A King’s Dangerous Allure

"I want to hear your unique voice," the monarch wished.

A gentle chord of warmth in the chilly night was His Majesty's wish that lingered in the air. His gentle touch on Ru's cheek lingered for what felt like an eternity.

Ru's eyelids fluttered faintly, as if stirred by the faint echo of the monarch's words carried on the breeze. The moonlight dripped across his skin, bathing him in its splendor, making him look like a figure from a dream.

The monarch straightened, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Ru's face. "How long has he been like this?" he asked, his voice low but carrying an edge of authority.

Heise, who had been hovering nearby like a shadow, stepped forward with a silky smile. "Three months, two weeks, and one day, Your Highness," he replied smoothly. "He has been sleeping since we brought him back to life."

"Sleeping," the monarch repeated, his tone laced with skepticism. He reached out again, this time brushing his fingertip across Ru's lower lip. "He doesn't look serene. He looks... trapped."

Heise tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps he is. But isn't that part of his charm? The mystery, the danger, the allure of the unknown."

The monarch didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over Ru's face. "Wake up, little king," he murmured, his voice a soft command. "You've slept long enough."

For a brief moment, nothing transpired. The night held its breath, the fireflies pausing mid-flight as if waiting for something extraordinary.

Then, with a faint smile playing on his lips, the monarch leaned down and pressed a kiss to Ru's lips—a gesture so tender it seemed to defy the darkness that surrounded them.

Heise hid his smile by opening his fan at face level, the delicate silk fluttering in the breeze. He allowed the silence to linger for a moment, broken only by the rustling of the leaves, the splashing of the water, and the crackling of the fire. As the monarch rose once more, Heise began his explanation.

"I'm afraid there's no way he can wake up, Your Majesty," Heise said, his tone apologetic but firm. "Remember, he's a clone. The moment he died, his essence was taken back by The Great Ru and was likely absorbed by him."

The monarch turned to face him, his silver eyes narrowing. "If that's the case, how do you and your lord expect me to seal his fate?"

Heise closed the silk fan with a soft snap, his expression turning serious. "I'll be honest with you," he said, stepping closer. "If you wish to place his statue in your gallery, take this Ru and proceed." He paused, his gaze lingering on the monarch's masked face, curious about the expression hidden beneath. "However, if you desire the original, your task becomes... somewhat more challenging."

The monarch's eyes remained cold. "Are you challenging me to a game, sorcerer?"

Heise's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I'm offering you the opportunity to hunt down King Ru, who is imprisoned in the crystal tower."

The monarch's gaze sharpened, and his interest clearly piqued. "And what do you want in return?"

Heise's expression turned sly. "The genie sultan who captured Ru in his first life."

The monarch asked in a harsh tone, "Sultan? Who is that?"

"The most powerful wizard to ever exist," Heise replied, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But I suspect Ru stole his name, sealed it, and tore him apart."

The monarch's gaze flicked to the young man lying innocently on the bed. "Is he the same Ru in the tower?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Heise confirmed.

"This beauty is truly dangerous," the monarch murmured. He stepped closer to Ru, his silver eyes lingering on the young man's peaceful face. For a moment, the air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken tension.

"Very well," the monarch said at last, his voice low and commanding. "I'll hunt down the original Ru. But keep in mind, sorcerer—if you're deceiving me, there will be repercussions."

Heise bowed slightly, his smile never wavering. "Of course, Your Majesty. I wouldn't dream of it."

As Heise disappeared into the shadows, the monarch turned back to Ru. His expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost... tender. He reached out, brushing a strand of dark hair from Ru's forehead.

"This beauty may be dangerous," he murmured, "but I've never been one to shy away from a challenge."

Ru's eyelids fluttered faintly, as if he could hear the monarch's words even in his unconscious state. In that instant, the moonlight was obscured by clouds swiftly pulled by the fierce wind. The flames that lit up the gazebo danced uncertainly.

The monarch set at the bed's edge, his presence undeniable and impossible to overlook. He leaned closer to Ru, his silver eyes shimmering with a blend of curiosity and a more perilous allure—something that smoldering intensity.

The moonlight escaping from darkening clouds poured over Ru, creating delicate patterns across his naked skin.

“Sleep, little king,” the monarch murmured, his voice a faint whisper that carried the weight of centuries. His breath brushed against Ru’s ear, warm and deliberate, as if testing the boundaries between dreams and reality. “The night is long, and the game is just beginning.”

He paused, his gaze lingering on Ru’s face—the soft curve of his lips, the faint rise and fall of his chest, the way his dark lashes rested against his pale skin like the wings of a sleeping butterfly. For a moment, the monarch’s expression softened, a flicker of something almost tender crossing his features. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by something darker, hungrier.

“I know you hear me,” the monarch said, his voice velvety purr that sent a shiver through the air. He leaned in closer, his lips grazing Ru’s ear, his breath hot and deliberate. “But that’s not enough for me.”

His hand moved, fingers brushing against Ru’s jaw, tracing the line of his throat with a touch that was possessive. “I want you to feel me,” he whispered, his voice laced with a poison of lust.

The hue of the candle flames shifted to match the gray of his eyes.