes, trying his best to jump off the table and stand at attention. In the presence of someone so impeccably composed, he couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervousness inside.

"I am Elian Faulkner," the man said with a slight bow. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "I am Prince Aric's butler."

Leon took a deep breath, then politely responded, "I'm Leon Ma... though, I suppose my identity doesn’t hold much weight here."

Elian regarded him with a faint smile. "Could you tell me how you got here?"

The question made Leon relax just a little. He knew he couldn't hide anything from this man, so he decided to tell the whole truth. From the underground auction to Morgana's spell, to the wedding scene, he laid it all out, word for word. His pace was steady, but each sentence carried a sense of frustration and helplessness.

As he finished, Leon hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage to ask, "If you can undo Morgana's spell, would you be able to send me back?"

At the question, Elian's expression remained calm, though the slight dip of his eyelashes hinted at a touch of sympathy. "I'm afraid I can't help you with that. I'm not skilled in teleportation magic. And, as it happens, the most powerful teleportation mage here is undoubtedly Morgana."

Leon felt a pang of disappointment at his words. He lowered his head, his voice tinged with self-mockery. "It seems I’ve just offended her, though..."

Elian raised an eyebrow, pausing for a moment in thought before replying softly, "Given the current situation, yes. It seems you may have to stay here for a while."

"Sigh, just arrived and already made a mistake, looks like Aric was right about my ignorance—he really couldn't have been more accurate." Leon couldn't help but mutter, his voice heavy with frustration and regret.

Elian chuckled softly at his words, his tone carrying an almost inscrutable undertone. "Is that so?"

"He said I was ignorant when I told him I owed him a favor." Leon lifted his head, looking at the mysterious butler with a hint of confusion. "But Isn’t it true? He saved me, so it's natural that I owe him a favor, right?"

Elian’s smile deepened, yet his tone remained calm and composed. "I see. In that case, perhaps the 'ignorance' Prince Aric mentioned wasn't quite as straightforward as it seemed."

Leon was stunned. "What do you mean?"