Chapter 127: Taste of Tease
Outside, the moon hung in the sky, bathing the whole town in a soft light that quietly blanketed the white mansion which was situated on the outskirts of the town. But inside it, everything was wrapped in the gentle glow of the magic lights that flickered like stars above them.
Kael had already finished preparing the meal for Seraphina, moving around the kitchen with a kind of quiet care that filled the air with a pleasant warmth. At the same time, Seraphina sat on the chair, her posture poised and composed, a book in her hands, reading with a calm expression that didn't exactly match the tension hidden beneath her pale, serene face.
After reading for a while, she suddenly felt her cheeks grow warmer than before. The soft flush crept up slowly, making her blink in confusion, and before she knew it, her eyes began shifting between the pages of her book and Kael, who was still busy at the counter. It wasn't just once or twice either, but several times in quick, subtle glances that she tried to hide, even though she knew it was too late.
She frowned slightly, pressing her lips together as she thought to herself, "Would he even dare to do it or not? Huh? Is this even a question anymore? Knowing him, he would definitely do it, just like the ridiculous male character in this book. There's no way he would miss something this obvious. He's already done so many embarrassing things without shame. He even had the audacity to talk about washing my back and... my front. Not that I actually want him to do something like that, but still, knowing him, I wouldn't even be surprised if he did. Instead of getting irritated, maybe I should prepare myself this time before he pulls something inappropriate again. But how in the world do I even stop him if he tries again in the future?"
While she was busy sinking into her own thoughts, Kael quietly placed the plate of food in front of her. The soft scent of vegetables and warm steam rose from the dish, but her blue eyes didn't move toward the food.
They were fixated solely on him.
On any other day, whether she admitted it or not, the moment he placed food on the table made by his own hands, a tiny spark of excitement always rose in her chest. She had realized it a long time ago, back when she first compared his cooking with Arwyn's. Truth be told, there were times when she actually wished he cooked only for her, just because it tasted better that way. He really was good at it. But of course, she was never going to say that aloud. It wasn't because she didn't want to admit it, but because she knew the moment she did, he would tease her endlessly about it until she regretted every word.
Kael, on the other hand, noticed her gaze and blinked several times, his thoughts turning restless. "Why is she staring at me like that again? I didn't even do anything this time. I came home straight after training with Arwyn, cooked dinner like a good husband should, and I even stayed quiet the whole time."
As Seraphina turned her gaze from him to her book, he finally noticed something else. On her pale and beautiful face, a soft pink hue had appeared on her cheeks.
Was she blushing?
If so...
Kael couldn't help but think, "Just what kind of book are you reading, Seraphina, that could make even you blush?"
Feeling slightly irritated and at the same time a little amused, he raised an eyebrow and said, "What're you looking at with that frozen gaze of yours, honey?"
Seraphina sighed softly, closing her book with a quiet thud, then said, "At the book."
Kael tilted his head slightly, shaking it with a soft smirk. "At the book, huh? Then why do your eyes keep coming back to me? Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I just couldn't help but notice you've been gazing at me for quite a while now. Ah, I see how it is... you just don't want to admit it. Is it because I'm suddenly looking way too attractive to ignore? Or maybe... you're still thinking about when I showed you my abdomen last time. I understand, it must be hard to forget such a view, right?"
Seraphina gave him an irritated look that could have frozen the wind, then turned toward the window and pointed with her pale, long, slender finger. "Go there and look at the mirror glass of the window carefully."
He frowned but did as she said. At first, he didn't understand why she told him to do that, but the moment he looked at the faint reflection of himself in the window, he finally understood.
Her cold voice came from in front of him. "Do you see your face? Tell me, what kind of attractive man has that kind of face, those gloomy eyes, and that messy brown hair?"
Kael's brows twitched as embarrassment crept up his neck. How was she managing to get the upper hand every single time these days? He had been trying to win their little verbal games for days now, but she somehow flipped every situation against him. Of course, he called it a battle of reactions—seeing who could make the other lose composure first—but lately, he had been losing miserably. He wondered if Seraphina secretly enjoyed this as much as he did, even if she'd never admit it. Still, losing to her again and again was getting unbearable.
Seraphina, meanwhile, thought to herself with a cold smirk, "Did he really think he could use the same trick over and over and expect me to react the same way? I'm not falling for it this time, you fool. You can keep trying, but you'll never win this battle... my foolish husband."
Then, in a colder tone, she said aloud, "As for your stomach, it's nowhere near beautiful enough to earn my attention yet... so I'd advise you not to overestimate yourself."
Kael tilted his head with a grin, ignoring her insulting words completely. "Hey, you asked me just now what kind of attractive man I'm seeing in the window, right?"
Seraphina nodded slightly. "Yes."
Kael chuckled. "Well, I'm not seeing any man there at all. Instead, I'm seeing the silhouette of a beautiful goddess sitting right in front of me, looking at me with her cold beautiful eyes."
Seraphina stared at him for a few long moments before blinking slowly. Then she shook her head just a little and asked in her calm, cold tone, "Are you perhaps trying to flirt with me, Kael?"
Kael swallowed quietly and whistled as if he hadn't heard a word she said. Was he flirting with her? Maybe he was. He had been doing it for quite a while anyway, so it wasn't exactly new. But this time, he was doing it on purpose, hoping to distract her from mocking him. When it came to his appearance, he couldn't help but feel a sting whenever she criticized him, even in jest. Still, who would've thought she would catch him that easily? Was he really that bad at flirting, or was she just too good at seeing through him nowadays?
Seraphina was looking at his face, which was already turning quite embarrassing to look at, especially with his ears slightly pink. She couldn't help but feel a little amused by that sight, and without realizing it, her lips slowly curled upward into a soft smile as she thought quietly to herself, "Am I starting to enjoy this? I mean, sometimes it feels rather good to tease him a little. Sure, it's also quite fun to watch him get embarrassed or irritated. Who wouldn't want to see someone squirm a little when that same person always manages to make you angry or drive you insane almost every single time, to the point you just want to kill him. Still... I do enjoy this, don't I? But isn't this getting too much already? If this goes on... what if I end up starting to flirt with him myself? No, no, not in his life. I would never do that... never."
The silence between them stretched for quite a while before Kael finally turned his head to glance at Seraphina. She still looked rather amused, and that expression on her face strangely made him feel both happy and irritated at the same time. He tried to ignore the strange warmth building inside his chest and coughed lightly, "What if I am! Am I not allowed to flirt with you?"
Seraphina let out a quiet sigh before pulling the plate closer to her. "No, it's not like that at all," she said softly while placing the food neatly in front of her. "You are more than welcome to do so. I don't particularly mind. But if I'm being honest, you truly have no talent for flirting, you know that? Please, don't try it on some other girls. They might just slap you across the face... especially Arwyn."
Kael just stared at her for a long moment before deliberately pulling the chair in front of him and sitting down with a deep sigh. "Why are you bringing Arwyn into our conversation all of a sudden? And why the hell would I even want to flirt with her anyway?"
Seraphina calmly took her fork and knife and began cutting the meat with her usual slow and precise motions. "No reason," she replied without looking up. "It just occurred to me that you slept at her house last night, and as far as I remember, she lives alone. Naturally, I thought you wouldn't let such an opportunity go to waste so easily."
Kael took his fork as well and glared at her slightly. Of course, he realized immediately why she mentioned Arwyn out of nowhere. She was simply trying to shift the conversation away from what she had misspoken earlier. A mischievous grin appeared across his face as he leaned forward slightly, "Uh-huh. But tell me something, darling... why exactly am I so welcome to flirt with you, hmm? Why wouldn't you mind it? Don't tell me you actually enjoy it when I do."
Seraphina took a bite, chewing softly while feeling the tender warmth of the meat melting gently in her mouth before swallowing it with slow precision. Then she frowned slightly and said with quiet composure, "Aren't you interested in me? I thought you were. That's precisely why I wouldn't mind it."
Kael nearly choked on his food the moment those words reached his ears. He coughed several times, trying to swallow what was still stuck in his throat, and ended up pounding his chest before grabbing his glass of water and drinking quickly. "W-what? Why would you even think that?"
Inwardly, he groaned, "Dammit, she caught me once again."
Seraphina didn't seem to care about his panic and simply looked down again while taking another bite. After swallowing, she continued in a tone as calm as ever, "Well, you said it yourself to Arwyn that day in the cake shop, if I remember correctly, that you have an interest in someone. And who else could that someone possibly be besides me? I thought about it for quite a while and reached that conclusion myself."
Kael's eyebrow twitched slightly, "Yeah, you're not wrong. But it's not exactly you that I'm interested in. It's more like... what's hidden underneath all those elegant layers you wear every day. That's what I meant, actually."
Of course, he didn't dare to say that out loud. Some thoughts were far safer kept buried inside.
He sighed inwardly again, "Still, how am I supposed to answer that kind of question anyway?"
Seraphina finally looked up and noticed his silence. Her eyes narrowed slightly, "Am I wrong?"
Kael quickly shook his head and gave her a forced smile that looked both awkward and mischievous at the same time. "You are. Truth be told, that was something I made up just to get out of that awkward conversation with Arwyn. But..." he leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering into a teasing tone, "...you really thought it through that much, didn't you? You actually convinced yourself that I'm interested in you. My, my... you should be careful in your observation, sweetheart. But tell me... why did you even reach that conclusion in the first place? Did you actually think I have feelings for you even after I told you I don't? You did... didn't you? Hmm? Come on, admit it, Seraphina. You've been wondering, haven't you? Ah, how adorable!"
Seraphina stopped chewing mid-bite, her cheeks suddenly showing a shade of pink while the tips of her ears trembled slightly. Was it possible that she had truly reached a wrong conclusion all this time? Did Kael really not have any interest in her at all? Or was he simply lying to cover it up? She didn't know... and there was no way to know it now.
She glared at him quietly for a long moment before replying coldly, "Shut up."
Kael grinned, lowering his gaze as he thought to himself with a sense of satisfaction, "Ah, now that feels much better. Finally, she's the one flustered this time."
Sometime later, both of them finished their meals quietly, the sound of utensils echoing in the air while Kael occasionally tried to lighten the mood with random jokes that had no reason or timing behind them, but he made them anyway simply because silence around Seraphina always felt heavier than it should. Finally, when he was done, Kael stood up and went to make some tea, leaving Seraphina behind.
She kept watching his back as a gentle smile appeared on her lips without her even realizing it. Then she turned her gaze to the glass window, where her own soft reflection looked back at her. Twirling a lock of silver hair around her finger, she murmured, "A goddess, huh? Not bad, Kael."
After brewing tea carefully, Kael came back from the kitchen and gave her a cup. Neither of them spoke as they drank, and the quietness that followed felt almost comfortable, though neither would admit it aloud.
When Kael stood up once again to wash the dishes, Seraphina suddenly rose from her seat as well, her movement graceful but oddly abrupt.
"Wait," she said softly, her tone calm but somewhat somber. "I'll help you wash the dishes."
Kael blinked, a little surprised by her offer, and nodded quickly with a grin tugging at his lips. "Alright then. But what's this? A sudden change of heart? You're not usually this generous, you know."
She didn't answer, her gaze simply falling toward the sink as she stepped forward with him.
Soon, the sound of running water filled the air as both of them stood side by side, washing dishes in quiet rhythm. There wasn't much distance between them, though they were not too close either.
The sweet scent of her hair occasionally brushed against his senses, and every now and then he caught himself staring at her hands as they moved with elegant precision, rinsing each plate with care as if even small actions deserved perfection.
Meanwhile, she kept her eyes forward, focused entirely on the task, which somehow made him think that maybe she was lost in thought about something.
Eventually, she spoke, her voice steady and serious. "Kael, since I'm going to help you find Arienne, I think it's time you tell me everything you know about her disappearance. If I don't have all the information you've gathered, it'll be difficult for me to find any clues that could lead us to her. So, start from the beginning."
Kael stopped midway through washing a plate, the water running down his fingers as he turned slightly toward her with a smile.
Of course, he had already expected this moment. He knew from the moment he asked for her help that he'd have to reveal everything he had. After thinking for a moment, he finally said, "I think you must've already read in the knights' report that Arienne's window was shattered from the outside. The impact was strong enough that glass fragments scattered all across the floor."
Seraphina nodded lightly, her movements steady. "Yes, I've read that."
Kael paused for a moment, his voice lowering just slightly. "But doesn't it strike you as strange that no one in the mansion heard a thing when it happened? With how much noise broken glass makes, someone should've woken up, at least one person. But no one did. Not until they went to check Arienne's room... next morning."
Seraphina's expression didn't change much as she continued her precise movements, rinsing another plate before replying in her usual composed tone. "Yes, that's definitely strange. So, what do you think actually happened there?"
Kael placed the washed plate on the counter and reached for his cup, speaking as he worked. "I think there's a high chance that everyone in the mansion had been put to sleep, either through magic or some kind of drug. The kidnapping wasn't random... it was planned from the start. Everything about it feels calculated."
Hearing that, Seraphina tilted her head slightly to glance at him. "So, you do have a functioning brain after all. Thank the gods. I was starting to believe that it was just an empty shell, but it seems I was wrong today."
Kael's brow twitched, his grip on the cup tightening a little. "What do you mean by empty shell? I'll have you know I'm a genius, just in case you forgot. People used to call me the master of brilliant strategies. You know, there was a time when I..."
Before he could continue, Seraphina let out a quiet sigh and cut him off, "Stop. I didn't ask to hear another one of your made-up stories. Continue, what else did you notice about the kidnapping?"
Feeling a little disappointed that he couldn't brag about his so-called glorious past, Kael sighed to himself, went on washing, and continued, "As I was saying, if it really was preplanned, then it's possible someone from inside the mansion was working with the kidnappers. Before you start questioning me, I'll be honest... I don't know exactly how many workers there are. Most of the time, I train her outside the mansion, so I never got too involved with the staff. But I know there are several maids and guards. The only one I'm personally familiar with is her personal guard, Darian. That's all."
Seraphina finished rinsing the last cup, placing it carefully on the shelf before turning off the water. "That's actually a good theory."
Kael smirked proudly, brushing his hair aside as if basking in his own brilliance. "Didn't I tell you I'm a genius? Go ahead, praise your husband."
Seraphina pressed her fingers against her temple as if holding back the urge to respond to his ridiculousness, then said, "But don't you think there's something off with that theory?"
Kael blinked, his expression dimming. "Off? What do you mean?"
Seraphina crossed her arms and looked at him firmly. "If the kidnappers already had someone helping them from inside the mansion, and if everything had been planned beforehand, then why would they need to break the window at all?"
Kael frowned, tilting his head slightly. "To get into Arienne's room, of course. Isn't that obvious?"
Seraphina exhaled a long sigh, her tone carrying the kind of cold patience one uses for someone hopelessly foolish. "You really are an idiot sometimes. What kind of fool would break an entire window just to enter someone's room? If they had an accomplice inside, who drugged everyone that night, they could've carried out the kidnapping quietly without the need of breaking a window. A child's room wouldn't be locked from the inside. It would've been an easy and silent job. But instead, they broke the window from the outside."
Kael's expression faltered for a moment as his thoughts tangled. He couldn't help but feel slightly wounded by her words about 'what kind of fool would break a window to enter a room'. Why did that part sting his pride? It was supposed to sound dramatic, not foolish. Ignoring his bruised ego, he finally asked, "Then what exactly are you trying to say?"
Seraphina's voice turned colder, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It means the kidnapper must have been the masked man. Only someone like him would do something as reckless as smashing a window to get inside. He's impulsive, irrational, and confident enough to do something that stupid... because he doesn't fear being caught."
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(Chapter Ended)