୨⎯ " ʝҽɾσɱҽ'ʂ ΡσƲ " ⎯୧

Callisto's amusement faded as the doors boomed open, announcing the arrival of Duke Floyen and Duke Heylon.

Every head turned, whispers rippling through the crowd like a summer breeze.

I couldn't help but furrow my brow, my curiosity piqued at the potential meeting between those two titans and the Crown Prince.

And of course, it tore (Y/N)'s attention away.

Effortlessy, as always.

Annoyingly so.

I muttered a few words to Simon, my brother, who stood beside me nursing a glass of wine.

The usual topics of politics and gossip held little appeal tonight.

Instead, my eyes darted between the Dukes, Callisto, and (Y/N).

I was the outcast in his life.

The pest he couldn't bear to look at or even bother to step on.

(Y/N).

He was the perfect picture of nobility, the kind that made you want to gag on your own tongue.

From impeccable grades at the academy to his flawless manners, he embodied everything I wasn't.

Truth be told, (Y/N) and I never clicked.

He possessed an aura of cool detachment, like a polished statue.

Back at the academy, he barely acknowledged my existence.

His indifference cut deeper than any insult.

Yet, he commanded attention effortlessly.

Boys yearned to be him, girls swooned in his presence.

Simon, bless his annoyingly charming self, cracked through (Y/N)'s icy exterior with surprising ease.

Me?

I struggled to even hold a proper conservation with him.

Every time I mustered the courage to speak, (Y/N) would regard me with those icy, indifferent eyes, as though I was nothing more than a mere inconvenience in his perfect world.

It was like staring into the abyss, a void of emotion that chilled me to the bone.

Those fleeting moments fueled my initial dislike.

It morphed, festered, into something darker - a consuming hatred.

He was everything I admired, everything I could never be.

I loathed the fact I couldn't even stand to be a rival to him.

A loathing so intense it bordered on obsession.

For years, it simmered, this loathing for him.

Then, somewhere along the line, it mutated into something...unhealthy, an obsession bordering on mania.

The day I broke him, the day he crumbled under my control - that was the fantasy that kept me going.

Oh, how I longed for that day.

The thought of him begging, whimpering, utterly defeated, brought a savage pleasure to my mind.

I wanted to see him do so.

All under me.

(Y/N) caught my eye briefly as he raised his glass for a sip, his expression betraying no knowledge of my loathing.

A smirk touched my lips.

Red wine stained his full lips, a hint of vulnerability softening the sharpness of his features.

'Yes, notice me, little birdie.'

I thought, a dark thrill coursing through me.

'Look at me. More, more~'

"Jerome, something on my face? You've been staring an awful lot,"

He questioned, inclining his head as if acknowledging a fly buzzing around his head.

My smirk widened, a playful glint in my dark eyes.

"Oh dear, how clumsy of you, (Y/N)~"

I drawled, feigning innocence as I leaned forward.

My hand, propelled by a force outside my control, reached out to brush the offending stain from his lips.

I felt the soft texture of them, my heart thudding, as my fingers brushed against (Y/N)'s skin, the brief contact causing a ripple of desire to surge through my very being.

'Mine,'

The word echoed in my mind like a command, a need that took on a life of its own.

I pulled back quickly, the smirk still playing on my lips.

The entire room seemed to hold its breath, oblivious to the silent tension crackling between us.

"There, all clean,"

I offered, my voice smooth as velvet.

My gaze flickered to Callisto, gauging his reaction.

"Thank you,"

(Y/N) replied, his tone polite, but there was a note of caution in his voice, as if wary of my intentions.

His unease fueled a dark pleasure within me.

It was intoxicating to watch him off balance.

The conversation continued, but my eyes kept straying back to him.

The simmering desire refused to be quelled.

For a brief moment, our eyes locked again.

There - a flicker of something in his gaze, maybe unease?

Just as quickly, he looked away, distracted by Sir Abel.

A cruel chuckle escaped my lips.

This game had just begun, and (Y/N) was about to learn just how twisted it could get.

"Oi, Simon."

I called the older fool.

୨⎯ " (Ყ/ɳ)'ʂ ΡσƲ " ⎯୧

Beside Regis and me, Abel stood tall and confident, his smug expression hinting at a playful demeanor beneath his narasracric facade.

"........,"

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

He leaned in close just as Jerome retreated, his voice dripping with mock sincerity.

"Well, well, well,"

He drawled.

"Speaking of rumors, (Y/N), haven't I heard whispers about you setting the town ablaze?"

A smirk played on his lips as he continued,

"Word on the street is you've gotten a woman pregnant. Quite the scandal, wouldn't you say?"

My jaw clenched.

First, it was Callisto.

Now, him, too?

Did these two share a secret gossip network or something?

'Seriously? Another one?'

Annoyance bubbled up, but I fought to maintain a calm facade.

Giving him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered wouldn't do.

"Rumors are just that,"

I countered, meeting his gaze head-on.

"-rumors."

Abel chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes.

He leaned back, a playful glint replacing the mockery.

"I confess, (Y/N)," He admitted, "never pegged you for the ladies' man type."

There it was again.

The veiled accusation.

Frustration gnawed at me.

"...Whose child are you taking care of?" I

He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

'The fu*k? Do all of them share the same brain cell as Callisto or something?'

Disbelief and irritation warred within me.

"Is this some kind of planned act, or have neither of you heard of something called adoption?"

My voice was sharp, laced with a hint of sarcasm as I glanced between Abel and Callisto, who feigned a cough at my question.

After all, Callisto had alluded to Alissa being my 'secret life.'

Regis, a pillar of authority with his imposing stature and silver hair, watched the scene unfold with a stoicism bordering on disapproval.

His silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

Perhaps he disapproved of the stupid way they were treating me, or maybe this was all part of some larger game I wasn't aware of.

"........,"

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

His piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into my very soul, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

His calm voice then cut through the tension like a knife, his words directed at Abel with a hint of amusement.

"Told you," he remarked, his tone dry as he glanced at his companion.

Abel's smirk faltered slightly, replaced by a sheepish grin as he reached into his pocket, extracting a small gold pouch.

With a resigned sigh, he extended his hand to Regis, who accepted the pouch with a knowing nod.

"Looks like you win this round," Abel declared, though there was a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

Regis merely nodded in acknowledgment, tucking the pouch away with a satisfied smile.

His attention then turned to me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.

"Speaking of, (Y/N),"

He began, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.

"You barely attend any social gatherings, especially ones hosted by Callisto. So, why today?"

Before I could formulate a response, Callisto interjected, a touch of defensiveness coloring his voice.

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

Abel, ever the sly one, chimed in with a smirk.

"He's got a point, Regis. The same goes for you. Why are you asking?"

I shifted uncomfortably under their scrutinizing gazes, the weight of their unspoken expectations a heavy burden.

"I was told coming here was mandatory,"

I replied evenly, trying to project a sense of composure despite the rising tension.

Regis seemed to accept my explanation for now, nodding thoughtfully.

"I was told the same. What about you, Abel?"

Abel grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he leaned back and crossed his arms casually.

"Same story here," He admitted with a playful shrug. "But honestly, someone had to keep these youngsters in line, right? Bully them a little, you know. "

Regis raised an eyebrow at Abel's response, but before he could delve further, their attention shifted towards an unusually quiet Callisto.

Callisto shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flitting away momentarily before he finally spoke, his voice surprisingly calm.

"Don't look at me,"

He said softly, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Just wanted an excuse for all of us... to gather together once again and forget about the war, if only for a little while."

A heavy silence descended as his words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the harsh reality beyond these walls.

'So, even this world I thought was just a corny game...'

Regis' expression softened slightly, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes as he scanned the assembled group - Jerome, Simon (presumably his brother), Abel, Callisto, and myself.

"Well then," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Let's make the most of this opportunity, shall we?"

With nods of agreement, I decided I'd allow myself to indulge in fun a bit.

Perhaps, for a short while, I could allow myself to enjoy the moment.

After all, the burden of this war they talked about wasn't mine to bear.
.
.

.
╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

₊❏❜ ⋮ ⌒(A/N): Just a friendly reminder that Jerome is a black flag. So, kids, don't be like him!

What do you think of him?

Oh. You probably noticed this chapter is a little longer, well, I just wrote more because I felt like it.

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐