Chapter X

The game had barely started, and it was already a mess.

Anne was doing her best to focus on the campaign, but Nathan kept looking at her. Every time she glanced in his direction, he was smirking like a cat that had caught a canary.

And Sebastian? Oh, Sebastian was watching everything.

He wasn't saying much at first, just rolling his dice, narrating the story in his usual smooth, controlled way. But every now and then, she felt his gaze land on her. And not just in his usual I'm the DM, I watch everyone way.

No. This was the kind of look that sent a shiver down her spine. Calculating. Amused. Like he knew something.

Which he did.

"Alright," Sebastian said smoothly, tapping his fingers on the table, "Nebesty, your party reaches the hidden temple. The door is locked. What do you do?"

Anne blinked, dragging her attention back to the game. "Uh—" she quickly scanned her spell list, "—can I use Eldritch Blast to break it?"

Sebastian smirked. "You can, but—"

Eric groaned. "Oh, here we go. There's a but."

Sebastian's smirk deepened. "But you'd need to roll high enough to shatter reinforced stone."

Anne rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, I'll roll."

She picked up her d20, shook it dramatically, and threw it.

It landed.

A 2.

Silence.

Then—Nathan wheezed. Eric and Liam cackled.

Anne groaned, dropping her head onto the table. "I hate this game."

Sebastian looked entirely too pleased. "Nebesty confidently raises her hand, summoning all her warlock energy. The force of her Eldritch Blast—" he paused, dragging it out, "—barely scratches the door."

Nathan wiped a tear from his eye. "Amazing. Truly a powerful warlock."

Anne shot him a glare. "I will hex you."

Liam leaned back, grinning. "Yeah, yeah, try not to trip over your own spells first."

Sebastian, meanwhile, was still looking at her. His smirk was smaller now, but his eyes held a certain knowing glint. Like he was enjoying watching her struggle.

Anne narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"

Sebastian shrugged, tapping his dice against the table. "Nothing."

She did not believe him.

The game continued, but the chaos only got worse. At one point, Nathan's character tried to sneak past some guards. He rolled a natural 1 and ended up tripping into a fruit cart.

Liam lost a fight to a chicken.

Eric's rogue forgot how to pick a lock.

And Anne?

Anne tried to intimidate a nobleman and accidentally made it sound like a marriage proposal.

Sebastian was delighted.

"'My lord,'" Sebastian repeated dramatically, imitating Nebesty's voice, "'you have no idea how much power I can offer you. If you just say yes, you won't regret it.'"

The whole table lost it.

Anne groaned. "THAT IS NOT HOW I MEANT IT!"

Nathan gasped between laughter. "You proposed to an NPC—"

Eric slammed his hand on the table. "Bro, what if he says yes?"

Sebastian just smirked, rolling a die.

Anne glared at him. "Don't."

Sebastian placed the die down. A 19.

"Well," he said, looking way too entertained, "he's very interested."

Anne died inside. And her team was almost laughing on the floor.

After the chaos finally ended, Sebastian—as usual—walked Anne home. But this time, he wasn't his usual calm, slightly distant self. No. This time, he was enjoying himself way too much.

They walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes. But then, Sebastian casually asked, "So... what exactly happened between you and Nathan before the session?"

Anne tensed slightly. "Nothing."

Sebastian hummed. "Nothing?"

"Nothing," she repeated, keeping her voice steady.

Sebastian nodded slowly. "Hm."

Anne frowned. "What?"

Sebastian turned his head slightly, his eyes gleaming under the dim streetlights. "Because, you see, Nathan said something very interesting."

Anne's stomach dropped.

"Something about..." Sebastian paused, dragging it out on purpose. Then, his smirk sharpened. "Dating."

Anne froze.

Sebastian didn't stop walking, but he definitely noticed her reaction. He let out a quiet chuckle. "I assume you didn't mean to say that?"

Anne groaned, rubbing her hands down her face. "Oh my god."

Sebastian put his hands in his pockets, completely relaxed. "You did say it, though."

"I panicked okay!"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Interesting choice of words."

Anne scowled. "You are enjoying this."

"Oh, absolutely." He turned slightly toward her, stepping a little closer as they walked. "So? What's our date of beginning, then?"

Anne blinked. "What?"

Sebastian smirked. "If we're dating, we need an official start date, don't we?"

Anne gasped in offense. "You are milking this—"

Sebastian chuckled. "Well, I didn't expect you to confess first, but here we are."

Anne groaned again, speeding up her pace. "I hate you."

Sebastian easily matched her steps. "Liar."

Anne shot him a glare, but he just kept smirking. He would never forget about this. Anne didn't say a word. She refused to give Sebastian the satisfaction.

After all, he was clearly enjoying himself too much. The way he smirked at her, the way he casually walked beside her with that relaxed confidence—it was infuriating.

So she stayed silent. Sebastian noticed immediately.

He tilted his head, studying her as they walked. "Oh? The warlock is ignoring me now?"

Anne still said nothing.

Sebastian hummed. "I see. You think silence will save you?"

Anne kept walking, eyes forward.

Sebastian smirked. Then, before she could react, he reached out and lightly patted her head. "That's alright, my warlock," he murmured, voice teasing. "You can sulk all you want."

Anne twitched.

Sebastian definitely noticed.

He chuckled under his breath, clearly entertained. "Hmm. Nothing to say?"

Anne still didn't respond.

She felt his gaze on her, but she kept her expression neutral, pretending she wasn't affected at all.

Sebastian let the silence linger for a few seconds. Then, without warning, he casually lifted his arm and draped it over her shoulder, closing the space between them.

Anne stiffened.

Sebastian chuckled again. "I wonder how long you can keep this up," he mused, leaning in just a bit. "Because I have all the time in the world."

Anne gritted her teeth.

He was so smug.

So damn smug.

And the worst part?

He was winning.

But she refused to break first.

She kept her eyes forward, pretending his presence wasn't affecting her. Even as he lazily rested his arm over her, even as his warmth seeped through her clothes, even as his voice dropped just slightly lower, smoother, more amused.

"Not even a glare?" Sebastian teased. "Not a single word?"

Anne took a slow breath, keeping her face blank.

Sebastian exhaled dramatically. "How cruel," he murmured. "I bring you home, I keep you warm, I even grace you with my presence—"

Anne snorted.

Sebastian's smirk widened. "Ah. There it is."

Anne immediately went silent again.

Sebastian just laughed. "Oh, you are stubborn."

They reached her building, and Sebastian finally dropped his arm from her shoulders. But before she could head inside, he leaned slightly closer, his voice low.

"Don't be late tomorrow," he murmured.

Anne rolled her eyes.

Sebastian chuckled. Then, just as he turned to leave, he patted her head again. And left an unexpected kiss on her cheek.

"Goodnight, my warlock."

Anne wanted to smack him. But she didn't. Because that would mean losing. So instead, she just glared.

Sebastian smirked. "Oh? Finally found your voice?"

Anne crossed her arms. "I hate you."

Sebastian grinned. "It's not nice to lie, darling."

And with that, he walked off, leaving Anne standing there, frustrated beyond belief.

A kiss, the darling nickname. She really needed to find a way to win.