Whispers

"Alright! Let's do it."

Ashen could only watch helplessly as she dragged him by the hand toward the bedroom.

"…Where are we going?" he asked, not out of curiosity, but hoping she'd rethink her destination.

"There's not enough space on the sofa. Let's use the bed." She didn't even look back.

Ashen blinked. "Alright… as long as you're comfortable."

He let himself be led, though he couldn't shake the feeling that the mood had somewhat shifted. 

Now that they were alone, in an enclosed space, her hesitation had all but vanished. Where the hell was she getting all this sudden courage?

When they reached the bedside, Seraphine pushed him onto it.

"Stay in the center and lean on the headboard," she ordered, quick and firm.

"Yes, Your Majesty~" Ashen quipped as he obeyed, trying to cut through the slowly rising tension.

"Hmph."

Seraphine wasted no time climbing onto the bed, stopping right beside him.

Ashen froze for a second as she placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning in so close that her lips nearly brushed his ear.

"Now this is comfortable~"

Her whisper sent a shiver down his spine, but that wasn't the real problem.

The real problem was the softness pressing against his arm.

Ashen let out a slow, controlled breath, resisting the urge to groan. After so long without any real relief and the constant stress piling up, his body was starting to betray him.

And judging by the mischievous glint in Seraphine's eyes, she had no idea how much danger she was actually in.

He quickly averted his gaze, forcing himself to focus.

"Alright, Sera, let's just… get this over with." His voice came out tighter than he intended.

Seraphine pouted. "Fine, fine. Don't rush me."

"…."

"Ehm."

Ashen heard her mumbling to herself, "Let's start with something simple," just before she leaned in again, making his arm tense once more.

"...Ash, in truth, while I was mostly afraid before starting this… now I think I'm getting kind of excited~!✴ "

Her hot breath tickled his ear, sending warmth creeping up his neck. He fought to stay composed, his voice instinctively lowering, perhaps influenced by her whispers.

"...I can see that."

"Nuh-uh, no speaking for you, mister." Seraphine placed a finger against his lips, as if to make a point.

"And why is that…?" he asked, confused.

"Ugh, I don't think I can handle it. C'mon, please~?" she groaned, voice laced with embarrassment.

"Okay, okay. I'll mute it." He sighed. "Just think of me as an oversized plushie, geez…"

"Haha, that's not a bad idea, actually!" she giggled, completely unaware that her singsong voice was drifting straight into his ears, given their proximity.

Haah… Ashen exhaled slowly.

'This is going to be a long night, isn't it?'

"Okay, let's try again…"

Leaning in for the third time, she spoke softly, "Hmm~~ Since you wanted to know my type of man—rejoice,✦ I'll tell you now. "

Ashen tilted his head slightly, giving her more room. His golden eyes flickered with curiosity and amusement, though there was a tension beneath them… an awareness of just how close she was.

She could feel the faintest tremor in his chest as he waited. Despite his towering frame, his presence wasn't intimidating; instead, it was steady, solid… inviting.

Her fingers traced idle patterns on his shoulder, her voice dipping into something velvety.

"He's tall… just like you," she murmured, her lips grazing his earlobe. "With this messy, glossy black hair that I can't stop running my hands through."

As if to prove her point, her fingers slid into his hair, tugging gently.

"He's strong," she whispered, her hand drifting down to his chest, feeling the firmness of his calisthenics-trained physique beneath her palm. "But not just physically. He's hardworking, dependable… the kind of man who keeps going, no matter what."

Seraphine was letting go of every restraint, pouring her heart out.

Meanwhile, Ashen was mustering every ounce of his willpower not to pounce on those puffy lips that kept teasing his ears.

But neither of them realized the thin threads of mana seeping from Seraphine's fingertips, weaving their way into him.

Soulweaver's Whisper.

It was an ability she unconsciously activated… born from her earnest work in fulfilling her duty as a Desire's Whisperer.

While this skill could heal wounds and raise desires…

Now, the healing aspect took the back seat, leaving it to work full throttle toward amplifying both of their emotions.

Seraphine, practically clinging to him at this point, lowered her voice even further, her breath hitching slightly as she continued.

"And he's got this… sarcastic edge that drives me crazy.⛤ " A small, breathy laugh. "But he tolerates my teasing. Even plays along with it, like he's in on some secret joke only we share."

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze.

Her eyes sparkled—mischievous, yet layered with something deeper.

Something tender.

"Sounds familiar?" she asked, lips curling into a sly smile.

Ashen didn't answer with words.

Instead, his hands found her waist, pulling her onto his lap as an unbidden thought surfaced… She's changed from a soft angel into an alluring succubus.

Something in the back of his mind screamed at him to stop.

But he brushed it aside.

It wasn't like he was doing anything wrong, right?

On the contrary, ignoring such heartfelt words felt more wrong.

So he leaned in further, about to capture those plush lips—

—until a sudden image flashed through his mind.

A crying Alice.

Tears slipping down her face as she poured her heart out to him.

The moment she broke up with him.

The image shattered the haze in an instant, and every other thought was violently wiped away.

Creak—Swish.

Ashen wrenched himself from Seraphine's embrace with almost supernatural speed.

The bed creaked under the force of his movement, the woven mana threads snapping as he put distance between them.

Seraphine blinked, dazed.

She lay there in a fetal position, frozen, mouth slightly open.

"Oh… no."

The moment she unfroze, she buried her face in her palms, clearly mortified.

"…Indeed," Ashen answered slowly, still shaken.

"Haah… I'll be back in a second. Stay there."

Rushing out of the bedroom, he headed straight for the bathroom.

Bracing himself against the sink, he splashed his face with cold water.

The icy shock helped.

His breath steadied.

His heartbeat slowed.

But even as he looked at his dripping reflection in the mirror, the lingering tension in his body refused to disappear.