Don't leave me

Camelia threw herself onto her large bed after finishing her bath and dinner, then stared at her very big bed canopy.

She was very happy with her room, which turned out to be very big, which was originally Camelia's room. In her world, a room this size was equivalent to a house with three or four rooms.

Everything was very luxurious, from the furniture to the sofa, bed, wardrobes, dressing table, dresses, and jewelry. She didn't know if there was anything in this room that wasn't expensive.

However, she felt a bit uneasy about the style and color of the dresses the original Camelia owned. Why did they all have laces and bright pastel colors? Kimi wasn't a fan of pastel colors; she preferred black or white.

But what could she do? To deceive everyone who knew the original Camelia, she had to go along with it. Especially with the Duke, Camelia felt pity for him.

The problem was she didn't have any memories of the original Camelia, nor did she know the plot of the story she had transmigrated. They would know sooner or later that she was different from the real Camelia.

Her mind wandered to Atherion. Honestly, the man was very handsome, and Camelia felt that she had truly fallen in love with him.

Camelia's face turned red as she imagined Atherion's face and chest, often close to her face when Atherion was carrying her.

Knock! Knock!

Suddenly, there was a knock on her bedroom window.

Camelia sat up, startled. What was that? Who was knocking on her second-floor bedroom window at night?

She got up and gathered the courage to open the window curtains. When she opened them, she saw Atherion sitting on the balcony railing, looking towards the garden.

She quickly opened her bedroom window and stepped onto the balcony.

Atherion turned his head to her and smiled, then nodded towards the garden.

"Look, the fountain looks beautiful under the moonlight," he said.

Camelia looked at the fountain, and it was indeed beautiful. The water droplets sparkled in the moonlight. It was round with carvings and sculptures of doves painted white.

The moon and stars lit up the sky, creating a beautiful background. Flowers bloomed in the garden around the fountain, and their fragrance reached Camelia's balcony.

Camelia gasped at the beauty of it all.

Atherion reached out his hand to Camelia. She gave him her hand, and Atherion lifted her onto the balcony railing, sitting beside her.

Camelia let out a small scream in surprise.

"It's okay. I'll hold you," he whispered close to her ear. His hands nestled around Camelia's waist.

Camelia's heart beat fast. Although Atherion often carried her, that was only when she was in danger or injured. Now she felt even more nervous, the atmosphere was different.

"A-Alright…"

Camelia didn't dare look at Atherion's face. She was even afraid that Atherion would be able to hear her fast heartbeat.

They stayed silent for a long time on the balcony, looking at the fountain.

"Kimi," Atherion suddenly called her real name. "Do you intend to stay here with 'your father'?" he asked.

Camelia turned to look at Atherion, then answered, "I don't know. I don't know him. I-I mean, to me he's a stranger."

Atherion nodded. "I understand," he said.

They were silent again. But the silence felt comfortable and thrilling for Camelia.

"If I stay here with you, you might be able to get used to your father, before I leave," Atherion said suddenly.

Camelia choked. 'Before I leave?'

She turned to Atherion, who was looking into the distance.

"What do you mean? You're going to leave me here?" Camelia asked in a hoarse voice.

Atherion did not answer.

Camelia looked down at her hands, gripping her nightgown. But her vision began to blur, and tears started welling up in her eyes.

'Atherion really thinks of me as a burden? But… Ah, he never returned my declaration of love at all.' Tears began to fall onto her dress.

Atherion realized that Camelia was crying and pulled her into his arms.

"One day I might not come back. Maybe I'll die at the hands of my enemies. You need a place to take refuge, and your father is the right person to take care of you," he whispered.

Camelia began to let out a suppressed sob.

"Am I just a burden to you?" she asked with a choked sob.

"What do you mean you're just a burden?" Atherion asked back.

Camelia lifted her face and looked at Atherion.

"I once said that I love you, didn't I? I will come with you, dead or alive," Camelia said with an angry expression.

Atherion stared at Camelia. His mouth was slightly open, as if he wanted to tell Camelia that he loved her too.

But if Camelia came with him, she could be killed. And Atherion didn't want that. His heart began to ache.

He closed his mouth and turned his gaze away from Camelia. He didn't answer.

"So I'm really a burden to you? So you've been protecting me reluctantly? Then why didn't you go ahead and kill me, kill both of us? Camelia and I are the ones…"

Camelia, who was ranting angrily, suddenly fell silent. Atherion's lips covered her mouth so she couldn't say anything else.

Not long after, Atherion broke the kiss. He wiped away the tears from Camelia's cheeks.

"I never thought of you as a burden, Kimi," he said.

Then he lifted Camelia and they went down from the balcony. Atherion carried Camelia back into the room and placed her body carefully on the bed.

But Camelia did not let go of her hands from his neck. Her big green eyes stared into Atherion's eyes.

"I don't want to sleep alone," she said in a slightly hoarse voice.

Atherion hesitated. They slept together often, but this time the atmosphere was different.

He struggled between wanting to pour out his feelings to Camelia, or the fear of her leaving him, when he had fully transformed.

Finally, he gave in to his feelings. He kissed Camelia's lips, and Camelia kissed him back.

Over time, their kisses became hotter. Their breaths began to pant.

Atherion began to kiss Camelia's cheeks, moving to her ears, and neck.

His blood boiled, especially after hearing her moaned.

It made him wanting to give his everything to Camelia tonight.