Chapter 90: Falling for a Human

"Was that… your first kiss?"

His tone, his expression, this feeling… it felt strangely familiar.

Anran stared at the Night Emperor, this man she had just met. She was furious at his audacity earlier, but when he uttered those words, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over her, making her forget that she should have punched him again.

The man raised a brow, a slight smirk playing on his lips, looking rather pleased with himself. Except for those dark eyes, everything else unexpectedly overlapped with someone she knew.

And why did the Night Emperor, the first time they met, know that the person in the helmet was a woman? What's more, who knew that "Liuguang" was her motorcycle aside from her grandfather? Only three people in the village knew—the people from Maurice Castle.

Anran was startled by her own thoughts. She examined the man before her, her anger dissipating, replaced by an inexplicable shyness.

As Anran watched the Night Emperor, he too kept his gaze fixed on her. Seeing her change in demeanor, the corners of his lips curled deeper into a satisfied smile as he said with a hint of pride, "Seems I guessed right. So, I didn't lose out after all."

What kind of talk was that? As if she had taken advantage of him when he was the one who had forcefully kissed her!

This jerk!

Anran shoved the despicable man away, forgetting even to pick up her helmet from the ground. She mounted her motorcycle, ignited the engine, and glared fiercely at him, biting her lip. Then, she hit the throttle and sped away like a fugitive.

The Night Emperor remained standing, calling out to her retreating figure, "Hey! You're going the wrong way. That's not the road back to the village."

Anran slammed on the brakes, spun the bike around, and roared past him on "Liuguang."

She didn't know why she had acted like that—wasn't it the same as running away? She should have beaten him up again, but when she thought about the possibility that her guess might be true…

Anran shook her head vigorously, refusing to admit she was afraid he might remove his mask and confirm he was the very person she was imagining.

The Night Emperor didn't chase her. After all, Rosewood Village was tiny, and there was nowhere she could truly escape. Besides, he couldn't push her too hard all at once. And wasn't a fleeing kitten kind of adorable?

Unconsciously, the part of his heart that he had always guarded suddenly felt open and free.

Then, he spoke in the direction of the forest, "Why are you still here? Hurry up and follow her."

A low growl, akin to a beast's, responded.

The Night Emperor looked up at the moon hanging in the night sky. Then, he removed his mask and the disguise over his eyes, revealing deep violet pupils.

He gazed into the void, pressing his right eyelid as if recalling someone who no longer existed.

His voice was unusually soft in the night breeze as he whispered, "Just like you… I've fallen for a human…"

The silver motorcycle raced through the night. The journey back felt endless to Anran, as if it would never conclude. Only when she spotted the outlines of buildings ahead did she slow down. Then, she remembered the necklace hanging around her neck, and her heart began to race. She let go of the handlebar with one hand and pulled the necklace out from under her collar. The pendant was a delicate cross.

That day, after leaving the castle and returning home, she had discovered the necklace only when she changed her clothes. At the time, her first thought was that it had been Richard who had placed it around her neck, though she couldn't comprehend its meaning. All she wanted was to return it to its owner. But after waiting an entire week and Richard never showing up in class, she decided to keep it close, fearing she might lose it. Now, clutching the cross tightly, her heart pounded violently.

Ahead, she was about to enter the residential area. Her headlights illuminated the road far ahead, and Anran saw two tall figures standing in the distance. Their faces, pale under the glare of the lights, were unmistakable. Anran recognized them instantly.