The winter sun set quickly, and by the time Mia finished dinner, the sky had already turned completely dark.
She told Tina and Jenny to return to their rooms to rest, assuring them she'd call if she needed anything. Her face still wore its usual smile, masking any changes so they wouldn't notice.
Now, she sat quietly on the edge of the bed, waiting—waiting for Arthur's return.
Under the flickering lamplight, Mia's face appeared serene and calm. She sat there so still, it was almost eerie.
Time passed slowly, and Mia remained motionless, like a lifeless doll.
It wasn't until the sound of the door opening broke the silence that her unblinking eyes finally stirred.
"Oh, Miss Mia, I thought you were asleep," Jenny said, walking in with a glass of warm water. Seeing Mia sitting on the bed, she smiled. "I brought some warm water in case you get thirsty in the night. Are you still waiting for the Leader?"
"Yes," Mia replied with a faint smile.
"I see…" Jenny said, placing the glass on the bedside table. "Who knows when the Leader will be back—maybe not even until the middle of the night. Miss Mia, I think you should lie down while you wait. Sitting like this isn't good, and it'll get colder as the night goes on. You might catch a chill."
"But…"
"No buts, Miss Mia! Think about it—the Leader treats you like his most precious treasure. If you catch a cold, he'll blame Tina and me!"
"Alright, alright," Mia conceded, standing up obediently. Perhaps because she had been sitting still for so long, she felt a wave of dizziness as she rose.
Fortunately, Jenny was busy with other tasks and didn't notice Mia's momentary unsteadiness. Otherwise, she would've bombarded her with questions.
As Mia began to undo her belt, Jenny quickly stepped forward to help her undress. Watching Jenny busily working in front of her, Mia asked, "Where's Tina?"
Without looking up, Jenny replied, "Her? She's still fighting with little Bit over dinner! They've been at it for ages and still haven't finished."
"Oh!" Mia chuckled, picturing Tina's usual playful tussles with Bit over food. "Bit and Tina get along so well, always laughing and making a fuss," she said with a touch of sentiment.
"No kidding! They're two peas in a pod—both just big kids!" Jenny laughed, standing up and moving behind Mia to help her slip off her outer garments.
"Tina's going to give you an earful if she hears you," Mia teased.
"She's spoiled rotten, still such a child," Jenny said, hanging Mia's clothes on the rack by the bed.
Mia lifted the covers, pulling out the hot water bottle that had been keeping the bed warm and handing it to Jenny, who was now standing behind her.
As Mia settled into bed, Jenny tucked the blankets around her tightly to keep out the cold air.
Before leaving, Jenny asked, "Mia, should I turn off the light?"
"Don't turn it off," Mia said, her head peeking out from the covers as she shook it slightly. "I'm still waiting for Arthur. Leave the light on."
"Alright, as you wish!" Jenny smiled knowingly.
She picked up the hot water bottle and empty glass, walked out, and gently closed the door behind her.
Mia lay there, eyes open, lost in thought…
She didn't know how much time had passed when the sound of the door stirred her again. Without thinking, Mia leaped out of bed and rushed out.
"Arthur!" Seeing the familiar figure in the room, she threw herself into his arms.
"Mia, why did you come out in just your thin underclothes? You'll catch a cold!" Arthur, concerned, scooped up the lightly dressed Mia, intending to carry her back to the room. Then he noticed she was barefoot, having run out without even putting on shoes.
"Naughty girl!" Arthur sighed with heartache. Holding her tightly, he quickly carried her to the bed, gently setting her down and pulling the soft quilt over her.
"Mia, didn't I tell you? You need to wear more clothes before getting up. You didn't even put on shoes—you're trying to make me worry, to make me feel guilty, aren't you?"
"I was so worried about you…" Mia looked at him, her voice soft.
"Worried about me? I told you I'd be fine. Don't you trust me?" Arthur sat on the edge of the bed, still in his coat, not yet changed.
"But you came back so late…" Hearing the melancholy in Mia's voice, Arthur was momentarily taken aback.
She always put on a brave face in front of him, never showing her vulnerability like this before. Could this be a good sign?
Arthur couldn't help but study her face closely. Her furrowed brow still pained him, but now her fragility was no longer hidden, clearly reflected in her clear eyes. Arthur felt both surprised and heartbroken—how long had it been since he'd seen her like this?
Unable to restrain the surging emotions in his heart, Arthur kissed her furrowed brow, her beautiful, captivating eyes, her soft cheeks, and her slightly cool lips…
At first, it was a gentle kiss, but her trembling lips seemed to beckon him, and Arthur couldn't resist deepening it. His lips pressed softly against hers, sensing the quiet compliance of her body. He let his tongue trace the outline of her lips, teasing gently. Then, driven by restless desire, his tongue slipped into her mouth, seeking the softest sensation within.
His tongue brushed lightly over her neat teeth and smooth palate, finding her still, soft tongue and teasing it gently. Feeling Arthur's fervent touch, Mia instinctively closed her eyes, her hands resting on his shoulders, following his lead. Finally, trembling with shy intensity, her tongue intertwined with his.
Arthur didn't mind her inexperience. When she responded, he eagerly enveloped her, refusing to let her pull away.
They lingered in the moment, their passion intertwining, sharing the intensity of their emotions…
After a long while, sated, he released Mia, who was breathless from the deep kiss, and gazed at her with profound affection.
Beneath him, Mia finally caught her breath, panting softly. Her once-clear eyes were now veiled with a misty haze from their passionate exchange, and her lips, swollen and moist from his kisses, gleamed red. At that moment, Mia looked so delicate and beautiful, utterly captivating to him.
The hot breath she exhaled scorched Arthur's already restless body, nearly driving him to the edge of madness.
Damn it! Arthur cursed himself inwardly.
He took a deep breath, struggling to pull away from Mia. Just as he was about to stand, a tug on his sleeve stopped him.
"Mia," Arthur said without turning back, "I'm just going to wash up. I'll be right back to stay with you." He didn't dare look at her. He feared that seeing her delicate face again would unravel his restraint, igniting the burning desire within him and leading him to do something he shouldn't—not now.
A cold shower while washing up, Arthur decided.
"No, I don't want you to leave!" Perhaps because of their earlier passionate kiss, Mia's voice sounded irresistibly alluring.
God help me, Arthur thought. If he stayed any longer, he'd turn into a beast, and something would happen—something irreversible. "Mia, I promise, I'll be back in no time. So quick you won't even notice I was gone!" A cold shower would have to do.
Only God knew how much he wanted her, but now wasn't the time. He had always been careful, kissing her gently, bit by bit, hoping she would gradually accept him. He knew the passion he had suppressed for centuries was so intense that a single spark could set it ablaze. If the atmosphere hadn't been so perfect, if she hadn't been so captivating, if he hadn't been so impulsive, what happened earlier wouldn't have occurred. He had to extinguish the spark before it turned into a wildfire.
He couldn't claim her now—not when he still had so much to tell her, not when Mia hadn't fully accepted him or fallen in love with him. He wanted their hearts to be truly united, blessed by God, bound in a sacred marriage before he made her his. So for now, all he could do was wait—and endure.
Mia sat up on the bed, still clutching his sleeve, her gaze fixed on Arthur, who hadn't turned around. In a voice devoid of any fluctuation, she said, "Arthur, take me. I'm ready."
Her words hit Arthur like a massive meteor, crashing into his already tumultuous heart, sending ripples through his entire being.
Her words also instantly doused his burning desire. He turned to her in disbelief.
She's joking, Arthur's first thought flashed.
But when he turned and saw the calm, resolute look in Mia's eyes, he was rendered speechless.
Mia spoke first, her steady gaze meeting Arthur's astonished blue eyes. "Arthur, do you love me?"
At her words, Arthur grabbed the hand clutching his sleeve, sitting beside her and looking directly into her eyes.
"You still don't believe in my heart? I love you! I love you—how many times do I have to say it for you to believe me?"
He reached to caress her cheek, but she pushed his hand away. Opening her arms, Mia embraced him. "If you truly love me, then make me yours—truly yours."
"Mia… do you know what you're saying?" Arthur's voice trembled. Her embrace was the most potent temptation, stirring his heart and sending his emotions soaring. He wanted to hold her back but didn't dare, afraid—afraid he'd lose control.
"I know, I know, how could I not know!" Mia whispered softly, her breath grazing his ear, teasing him.
Did she realize how seductive she was being? She was pushing Arthur to the brink of insanity, his reason nearly crumbling in an instant, teetering on the edge…
"Mia!" Arthur pushed her away, his mesmerizing sky-blue eyes, which Mia adored, now clouded with intense desire, deeper and more consuming than ever before. They were like an inescapable abyss, drawing her in, leaving no chance of escape.
He suppressed the surging passion within him, clinging to his last shred of rationality to persuade both Mia and himself. "No, you don't understand—you can't understand! You don't know how much I want you. You don't know how hard I've been restraining myself to ensure you can become mine without regret. You don't know that I'd rather battle my desires every night than possess you now. I want to wait until the night we're bound in marriage, with your full consent, before I make you mine…"
Mia fell silent at his heartfelt promise, but soon she took his hand, still resting on her shoulder, and guided it gently along her cheek. "Arthur, you don't need to hold back, because I want you too. All those things you said—they don't matter. I only want to be yours, to belong to you. I want you to know clearly that the person you love is me. Don't let me keep feeling this unease, this uncertainty. Hold me tightly, make me believe you love me. Make me yours."
"Mia…" Her resolute gaze left him speechless.
This was her first time experiencing something like this, but she had seen it before. Mimicking those actions, she sought to seduce Arthur, to awaken his desire, to ignite his passion, to make him lose control. Slowly, Mia leaned closer, reaching to embrace him.
"Mia!" Arthur growled, summoning his last ounce of strength to stop her intimate advance.
"Arthur…" she called softly, brushing aside the hand he held up to block her. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she kissed his beautiful lips before he could react.
Just as he had done to her earlier, Mia kissed him, teasing him, drawing out the desire he so desperately tried to suppress, though her movements were clumsy and inexperienced.
"Mia," moments later, Arthur's voice was low and husky, laced with magnetic intensity.
Mia looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a misty sheen.
It's over.
That was the last thought in Arthur's mind before desire consumed him entirely.