A Ruthless Man

Aria took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm despite the tension in the air. Bowing slightly, she murmured, "Thank you."

"Uh huh." His curt response felt like a slap, dripping with dissatisfaction. His gaze, sharp and piercing, bore into her as he leaned back lazily, his hand idly resting on the hilt of his blade.

The faint grin on his lips was devoid of humor, only emphasizing the danger that surrounded him.

"I wonder," he began, his voice cold and deliberate, "where has the confidence from that night suddenly disappeared to?"

His words, though spoken casually, felt like an accusation. The crimson hue of his eyes seemed to darken as they locked onto hers, carrying a powerful, almost predatory intensity. He tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction with a mix of amusement and disdain.

Aria's frown deepened as the weight of his question settled on her. Confidence? Where had it gone? She bit her lip, recalling the night she had confronted him with brazen defiance, accusing him of being a thief. That night, her anger had blinded her to the enormity of her mistake.

But now, standing before him, every instinct screamed at her to be cautious. His aura was overwhelming, suffocating even, and it left her feeling utterly exposed.

'Just apologize,' she told herself firmly. 'Apologize and make sure you never cross paths with him again. He's too powerful.'

Straightening her posture, she forced the words out. "I… erm… I'm sorry for the other night." Her voice wavered slightly, but she pushed through, hoping it would suffice.

Yet before her apology could settle, his voice cut through the air like a blade. "What has been done cannot be undone." His tone was flat, almost bored, but there was an unmistakable edge to it that sent a chill down her spine.

He lifted a single gloved finger and tapped the polished surface of the desk before him, the sharp sound echoing in the stillness. His gaze never left hers, and the dangerous glint in his crimson eyes grew sharper. "You've offended me. Just know that."

Offended him? Her stomach churned with unease as his words echoed in her mind. That night had been a mistake, a terrible, impulsive mistake. If she had known who he was, she never would have dared to speak so recklessly.

Besides, what had he even been doing in the palace that night if he hadn't officially arrived? Wasn't it his fault for sneaking around like that?

Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, "You! If I offended you, then why did you help me out?"

But the question burning inside her refused to stay silent.

"If I offended you," she blurted out, her frustration momentarily overriding her fear, "then why did you help me out?"

His lips curled into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "That's where you're wrong," he replied, his voice calm but laced with a quiet menace. "I didn't help you."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "But—"

"I intervened," he continued smoothly, cutting her off. "Not for your sake, but to ensure the situation didn't escalate further. The chaos would've disrupted my rest, and I have no patience for such nuisances."

As he spoke, his fingers resumed their steady tapping, each sound a reminder of his irritation. His words were cutting, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

So that was it. He hadn't helped her out of kindness or concern; it had been purely self-serving. Her lips pressed into a thin line as indignation flared within her. What a selfish, arrogant man.

So this is the kind of man he is," she thought bitterly. "Selfish. Ruthless. A man who wouldn't lift a finger unless it benefitted him in some way."

As if to confirm her thoughts, his voice rang out again, "And now," he said, his voice taking on a commanding tone, "you're disrupting my rest yet again. Leave. Now."

His words were absolute, a dismissal that carried the weight of his authority. His piercing gaze never wavered, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on her until she had no choice but to obey.

Aria clenched her fists, swallowing the insults that burned on the tip of her tongue. "Disrupting your rest? Hmph what a rude man!" she fumed internally. "How rude! How absolutely unbearable!" She wanted to scream at him, to tell him off for his arrogance, but she knew better. He was a man of power, one who even he parents feared to offend.. and one she couldn't afford to cross further.

Grinding her teeth, Aria turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor. Even as she walked away, she could feel his gaze on her back, as though he were silently mocking her.

'What an insufferable man,' she thought bitterly, her hands clenching into fists.

'Rude, arrogant, and utterly self-absorbed.'

Her cheeks burned with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, but she forced herself to push the encounter from her mind.

After wandering aimlessly for a while, she found herself in the castle's gardens. The cool night air and the faint scent of blooming flowers helped calm her nerves. Sitting on a stone bench beneath a sprawling oak tree, she let her thoughts settle, vowing to avoid him at all costs from now on. She had made the mistake of offending him when she didn't know his identity but now that she did she couldn't dare...

Eventually, she returned to her chambers, her exhaustion catching up to her. She washed up, letting the cool water cascade over her hands as though it could cleanse away the day's frustrations. Just as she was beginning to relax, a sharp knock interrupted her peace.

Aria froze, her heart skipping a beat. Who could it be at this hour? She hesitated for a moment before crossing the room and opening the door. Her breath hitched when she saw Queen Seraph standing there, her regal presence as intimidating as ever.

A flicker of hope sparked in Aria's chest. Could it be? Could her mother have finally come to see her, to reconcile after years of neglect? Perhaps she had realized that Aria wasn't the burden she had always believed her to be. Perhaps she had come to apologize, to offer the love and affection Aria had craved for so long.