Varen frequently refrained from using substances that could impair his judgment, they made it too easy for him to lose control of himself.
However, the situation he found himself in seemed ideal for him to indulge in alcohol, if only to help himself unwind and relax a bit.
This was already his sixth bottle that night, and he seemed to have no intentions to stop any time soon, not until an unexpected guest decided to show up at the door.
Finally, a distraction that was worth his attention.
Zeya remained unphased by Varen's intense flirting even when their faces drew closer to one another.
"I see you've been enjoying yourself quite thoroughly." She remarked, observing the nearly empty whiskey bottle in his right hand. "She made it seem like you were on the verge of destroying everything in sight and practically begged me to come handle the situation."
'So, it was Sukha that made her come find me...' Varen noted mentally, his mood brightening the instant he saw the Roseabelle. 'How interesting.'
"Did all the blood give it away?" Varen joked half-heartedly, glancing nonchalantly at his bloodied hands.
Indeed, there was blood smeared all over the room due to his aggravated state, ranging from the throne's armrests to the white porcelain floor of the palace.
"Aren't you bored, Zeya dear?" He inquired, his voice dripping with drama as he playfully cocked his head, eyes fixed on Zeya. "Because I certainly am... I have been for centuries."
"Try jumping off a cliff then." She retorted sarcastically, refusing to indulge in Varen's absurdity. "I'm certain a lunatic like you would find that amusing."
"Would you care to come along with me then?" He asked with an amused tone, purposely doing so to vex Zeya. "I'd have way more fun with you being there, I always do."
"Such flattering words won't get you what you want, emperor." Zeya warned, her eyes narrowing in disdain. "In fact, it will achieve quite the opposite."
Varen chuckled contentedly at her words, then took another gulp of his drink, draining the bottle. With his bare hands, he shattered the glass bottle, the countless fragments scattering on the floor with a resounding crash.
Tiny little cuts formed as a result of his impulsive actions, but the wounds quickly patched themselves up with the help of the healing magic that flowed naturally through a Kaxarene's body.
'...I must be losing my mind.' She mused, finding the emperor's elusive smile oddly captivating despite his deranged appearance. 'Is this the price I pay for not sleeping with someone for a long period of time?'
He looked like a handsome mess with his tousled hair, it was a complete contrast from the usual neat and swept-up look he would adorn when he was busy with the duties that came with the role of being Exousia's emperor.
His eyes, a deep shade of crimson, emitted a faint glow in the darkness of the room, fixating on Zeya with such intensity as though any lapse in attention might cause her to vanish into nothingness.
He struggled to keep his composure whenever he was around her, this was a new realization of his after she started living with him in Exousia.
Sometimes, even he was unaware of his own mind thanks to his bipolar personality that only intensified as time went on.
After all, they never really had a proper chance to end things properly because of Raziel's betrayal. It simply... broke, and eventually, when Varen looked back on it, it was beyond repair.
They went from being lovers to sworn enemies overnight, and both Zeya and Varen excelled in playing their roles amongst everyone else despite still having feelings for one another. Now, nothing was left in its place except for apathy and rage.
Perhaps it was because of this sudden fall out that started this unbearable intensity between them.
Zeya's hatred burned like a wildfire, and often, a single glare from her was enough to scorch him from within, leaving him powerless against the spreading flames.
"... You truly confuse me, Zeya." He sighed heavily, slowly getting up before he was looming over her, their faces barely inches apart. "It wasn't even a minute ago when you were begging me to kiss you and now, you ask me to stop touching you after riling me up with your seductive words. Just what in the world do you want me to do, hm?"
"I never begged you for anything." She clarified strongly, pushing him at his chest but to no avail. "You're simply assuming what I want with that intoxicated head of yours."
"And I'm quite confident that my assumption is correct." He said with a smirk, his gaze fixed on her lips. "Surely you want more than this? I know you better than anyone, even that knight of yours. If you really despised what I was doing, you would've stopped me from going any further ages ago."
'This is already the second time he's mentioned Arius with that look on his face.' Zeya thought, unable to pinpoint where he was trying to head with that topic.
"You've really haven't changed one bit, emperor. Always projecting your own desires onto everyone as you please." She returned with a lazy stare. "Are you really that desperate? Desperate enough to come onto a Roseabelle like this?"
"Maybe, or maybe not." Varen placed his lips closer to hers. "However, it seems to me that you are the desperate one Your Majesty, not me."
"... Maybe, or maybe not." She answered wittily, causing Varen to scoff in disbelief. "I won't lie and say I'm not entertained by how you're behaving towards me."
"I wonder what your men will think of you after seeing you like this." Her eye wandered towards his lower half where she had felt something hard pressed up against her inner thigh, the curiosity successfully breaking her self-control. "That it's this easy to break apart their almighty emperor with just a little bit of booze?"
"Are you seriously going to blame alcohol for the state that I'm in?" He asked as he guided Zeya's hands to where her eyes were. "Must I spell it out for you, Zeya?"
"I'd like to see how far you're willing to go with me, Varen." She pressed on, smirking internally as his eyes grew hungrier every second. "So, why don't you prove it?"
"... What if I don't stop with just a kiss?" He asked, his eyes staring intently into her own. "What if I crave more than that?"
"You can try and see what happens." She replied with a light-hearted threat. "But do not blame me for whatever I may do to you as a result of your boldness."
"... Such a cruel, cruel creature you are, Zeya." He whispered her name, causing butterflies to erupt in her lower abdomen. "Taunting me with like this when you know what I'm capable of."
"You're going to regret this, Varen." She warned despite secretly enjoying his reactions. "You have no idea what you're about to do."
"Does that even matter at the moment?" He asked and for once, Zeya failed to reply. "One more regret wouldn't make a huge difference when my life is already full of it."
A soft groan escaped her lips as he touched her sensitive skin, his hands cold like ice as they roamed her body, hungry for a reaction.
"You-" She tried to speak but Varen wouldn't let her, not when he knew that she was going to deny him.
His lips tasted bitter from all the alcohol he had consumed beforehand.
The kiss was hungry and desperate, as if he had been waiting centuries to do this and today was finally that day.
He liked it when Zeya squirmed under his body, trying her best to push him away despite knowing that it wouldn't work. She slowly started to melt under his dominance, locking eyes with him as they embraced.
Her hands pulled on his dark locks, causing him to moan in pleasure.
The aromatic citrus scent wafting from him was all too familiar to her, reviving a flood of memories she had desperately attempted to erase. This was wrong; she knew this, yet she couldn't stop herself, she wouldn't.
Her hands felt hot on his body and her sharp nails scratching the skin of his back raw only excited Varen even more.
"Stop it-" Zeya managed to say between breaths, her hands were now pinned above her by Varen's strong arms.
Heavy breathes filled the air once they finally pulled away from each other, the scent of lust was heavy in the air and both of them were well aware of that.
Varen appeared more sober now, but Zeya knew that adrenaline was to blame for that.
As her gaze drifted beyond Varen, she realized that something was unusual about the surroundings.
She suddenly understood that they were no longer in the throne room; while she was distracted by the unexpected kiss, Varen had transported them to what seemed to be his private quarters.
"Podex perfectus es." Zeya cursed at Varen as she pulled herself away from him, realizing what they have just done; what she had just done. "Get a grip of yourself!"
She tried to squirm free from under him, but it was useless against his iron-like grip. She realized she had taunted him too far, and now, there was no turning back.
"Today is not a good day to test my patience, Zeya." He whispered softly, heaving a long, heavy sigh. "I may be tolerant towards you, but I am no saint."
"Do you even hear yourself right now?" She yelled in anger, slightly flustered by his immense strength despite being so drunk. "I swear to God Varen, if you attempt anything, I'm going to kill you-"
Varen ignored her threats and proceeded to go lower, kissing her neck and collarbones delicately as if they were lovers.
'He's... He's really going all the way.' Zeya struggled to refrain herself from moaning in pleasure under his experienced touch.
Without hesitation, Zeya forcefully struck her head against Varen's, rendering him unconscious instantly. His hold weakened, allowing Zeya to break free from beneath him. She then vanished into the night, leaving him lying unconscious on his bed.