The corridor stretched ahead in muted elegance, its polished mahogany floor gleaming beneath the golden glow of wall sconces. Ornate tapestries draped the walls, their deep crimson threads weaving stories of distant lands. The faint echo of their footsteps was the only sound that accompanied them as Crocodile led Sineka toward her room. The air between them crackled with the afterglow of their dinner conversation—a tension that neither seemed eager to break.
Sineka's gaze flicked toward the single door directly opposite her own, curiosity dancing behind her hazel eyes. She barely had time to glance away before Crocodile's smirk curved like a shadow across his lips.
"That one's mine," he remarked with casual ease, though the glint in his amber eyes betrayed amusement. "Of course, if you find my company irresistible, the offer stands."
Sineka's breath hitched unexpectedly, the faintest flush of warmth blooming beneath her freckles. It was a fleeting reaction, yet sharp-eyed as ever, Crocodile caught it. One brow arched with predatory interest.
"Well now," he drawled, stepping just close enough for his presence to brush against her composure. "Didn't expect that from you, Miss Duskblade."
Her blush deepened, though she quickly averted her gaze, refusing to grant him the satisfaction of a reply. Yet Crocodile, sensing an advantage, pressed forward with the precision of a man accustomed to testing boundaries.
"You know," he murmured, leaning slightly closer, "you look rather adorable when you blush."
Sineka stiffened, her fingers curling subtly against the folds of her gown. Just when it seemed he might push the line further, Crocodile halted with a faint chuckle, gesturing toward the door beside them.
"Well, here we are. Your sanctuary for the night."
Sineka exhaled slowly, masking her relief beneath a veil of poise as she stepped forward. Yet as she entered the room, her eyes widened slightly at the unexpected warmth of the space. Rich tones of nude brown and espresso wood lent the room a grounded elegance, while accents of Prussian blue and russet red added depth and vibrancy. The air carried a faint trace of cedar and vanilla, subtle yet inviting.
"This is..." Sineka paused, the faintest smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Surprisingly pleasant. I wouldn't have taken you for someone with an eye for interior design."
Crocodile stepped inside with the unhurried grace of a man who owned every space he occupied. His gaze flicked across the room briefly before returning to her.
"You underestimate me, Miss Duskblade," he replied, his voice low yet unmistakably deliberate. "This was designed with you in mind—after that time in Alabasta."
Sineka's brows knit together as she turned toward him. "Alabasta?"
"You left an impression," he admitted, though there was no teasing lilt in his tone this time. "More than your appearance... your mind intrigued me. I recognized someone who understood the art of playing the long game."
Caught off guard by his candor, Sineka faltered for a heartbeat—just enough for a faint blush to return to her cheeks. Yet this time, it was she who recovered first.
"You're surprisingly forthcoming tonight, Mr. 0."
"Perhaps I find the company worth the risk."
Their gazes clashed in the low firelight, an unspoken challenge shimmering beneath the surface. Yet Crocodile, sensing the shift, stepped back with a faint smirk as he leaned casually against the doorframe.
"So tell me," he continued, his voice slipping back into the familiar cadence of curiosity cloaked in amusement. "How did you end up in Alabasta? I doubt it was mere coincidence."
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A Bride for the Desert King | Crocodile
Fanfiction"Marry me," she commanded, almost. Crocodile narrowed his eyes at the impertinence of the woman who stood in front of him. "Ara," he heard Ms All Sunday mutter amusedly. "Who are you?" "Sineka Duskblade," she replied.
