58 Sura Hunting Game (1/2)
Before the madness took hold, Kilian predicted that Ayden's group would seek further contact. Therefore, his appearance didn't particularly startle Jezebel. In fact, she wondered why he'd not come sooner.
”Your Imperial Highness? What may I do for you?” Jezebel asked with a polite bow, making Ayden's smile broaden in response.
”If I told you that my girlfriend wants a threesome and I'm looking for partners with experience in the domain, would you believe me? No? Worth a try,” Ayden shrugged in false helplessness and in a gust of wind, reappeared before Jezebel.
For a second, as if unconvinced by the male disguise, he peered into her gaze, leaning forward, and making Jezebel consider whether to blow up Arcadia's crown prince, or not.
”You like men, don't you? I can see it in your eyes,” Ayden stated and pulled his head back.
”It takes one to know one, Your Imperial Highness,” Jezebel replied, for indeed, she could see the same thing in Ayden's amber eyes. Homosexuality was no particularly taboo matter within Arcadia—however, the higher the status, the more frowned upon it was. If not because she'd made a proper assessment of his character, Jezebel wouldn't speak such words to Ayden's face—unless, of course, she planned to kill him.
”Actually, I play for both teams, but you're not my type. Your master is more to my tastes. A pity that I'm spoken for. Now now, let's move on to proper business,” unfazed by Jezebel's reply, Ayden turned heels, leading the way to a more appropriate discussion setting.
Kept busy by political intrigues, Ayden didn't have the opportunity to contact Kilian's group sooner. Fortunately, the Blood Seraph and its aftermath snatched the old fogies' attention, giving him a minute to handle this.
According to Tristan, of the two by Kilian's side, this ”man” was his closest confidante. That being the case, he could start with him. But little did he know that inwardly, Jezebel sneered at his back.
”Boys these days. Ayden, Ayden, for you who can't even see the strings wrapped around your limbs, how are you qualified to approach Kilian? Poor Niklas must have been quite desperate to resort to such means.” Weakened or not, a high-ranking fehl Jezebel remained. Sharper than anyone else's, her eyes could see the inconsistencies in Ayden's appearance and aura. Inconsistencies that led her to examine his DNA. And just like she expected, it was identical to Niklas'. The implications were obvious.
Crossing teleportation circles, the two reached Ayden's private student lounge, which he typically used for informal gatherings. Dropping on a sofa, Ayden motioned for Jezebel to sit, and as she did, carried on.
”I won't beat around the bush. Someone whose will not many on Arcadia can challenge, wants me to put Kilian to the test. Is he with us or against us? That type of thing. But I think it's boring, at best. Arcadia is a dark and tasteless world that kneels to one thing only: Might.
There is no need to coerce submission. Become the incarnation of invincibility, and all will naturally bow. Submissive goons are easy to find, partners, on the other hand, that's more challenging. I want partners,” Ayden declared, making Jezebel's eyes narrow at him.
”No need to be surprised. A man's life is finite. Even when I become an Exarch, I won't have more than 500 years of life. Power only makes you free. Partners make you whole. In the future, when I look back on the specter of my life, I want to see the figures of people around whom I could relax. People that understood my heart as much as I understood theirs.