CHAPTER#8:Leo

"Leo"Leo, get off her." Erebus's voice was calm but firm as he approached the bed. The massive wolf whined in protest but didn't dare disobey, leaping off and trotting excitedly around the room. The beast was no ordinary wolf; his thick black fur gleamed in the firelight, and a golden crescent moon marked his forehead. Despite his size and power, Leo had only three legs, a feature Luciana couldn't help but notice.

"He has three legs..." she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else.

"He was born that way," Erebus said, watching as Leo rolled playfully on the carpet. After his burst of energy, the wolf settled onto a large cushion near the fire. "And abandoned by his kind."

Luciana smiled faintly, recalling her own snow vixen from her homeland. The moment of quiet was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Luciana tensed, her eyes wide with fear. Noticing her reaction, Erebus called out without allowing the visitor inside.

"It's me, my lord," Jafar's voice came through the door.

"Perfect timing. Call the maids to attend to this woman. I'll check in later. Take care of the paperwork in the meantime."

"Understood, my lord."

Luciana listened to Jafar's footsteps retreating into the distance. Erebus turned to her, his gaze critical. "The maids will take care of your needs. You can't keep looking like that forever." He gestured toward her tattered clothes, which barely concealed her skin. Flushing in embarrassment, she quickly pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

"At least tell me your name," he added, a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"L-Luciana de Amanécer," she stammered.

At her words, Erebus's brow furrowed. "Luciana...," he repeated, as if the name triggered something within him. She wondered if she'd said something wrong, but before she could ask, her stomach growled loudly, betraying her hunger.

Her face turned crimson, and she buried it in the blanket to avoid his gaze. Erebus's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could comment, Jafar knocked and entered the room, cutting through the awkward silence.

"My lord?" Jafar's voice was amused as he caught Erebus's expression.

Once outside, Erebus let out a small laugh. "What an interesting woman," he mused, glancing up at the stone ceiling of the ancient fortress as Jafar escorted him to his office. The office itself was a chaotic mess—maps, papers, and scrolls strewn everywhere.

"Master..." Jafar's voice was unusually serious. "When was the last time you cleaned this place?"

Erebus shrugged. "Before the monsoon."

"It's the end of winter now."

Jafar sighed, casting a glance at the disarray. He placed a plain envelope on the desk. "I hereby present my letter of resignation."

Erebus grabbed Jafar's leg before he could leave. "I promise I won't abuse my authority as your master. Don't leave me alone with this disaster."

Jafar stared down at him. "It would be foolish to believe you."

"Come on, you've lost your senses," Erebus pleaded, still clinging to him.

"Unfortunately, I'm in full possession of my senses. That's how I know this won't get us anywhere." Jafar dragged him toward the door. "Just get married already."

Erebus clung tighter, refusing to let go. "Don't leave me!"

The maids passing by whispered among themselves as the two men argued, lighting the chandeliers in the hallway.

"What's going on out there?" Luciana's concern grew as she heard the ruckus from her room.

Blake, the head butler, stepped in just in time to prevent Jafar from summoning his wings in frustration.

"Blake! Help me get rid of him," Jafar demanded.

Blake remained calm. "What seems to be the problem, Lord Jafar?"

"Tell this forever-single fool to get married!" Jafar shot back.

Blake sighed. "Lord Jafar may have a point, my lord. The emperor might arrange a marriage for you if you don't act soon."

Erebus was stunned by Blake's words, and Jafar nodded in approval, savoring the rare victory. But the butler wasn't done. "And you too, Lord Jafar. You're the same age as our master. Shouldn't you be considering marriage as well?"

The tables turned, and now it was Jafar's turn to stammer, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Me? Married?"

Erebus patted him on the shoulder, enjoying the shift in tone. But before they could continue, Jafar's expression darkened. "Master, there's urgent news from the Imperial Palace."

Erebus's mood shifted instantly. "The Palace?" He frowned, his playful demeanor vanishing. "That bastard. He won't stay quiet much longer."

He sighed, heading back toward his office. "Come on, Jafar. Stop spacing out and get back to work."

---

Meanwhile, the maids bathed Luciana and dressed her in an elegant black gown, an older style of traditional Warheit dress. The dress clung to her uncomfortably, and she couldn't help but blush as she examined herself.

"Isn't it a bit... revealing?" she asked, frowning.

"This dress is one of a kind, my lady," one of the maids explained. "It's known as the Banshee's Dress. It was found in one of the rooms when this fortress was gifted to the master by the emperor, in honor of his achievements."

An old, creepy, millennium-old fortress? Luciana thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for Erebus.

"You look stunning, my lady," another maid added, admiring the way the black dress contrasted against her porcelain skin and the way the black gemstone-studded hairpin complemented her snowy white hair.

Shortly after, Blake knocked on her door, inviting her to join Erebus for breakfast. Nervous, Luciana followed him through the fortress's stone halls. The place was stark compared to her homeland of Amanécer, where vibrant colors, paintings, and gold adorned every palace. Here, the walls were bare stone, and the furniture was simple and wooden. But despite its cold appearance, the fortress was surprisingly warm, thanks to the natural hot springs running beneath the structure.

As they entered the dining hall, Luciana's anxiety grew. She was about to dine with the man who had saved her—yet who terrified her in equal measure.