“I didn’t mean to startle you, Princess.” The strange demon said with a respectful bow.
“I will be your personal cook and the one to attend to all your cravings.”
I frowned.
The cook?
That didn’t make any sense.
He looked nothing like a cook.
The cold aura surrounding him was enough to make the hairs on my arms stand.
His sharp eyes never left mine, and despite the polite smile on his face, something about him felt…
dangerous.
Why did he look so scary?
Before I could reply to his words.
Several palace maids rushed towards him, each carrying large silver trays covered with polished lids.
The rich aroma of freshly prepared food drifted into the room.
They immediately bowed.
“His Majesty asked us to deliver your meal.” He said politely.
I blinked.
Even after everything that had happened, he still remembered to send me food.
A strange guilt settled inside my chest.
I quietly stepped aside.
“Come in.”
The cook and the maids entered one after another and carefully arranged the dishes across the long dining table.
Each lid was lifted one after another, releasing warm clouds of fragrant steam into the room.
There were slices of roasted beef glazed with a rich brown sauce, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, freshly baked bread, colorful fruits arranged neatly on a silver platter, and a bowl of creamy soup that filled the room with a comforting aroma.
I honestly had no idea how they got all these but I was really impressed.
I noticed the crystal glasses that stood beside a jug of fresh juice while small desserts decorated with berries completed the meal.
The table looked like a royal feast.
Once everything had been arranged, the maids stepped back and bowed once more.
I stared at the food.
A few days ago, I would have been excited.
After eating nothing but strange meals since arriving here, this should have made me happy.
Instead, all I could think about was Cross.
Even after our argument, he still made sure I ate.
Not even Alex had ever done something like this for me.
He would ignore me completely anytime we had an argument and I had to be the one to beg for his attention.
The guilt only grew heavier.
I looked toward the cook.
“Where is Cross? Do you know where he is?”
He lowered his head respectfully.
“His Majesty should probably be in his study room. He doesn’t like to be disturbed.”
I hesitated for only a second.
“Can you take me there?”
They all exchanged uncertain glances.
“Princess… His Majesty doesn’t like to be disturbed.” The cook said carefully.
“I won’t disturb him.” I replied softly.
“I just want to see him.”
There was another brief silence.
Finally, the cook nodded.
“I will take you there.”
Relief washed over me.
“Thank you.”
I looked toward Snow Puff.
“Stay here, okay?”
“Puff.”
She gave a tiny nod before curling herself comfortably on the bed.
I smiled before following the cook out of the room.
The palace corridors were quiet.
Our footsteps echoed softly against the polished black floor as we walked past towering pillars carved with ancient runes.
Large crimson banners bearing the royal crest hung between the pillars, gently swaying in the cool breeze drifting through the open windows.
Eventually, the cook stopped in front of a pair of enormous dark wooden doors.
Silver carvings covered the surface, forming intricate patterns that looked both beautiful and ancient.
A large crimson crest was engraved at the center, giving the entrance an almost intimidating presence.
The cook bowed.
“This is His Majesty’s study room. I will take my leave now.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
He quietly walked away, leaving me alone in the silent hallway.
I swallowed hard.
Suddenly, I wasn’t as confident anymore.
My eyes remained fixed on the door.
After taking a deep breath, I slowly raised my hand and knocked.
“Cross.”
There was no reply.
I waited a few more seconds and carefully, I pushed the door open.
It creaked softly.
Cold air immediately brushed against my skin.
I stepped inside and froze.
The room was enormous.
Bookshelves stretched from the floor all the way to the ceiling, packed with countless ancient books. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
Thick dusty tomes were stacked across tables, chairs, and even scattered over the floor in messy piles, as though someone had searched through every single one without stopping.
The faint scent of old parchment filled the room.
Near the large window at the far end of the study, Cross sat alone.
His head rested quietly on the desk.
He didn’t move and I hurried across the room.
“Cross.” I called softly.
There was no response.
When I reached him, I gently placed my hand on his shoulder.
The moment my fingers touched him, I frowned.
He was burning.
His body felt hot, yet the study itself was cold enough to send chills across my skin.
I leaned closer.
His eyes were shut tightly, and his breathing was slow and steady.
Was he asleep?
“Cross?”
I tapped his shoulder again.
He didn’t move at all.
A knot formed in my stomach.
Was he sick?
Humans became hot when they were sick, but demons?
I had no idea.
Maybe he had simply exhausted himself after everything that happened yesterday.
I stared at him for another moment before taking a step back.
He probably needs to rest and the last thing I wanted was to disturb him again after our argument.
I quietly turned around and was about to leave when I suddenly felt someone grab my wrist.
I gasped and turned around immediately.
Cross had lifted his head.
His red eyes met mine.
“Are you just leaving without saying a proper bye?” He said.
A relieved smile escaped my lips.
“You’re awake.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.” He replied.
His grip loosened before he slowly let go of my wrist.
I nodded awkwardly and climbed onto the edge of the table, sitting close enough that our knees were almost touching.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
It simply felt like we were both searching for the right words.
I looked down at my hands.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you.”
The apology came out quietly.
I wasn’t someone who apologized easily, but after thinking about everything that happened, I knew I had been unfair.
Cross smiled faintly.
“I was never mad at you, Imogen.”
I looked back at him and shook my head.
“You were. Your brows furrowed, your eyes became brighter and that scared me.”
His smile slowly disappeared.
A trace of guilt crossed his face.
“I’m sorry if I scared you.” He said gently.
“Come here.”
He reached for my hands.
This time, his touch was completely different.
Gone was the firm grip from earlier.
Instead, he held my hands carefully between his own, his thumbs slowly brushing across my fingers.
His hands were still warm and soft.
We stayed like that for a while, simply looking into each other’s eyes, then he leaned closer.
“You’re so beautiful.” He whispered into my ear.
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
My heart skipped so hard I thought he might hear it.
Compliments had always been my weakness and they always managed to catch me off guard.
Embarrassed, I quickly looked away.
Cross let out a light chuckle.
When I looked back, I realized he had stepped closer.
He now stood between my legs.
I blinked.
“What are you doing?” I asked, staring at him.
“I want to bite your lips.” He said.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Bite my lips?”
I couldn’t stop the weird smile that escaped me.
For a second, I genuinely wondered if demons showed affection by biting people.
Before I could ask, he slowly leaned closer.
His teasing smile faded.
His eyes lingered on mine for a moment before slowly dropping to my lips.
My heartbeat quickened.
His face was so close that I could feel his warm breath against my skin and only then did it finally click.
He wasn’t joking.
He was trying to kiss me.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe, then my boyfriend’s face flashed through my mind.
Just before our lips could meet, I gently turned my face to the side.
Silence filled the room.
Cross remained still for a brief moment before letting out a soft sigh.
Hurt flickered across his face before he quietly stepped back.
“I won’t force you if you don’t want to be intimate.” He said.
There was no anger in his voice and now the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
I quickly cleared my throat.
“What are you up to?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
He looked at me for a moment before answering.
“Come with me.”
He stretched out his hand.
I hesitated for only a second before placing mine in his.
His fingers wrapped around mine.
“I need to find a book.” He said.
“What book?”
“The Crown Forge Book.”
“What’s that about?”
“If I can’t find my crown perhaps I can forge another one that does the exact same thing.” He said.
I frowned.
“You can really do that? Then why didn’t you do that and go through the whole stress of finding it?”
Cross smiled faintly.
“The book is only the first step to crown forging. The process takes a lot of time and that is what I don’t have right now.”
He paused before quietly adding, “Time.”
The way he said that single word made my heart sink.
It sounded as though something was chasing him.
“I’ll help you find the book.” I replied.
His expression softened.
“Thank you.”
Soon, we both began searching through the countless shelves.
Books covered almost every inch of the study.
Some were stacked neatly.
Others lay open across tables or scattered carelessly over the floor.
Dust floated through the cold air whenever another book was pulled from the shelf.
I picked one up, it wasn’t the crown forge book, then another.
It wasn’t the book.
Minutes slowly passed.
Before long, books surrounded us in messy piles.
Some were written in strange symbols I couldn’t even read, while others contained drawings of ancient beasts, magical artifacts and kingdoms I had never heard of.
I let out a tired sigh.
“My back is starting to hurt.”
Cross chuckled without looking away from the shelf.
“We’ve barely searched half the room.”
I stared around the enormous study.
“Half?”
I dropped onto the floor beside a mountain of books.
“Do you need a massage?” He asked with a smirk.
“No thank you, with those big hands of yours, I’m sure you’ll definitely break my little bones.” I said.
Cross raised his brows and I smiled back at him.
He looked cute whenever he did that.
“This room is bigger than my entire apartment.”
He laughed quietly.
“I will love to see it.”
“Trust me, don’t be too expectant, it will never be not up to your expectations and level.”
“I don’t mind Imogen. I want you and that includes everything about you.” He replied.
I didn’t give a reply to him, I just rubbed my sore neck before reaching for another dusty book.
Just as I opened it, something caught my eye.
A crimson shadow slowly stretched across the floor.
I frowned.
The room had suddenly grown darker.
I looked toward the window.
My heart skipped as I realized the moon had turned blood red.
Every hair on my body stood up.
Cross stopped searching immediately.
He slowly turned toward the window.
The moment he saw it, the color drained from his face.
“The Third Siren is coming.” He said in panic.
He immediately turned toward me.
“Cross, what is going on?” I asked.
“We are leaving tonight.” He said in a hurry.
“Leaving?”
“We are going back to your world.” He said.
My brows pulled together.
“I thought you said we couldn’t leave.” I said.
“You told me you needed enough essence before for the journey.”
Cross was silent for a moment, then he looked at the crimson moon again.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“I found another way.”