The first thing Adrian saw, after he regained his vision, was a beautiful woman with long black hair and eyes as dark as night, standing with a soft smile on her red lips.
She wore a black strapless one-piece dress that clung elegantly to her figure, carrying just enough sensuality to draw one’s gaze without being overbearing.
Her hair freely fell on her shoulders, and slightly swayed as she stepped closer to him.
Adrian took a step forward and introduced himself, "Raven, I suppose. Hey, I’m Adrian."
He extended his hand, but instead of shaking it, the woman moved in and embraced him. "Haah, we finally t."
Adrian blinked, caught off guard by the sudden warmth against him, but he didn’t pull away.
She stepped back with a smile and said, "My na is Querella, but you can call Raven if you want."
Adrian nodded lightly. "I’ll call you Raven."
Her lips curved into a playful smile. "That sounds nice to . Co, let’s sit."
She gestured toward a table nearby.
It was then that Adrian truly noticed his surroundings. The room was spacious and dimly lit, veiled in mystery. Heavy dark curtains covered the windows, allowing only the faintest light to slip through. The air felt thick, warm, and faintly perfud. Wall lamps with bronze bases burned quietly, their soft glow spreading over polished wood and velvet drapes.
A large bed stood between the windows, its sheets as dark as ink, while a fine couch rested near the table where they now sat. Antique ornants glead under the chandelier’s golden shimr—everything in the room whispered of wealth and refined taste.
From the atmosphere alone, Adrian could tell she was soone of noble background. But what truly unsettled him was the silence. There was no sign of anyone else—not a guard, not even a servant.
Was she really so carefree around him... or simply that confident in her power?
Adrian kept his thoughts to himself and took a seat.
Raven, instead of sitting across from him, chose the place right beside him. A sweet, enchanting fragrance drifted from her—soft yet overwhelming enough to blur his focus for a mont.
She tilted her head and smiled. "You look younger and more handso than I imagined."
"Is... that a disappointnt?" he asked with a faint grin. After all, she had once loved an old man with a round belly and a white beard. Maybe that was her type.
Raven let out a quiet laugh. "I admire a man’s intelligence and his character. In that regard, you’re not much different from your forr self."
Adrian wasn’t sure how to respond, so he changed the topic. "So... what do you do, Raven? You already know about . I’m a professor. What about you?"
Leaning back gracefully, Raven crossed her legs. "Just governing a few territories. Nothing too serious. I’d rather hear about your life. Tell , what keeps you busy, Adrian?"
Adrian shrugged. "Mostly research, rune-smithing, and teaching. Nothing special."
"Hoh~ and your fiancée? Are you not spending much ti with her?"
Adrian caught a faint glimr of hope in her tone but brushed it aside.
He sighed softly. "It’s not like that. We’re both busy people. But we always make sure to plan ahead, clear our schedules, and spend ti together."
"Oh," she said, her voice tinged with disappointnt. But she quickly recovered and asked, "How is your idiot? She’s as loud as ever on the chat."
Adrian glanced at the chat. Sure enough, Bella had been bombarding him with ssages, warning him to be careful around Raven—and listing every counterasure in case the "perverted witch" tried to throw herself into his arms.
Raven’s eyes softened as she added, "Her worry isn’t unfounded. We shared quite a close bond in the past."
Curiosity sparked, Adrian leaned forward slightly. "Did we... et in the past? You an as Avirin?"
A small, knowing smile appeared on Raven’s lips. "Not just t. We spent a few months together. I was the oasis you needed, and you... you were the first man I genuinely ca to respect."
Adrian’s eyebrows lifted. That caught him off guard. From everything he rembered about Avirin, he was a man who kept to himself, rarely letting anyone get close. Annabelle had been the only exception. Yet here was Raven, claiming she had known him intimately for months.
"That’s...quite surprising."
Raven leaned back, her gaze drawn to the table, "I know it sounds impossible at the mont but there would co a ti when you would rember it all." Gently glancing at him, she added, "And when the ti cos, I have a feeling you will be eager to see again."
Adrian was confused at those words. However, before he could have asked her what she ant, Raven got up and said, "Co with . I will show you around."
....
At the sa ti, Ariana was seated in the room assigned to her, quietly straightening the folds of her dress.
She had been summoned to a eting with the counciln who governed the nation. The invitation had co unexpectedly, but the ssage stressed urgency, so she hadn’t hesitated and had arrived promptly.
In her hands, she held a parchnt—it was actually an invitation. But curiously, it was ant for Adrian.
Far to the northeast, the nation under the guidance of Midnight Ascent had achieved a breakthrough: a technology with the potential to change the world. A weapon, specifically, that Borodicus Clark—Sarah’s father—had been developing for so ti. Upon its completion, Adrian and Ariana had been invited to join the celebratory event.
Ariana felt uncertain. The event was scheduled in two weeks, right around the ti the third-year final exams would conclude. Soon after, the second-year exams would begin, leaving little room for a proper break.
Yet she couldn’t help but think, ’Adrian would love to go.’ All the established and experienced runesmiths would be there, and he would surely be eager to see what Borodicus had developed. The thought made her lips curve into a small, knowing smile.
There were still two months left before they could enjoy their peaceful ti in their new ho, throw a party and enjoy the winters while cuddling on the couch.
Maybe it sounds quite trivial but for the two of them who always remain busy all year long, this sounds nothing short of a dream.
And Ariana would make sure every single trouble related to work is resolved before the vacations so that she could have her husband all for herself.
’Can’t wait.’
°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. We are close to four hundred Chapters. Thanks for staying with the story.
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