Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

Her heartbeat skipped and then thundered in her ears.

She didn't move, and didn't pull away as in that moment, she simply couldn't.

Ethan's lips curled inwardly into a silent smile, though outwardly his face remained composed and unreadable.

Her thin, braless dress, which was still damp from her sweat, clung to her form and left little to the imagination as he could feel the press of her soft breasts against his firm chest with only a whisper of wet fabric between them. T

The sensation was maddening in a way that made him curse himself quietly.

For the briefest moment, his thoughts wandered as he started comparing her budding figure to Nyx's mature allure.

But the comparison struck him like a cold slap.

I think I should not think something like this...

A flicker of self deprecation passed through his mind.

She just lost her brother yesterday... and here I am, entertaining lewd thoughts like some shameless beast.

But even as that thought echoed, his arms didn't let go, and his gaze remained fixed on her flushed face.

He told himself a fact and chose to believe it without anyone confirming it.

Isn't this helping her? She looks dazed, yes, but not sad. I even soothed the hatred in her heart by punishing those clowns. If that Erik guy maintains his sanity, then that would be a miracle in itself.

And what I am doing is better as I am effectively distracting her with this rather than letting her drown in sorrow over her brother's death. I am… helping, aren't I?

The logic, which he thought sounded perfectly fine to him, and he clung to it all the same.

His body lingered a moment longer, unwilling to part from the warmth.

Then, finally, he eased her away and let the distance between them return with deliberate slowness as he wanted her to feel the significance of the touch he had shared with her.

He smirked inwardly but pretended to be worried as a faint crease of worry appeared on his brow, and he asked in a smooth, almost gentle voice that held just the right amount of concern,

"Are you alright, Miss Lucy?"

She snapped out of her trance and began stammering, flustered beyond belief.

"Y-Yes, I a-am fine... Mister... Umm…"

Her voice trailed off as she looked into his eyes, mortified that she had forgotten his name amidst the chaos of everything that had happened that day.

Ethan leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a near-whisper as he said near her ear, his tone low and intimate,

"It's Ethan. My real name. Keep it a secret, alright? Currently, I am using the name Eryndor here."

As he said this, he saw her beautiful, slightly pointed ears turn a visible shade of pink, revealing her embarrassment and unfamiliarity with the presence of a man so close to her.

But then he straightened up and gave her a playful wink before walking away.

Lucy stood frozen in place, while her heart fluttered madly in her chest.

He… told me his real name? Just like that? Does that mean he trusts me, but why would he?

A whirlwind of questions stormed through her heart.

Her gaze lingered on his retreating figure, on the muscles of his back, on the confidence in his stride. The realization hit her with dizzying force.

She wasn't naive, and she could tell what had just happened.

But the more she thought about it, the harder her heart pounded.

Her face burned, and for a moment it felt as though she were sinking into a bed of black tulips, her favorite flower, dark, beautiful, and intoxicating.

This time, she was completely and thoroughly confused.

Yet even in that confusion, she couldn't deny the strange, glowing joy blooming quietly inside her chest.

She had lost everything just yesterday, that i,s her brother who had been her anchor and support.

She had always been used to relying on him for everything with no worries or responsibility, but that feeling had vanished the day before, and she had started feeling cold and alone in this dangerous and cruel world.

But somehow, Ethan had stepped in and filled the void with such precision and such subtle charm that she hadn't even realized it was happening until now.

The way he spoke, the way he moved, and the dangerous and charming way he looked at her, filled her with an unexpected joy.

A feeling as if he were her support and mate started blooming in her heart and she realised that this feeling was different from the sibling affection she had shared with her brother.

It was darker, passionate, and filled her with a growing need to stay beside him always.

She wanted to be held in his arms tightly as he patted her, held her in his lap, and treated her like his princess.

As such thoughts went in her heart, she couldn't help but feel a bit afraid of her own thoughts.

While the girl wrestled silently with her swirling emotions, Ethan walked over to Velcy, who had just finished adjusting her clothes.

Her wet gray strands clung to her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with quiet satisfaction.

He began dressing as well, slipping his shirt over his damp skin just as the sound of leaves crunching beneath measured footsteps reached his ears.

He turned slightly and sensed their presence even before seeing them, just as the Eralith siblings emerged from between the trees.

Virelle's eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan's bare upper body, and her steps faltered for a brief moment.

She seemed to remember something as her gaze lingered on the water glistening along his skin, and traced the faint lines of his muscles with an appreciation she couldn't entirely hide.

But then, catching herself, especially with her older brother beside her and Lucy standing nearby, she cleared her throat abruptly and looked away.

A dry, purposeful cough escaped her lips, and it seemed more a signal than a reaction.