Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 237. Artheur's Curiosity I (Patreon)

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 237. Artheur's Curiosity I

Rose's smile, blossoming like a rare and beautiful flower, illuminated her features. It was a smile that held within it the power of her choice. "Yes... I will," she responded, her voice infused with unwavering determination.

A second later, Angel and Rose found themselves wrapped in an intimate embrace, their souls entwined like threads of destiny. His arms held her waist in a firm yet tender grip, pulling her closer until there was barely a sliver of space between them. And then, with a feather-light touch, he caressed her chin, lifting it until their eyes met.

Their closeness, their shared breaths, painted a canvas of emotions that words could scarcely capture. And as Angel leaned closer, his lips a mere whisper away from hers, Rose's heart raced in anticipation. It was a heartbeat that carried the echo of their past, their present, and the promise of their future together.

But just as their world seemed poised to shrink into the realm of an impending kiss, a voice—distinct, urgent—pierced the air. "Rose, may I speak to you for a minute?"

Time seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second, a heartbeat suspended in midair. Angel and Rose's shared gaze shifted, their attention drawn toward the source of the voice. There, with an aura of seriousness that couldn't be ignored, was Artheur, approaching them with a determined stride.

The transition from their intimate moment to the current reality was swift yet significant. Angel's arms reluctantly released their hold on Rose, allowing a sliver of distance to form between them.

Angel's sigh echoed in the corridor, a mix of annoyance and resignation that hinted at a story much deeper than what met the eye. He turned away, his face etched with mild frustration, allowing the weight of their unspoken thoughts to settle.

"Talk to him, I'll go back to our room first," Angel's voice carried a hint of weariness, a subtle plea for reprieve from the matter at hand. With those words, he strode purposefully down the corridor, his steps a rhythmic echo that mirrored the cadence of his thoughts.

Artheur, his presence a blend of steadfast determination and an undercurrent of unresolved emotions, remained in place. He watched as Angel retreated, his gaze unwavering, perhaps an unspoken acknowledgement of the complexities that had woven their paths together. But then, a voice—cold, tinged with a hint of provocation—pierced the air.

"Angelus Raizel, are you not afraid I will snatch her away from you?"

Artheur's voice cut through the tension, his words like a challenge hurled into the arena. He stood tall, his stance an embodiment of his inner turmoil, the layers of his emotions barely contained beneath a veneer of icy resolve.

For a moment, Angel paused in his tracks. His steps faltered, and his smirk emerged, a flicker of confidence that belied the uncertainty that lingered. He turned back slightly, his gaze meeting Artheur's with a blend of amusement and certainty.

"No... Because her heart is already mine," Angel's response was laced with a quiet determination, his voice carrying an undertone of possessiveness that betrayed the depths of his feelings for Rose.

After that, Angel left them.

"Artheur, what do you need to talk about?" Rose's voice held a gentle note of inquiry, a soft invitation for him to share whatever was on his mind.

Artheur's sigh was heavy, a blend of nostalgia and regret that painted the backdrop to the words he was about to utter. His gaze met Rose's, and for a moment, the weight of their unspoken memories hung heavy in the air.

"I remember when he first brought you from Scarlet Stone Castle, you were desperately trying to get away... then I heard you married him, I thought he forced you to do it," Artheur's voice carried the echoes of a time long past, a period marked by confusion and uncertainty. As his words wove the fabric of their shared history, it became clear that the past held layers of complexity that were only now coming to light.

He continued, his words carrying the weight of his internal struggle. "I was desperate to stop your marriage, but my father forbade me... messing up his marriage would only give him a chance to declare war on Draconis again. I couldn't do anything that endangers my kingdom's safety..."