Chapter 20 – Similar to Fire

The kiss could’ve been longer if it wasn’t for the bookmaker who walked up to them, clearing his throat to grab their attention.

They have parted already though their gazes are still fixed at one another, as if wanting to know their reactions but both of them are hard to read especially that they’re just looking at each other impassively.

Aurora let out a small breath from her mouth, her lips slightly parted. She was still in a daze, she felt like she just woke up from a sweet dream.

The kiss is not something she expected at all but surprisingly, she found it gratifying that if she’s being honest to herself, she doesn’t want it to end. She wanted to pull him back again, and satiate herself with his kisses until she can’t anymore.

But then, her rationality came surging in like a wave reminding her that she is no ordinary lady. That kissing a savage from the north, could spark up a squabble among the social circle. She may not really care about how the people around thinks of her, but she’s afraid that it could corrode the image of the imperial family especially the empress regnant.

“What is your name?” she asked, breaking the silence and to shift her attention instead from the fact that she can’t ask him for another smooch.

The man narrowed his eyes at her for a moment then he sneered as if he found the question offending. “Is that important?”

“Uhm, yeah? So, I know how to address you properly?” she wiggled her eyebrows in amusement as she found his response peculiar.

Instead of answering, he held out his hand to her. Aurora doesn’t really know what’s going to happen next but she put her hand on his, anyway. To her surprise, he kissed the back of her palm.

“Arsene, my lady. You can call me that,” he murmured while his lips are still close to her hand, his breathing tickles her.

Aurora’s cheeks are practically burning already as if she’s having a high fever. Certainly, it isn’t the first time that someone kissed the back of her palm especially that it’s a tradition, and she frequently experience it as a lady of nobility, but something just really felt different when Arsene did it.

“You have a beautiful name,” she can’t help but say because to her ears, his name reminded her of fire; which perfectly describes his fiery attitude and his eye color that seems to be ablaze.

For the first time, Arsene smiled. He then reluctantly let go of her hand.

“It’s been a pleasure to meet you, my lady. I hope to meet you again someday.”

Aurora wanted to tell him that she was hoping for the same thing but she stopped herself. After all, she’s not sure if it’s really possible so she thought it’s best not to have their hopes held up. She’s had her fair shares of disappointments already and she perfectly knows how awful it feels to expect for something that is unlikely to happen. She has just started a new chapter of her life, and she doesn’t want to put her heart through that again.

She did not answer but her silence is enough for Arsene to understand. The lady may be clothed as a commoner but he’s perfectly aware that she is no ordinary. She could have deceived the onlookers around but absolutely not him. He has met and killed a lot of spies at the north who dressed and talked like them so seeing a lady in front of him pretending to be someone she’s not is not odd to him anymore. But somehow deep down, a small part of him is hoping that he’s wrong.

That this lady is really just a commoner so it won’t be hard for him to woo her. But his gut is really reprimanding him otherwise. His mind is basically screaming at him that associating himself with the likes of her would bring more harm than good and he should just stay away from her.

He isn’t a person who gets irrational easily but the fact that they’re both living in two different worlds left a bitter taste in his mouth. And somewhat, that angers him.

***

Everyone at the townhouse felt the weight being lifted off their shoulders when Aurora came back on time as she promised. During her absence, the servants can’t perform their tasks properly as they were constantly bugged with the thought that the lady could come back harmed, or worst not all.

After handing the jar of candy she bought on her way back to Agnes, Aurora went straight to the bathroom to clean up herself. The servants prepared her bath and clothing but after that, she dismissed them all because she wanted to be alone.

The water is lukewarm and the room is filled with a sweet scent because of the compacted mixture of wet and dry ingredients, one of the servants put on the tub so she can bath leisurely. There are even several petals of roses floating around that added the intoxicating scent.

Aurora snagged one of the petals and bought it to her palm, its redness reminding her of Arsene’s red, jewel eyes. And the sudden memory of him also brought her back to the kiss and conversation they shared. She automatically grasped her lips and shut her eyes.

It’s been hours but she can still feel his lips on hers that she started to wonder if Arsene’s lips maybe contained traces of love potion or anything similar because she just can’t stop herself thinking about it to the point of desperation to do it again.

“You need to stop, Aurora. That guy is from the north, so being curious of him won’t do any good. And it’s not as if you’re going to meet him again, anyway,” she’s not the sort to talk to herself but at that moment, she felt the need to express her thoughts out loud to emphasize the pointlessness of her admiration towards a stranger.

Who is she kidding, anyway? Aside from his name, she doesn’t even know where he lives or what he does. Arsene. His name is similar to fire after all. It’s charring, devouring, and ultimately could ruin her.