As they stepped into the open-air restaurant, the mood changed instantly.
Laughter and casual chatter faded. Plates were left half-finished.
Chairs scraped back as diners moved away, creating distance without a word.
No one wanted trouble—not after what they'd seen earlier.
Asher didn't like the current situation.
This wasn't how the day was supposed to go. He had hoped Mirelyn would experience the calm and charm of the island resort.
He glanced at her, ready to apologize.
But she wasn't bothered.
She stood still, her eyes moving over the space with curiosity.
The restaurant, built mostly from wood that looked like bamboo but had a weathered gray tone, stretched outward under a thatched roof.
Open on all sides, the breeze drifted through without resistance. Palm trees swayed nearby, and colorful flowers lined the edge of the wooden deck.
Smooth ukulele music played softly in the background. The sll of grilled large fishes filled the air.
Mirelyn touched the carved wooden post beside her, tracing the pattern with her fingertips. She didn't say anything, but the way she looked around said enough—she liked it here.
The waiters and waitresses approached them, their fish scales glistening in the light as they greeted the two.
However, their smiles were forced.
Asher, sensing the tension, offered a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, we an no harm. We're just here to enjoy the food and the view."
The waitstaff nodded, their smiles still strained, but they relaxed slightly.
One of them, a waitress with shimring turquoise scales, stepped forward.
"W-welco, My Lord she stuttered, her voice trembling. "We'll be happy to serve you. Please, take a seat, and we'll bring you our finest dishes."
The term "My lord" was a common phrase used in the Demon world to address individuals of high status, much like "Sir" or "Madam" in the human world.
Asher nodded, gesturing for Mirelyn to take a seat. He pulled out the chair for her and waited for her to sit.
Mirelyn did not move right away, caught off guard.
She had never been treated like this before—not with such calm, genuine care. The gesture felt so natural, so it made her heart race.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks, and she couldn't hide it.
In the end, she didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so she simply sat down.
He also settled in front of her. Though he was wearing a disguise, no one could deny that he was still very good-looking
Mirelyn picked up the wooden nu and scanned it slowly, her eyes widening at the variety—grilled seafood, tropical fruits, and unfamiliar nas she couldn't even pronounce.
"What's good here?" she asked the waitress, her tone light and curious.
"Depends on what you're in the mood for. The smoked maho-maho is fresh today. Azure sea serpent is also in the nu."
"Are those at?" she asked, lowering the nu slightly. She didn't like eating at, not if she could avoid it.
"How about fish? Do you eat fish?" Asher asked, curious more than anything.
"Yes, but mostly I want delicious fruits..." Mirelyn trailed off, her voice softening as a hint of embarrassnt crept in.
She wasn't sure why, but she felt a little self-conscious, like she might sound too picky for their first date.
Asher raised an eyebrow, amused and not at all put off. "Fruits, huh? Can't go wrong with that."
He turned to the waitress.
"Can you give us all your most expensive fruits, and also your most delicious fruit drink? Oh, and the most expensive fish you have."
She nodded slowly "Of course, My lord. I'll bring you a selection of our best fruits, a tropical smoothie blend, and our top fish dish."
When the waitress left, the two were free to admire the view.
Asher sat back, waiting quietly while she gazed at the beach.
Her eyes glistened like mirrors, reflecting the ocean's shimr as the waves rolled in.
Forget about the beach. He could watch her face all day and never get bored.
Her expressions change so naturally, each mont sohow more captivating than the last.
Unlike Hailey and Lucy, who leaned more toward the "hot" type, Mirelyn had a charm that was cute and adorable.
Her facial features reminded him of Index, which might be why he had fallen for her so quickly.
Finally, she noticed that his eyes were glued to her, and it made her a little self-conscious.
She began to fix the hair covering her ear, feeling suddenly warm for so reason.
"Did you also change your skin color?" he asked.
"What do you an?" she asked, puzzled by his words.
"Well..." he trailed off, scratching his nose. "Your ears are all red."
Mirelyn gasped, quickly covering them with both hands and looking down, her face flushed with embarrassnt.
She realized she was giving away too much—her emotions were clearly showing, and she was already being swayed by him more than she wanted to admit.
Asher couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey, no need to hide. It's cute."
Mirelyn peeked up from behind her hands, her cheeks still pink. "I'm not cute," she muttered, though the smile tugging at her lips said otherwise.
"Yeah, you are. It's hard not to notice."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, her fingers still lightly covering her ears.
"I'm sure you've said the sa thing to countless girls, and you're just trying to add to your collection."
"I don't say things like that to anyone else."
Her eyes flickered with doubt. "How do I know that?"
He smiled, a little more reassuring now. "Because I'm not just saying it. I an it. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to spend ti with you."
Mirelyn's cheeks ward again, but this ti it was different. The doubt in her eyes faded as she caught the sincerity in his gaze.
She looked away, pretending to be interested in the drink's nu, though she was fully aware of the way her heart had started to race.
As much as she liked the way he made her feel, she had to protect herself.
"Alright, I'll believe you for now. But I'm not giving myself to you that easily. If you really like , then you can wait until I'm ready."
Asher's only smiled. "I respect that. You don't have to worry about pushing you."
She nodded, appreciating the reassurance. "Thank you. Because I don't want to regret anything."
"You won't, and you can take your ti..." Asher's voice turned more solemn as he began tapping the table absentmindedly.
"I'm actually leaving for a very long journey, and it might take years, decades, or even a century to co back, so..."
Before he could finish, Mirelyn stood up, her face a mix of shock and worry.
"You're leaving...?"
"Yeah...And I think this is for the best. You don't have an answer right now, so I'll just get it once I'm back... if I ever do co back."
Her heart sank. She wanted him to wait, but not that long. She imagined a few weeks, at most, maybe even a few months of courtship.
"Why… why so suddenly?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"It's not sudden,"
"It's sothing I've been planning for a very long ti. I need to rescue my wife, because she's trapped in a very dangerous place, alone. To be honest, I'm not sure if I will ever co back. That's why I wanted to spend the little ti I have with you."
She just stood there, having a hard ti to sort out her emotions.
When ti was of the essence, it beca harder for her to think about what she really wanted.
It pressed down on her, and she felt that if she just let him go now without an answer, she would forever regret it.
But at the sa ti, jealousy began to take root on her heart.
"You must really love her... if you're willing to risk everything just to save her," Her words slipped out before she could stop them.
She imdiately regretted how they sounded, but they were her true feelings.
It wasn't that she was angry with Index. It wasn't even that she disliked his devotion to his wife—it was the timing, the suddenness of it all.
She was fine without him, without soone stirring feelings she wasn't ready for.
Then, out of nowhere, he showed up, made her heart race, made her believe that maybe, just maybe, sothing real could happen between them.
And now, he was announcing he had to leave.
"I would do the sa if you were put in the sa situation," he reached out to touch her hand.
But she quickly pulled back, her eyes flashing with irritation.
"You're a liar," she snapped, "And you're a manipulator... You intentionally did all of this so you could force to say yes."
"That's not what I—"
"I don't care what you say!" she interrupted, her chest heaving with frustration.
"You ca to .... Made feel all these things, only to tell you're leaving for soone else. Don't act like you're a good and caring person because you're not! You knew I'd be conflicted, that I'd want to hold on to sothing before you leave. This was all part of your plan, wasn't it?"
Asher was stunned. He swallowed hard, trying to find the right words, but nothing ca out.
"I hate you... And I don't care if you never co back!" Mirelyn scread out all her emotions. She felt betrayed.
Without giving him a chance to respond, she stood up and flew away.
User Comments
0 comments from readers