Bright amber eyes scanned the area as her ears twitched, attuned to the distant sounds of music, laughter, and casual chatter floating through the air. Cocking her head slightly, she studied the gathering below, unsure if she'd be welcomed.
Many of them looked human with their small ears and beetle-like eyes. It was going to be loud, and she sincerely hoped they wouldn't touch her the way the queen had.
The memory still made her uncomfortable. She didn't think she could handle another moment like that.
The smooth sound of Shin's voice grounded her again, drawing her attention back to him. Her eyes met his with a flicker of vulnerability.
"Hey," Shin said gently, tilting his head. "Are you okay?"
Laverna hesitated for a second before nodding. "Yeah. Just... trying to take it all in."
He studied her face for a moment, concern etched into his features. "You don't have to go down there if you're not ready. We can stay up here longer."
She shook her head. "No, I want to try. Just needed to hear your voice first, I guess."
A small smile played at his lips. "Well, I'm not going anywhere. So keep listening."
She sighed. "Ah, it has been... a lot, I'm not going to lie. I'm just grateful that I didn't follow through," she said softly, her gaze dropping to her free hand.
A sly glint entered her eyes as she added, "You know, I really wanted to kill that Queen earlier. Just a quick jab, right in the throat."
Shin's brows lifted in alarm, then he exhaled a breathy laugh. "And I'm very glad you didn't. Intrusive thoughts are not action plans, Lav."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, the corner of her mouth twitching. "But she really tested my self-control."
His tone became a bit more serious, though still lighthearted. "I know you're joking... kind of. But I also know what you've been through."
He paused, watching her carefully. "That's why I'm actually relieved you didn't act on it. Not because I thought you would but because part of me knows you could."
Laverna's smirk faltered slightly, her eyes flicking away. "Yeah. I thought about it. Just for a second. But I didn't. And not because of them." She looked up at him again. "Because of you."
He seemed to register that, his expression softening. A hint of tension still lingered in the space between them, unspoken but understood.
Shin looked at her for a long moment, then finally spoke, his voice low. "That means more than you know. I... I don't take it lightly. Thank you, Lav."
She blinked, surprised by the gentle sincerity in his tone. "I didn't say it for thanks. Just... thought you should know."
"Still," he said, offering a small smile, "you've been through so much. The fact that you chose to hold back, especially after everything, says a lot about your strength."
She listened intently as he responded, nodding slowly while sucking in a breath. Should she share what was truly on her mind?
He seemed to sense her hesitation, letting go of her hand. She wanted to whimper at the loss of contact, the warmth still radiating from him like a dying ember.
She missed that warmth already. So many nights she'd spent freezing, her fingers turning blue from the cold.
He felt like a living heater, constantly emitting a soft warmth she greedily wanted to soak in. Her eyes scanned over him as she released her lip.
He said, looking at the distance as they feel the winds blowing, the cool breeze soothing their minds. "I feel uneasy with this. I know that the royal family is going to give the Lichtenstein's land to us, but I don't know if we should trust them or not. Seems too good to be true, right?"
He leans on the balcony and asks after a pause. "What do you think?"
Laverna tilted her head slightly, exhaling slowly as she considered his words. "It feels like a trap wrapped in velvet. They give us titles, Count and Countess, and hand over a noble's estate like it's a reward. But nothing in this world is ever free."
Shin raised a brow. "Count and Countess, huh? That sounds almost absurd when you say it."
She smirked faintly. "We were just scraping by days ago, and now they want us to smile and wear crowns. It reeks of politics."
He laughed softly, a note of sarcasm in his voice. "Politics, the one battlefield I haven't trained for. Imagine that."
Laverna glanced sideways at him. "I have. Unfortunately."
"Ah, yes, our dear Yuri," Shin said dramatically. "Lady of war, mistress of etiquette."
She nodded grimly. "Boot camp in heels. I can dance and act noble, for a few hours, at best."
Shin grinned. "Well, don't overdo it. I'd hate to see you snap mid-curtsy."
Laverna finally giggled, the sound easing the tension around them. Shin's mimicry wasn't just for show, it was his way of coping. Keeping his family alive through exaggerated impressions and goofy banter.
He mimed his uncle again, voice rising in a mock falsetto. "Shin, my boy! When the flowers bloom, strike fast and true!"
She laughed more openly this time, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. "Your uncle sounds... intense."
"He was a warrior-poet. Preferred daisies to daggers."
"Sounds like someone I'd like to meet."
"Too bad he's dead," Shin replied casually, then winced. "Sorry. That came out darker than I intended."
"No, it's fine," she said gently. "I think... he'd be proud of you."
He smiled, a little tighter this time. "I hope so."
The wind carried the faint melody of strings and flutes from the courtyard. The festival was in full swing below them.
Laverna's ears twitched again. "We should probably go down."
Shin nodded. "Yeah. Let's not keep the nobles waiting."
She rolled her eyes. "Gods help them if they touch my ears."
He chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll slap their hands away. Politely."
She gave him a sideways look. "Is that a noble thing to do?"
"Absolutely," he said, offering his arm. "Chivalry with a touch of violence."
She took it, heart pounding but smile steady. Together, they walked toward the staircase, stepping into a world that neither fully trusted but both were willing to face, side by side.
Before anything else, Shin instinctively reached out, gently placing his thumb on her bottom lip. A quick check, just to see if she had bitten it hard enough to bleed.
She stilled, breath hitching, as he examined her. The blood had already regenerated, no wound in sight.
"Good. Not a scratch," he said softly, letting go of her lip.
Laverna felt her pulse spike. The touch was brief, but the intimacy of it sent a strange jolt of warmth up her spine.
She wanted him to linger. Just a little longer.
'Snap out of it, woman!' she scolded herself silently, cheeks heating.
Shin glanced at her, one brow raised. "You okay?"
"Fine," she replied a little too quickly. "Just surprised you're that gentle, my Count."
He smirked. "I'm full of surprises, Countess."