67 - Only
The tea party continued, but for Mariana, every second stretched into something unbearably long.
The soft clinking of porcelain. The gentle rustle of silk. The quiet laughter between Empress Lilith and Grand Duchess Darelene as they continued reminiscing about their past—
It all blurred together into noise. Too much noise. Too much information. Too much everything.
“And then she insisted we sneak out again the following week.” Lilith was saying, her tone light, amused.
“I did not insist,” Darelene corrected calmly. “You agreed very quickly.”
“I was curious.”
“You were reckless.”
“I was young.”
“You nearly got us caught by the High Priest.”
“That was your fault.”
Mariana stared at her teacup. Unblinking. Unmoving. Her thoughts were spiraling at an alarming rate.
They’re too close. Why are they this close?? This isn’t just “friendly acquaintance” close—this is “shared criminal history” close.
This changes everything. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table.
If their relationship is this deep, then the engagement isn’t just political—it’s reinforced. Strengthened. Rooted in something personal.
Which means… Her stomach dropped. There’s no easy way out of this.
“Mariana?” Darelene’s voice cut through her thoughts gently.
Mariana blinked. “O-Oh, yes...?” She replied quickly, a little too quickly.
Darelene studied her for a brief moment. “You look pale.”
“I-I’m fine,” Mariana said, forcing a small smile. “Just… a little overwhelmed, is all...” That part, at least, wasn’t a lie.
Lilith tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening. “The palace can be… intense for a first visit.”
“That’s one way to put it…” Mariana muttered under her breath. Her thoughts felt tangled. Messy. Loud. Too loud. “I… would like to get some fresh air...” she said carefully, rising slightly from her seat. “If that’s alright.”
Darelene nodded almost immediately. “Of course.”
Lilith smiled. “The gardens are open. Take your time, dearie.”
Mariana bowed her head slightly. “Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.”
And then, “I’ll accompany her.”
Mariana froze. Of course. Of course. She didn’t even need to turn to know who it was. Zafiel had already stood.
She glanced at him, panic flickering briefly across her face. “N-No, that’s not—”
But before she could finish, he moved. Smooth. Effortless. Natural. His hand gently guided her by the wrist, not forceful—but firm enough that refusal became… difficult.
“Just for a moment." He said quietly.
And somehow, that was it. She was already being led out of the gazebo. Mariana blinked, stunned.
How did this happen so fast...?!
Behind them, Lilith and Darelene watched in silence. Neither stopped them. Neither intervened. Because at this point, they knew it wouldn’t matter.
The moment they stepped beyond the gazebo, the air changed. Cooler. Quieter. The distant sounds of the palace softened into something far less suffocating.
Mariana exhaled slowly, as if she had been holding her breath the entire time. “Tha-Thank you...” she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Zafiel heard it. Of course he did. “You’re welcome.” His voice was softer here. Less guarded. Less formal.
They walked slowly along a stone path lined with blooming flowers—violet and white, mirroring the imperial colors.
For a moment, neither spoke. And yet, the silence wasn’t empty. It was… heavy. Filled. Zafiel stopped first. Mariana followed, almost instinctively.
Then, “I’m glad you came.”
She blinked. “What...?”
Zafiel turned to her fully, his gaze steady. “You came to the palace." He said, as if clarifying something obvious. “It made my day.”
Her heart betrayed her. Immediately. It skipped. Then raced. Then completely lost rhythm. “Wha-Wha—”
Her voice failed her. Because he didn’t say it casually. He didn’t say it like a passing remark. He said it softly. Sincerely. Like it mattered. Like she mattered.
Mariana looked away quickly, her face heating up. “You say things so easily…” she muttered.
“I mean them.”
That didn’t help. That made it worse. Her fingers unconsciously lifted and rested against the necklace, the amethyst spider lily.
She hadn’t even realized she was touching it. But Zafiel noticed. Of course he did. His gaze softened. “It suits you.”
Mariana’s breath hitched slightly. “This thing… is a problem...” She muttered. “I can’t even take it off...!”
“It’s not meant to be removed easily.”
“Tha-That’s not reassuring...”
A faint smile touched his lips. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
She blinked. “Yo-You’re unbelievable...”
“Maybe.”
He didn’t deny it. Didn’t argue. Didn’t explain. And somehow, that made everything more dangerous.
Mariana swallowed slightly, trying to steady herself.
Get a grip, it’s just words. Just a conversation. Just him. Just—
“… Zai...”
The name slipped out. Soft. Barely above a whisper. Unintentional. She froze. Her eyes widened slightly.
Oh no... Did I just—
Slowly, she looked up. Zafiel was already looking at her.
But this time, something had changed. His gaze deepened. Sharpened. Like something had just been confirmed. Something important. Something he had been waiting for.
Mariana’s pulse spiked. “I-I didn’t mean to—” she started quickly.
But she didn’t get to finish. Because he took her hand. Gently. Deliberately. And before she could react, he lifted it and pressed his lips against the back of it. A soft kiss. Warm. Lingering. Intentional.
Mariana’s entire body froze. Her thoughts scattered instantly. Her face burned. “Wha-Wha—” She couldn’t even form words.
Zafiel didn’t let go immediately. His fingers remained wrapped around hers. His thumb brushing lightly against her skin. Slow. Deliberate. Drawing small circles against the back of her hand.
His gaze never left her. Not for a second. And in that gaze, there was something dangerous. Something intense. Something that made her heart race even faster.
“You’re unfair…” Mariana muttered under her breath, flustered beyond reason.
Zafiel’s smile softened. “You called me first.”
“Tha-That doesn’t mean you can just—”
“It does.”
“I-It does not...!”
Her protest fell apart halfway through. Because she could feel it, her pulse. Rapid. Unsteady. And he could feel it too. She knew he could.
Because of the way his fingers tightened just slightly. The way his gaze flickered. Noticing. Enjoying. Understanding.
Mariana internally groaned.
Why am I reacting like this…?! Get a grip...! He’s just—no... He’s not just anyone. That’s the problem...
Zafiel tilted his head slightly, still watching her. “You’re thinking too much.”
“I have to...!” she shot back. “Someone has to be rational here.”
“Rationality is overrated.”
“Tha-That’s a terrible philosophy...!”
“It works.”
“For you, maybe...!”
A faint chuckle escaped him. Low. Soft. And for some reason, that sound alone made her heart skip again.
This is ridiculous... This is completely ridiculous...
She pulled her hand back slightly. Not fully. Because somehow, she didn’t want to. And that realization only made things worse.
Zafiel let her, but his gaze didn’t change. Didn’t waver. Didn’t soften. If anything, it grew more intense. “Iana.”
Her breath caught again. "Ye-Yes?”
His expression shifted, subtly. But enough. Something deeper surfaced. Something darker. “I don’t like the idea of you slipping away.” The words were quiet. Controlled. But heavy.
Mariana frowned slightly. “S-Slipping away?”
His gaze lowered briefly, to her hand. Then back to her eyes. “If you do,” he continued softly, “I might have to do something… no one would expect.”
Silence. The air stilled.
Mariana felt it. The weight behind those words. Not a threat. Not exactly. But not harmless either. “That... doesn’t sound reassuring...” she said carefully.
“It’s not meant to be.”
There it was again. That honesty. That lack of hesitation. That dangerous certainty. Mariana swallowed slightly. Her heart still racing. Her thoughts still a mess.
And yet, she couldn’t look away. Because in front of her wasn’t the “male lead” anymore. Not a character. Not a role. But someone very real. Very intense.
And very, very serious about her.
“Yo-You’re really something else...” She whispered.
Zafiel’s gaze softened again, only for her. “Only for you.”
And that was the problem. Because she was starting to believe him.