CHAPTER 16: THE COUPLE BICKERING

"Why is your chamber so quiet? No maids? How do you even live like this?"

Lumina’s voice echoed softly against the high stone walls as she moved cautiously forward, her fingertips grazing the smooth cold surface of a thing placed around.

Ashen walked a few steps behind her, silent. He didn’t answer immediately, simply watching her attempt to memorize the space.

She turned too quickly feeling his presence behind her and but her foot got tangled in the edge of her gown.

She lost her balance, her body tipping forward. For a split second, it felt like she would fall but before she could hit the ground, Ashen stepped in with sharp speed, wrapping one arm around her and catching her against his side.

The world froze, her breath hitched. His body was warm, steady, holding her up like the fall had never even happened.

"You are only just realizing you might not survive without maids?" His voice was dry, teasing, but his arms remained firm around her waist, steadying her.

Lumina rolled her sightless eyes and pushed against his chest. "Don’t touch me without my permission," she muttered.

But fate had other plans. As she took a step away, she accidentally stepped on her gown again, stumbling forward.

"My lady!" Stella gasped in alarm rushing forward but it was too late Ashen caught her.

Ashen’s smile curled at the corner. This time, he caught her fully, arms encircling her waist as he pulled her upright with ease.

"You said what now?" he murmured near her ear, voice filled with mischief.

Lumina swallowed with her jaw tight, refusing to reply. "You can repeat it... so I will fulfill your wish." Ashen teased again.

He couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. She looked so adorably furious with her flushed cheeks, tight fists, and lips trembling with contained pride.

He gently helped her back to her feet, but Stella rushed to her side and adjusted her stance properly.

"If you are not going to help her properly, don’t tease my lady," she scolded.

Lumina’s hand touched Stella’s arm. "It’s fine," she murmured, then turned her head slightly in Ashen’s direction.

"This is his chamber. We have no choice but to stay with him, even though it’s just as cold and moody as he is."

Ero let out a chuckle, but Ashen only stepped forward, his smile lingering.

"For someone who is supposed to become my wife, don’t you think you are being a little disrespectful?" he asked calmly.

"Don’t care," she grumbled.

"I assume you are barely eighteen. I am older than you." Lumina opened her mouth, then shut it. It was true so she couldn’t argue that.

Ashen tilted his head. "Well, for your answer. No maids will work with me. They say I carry misfortune. I am cursed, remember?" Though he smiled faintly, his tone held something like pain.

Lumina didn’t respond, but Stella turned to her. "My lady... I can manage. We don’t need maids... not like you are used to it."

Lumina squeezed her hand and smiled. "You will be greatly rewarded one day, Stella. I promise."

They both giggled softly, and Ashen watched them in silence. Their warmth seemed to stir something faint in the cold corners of his chest.

While Ero on the other hand for the first time in years living with his master he is pleased with his actions.

His master isn’t the kind who talks much but today alone, has covered his two weeks’ words. He hopes things will continue this way.

"Where is my room?" Lumina asked finally. Ashen folded his arms. "We are..."

"We are not a couple yet, so we are not sharing a room," Lumina cut in.

He shrugged, amused. "I never planned on sharing a room with you actually." he teased earning a snort from Lumina.

"Fine. Ero, take them to the guest room prepared." Ero nodded and led them away.

Ashen remained behind, his eyes following Lumina’s retreating figure until his smile vanished with the closing door.

His fingers moved absently to the ring on his middle finger, a band with a red dragon’s eye etched in the center. He twisted it once, deep in thought.

"Is she to be trusted?" he muttered aloud, his eyes not leaving the same position Lumina had been standing a few seconds ago.

Before the echo faded, a sudden gust of wind swept through the open window.

With a sharp cry, a black-feathered crow shot through the air and landed behind him.

Its form shimmered, bones shifting, feathers dissolving like smoke.

In its place knelt a woman draped in deep black robes woven with silver dragon-scale threads.

Her hair was jet-black, pulled tightly into a braid that coiled like a serpent down her back.

Around her eyes held the faint glow of draconian blood faint crimson veins beneath pale skin, and slit pupils that flickered when she looked up now bowing behind Ashen.

"My lord," she whispered, bowing low.

"We can’t say for sure since Prince Adam chose her. But that alone should make you cautious."

Ashen smirked, stepping toward the window. "Guess the Kraken attack wasn’t enough to teach them sense."

"And the lady I asked you to find?" the crow-woman asked.

"Gone," she said with a shake of her head, still kneeling. "No trace. It is as if she never existed."

Just then there were Light, cautious steps coming their way.

He stilled, head tilted slightly. His hearing had long been sharpened by years of surviving without allies.

Each step echoed differently. He could hear the subtle press of a palm against the wall.

Ashen’s eyes narrowed, Without a word he only raised a hand. A flick of his fingers dismissed her. She bowed again, her form shuddering into feathers as she transformed and flew out through the window in a silent blur of black.

The moment her wings disappeared into the night, he turned sharply.

Then Ero burst through the door a second later, panting. "I have shown them to their room," he said. "What now?"

Ashen turned his back to the window. His eyes burned low, it was just Ero running he had thought he was about to get attacked, after all his siblings were not to be trusted.

"Ero," he said quietly, voice grave.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Every sharp object... remove them. Anything that could cut, trip, or injure her. Also, pad the walls’ lower edges with a soft hide."

"Yes, my lord..."

"And the floor..." Ashen paused, eyes drifting toward the now-empty doorway Lumina had vanished into.

"I want it covered with living moss," he said finally. "Woven into the rugs.

Ero blinked in shock hearing this. "Moss... rugs?"

"Imported from the Sky Caverns. The rare kind that senses weight and adjusts softness," Ashen explained further, ignoring Ero’s worried question.

"That would cost a fortune," Ero argued, his brow raised in shock.

Ashen turned slowly, eyes flickering like steel and with one glare shut Ero up instantly.

"Consider it done, my lord," Ero said with a deep bow.