The vintage car sat secluded, shrouded by the heavy, rustling curtains of deep green foliage far from the prying eyes of the capital. Inside the vehicle's dim, secluded interior, the air was thick with the scent of rain, expensive perfume, and mounting frustration.
Serena pulled back sharply, her breath catching in her throat as Eiser's hand moved with deliberate, unyielding intent.
"N-not here!" she gasped, her cheeks flushing a deep, humiliated crimson as she shoved against his chest.
Eiser didn't flinch. His striking blue eyes locked onto hers with an unsettling, calm intensity. "No one is coming," he replied, his voice a low, steady murmur that scraped against her nerves.
"Right now, it's... my clothes, too... it's just uncomfortable," she protested, her voice tight with panic. "You want me to stop when we're already like this? I don't want to walk around looking like a mess. Let's just go to the hotel instead. It's the closest."
Eiser paused, a faint, dangerous shadow crossing his expression. He leaned in closer, his gaze drifting over her tense frame before a calculated smirk touched his lips.
"...Then, as long as the visible parts are fine, it's okay, right?" he whispered.
"...Huh?" Serena blinked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"The parts that are covered up don't matter."
"That's not what I meant!" Serena shrieked, her eyes widening in horror as he smoothly bypassed her objections. "You jerk, what are you trying to...!"
Before she could push him away, a sharp, metallic sound sliced through the quiet. Riiiip.
Serena froze. Her evening gown-fine, delicate, and ruined in a single, merciless motion-parted beneath his hand.
"And," Eiser murmured against the shell of her ear, entirely unbothered by her outrage, "I need to finish apologizing... with all my heart."
"Apologize? What are you talking about-!" she choked out, breath hitching as the boundary between anger and surrender blurred completely.
Moments later, the opulent, golden-trimmed confines of the Serenity Hotel's Owner's Room Exclusive Elevator offered a stark, stifling contrast to the rustic shadows of the car.
Carried effortlessly in his arms, Serena buried her face against his shoulder, her fingers clutching uselessly at his crisp white shirt. Now wearing a heavy, oversized jacket that swallowed her frame, she seethed with quiet fury.
"...Jerk."
Eiser carried her forward without breaking a stride, looking completely unrepentant.
"What? You said no, so I didn't do it," he deadpanned smoothly.
"That's not it!" Serena hissed, her voice muffled against him as she glared up at his impassive profile. "Who apologizes like that?!"
"What? You said no, so I didn't do it," Eiser replied smoothly, his tone as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
"That's not it!" Serena burst out, flushing a fiery red as she glared at him. "Who apologizes like that?!"
A lazy, smug curve touched the corner of Eiser's lips. "Then consider it a reward for me waiting patiently."
Before Serena could fire back another retort, a sudden, loud sound rumbled through the quiet room. Serena froze, her eyes widening in mortification as a deep blush spread across her cheeks.
Eiser blinked, looking down at her with a raised brow. "...You haven't eaten?" he asked, a hint of amusement coloring his voice. "...Right. I guess we couldn't really eat while we were talking." He softened his expression, adding, "First, let's wash up... and get a quick bite... that'd be good."
"...Alright. Let's do that," Serena mumbled, defeated.
Minutes later, cleaned up and draped in matching plush white bathrobes, the two sat across from each other at a small, elegant dining table laden with fresh fruit, pastries, and warm dishes.
As Serena took a small bite from her fork, she casually broke the silence. "Oh right, I don't think I'll be in Welnberg for a while. The Atiazen royal family sent me an invitation. Since I'm going to attend, I'm planning to stop by Flo Marina to take care of some things too."
Across the table, Eiser leaned back in his ornate chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "If it's the invitation for Atiazen's National Memorial Day, I received one too."
Serena's fork paused halfway to her mouth. Her eyes went wide with sudden elation. "What? Really? You got one too? Wow! Then we can go together?!"
Eiser watched her sudden burst of excitement, a faint, amused smile lingering on his face. "Are you that happy?"
"Of course I am!!!" Serena beamed, her heart fluttering as she leaned forward. "This is the first time I'm attending as an official state guest invited by the royal family since we started the Flo Marina development. And I get to go to such a meaningful event with you! Oh my god, this is amazing."
"I'm so excited. Then how about we stay in Flo Marina for a few days after the event schedule is over?" Serena suggested, her eyes bright with anticipation. "There are so many places I want to show you, and places I've wanted us to visit together. It'll be super fun~!"
Eiser offered a soft, knowing smirk at her enthusiasm. But as the conversation shifted, Serena's mind wandered back to practical matters.
"By any chance... did you get any other calls?" she asked, glancing over the table.
Eiser looked up. "Huh? What calls?"
"Like, from our royal family... or the prince's aides..." Serena trailed off, her expression shifting slightly.
The prince...?
"Why would the royal family call me...?" she muttered, crossing her arms slightly. "They shouldn't have any business left with me, right?" She added under her breath, And they better not.
"If they didn't, that's fine. Come on, finish eating," Eiser dismissed smoothly, pointing to her plate.
"But I'm all done?" Serena protested.
"You barely had anything," Eiser retorted, leaning forward slightly. "You're still way too skinny, so eat some more. Put some meat on your bones."
Serena pouted, crossing her arms defensively. "I've recovered a lot, though... What are you gonna do if I gain weight? I don't think I'm lacking anything as I am now, right?"
Eiser's gaze darkened playfully, a slow, teasing smile playing on his lips. "Lacking what. You touched me to your heart's content in the car earlier, didn't you? Was it not enough?"
Serena's face flushed bright red. "...That's not what I meant," she stammered, looking away. "I was just worried about your health. But what about you...?"
She cast a sideways glance at him, taking in his relaxed, sculpted posture. "You seem to have recovered well? Actually, maybe even better than before?"
When that incident happened, Eiser had definitely lost a lot of weight, too. The memory of the moment she had held him tight remained vivid in her mind, a time when her heart ached because she could feel exactly how much he had suffered emotionally.
Looking at him now, she muttered, "You must have been working out hard."
Eiser caught her gaze, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "You're staring holes into me. Want a closer look? I'd welcome it anytime."
"That's not it...! I just-thought you looked much healthier...!" Serena stammered, her cheeks burning.
Before she could finish, Eiser stood up from his chair and strode over to her side. Before she could react, his large hand cupped her face, tilting her chin up as he murmured, "Wh-what...?!"
He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly against hers before tracing the contour of her mouth with his thumb, gently pressing past her lips. Serena let out a soft gasp as he deepened the kiss, capturing her mouth entirely while pulling her closer.
"Ah... ...so persistent," she whispered against him, her fingers curling tightly into the fabric of her seat as Eiser's hand reached down to steadily untie the knot of her robe.
With a soft pull, Eiser hoisted her into his arms, their lips locked in a deep, breathless kiss as he carried her away from the table. He laid her gently down upon the bed, his weight pressing over her as they continued to kiss, the soft rustle of the sheets echoing in the quiet room.
Suddenly, the harsh, metallic ringing of the bedside telephone broke through the intimacy.
Serena froze, her eyes widening as she stared up at the ceiling in worry. Eiser paused, his expression darkening as he muttered beneath his breath, "Haa... Don't answer it."
"...I don't want to answer it either," Serena whispered, though the persistent shrill of the phone weighed heavily on her mind. "You know they wouldn't call at this hour unless it was pretty urgent. What if it's a big issue?"
Before Eiser could stop her, she propped herself up on one arm, reaching across the mattress to snatch the receiver. "Sorry. I think I need to take this. I'll hang up quickly," she murmured apologetically.
"What is it, what's going on?" she spoke into the mouthpiece, urgency clipping her words. "Where is it from? The manor? Got it, put them through."
Above her, Eiser let out a low, frustrated grumble against her shoulder as he trailed a hand over her skin. "...You're really teasing me today," he muttered.
Ignoring the heavy tension in the room, Serena listened intently to the voice on the other end, her expression shifting as she replied, "...Yeah, Sui. It wasn't planned, but I think I'll be staying at the hotel tonight."
The heavy weight of Eiser's frame shifted against her, a low, rumbling groan vibrating from his chest as Serena's words hung in the air.
"No, no, nothing's wrong!" Serena quickly assured Sui into the receiver, her voice dropping into a softer, tired lilt as she curled further over the mattress, her long dark hair spilling across the sheets. "I'm just tired."
Above her, Eiser didn't move away. Instead, his gaze darkened with a possessive intensity, his fingers sliding lower against her waist, refusing to let her completely slip into the demands of the outside world. The interruption had broken the raw heat of the moment, but it had only fueled a different kind of tension-one that whispered the night was far from over, regardless of where she decided to sleep.
The heavy receiver trembled in Serena's grip as her breath hitched, her flushed face turning sharply toward Eiser in sudden panic.
"Ah, you crazy...!" she gasped in a breathless whisper into the mouthpiece, fighting to steady her voice. "...Sui, wait a second! I g-got it, so... hang up for now."
Desperate to cut the connection before her composure completely shattered, she rushed the excuse. "I'm, right now, a bit, b-busy... with... my guest..."
Before Sui could process the erratic reply, the telephone receiver slipped from her trembling hand, dropping heavily onto the sheets. Eiser didn't give her a chance to recover. With a swift, overwhelming motion, he pulled her back against him, his large hand gripping hers as their fingers intertwined tightly against the tangled bedsheets. The receiver bounced off the mattress and swung through the air before hitting the polished wooden floor with a dull thud, the cord trailing behind it as the quiet room was completely consumed by the heat of the moment.