Chapter 308 - Eyes of the Moon Priestess (1/2)
”GOOD MORNING, Lord Kalel,” Soleil greeted him cheerfully. Then, she froze in her tracks when she saw him standing in the middle of the room. ”Oh…”
She came to his room to bring him breakfast, but it seemed like she was the one who was treated to a delicious meal when she saw his gorgeous torso.
It was obvious that Kalel just finished his morning exercise. Thus, he wasn't wearing a shirt even though he wasn't sweating anyway. But who cares about that? Kalel's body made her throat dry. This was the first time she felt this way.
That wide expanse of chest… thin waist… taut h.i.p.s… muscular arms… and that damned V-line on his abdomen…
And of course, those six-pack abs of his…
Her sinful thoughts were cut-off when Kalel finally put his shirt on.
”Good morning,” Kalel said indifferently when he faced her. ”Are you done avoiding me now, Soleil?”
She just pouted at his teasing. Yes, she could tell that he was teasing her despite the blank look on his face. ”Yes, I'm done avoiding you. How can we be friends if I keep on running away from you?” she asked while pushing the silver food cart into the room. ”I brought your breakfast. In case Lady Yumi wants to eat with you, I prepared extra utensils for her.”
”Oh,” he said, surprised. ”Thank you.”
She just smiled and nodded.
”My mother says she's going to sleep so she doesn't want breakfast,” he said. ”Would you like to join me for breakfast instead, Soleil?”
”Oh, sure,” she said. To be honest, she really prepared the extra utensils for herself. Saying that it was for Yumi was only an excuse. Because even though she wanted to talk to Kalel, she didn't want to make it that obvious. ”I have something to tell you anyway.”
He just nodded, then he proceeded to prepare the table.
After a few moments, she and Kalel were sharing a table on his room's balcony. The breakfast she prepared was simple as it was his request to have a light meal in the morning. He specifically seemed to love the brioche that their chef often makes for him.
This time, the chef served brioche as a sandwich instead of sending jam or butter with it. The filling of the brioche sandwich was composed of sliced meats and cheese.
Of course, they had to have tea.
”What is it that you want to tell me?” Kalel asked when both of them were having tea. They ate their sandwiches in silence a while ago. But it was a comfortable silence. Thus, they didn't need to break it for small talk. ”Does it have something to do with your trip with Winchell?”
She blinked in surprise. ”How did you know that, Lord Kalel?”
”You know how loud your brother is, don't you?”
She let out a deep sigh while shaking her head.
Every morning, Winchell would fly around the palace and the neighboring town to talk to their people. And now that he finally revealed that Solaris was his son, their citizens' respect for the Fire Archmage had doubled. Even Solenn's popularity among their followers had increased.
People began to call them the 'Blessed Family' among the Fire Mage clan.
It seemed like Winchell liked the new title and thus, he often visits the towns and villages around the palace to ”grace” the people with his presence.
Of course, since her brother talked a lot, he probably told everyone in the palace about their ”upcoming trip.” She just hoped that Winchell wasn't stupid enough to reveal the location of their training ground or else, it would defeat the purpose of their away mission.
”My brother offered to train me,” she said. ”Since we don't know how strong the Crades have become, we need to be extra prepared. I'm also not satisfied with my current strength, so I figured my brother could help me get stronger.” She sipped her tea before she continued. ”I don't want to be beaten up by Elis Ripperton or any other man again.”
He nodded understandingly. ”I like your resolve, Soleil.”
”Thank you,” she said. ”Lord Kalel, I apologize for choosing to leave after I invited you to come to our country.”
”You don't have to apologize,” he said, then he sipped his tea before talking again. ”We're both ”favored children” of the heavens. We have duties to fulfill. A separation such as this is inevitable.”
She nodded in agreement. ”Anyway, you can stay here, Lord Kalel. My brother and I intend to return before the prophecied attack of the Crades happens. I already asked Solaris to take care of you while I'm away.”
”I'll take you up on that offer,” he said. ”I found a hidden cave in the deepest part of the forest that surrounds your palace. I found new friends there that I can spar with.”
”Friends?” she asked worriedly. ”Are there people living in the cave?”
He shook his head. ”I'm talking about snakes.”
Oh.
How could she have forgotten that he had an affinity for snakes because he was the Black Serpent?
”That's cute,” Soleil said with a smile, ”Can I meet them after I return from my training, Lord Kalel?”
Kalel nodded, then he turned his gaze away from her. It was too late though. After all, she already saw his cheeks turn pink. ”We'll be waiting for you, Soleil.”
***
KALEL didn't expect that Soleil leaving the palace would make him feel this empty.
But since he wanted to send her off without making her sad, he decided to keep up the usual blank look on his face.
”Farewell, Lord Kalel,” Soleil said in a sad voice. It even looked like she was about to cry. But she was probably holding it back since Winchell, seated on the rail of the gigantic gate of the palace, was watching them with hawk-lile eyes. ”I will miss you.”
As far as he knew, Soleil and Winchell would only be gone for two weeks at most.
But he understood why Soleil was acting like they would be separated for a long time. After all, even though she was still standing in front of him, he already missed her. Just imagining what his tomorrow without Soleil would look like was already enough to make him feel gutted.