[Bonus chapter]Your name

They strolled down the corridor in comfortable silence for several seconds, Adelia's thoughts drifting back to what happened in the common room mere minutes ago.

Minutes? Just minutes? She was taken aback. It now felt as if hours had passed since then.

No doubt the people residing at the inn would see her newfound companion warily now, and no one would want to come near her now because he was by her side.

Because he had openly laid claim on her…

Wait... had he actually claimed her?!

The thought made Adelia blush and she turned abruptly to face him. Had he done it on a whim? Or was this a normal practice among people like him? ....Commoners?

Azel seemed mildly confused by the look she was giving him before she cleared her throat.

"May I ask you a question?" she began.

He pondered for a moment. "You may ask me anything you wish, milady."

Adelia huffed, more from nervousness than mild exasperation at his answer. "What did you mean…" she trailed off.

Oh God, how on earth was she supposed to put this?!

She took a deep breath and continued, "When you said… when you told those… those... men that they were forbidden from laying a finger on what was... what was yours…"

She managed, turning away to hide her deep blush, now unable to see Azel's astonished expression at her incomplete question.

Adelia nearly slapped herself; why in the world was she blushing?!

"What… what did you mean?" she finally managed to complete, and Azel cringed slightly.

He stifled the urge to groan—he had said that? When had those words even come out of his mouth? And in her presence, no less!

His embarrassment was so intense that he could practically see himself crawling into a small hole to stay and die.

Azel swallowed, but mustered a smile. "... I can assure you, milady, that I had no… ill intentions with those words," he managed. "Many men in taverns and brothels openly assert their claims over their… companions, telling the others to keep their distance, even if it's for just one night…"

A moment passed in silence.

"That was why I acted the way I did."

"Oh… alright." Adelia responded after a pause. To Azel, her answer almost sounded... disappointed.

Or was it just him?

Adelia resisted the urge to sigh. Why on earth was she feeling so disappointed?

He had done what he did to protect her... to defend her. What on earth was she expecting?

Well, certainly not what he had just explained… But she should be satisfied, at least, she was safe.

The thought brought her a comforting sense of relief. She would be safe until Edward woke up and then they could go back to the Count's manor...

Or until her Father found them.

Adelia bit her lip and clasped her hands together below her. 'Father must be so worried…'

She had secretly hoped to hear some news at the inn's common room when she saw how rowdy the place was, but she had gotten nothing.

And with what had happened, she wasn't keen on going back there to settle down and wait for information...

Wasn't he already searching for her?

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the negative thoughts. Of course he was. She knew her father well, and he wouldn't rest until he found her.

She just needed Edward to wake up. Even if it was just a minor improvement, she had to take action— they had to return home soon.

It took a little while before they reached the inn room's entrance. Adelia turned to face Azel, only to find him standing a few paces away.

She frowned. "Why did you stop?" she asked. "Aren't you coming?"

Azel huffed and crossed his arms. "I would've liked to. It is my room, after all," he smirked. "But I'm certain you would be unwilling to share a bed with me."

Adelia stared at him in a daze for a moment. "Share a bed...?" she echoed. When she realized what he was implying, she tried not to blush.

But, as always, she failed.

Then she stopped to think again and quickly put two and two together to know that he didn't mean what he said literally... not really.

Her face heated even more fiercely and she planted her hands on her waist and attempted to glare up at him. "Why can't you... why can't you communicate like a normal person?!"

Azel gave her a lopsided grin. "Did I say something that a normal person wouldn't, milady?"

Adelia huffed, her face growing even redder. "Yes!" She declared, managing not to sputter. "Why can't you just tell me you'll let me use your room for the night, since I probably wouldn't like it if we had to share?!"

"Don't you see, milady?" Azel's golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he inquired. "That would have been so much harder to say. Yet my simple question already told you what I meant."

"Your simple question was too indirect!" She argued. "Anyone would have misunderstood!"

"But you didn't."

"I almost did!"

"But you had enough sense to correct your misunderstanding almost immediately."

Adelia couldn't decide whether she wanted to slap him... or maybe she did, because if given the opportunity, she would most definitely do it.

She had never once seen anyone as overbearing as this man—the man whose name she didn't even know...

Then a wave of realization washed over her; she didn't know his name!

She stared at him with wide eyes, and Azel's expression instantly shifted to one of concern.

"Is something the matter, milady?"

"Your name…" she mouthed quietly. "I... I don't know your name."

Azel's breath caught at the question, his eyes fixed on her. The way she whispered—it was definitely having an effect on him.

He smiled. "I understand that you don't know my name, milady," he whispered back. "But was there a reason to whisper it? Could it be that you're embarrassed you didn't ask for my name sooner?"

Adelia took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring. "I'm... I wasn't embarrassed!" She protested. "It just occurred to me, and I whispered it without thinking!"

"Of course, you did," Azel relented sarcastically. "You weren't embarrassed at all."

Adelia's cheeks flushed at his teasing tone, but she chose to ignore it. Giving people like him the reaction they wanted would only boost their morale.

She nearly groaned at the thought that she had been doing that ever since she met him.

"Your name..." she inquired more firmly. "May I know your name?"

Azel studied her, his gaze unwavering. "Why do you wish to know my name, milady?" he asked. "I'm merely a commoner."

"No, you're not," she responded instantly, causing Azel to twitch slightly. "You've saved me, a noble, on two separate occasions today. You're anything but a mere commoner... that's why I want to know your name."

A pang of discomfort went through Azel's chest, and he quickly realized that it was guilt he felt. Guilt for concealing the truth.

Yes, guilt.

He understood that his lie would somehow hurt her if she discovered it. Now he was compelled to keep his identity a secret from her no matter what.

He wasn't doing it on impulse, of course. Ever since he had seen her in that expanse in the forest two days ago, he had discovered she was his mate, he had known that she was noble.

And nobles had a duty to uphold to their kingdoms; for Dalniar and Galiminea were first enemies before they were grudging allies.

"Az," he responded simply. "My name is Az, milady."

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