Ori's eyes fluttered open and her tired gaze fell on a silver head. It was rested over his pretty hands with long and slender fingers adorned by glistening rings. His silver locks curtained his face from her view, but Ori could spot long dark lashes and a pointy nose breathing elegantly.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MxV9mudV0
After the awe of his beauty diminished a bit, Ori realised the familiar surroundings of the room.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dEcKSYzrK
The carved four-poster bed and cloudy mattresses that she was resting on, the velvet couch directly in her line of sight and the darkness of the room combated by one open window.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23gEZ9JD67
The window she had used to sneak inside the Duke's bedchamber.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb2NV66HiT
She was on the Duke's bed?!
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhT7SgIlOg
In the Duke's bedchamber?!
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalZ3XlZ2bw
Her blue eyes widened as reality cut to chase the fantasy of his ethereal beauty away.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5bso4MvdJ
The chirping birds outside, the gleaming sunlight escaping into the room and glaring on his handsome face, made Ori's hands and feet go clammy.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLinlyqMVB5
She picked up one of the many pillows occupying the bedrest and placed it infront of the Duke's face, to stop the sunrays from hitting his eyes directly, before crawling out of the bed.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQycniYmtqn
"Ah, you're awake."
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojlHl3SFBR
A deep and husky voice caught her off guard. Her feet, which were about to hit the ground, retracted back up into the bed. Ori turned around to face him with wide blue eyes and a choked breath.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHkAurjnVz
Why was she here of all places?!
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m68wLFvio
Her heart skipped a beat as he carded his bejeweled hand through his silky locks and looked down at her with his dashing face, mentally attacking her so early in the morning.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn6whZ3JYM
His tired amythest eyes glared at her stance, full lips curved into an upside down smile. He exuded a menacing aura and, in fear, Ori couldn't help but throw out her hands and wiggle them.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9RQ1J8Uz1
"This is a dream!" She waved her hands, "You are asleep!" She looked at her nose and poked her tongue out. Her voice was low and whispy. "Nothing is real!" She finished, slowly backing away in as she set one foot on the ground. "I am a part of your imagination," she whispered, standing up— only for her legs to give in.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcSRaGYmM6
Though, before her butt could hit the floor, she found herself wrapped securely in his sturdy arms and was thrown over the bed again. His dead eyes bore into her in the most unamused manner possible.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NIQM0KxFl
"You were hurt, quite a lot. You have been asleep for two days," Duke Sirius informed, folding his hands against his chest as he stood against the edge of his bed.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecvzgFnkYd
Ori's big eyes widened excitedly. Her mind was quick to connect the dots.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOULlDfDnEI
"So was Duke the one riding the carriage? Did you see me fight? Were you very impressed? Did you take me in to make me a Knight?" Ori clapped tiny claps with her fingers as she inched closer to him with every word.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR5eSCTjSS
"Yes, I was the one riding the carriage. Yes, I saw you fight. It was the most amateurish stroke of luck one could possess. You'd be a lost cause in the name of Knightdom so, I'd rather you drop that thought for a loooong while," Sirius drawled, eyes moving pointedly over Ori's body as if making her realise something.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut6r4pdxvL
Confused and quite offended, Ori looked down at herself to spot a few glaring problems.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdROM5aOh2
Her knitted dress was gone and replaced with a soft, silky navy robe that clung to her lanky figure. She swiftly rolled up her sleeves and pajamas to find bandaged hands and feet. Blood rushed to her face as she pressed her hands against her chest and looked up to glare him in the eye.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqcUSKzoID
"Mister Duke! I expected better of you than to violate me like this!" She cried out, small chin jutting out and nostrils flared with emotion.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rl5AfCv5U
Sirius exhaled a breath before tilting his head, "I apologise, but it was Albert—"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TKCGhlMFv
"HOLY BREAD AND DAIRY! YOU MADE ALBERT THE OLD SLUG CHANGE MY CLOTHES?!"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeuxkqPtqK
"—who curated female attendents to serve you. It was a gesture of gratitude on my part," The Duke exhaled as blood rushed to Ori's face and doused her crimson with embarrassment.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wrt3RxOkH
"I-I, uh, I am sorry. I apologise. I should not have made my own conclusions," Ori coughed, shifting back in the centre of the bed and sitting like an obidient child.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikL16FZMqJ
"Yes, you shouldn't have."
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKsboaUBQJ
The Duke nodded and so did Ori.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw4DxKEIam
An awkward energy emanated through the air as they both existed in the plane of existence, leaving words unsaid.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09ZZ3kjIRY
That was, until, Ori remembered bigger problems.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSYs46zJ4i
"W-what of my stuff? The mats and the-the logs and—"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOkpI4Vqxt
"Don't worry about it. I had the guards send the damaged goods to be mended and the good ones are right there," Sirius inched his chin towards a small wooden box placed in front of the bedside table. It's exterior was carved with ornate handiwork — a little too precious to be storing mere knitted mats and rugs.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQq9I9WszL
"Oh- then- No! My parents! They would be so worried!"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KPbuhnZ6W
"I had them reinstated on land and gave them newly registered identities. Your mother is now Lady Soreen Gregory and your father is now Lord Kamil Gregory. They live in the Ender Towne as nouveau riche textile merchants. Talking of your father, I have scheduled appointments with Evermire's best healers regarding his condition. Don't you worry, he will be pristine in no time."
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFQMazT1Wk
Duke Sirius declared as casually as mentioning weather whilst having a spot of tea. Ori could see his shoulders physically raise up to the sky with all the pride his silent face exuded.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUUfxm65cr
In a moment, he had spun Ori's bleak future into a paragraph of unemotional words, not knowing how deeply it impacted any and all of the future decisions she would make.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrXscw8B9P
Indeed, the practice of buying fake Class identities was a decade long practice but it was awfully hard to grab such an opportunity! They were as expensive as costing an arm and a leg just to get authorisation into a new class! Then there was fake backgrounds to create, fake family histories to maintain, fake households to buy—
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEAJca5ef5
Ori's hand slapped against her mouth — as all the numbers added up to a malfunctioned limit inside her head — lest she'd be gasping for air for the rest of her life. Tears overwhelmed her eyes and pooled out of its boundaries, claiming free real estate on her cheeks. Her parents would be living a comfortable life?
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNeasGaYon
It felt unreal. It must be unreal.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x4wP8tUP8
"B-but," her voice broke, rasped and choked, "How do I trust you?" Her eyes searched for any tells of a sick-joke in his stance. His hands behind his back, his squared shoulders or his eyes that looked back into her with absolute confidence.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeg6k1xgzj
It was criminal to look that good and be honest at the same time.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyTqDkQhMU
Surely, like all rich folks, he must be lying.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUpJFgYkB9
"I had you followed, the last you visited me. It wasn't hard to find your little dungeon of secrets, for there aren't many to begin with. We can now call our favours equal now—"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpdS3SjzTm
"The sword," Ori cut in, wiping her tears on her bandaged arms, much to Duke Sirius' horror. He was quick to fetch a handkerchief out of his pocket and lend it to her. Ori took it with a grateful nod and blew her nose in it.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5uIzuypa3
"Do continue," Sirius urged calmly.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJzHcILz0Y
"Yes," Ori coughed, her nose and throat felt much lighter now. It was time she clarified why the sword of a mere carriage driver felt like Arthur's magical weapon in her hand. "I believe you know magic? Considering Duke was travelling in a horseless carriage; but you did not come out. But you were helping me from the inside, weren't you?"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKAB7s9GkT
Sirius raised an amused brow, his cold face betraying hints of being impressed by her observation.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnvSggYvza
"It's a personal matter, but I can let you know, if you promise to answer a question of mine. With all honesty." The Duke proposed, eyes fixated in a glaring attack on the handkerchief that Ori had left on his bed, after blowing her nose in it.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa82f5oorod
"Sounds omnious, but fire away," the brunette shrugged. Her teeth gritted against eachother, awaiting the impending question. Her eyes followed the Duke's line of sight and landed on the silk handkerchief.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1ShbcSjZZ
Ori pursed her lips together, muttering sheepish apologises, as she flicked the dirty handkerchief to the ground.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9XxjBr4h2
The Duke dusted a spot on his bed and sat on it with the elegance of a King. Ori's sucked in a long breath, upon having him so close to her. All of this felt like an elaborate dream. Only when she earns a hit from mother-supreme would she be able to decipher fantasy from reality.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRli6dniFA
"Why do you want to be a Knight? Was it to earn money because it is the highest post a commoner can attain?" His back faced the open window, his face faced Ori. His eyes searched for any signs of discomfort or dishonesty.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmHy0vlnpK
But, the brunette's lips merely broke into a gummy smile with blue eyes sparkling so bright, any aristrocart might think she was advertising for belladonna eyedrops.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSWSXuLnyn
"Why of course, I want to be a Knight because it is my dream! Yes, our family has always been in desperate need of money but that is not why I wanted to be a Knight. I want to become as gallant as my father and using a sword is the only way I can be truly free. It's beautiful and I love it!" Her words were laced with a dreamy tone, her hands wandered around, gesticulating her excitement.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg2YtCLNJO
She was like a woman possessed when it came to Knightdom.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTimTsKu1q1
It was kind of odd, as Sirius' dark brows met in a frown. He had only considered her to be a passionate person and a stubborn, poor woman who wanted to make it big in life. He had, not for one moment, considered the fact that being a Knight could be someone's genuine dream.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LABK1hO9A
Why would anyone want to be a Knight out of mere wish and not money?
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLEDzcvRn4
Why would they want to protect this godforsaken empire by staking their lives on the line?
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VnRvTuEmB
Surely, their heads were demented.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyJudqFGVB
"Why...?" Was all Sirius could manage. The situation was too incomprehensible for him to make sense. "What good has the Nobelai Empire done for you? Just two days ago, you were living in a dungeon under the ground!" His tone raised involuntarily, out of choice and no reason, he got up and started pacing around his room.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9fEvTmRwJ
"Just because," Ori shrugged, curling herself in a foetal position. "I don't want to be a Knight for the Empire. I want to be a Knight for myself," Ori mumbled, knowing it was blasphemy of the highest order that she just committed.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApK8Heta1D
Even to think ill about the Empire would get your head chopped off, let alone to be putting yourself over service to the Empire. Ori was, indeed, a genuinely selfish person.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeD4WCpnK6
Yet, somehow, she wasn't scared to be honest in front of the Duke.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi2gDSFz4D
His pacing footsteps came to a halt. Ori pressed her eyes close. His feet brought him in front of the bed again. Ori's nails dug into her skin. His breath felt awfully close to her face. Goosebumps rose all over Ori's body.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExqq9xLKZF
"I can make you a Knight."
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTgujXaDka
His tone was low, deep and omnious, but it did not stop the jerk with which Ori opened her eyes and raised her head.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMvJiGusvw
Inches away from his. They were almost breathing over eachother's faces.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UrAlu4O5f
"Do you need something in return?"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT3u9Tfdng
Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her curious, innocent and subtly excited face against his cold lips, blown pupils and subtly smirking lips.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR33Y3B7N3
"I need something significant in return. I need your life."
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R9bBuSbyU
Her breath hitched. Silence reigned. Even the birds did not chirp anymore.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XopcMiuUK
"What good would my blood look on your hands?"
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiyWEC7ULP
A deep laugh reverberated in his throat.
541Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4Gk9Twyc1
"Oh it will look, quite, quite magnificent."
ns216.73.216.54da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.