"So? What have you thought about it?" Ruby asked as she sat by the table, resting her chin on her hand, watching Adrian move about the kitchen.
The soft clinking of utensils and the gentle simr of soup filled the quiet room. He was focused, yet his movents carried a strange calm that always seed to put her at ease.
They were in her room, where Adrian busily prepared lunch while the inventors downstairs worked on crafting the reflectors he needed.
The faint sounds of hamrs and gears from below blended with the mild aroma of vegetables and spices from the pot.
As they chatted, Adrian ntioned the conversation he had with Annabelle during their carriage ride to the Barren Lands.
He still rembered every word and expression from that day. Once the final examinations were over, he planned to take Annabelle sowhere quiet—to finally talk about everything that had been left unsaid.
"What can I say?" Adrian sighed softly, lowering his eyes as if the steam from the pot carried the weight of his thoughts.
Ruby could already sense what was going through his mind, but she didn’t interrupt. She wanted to hear it from him—to understand what he truly felt.
"When you look at Annabelle... what do you feel?" she asked after a mont, her tone hesitant. It wasn’t like her to pry, but sothing in his silence made her curious.
Adrian didn’t seem to mind. He trusted Ruby deeply.
Still stirring the soup, he finally said, "When I look at her?" He paused for a few seconds before continuing in a quiet tone. "I... want her to always smile. Every ti I send her away for a mission and see her disheartened face, I feel my heart breaking a little."
His grip on the ladle tightened, the motion of stirring slowing down. "I want to create a world where she doesn’t have to leave anymore. A peaceful world where she can simply live as Bella... my Bella."
Ruby’s eyes softened. Even though she couldn’t see his face, she could feel the weight in his words—the tenderness hidden behind his calm expression. It wasn’t just affection; it was devotion carved deep into his being.
She let out a quiet breath. "You sound like soone who’s already decided what kind of world you’ll build," she murmured with a faint smile.
Adrian chuckled lightly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Maybe. But for that, I’ll need strength—a lot more than I have right now."
Ruby leaned back, watching him in silence. The firelight from the stove reflected on his face, highlighting the faint fatigue in his eyes but also the quiet determination burning beneath.
For a mont, she thought he looked less like a runesmith and more like a man trying to shoulder the weight of everyone he cared about. And that, she realized, was exactly what made him different.
After a brief silence, Ruby said softly, "I’ve been with Annabelle for more than five years now. We t by chance—an ordinary day, an ordinary place—and what connected us was that neither of us cared about who the other really was. Titles, bloodlines, family nas... none of it mattered."
Her gaze drifted toward the window, where faint sunlight filtered through the curtains. "In that ti, I’ve seen her in so many phases. You know, when she starts to care about sothing—or soone—she doesn’t hold back. Her emotions, once awakened, are raw and unfiltered."
Adrian chuckled as he stirred the pot, "Jean was quite surprised recently to see her Queen acting nothing like a Queen."
Ruby’s lips curved into a small smile. "That sounds like her." She let out a breath, her voice softening with a note of nostalgia. "I’ve never seen her so stubborn about anything. For years, she never showed affection toward anyone or anything. No life goal, no ambition. She just lived, like an aloof wanderer drifting through existence."
She paused, fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup. "But one day, she told sothing that completely changed how I saw her. She said she isn’t moving aimlessly. She doesn’t train just to feel strong, and she doesn’t hunt to prove dominance. Every step she takes... it’s for a purpose."
Adrian turned slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "A purpose?"
Ruby nodded slowly. "She wants to build a world where she can live with the one she loves. That’s all she ever wanted."
The words hung in the air like a quiet confession, tender yet heavy with aning.
Adrian’s stirring hand stilled for a mont. He didn’t respond imdiately, but the faint warmth in his chest spoke louder than any words could.
Sotis, the truth didn’t need to be spoken directly. It simply lingered, finding its place in silence.
Adrian finished cooking and turned off the fla, wiping his hands on a clean cloth. The rich aroma of the soup filled the room, soft and warm, mingling with the faint scent of herbs he had added earlier. Ruby stepped forward quietly to help him serve the soup.
As he gently poured the soup into two bowls, the steam rose between them like a thin veil. Without looking up, Adrian asked, "What do you suggest, Ruby? What should I do?"
Ruby’s fingers lingered on the edge of the bowl before she spoke, her tone calm yet distant. "Shouldn’t Ariana’s opinion matter here?"
Adrian glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips. "Why not yours?" he countered softly. "Your opinion matters too, Ruby. You’re important to ."
The words caught her off guard. For a brief mont, she froze—her heart skipped a beat, and a shy warmth crept up her neck. Her eyes wavered as she lowered her head, pretending to adjust the placent of the bowl.
Silence hung between them for a while, broken only by the faint crackle from the stove. Adrian waited patiently, not pushing, not hurrying—just standing there with quiet expectation in his gaze.
Finally, Ruby drew in a small breath and whispered, "...just don’t hurt her." Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "Annabelle has been lonely, Adrian. She’s been waiting for you—always waiting."
Her eyes lifted, glimring faintly under the soft light. "If you can’t accept her... if you turn away now... I don’t even want to imagine what it would do to her."
Adrian looked at her for a long mont. The air between them felt heavier, as though her words carried more weight than either of them could admit. He could see the sincerity in Ruby’s eyes—concern not just for Annabelle, but for him too.
Without speaking, he nodded once.
....
They both sat at the table, the warm aroma of freshly cooked food filling the cozy room. Adrian had prepared a simple yet hearty al—at curry, a bowl of salad, hot soup, and so rice.
He had focused on quantity rather than elegance. It wasn’t about fine dining; it was about giving Ruby sothing comforting, sothing that would replenish her strength.
Ruby eagerly picked up her spoon, took a bite, and her expression instantly softened. "Mmm... this is so yum..." she murmured, swaying a little from side to side like a pleased child. Her eyes curved into small crescents as she savored the taste.
Adrian chuckled quietly, watching her reaction. "Glad you liked it," he said, his tone calm but gentle, a trace of pride in his voice.
Ruby scooped up another spoonful, her face lighting up again. "Do you cook often?" she asked, glancing at him curiously. "Because I definitely can’t make anything this good. Not even close."
Adrian shrugged with a faint grin. "When you travel as much as I do, you either learn to cook... or starve," he replied, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.
Ruby giggled softly, "Then I suppose I should start traveling too."
Adrian looked at her for a mont, amused by her playful tone. "You? You’d probably end up experinting and blowing up the kitchen."
Ruby pouted, "I am not that bad."
He raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Oh really? I still rember the ti you burned tea."
"That was one ti!" she protested, cheeks puffing slightly. "And it wasn’t my fault—the kettle was old."
Adrian leaned back a little, letting out a quiet laugh. "Sure, sure. Bla the kettle."
Ruby’s lips twitched as she tried to suppress a smile, but soon she gave up and laughed too. For a while, the room filled with the warmth of their laughter.
After a brief pause, Adrian asked, "What are your plans? Still have to travel?"
Ruby shook her head, "I have taken a week off."
Adrian suggested, "Then why not co and stay at the academy? While I would be busy with the exam, after working hours, we can spend ti together."
Ruby’s eyes sparkled, "I would love that....but Ariana-"
Adrian sighed, "Ruby...know this that Ariana has long considered you a part of the family. So stop hesitating."
The redhead grinned before nodding, "Alright! Then, sorry for the intrusion."
°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please add a comnt to motivate .
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