CHAPTER 214: NIGHT OUTSIDE

The night above the Angel’s City shimmered like a painting drawn by the gods themselves. A thousand stars hung suspended in the velvet heavens, their light scattered through the thin glass dome of the rooftop terrace. Below, the city glowed with golden lights—streets alive with laughter, cars drifting across bridges, lamplights illuminating everything while lanterns swaying in the gentle breeze that carried the scent of roses and sweet pastries from the festival far below.

Here, high above it all, time seemed to slow. The world felt hushed, distant—like they had stepped out of reality and into a dream meant for two.

Khione sat with her back gently resting against Nero’s chest, her white hair cascading down like moonlight against his gray shirt. He sat behind her, one arm loosely around her waist, the other resting on the glass floor beside them. From here, the city stretched endlessly in all directions—a sea of light and motion beneath their feet.

The hum of the city felt so faint it could almost be mistaken for the rhythm of their own hearts.

Neither spoke for a long time. Words weren’t needed.

Khione leaned a little further back, feeling his steady heartbeat against her spine. It was a strange, grounding comfort—warmth she had never known before. Her world had always been cold, defined by ice, duty, and solitude. But now, sitting here beneath the stars, she felt... safe. It frightened her how easily he could make her feel this way.

Nero, too, seemed lost in the moment. His usual confident smirk had softened into something quieter. He looked down at the silver strands of her hair that caught the starlight and thought how surreal it felt to have her in his arms—the once-distant Ice Queen who now breathed calmly against him, relaxed, at peace.

The faint sound of music drifted from the streets below—gentle strings and wind instruments playing a melody that wove seamlessly into the night. It was soft, wistful, and romantic, echoing through the air as if the city itself were blessing their union.

Khione’s eyes, reflecting the city lights like twin sapphires, softened. She tilted her head just slightly to the side, her voice a whisper carried by the wind.

"...It’s beautiful."

Nero smiled faintly. "It is. But not as much as you."

She didn’t reply at first, only rolled her eyes with that faint, delicate smirk that betrayed her amusement. "Still trying to flatter me?"

"Not trying," he said simply, "just stating facts."

Her lips twitched again, but she said nothing. Silence fell once more—but this time it wasn’t heavy. It was full, alive with unspoken warmth.

The minutes passed like hours, each breath shared between them melting the invisible walls she had built around her heart.

Then, slowly, Khione shifted.

She turned her body, facing him fully now. Her pale fingers brushed against his chest, then rested there as her gaze lifted to meet his. Those crimson eyes—bright, steady, and untamed—reflected the stars above them.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Without a word, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

This time there was no hesitation, no surprise—just a rush of feeling that drowned out everything else. The kiss was soft at first, but quickly deepened, hunger and tenderness intertwined. Her hand rose to his shoulder, his fingers brushed the line of her jaw, and the world dissolved again into that quiet, burning space between them.

Her pulse thundered in her ears. She had never felt anything like this before—the warmth of his lips, the way his breath mingled with hers, the taste of him still carrying the faint sweetness of the dessert they had shared earlier. Every kiss was a spark, every touch a whisper that drew her closer.

When they finally pulled away, a faint flush colored her pale cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, then focused on him again.

"...I think," she murmured, her voice unsteady, "I’m beginning to understand why people get addicted to this."

Nero chuckled softly, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Addicted already?"

She nodded faintly, her breath still warm against his lips. "Maybe." Then, with a hint of mischief glimmering in her eyes—something rare and precious—she added,

"Should I test it again to be sure?"

Before he could answer, she leaned in once more, stealing another kiss—deeper, more certain than before.

The stars above seemed to burn brighter, the air around them thick with warmth despite the cool night breeze.

Down below, the city continued to pulse with life, but up here—there was only them. Two souls who had fought, clashed, and bled together now discovering something gentler, something just as dangerous: affection.

When at last they parted again, Khione rested her head against his shoulder, a faint smile curving her lips as the reflection of fireworks began to dance across the glass around them—gold, blue, and silver blooming like celestial flowers in the night.

For once, the Ice Queen didn’t think of anything.

She simply felt.

And beside her, Nero—her equal in strength, in fire, in will—closed his eyes and smiled faintly, the warmth of her presence enough to melt even the deepest darkness within him.

They stayed like that for a long while—hands loosely intertwined, the city lights twinkling below them like fallen stars, the silence between them heavy yet comforting. Neither spoke, as though afraid words would break the fragile perfection of the moment.

Then, softly, Khione spoke. Her voice carried the calm clarity of moonlight.

"Let’s... stay here tonight."

Nero blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Here?"

Her calm gaze met his, unwavering. "Yes. It’s peaceful. I... don’t want this night to end yet."

For a moment, he just stared at her, speechless. But then he smiled—a small, warm curve of his lips. "All right."

Fortunately, Lux’s influence reached far and wide. The hotel, one of the grandest in the Angel’s City, belonged to his family, and he had already prepared for every possibility—including this one. Within minutes, Nero and Khione had secured a private VIP suite, no questions asked.

They took a different elevator from the others—by sheer coincidence avoiding both the princess and Azalea, who had chosen to explore elsewhere. As the elevator ascended, its transparent walls displayed a breathtaking view of the luminous skyline. Golden lights shimmered in the distance, the soft hum of the city below like a lullaby.

When the doors opened with a soft chime, what awaited them left even Nero momentarily breathless.

The suite was nothing short of magnificent—a masterpiece of quiet luxury.

A vast room greeted them, its walls made of clear enchanted glass that offered an unbroken view of the night sky and the glittering cityscape below. The moonlight poured in freely, mingling with the gentle glow of floating crystal lamps that shimmered like captured stars.

At the center stood a grand king-size bed draped in silver sheets, the fabric glinting faintly under the soft light. The headboard was adorned with intricate carvings of angelic wings, and the pillows looked impossibly soft, inviting. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, soothing and clean.

To one side, an elegant sitting area opened up near the glass wall, complete with a small marble table and two velvet chairs positioned perfectly to watch the city below. Beyond that, a balcony extended outward, framed with golden railings and hanging gardens of glowing blue roses that swayed in the night breeze.

It was beautiful—romantic in a quiet, understated way.

Khione stepped inside first, her white hair glimmering beneath the ambient light. Her reflection wavered on the glass walls, surrounded by a halo of city lights, and for a moment Nero thought she looked almost ethereal—like a figure born of moonlight itself.

He followed her silently, setting down the small bags they carried from the day’s shopping. His gaze swept the room before landing back on her.

"It’s... perfect," he said simply.

Khione nodded faintly, her expression calm but her heartbeat anything but steady. "It is."

The atmosphere between them shifted—soft, heavy with meaning. The night outside stretched endlessly, filled with starlight and quiet possibilities.

’’I’ll go take a bath.’’ she announced.

’’Okay.’’

Nero leaned back on the soft leather couch, exhaling as he picked up the remote and flicked through the channels. The giant crystal-clear screen lit up the dimly lit room, reflecting faintly off the glass walls that surrounded the penthouse suite. City lights twinkled beyond, the skyline of Angel’s City stretching endlessly into the night like a sea of stars.

He wasn’t really paying attention to what was on—some travel documentary, maybe a movie—he just wanted to unwind, to let the silence of the evening settle in. His mind wandered, drifting between the echoes of their earlier kiss and the way Khione’s eyes had softened afterward. He smiled faintly to himself.

Meanwhile, behind the closed door of the luxurious bathroom, Khione was enjoying a moment of her own.

The bathroom was vast—marble floors gleaming like ice, walls of soft pearl stone, and a massive freestanding bathtub filled with steaming water that shimmered faintly under the golden lights. The air was scented with subtle notes of jasmine and fresh snow, a fragrance that suited her perfectly.

Khione slipped out of her dress, folding it neatly before stepping into the water. The warmth embraced her immediately, drawing a quiet sigh from her lips as she sank deeper, letting the heat melt away the tension in her muscles. The contrast between her pale skin and the rippling water made her seem almost ethereal—like a snow spirit resting in a pool of starlight.