CHAPTER 5~WHAT A DRAMA QUEEN

After regaining her senses, Raya hurried outside, only to catch a glimpse of the shiny black car disappearing into the distance. She stood still for a moment, staring at the empty driveway. "Zaire has gone already. I couldn't even say goodbye," she murmured quietly, her voice tinged with a sense of longing.

She turned to head back inside, but as she stepped forward, her foot caught on something, and she tumbled to the ground, her body flipping unceremoniously. Her head collided with the hard surface, a sharp thud echoing in the air. Before she could even process what had happened, a maid rushed over, her worried face hovering above Raya.

Raya's eyes widened when she realized what she had tripped over. Nyx, the imposing black panther, lay sprawled on the ground nearby, apparently following her outside without her noticing. She gasped, mortified, as she scrambled to her feet. "I'm so sorry, Nyx! I didn't realize you had followed me," she stammered, her voice laced with panic. She couldn't help but imagine the worst—Zaire wasn't here to stop the panther from attacking her.

The panther only rolled his eyes in what seemed to be exaggerated exasperation, almost as if to say, What a drama queen. Without a second glance at Raya, he stood up gracefully and sauntered back inside, his powerful form retreating as if the incident had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Raya let out a shaky breath, still feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through her. She watched Nyx disappear, half expecting the panther to suddenly pounce on her again, but when he didn't, she let out a relieved sigh.

Meanwhile, the maid, still hovering nearby, frowned at the sight of Raya rubbing her head. "Madam, you've injured yourself," the maid said, her tone soft but concerned.

Raya touched her head lightly, feeling something warm and sticky against her fingers. She winced as she realized it was blood. "Oh no, I guess it was when I flipped over," she muttered, her voice surprisingly calm despite the situation. "Surprisingly, I don't feel any pain," she added, genuinely puzzled.

The maid knelt down beside her, inspecting the injury. "It seems like a minor injury, madam," she said reassuringly. "Let me get the first aid kit and treat it right away."

Raya nodded, still in a daze from the fall, but curious about the lack of pain. She followed the maid back inside, the strange calmness of her body only adding to her growing sense of bewilderment. She wondered why she wasn't feeling the throbbing pain that usually followed such a fall. There was definitely something strange about this place, and maybe even stranger about the people here—and the creatures.

As the maid returned with the first aid kit and gently cleaned the wound, Raya glanced over at the door, still feeling the absence of Zaire. Whatever this world was, whatever had brought her here, it felt like the beginning of something far bigger than she could have ever imagined. The strange people, the cryptic words, the mysterious creatures… something about it all kept her hooked, and as much as she feared the unknown, a part of her couldn't wait to see what would come next.

The chef walked into the room, his expression filled with concern and confusion as he noticed the bandage on her head. "Madam, you're hurt! What happened? And where's Master?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.

She gave a light chuckle, reassuring him. "I'm fine, really. I just slipped and got a minor injury—nothing serious. As for Zaire, he left for some urgent business."

After observing that the situation was under control he served Raya her breakfast then headed back to the kitchen

After assessing that the situation was under control, the chef served Raya her breakfast and then headed back to the kitchen.

Before Raya could begin eating, Nyx got up and strolled over to her, laying down near her feet. "Are you hungry?" she asked, looking at the intimidating creature beneath her. Nyx didn't flinch, nor did he respond. Taking his silence as consent, Raya picked up a piece of chicken and held it out to him. Just as she was about to feed it to him, a maid rushed over, shouting, "Nyx doesn't like—"

Before she could finish, Nyx quickly gulped down the piece of chicken in Raya's hand. "What did you say?" Raya asked, surprised.

"Never mind," the maid mumbled, turning to leave. As she walked away, she muttered under her breath, "Master's dangerous, cold, serial killer pet… humble for this woman? Who exactly is she?"

Unaware of her own charm, Raya finished her meal and gulped down her juice. She had been famished, having eaten nothing since morning due to the chaos. The chef entered to clear her plates. "Your cooking is wonderful," she complimented. "I really enjoyed the dish."

Surprised by her kind words and appreciation, the chef looked at her with a soft smile. "It's been a long time since anyone has complimented my cooking. Master or anyone else in the mansion never has, but this woman… she truly is the perfect madam for Master," he thought to himself. "Thank you very much, Madam. I really appreciate your kind words," he said, bowing respectfully before leaving the room.

Without even realizing it, Raya had earned the admiration of everyone in the mansion just by being herself. She settled onto the couch, and before long, she drifted into a peaceful sleep. Not long after, Zaire and William returned.

As they approached the room, Zaire paused at the sight before him. It was a heartwarming scene: Nyx lying calmly at Raya's feet, looking surprisingly harmless. Raya, serene and unaware, was resting on the couch, her features soft and peaceful in sleep. Zaire couldn't help but notice how charming she looked in that moment, more enchanting than ever as she slept.

Zaire quietly walked toward Raya, his movements gentle as he carefully lifted her into his arms, intending to carry her to her room. The shift in position caused Raya to stir, her eyes fluttering open. As she saw Zaire's face, her expression immediately brightened, and her eyes sparkled with an unmistakable excitement. It was as though the room itself came alive with her joy.

Noticing her eager reaction, Zaire's heart softened, his usual stoic demeanor melting away. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he held her carefully, his voice low and warm. "Did I interrupt your beauty nap?" he asked, his words teasing yet affectionate.

Raya, still nestled against him, could barely contain her smile as she looked up at him, her eyes still shimmering with delight. The feeling of his arms around her was comforting, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth, both from the moment and from him.

Zaire, his gaze softening, couldn't help but notice how at ease she seemed, the innocence in her expression making his heart ache with an unfamiliar tenderness. Despite the complexity of their lives, moments like this reminded him of the simplicity of connection—something he didn't often allow himself to feel.

"Maybe," Raya chuckled, attempting to slip out of Zaire's arms. But he didn't release her; instead, he simply carried her upstairs.

Upon realizing there was a bandage on her head, Zaire's eyes narrowed, and his voice, firm and cold, cut through the air. "What happened? How did you get hurt?" His tone suggested a protective concern, as if he were the one who had been hurt.

Raya, sensing the edge in his voice, quickly reassured him with a soft smile, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "It's nothing serious. I just tripped and bumped my head, but I promise it doesn't hurt." Her voice remained calm and reassuring, despite the faint dizziness still lingering from the fall.

His gaze softened, but only for a moment. "You have to be more careful next time," he said, his voice taking on the tone of a quiet command. "I don't want you getting bruises all over your body." Though his words were slightly admonishing, they carried a deep sense of concern, and his expression remained stoic, masking a flicker of something protective in his eyes.

"Okay, okay, now put me down, Mr.!" she protested, her voice taking on a playful, almost childlike wail. She squirmed in his arms, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

Zaire's eyes softened slightly at her protest, but he didn't release her just yet. For a moment, he held her a little tighter, as if to emphasize his point—he wasn't letting her go just because she asked. His grip remained steady, but there was a gentle warmth in his touch that she couldn't ignore.

"Not yet," he replied quietly, his tone betraying a hint of amusement, though his expression stayed mostly neutral. "You've got to make sure you're okay first." His gaze never left her, as if measuring her every reaction, silently assuring himself that she was truly fine.

Raya huffed, her playful frustration evident. "I'm fine, really!" she insisted, but she couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at her lips, knowing Zaire wouldn't budge.

Seeing Zaire still carrying her upstairs, Raya exclaimed, "Aren't you going to put me down?" Her voice mixed with a playful frustration, a hint of disbelief at how determined he seemed to carry her despite her protests.

Zaire remained unfazed, walking toward her room with steady steps. "Go freshen up, then come downstairs for dinner," he said, gently placing her in front of her room door.

"But you just got back, and I didn't even get to ask how your day was! Did you have breakfast? And what about the urgent matter you had to take care of?" Raya continued, her words tumbling out one after the other. Her concern was genuine, her voice laced with curiosity, but Zaire let her talk uninterrupted, standing there and watching her with quiet patience.

As she finished speaking, he allowed the silence to stretch for a moment before he finally spoke, his tone almost amused. "You're quite the talkative one, aren't you?"

Raya's face shifted in an instant, her playful demeanor turning to mock hurt. "Oh, so now my concerns are a burden? And suddenly I'm a talkative nuisance?" she said, sounding a little disappointed.

Zaire's eyes softened, his earlier teasing fading as he stepped closer, his voice calm but reassuring. "Go freshen up, then come downstairs. I'll answer whatever questions you have." His words were meant to convey that her concern wasn't a disturbance, and it worked.

Raya's mood brightened, her pout transforming into a satisfied smile. "Okey dokey, I'll go freshen up, okay?" she said, her tone light and childlike, like a young girl who had just received approval from a father figure.

"Hmm," Zaire nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

With a cheerful nod, Raya turned to enter her room, her steps light and eager. But Zaire didn't leave immediately. He stood there for a moment, watching her with an unreadable expression as she disappeared inside. His gaze lingered on the door for a few moments longer before he, too, turned to leave and head to his own quarters to freshen up.

The house was quiet for a brief moment, as if the air itself held its breath. For Zaire, it was a rare and fleeting sense of peace—one he hadn't realized he needed until now.