• paradox | nct •

Chapter XXV: Ascension (3)

MARK

"Feel that I..." Olivia trailed off, biting her lower lip.

Watching her sky blue eyes dart about, looking at everything but me, it was easy to tell what she wanted to express.

I regretted asking that dangerous question on an impulse to tease her.

No matter how mature or knowledgeable she was, in the end — she's still a maiden who just turned twenty.

Seeing her struggling to provide me with an answer, I chuckled.

"It's okay. You don't have to answer."

I say, gently covering my jacket over her head such that it covered the exposed skin on her back and kept her warm.

It had been bugging me for a while now.

After securing the jacket around her small frame and seeing the result of my actions, I couldn't help but suppress a smile. She looked like a child trying on her parents' clothing.

With her cheeks flushed red, it even seemed more so.

My eyes then shifted to the wine in her hands.

"And you should stop drinking." I nimbly peeled away the glass away from her, then moved my gaze back to her face.

She was pouting a little, probably unconscious of it.

"What's wrong?" I couldn't help but ask.

"You're suddenly back to normal."

"Is that bad?"

"No, not at all."

Then we settled into a thoughtful silence.

"...I'm sorry, Olivia. I shouldn't have ignored you."

"Yeah, you really shouldn't." She mumbled to herself, then turned to look up at me with a serious expression,

"So tell me what you're keeping from me."

This was important to her. Of course it was, for it concerned not only her safety, but of her family's.

I sighed softly. "Do you remember the blue roses?"

She nods. "The Aqua's MO, right?"

"Yes. I've found out that they're imported from Gadenish."

Her eyes widened at my words, and I continued,

"Imported goods are expensive. Whoever is behind the Aquas is definitely a high-ranking noble, and my guess is that they own a Dukedom...or a March, being able to control that Viscount who abducted you."

Her face turned pale, taking in the severity of my words.

"What you mean is..." Olivia was hesitant to speak. "That they might be someone close to me?"

I remained quiet, confirming what she had said.

The only Dukedom in Welidith belonged to the House of Snow, which was a relative of hers. And from what I knew...she was friends with the Marquess House of Caven.

And she, herself, hailed from a Marquess household.

Of course, there are also other houses that held the title of Marquess, but these three could not be totally ruled out. That's another reason why I've kept her away.

"...I understand," She utters with much difficultly, expression taut.

"Then, do you have any other leads?" Her azure blue eyes lost their spark as she looks up at me, and I felt my heart clench.

My lips curved into a wistful smile as I carefully raised my hand and cupped her warm cheek.

"I think that's enough for tonight. I promise I'll tell you the rest soon." My thumb traced the bottom outline of her eye.

Dark circles. They were faint, but I was sure that her makeup concealed most of it.

"For now, you should retire for the night."

"What about the party?"

"I can handle it."

She still appeared to be unconvinced. I laughed lightly.

"Don't you trust me?"

_______________________________

After Olivia reluctantly agreed to what Mark had proposed, his warm expression soon fell as he watched her open the door towards the ballroom.

As soon as Olivia exited the balcony, in a low tone, he called out—

"Luke."

A tall figure soon emerged from beyond the darkness.

"Your Highness — no, Your Majesty. What is it?"

Although not someone who cared about formalities, something about Mark's demeanour told Lucas to be on his toes.

"Stay alert. Make sure the same thing doesn't happen again, or..." There was a sharp glint in Mark's cool gaze.

He did not continue, but Lucas could get the hint.

"I will."

At the knight's firm promise, the atmosphere mellowed a little.

Lucas spoke again.

"...You're genuinely worried." He says, almost not believing himself.

"What?" Mark furrows his brows.

"I'm saying that you're worried not because of her importance to the Kingdom, but about her."

There was a moment of silence, but he soon replied,

"Yes. So what?"

Mark looked up at the dark skies above that were dotted with shimmering stars.

Lucas shook his head, smiling a little. He'd grown up together with Mark — never expecting to see this side of him due to the way he was brought up.

But yet, he did.

"Nothing. Just..." Lucas chuckled.

"The stars are so pretty tonight, don't you think?"

But instead of the sky, Mark's eyes moved to the ballroom area where she was bidding goodbye to the guests and he says,

"Yes," He agreed without a beat.

"Very pretty."

_______________________________

a/n: 🤭😳😳