78 - Stalking
Zafiel's lips curved. Not fully. Not openly. But enough. A smirk-subtle, knowing, dangerous.
Mariana felt it before she properly saw it, that shift. That quiet amusement that made her stomach twist.
"You think that was going to work?" He murmured. His hand moved slowly. Deliberately.
Fingers brushing against her cheek-light, almost tender. The contrast made her freeze. Because his touch was gentle. Too gentle. His thumb traced faintly along her skin, as if committing the feeling to memory.
And then, his expression softened. Not the composed, unreadable calm he showed the world. But something quieter. Warmer. "You're adorable." He said.
Mariana's brain stopped functioning. "Wha-What...?!" Heat rushed to her face instantly. Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Adorable?! ADORA-
"You tried to run," he continued, voice laced with faint amusement. "And failed."
That snapped her out of it. Her embarrassment ignited into indignation. "I did NOT fail...!" Her hand shot forward-thump. She smacked his chest. Not hard. But enough.
Zafiel didn't even flinch. If anything, his smirk deepened slightly. "You're hitting me now?"
"You deserve it...!" She shot back, glaring up at him. Her hands pushed against him. This time, he let her. Just enough. Mariana stepped back quickly, putting distance between them, her chest rising and falling. "Yo-You're unbelievable...!" She huffed.
Zafiel watched her. Silent. Amused. Unbothered.
She turned away sharply. "... thank you..." She muttered.
Zafiel raised a brow slightly.
"For the sweets," she added, still not looking at him. "And... the tour." A pause. "... I guess..."
It was begrudging. Forced. But sincere. And then, she walked off. Too bad for her, Zafiel followed.
Mariana walked quickly. Purposefully. Without direction. Just away. Away from him. Away from that suffocating proximity. Away from whatever that was earlier.
Her mind was still spinning. Her face still warm. Her heart still refusing to calm down.
Why does he do that...?! Why does he act like that...?! Why-
"You're walking aimlessly."
She stopped, slowly turned. And there he was behind her. Of course. "Are you serious??" She deadpanned.
Zafiel tilted his head slightly. "Yes."
"You're following me."
"Yes."
"Why...?!"
A beat. Then, "I'm accompanying you."
Mariana stared at him, unimpressed. "... that's not accompanying. That's stalking."
"No," he replied calmly. "I'm ensuring your safety."
Mariana scoffed, internally and externally.
Safety? From what? Yourself?
"I-I don't need a bodyguard..." She muttered, turning away again and continuing to walk.
Zafiel followed naturally. Effortlessly. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world. People noticed. Of course they did. How could they not?
A striking man-refined, composed, unmistakably noble-walking behind a young lady with unwavering attention. Whispers began.
"... is that...?"
"It is..."
"The Crown Prince..."
"And the Grand Princess..."
"... he's following her?"
"... like a dog..."
Mariana heard it. Her steps didn't falter. But her thoughts did.
Dog??
She almost snorted.
He's not a dog.
Her gaze flickered briefly to the side where Zafiel walked just behind her. Steady. Watchful. Unrelenting.
He's a wolf.
A dangerous one. One that didn't chase. Didn't bark. Didn't beg. One that waited. Observed. And then took.
Mariana's lips pressed into a thin line. She stopped again. Spun around. "Stop following me."
"No."
"Wha-What do you mean no...?!"
Zafiel met her gaze calmly. "I'm your knight."
Mariana blinked. "... what?"
"Your knight in shining armor." He added smoothly.
She stared at him, then laughed. Once. Dry. Disbelieving. "You're not a knight."
"No," he agreed easily. "But I can be."
"That's not how that works...!"
"It is if I decide it is."
Mariana felt a headache coming. "You're impossible..."
"And yet," he replied, stepping slightly closer, "you're still here."
She turned away again, walking faster this time. Zafiel followed again. Of course. Eventually, she stopped. Not because she wanted to but because something caught her attention. A building. Grand. Magnificent.
White stone gleaming under the sunlight, intricate carvings decorating its surface. Tall pillars. Stained glass windows that shimmered faintly. The air around it felt different. Calmer. Sacred.
"The Grand Basilica..." She murmured.
Before she could decide whether to enter, the doors opened and figures stepped forward. Priests. Holy knights. All bowing respectfully.
"Welcome, Grand Princess."
Mariana blinked. "Eh?"
Zafiel said nothing. Of course they knew. Of course. Mariana hesitated, then stepped inside.
The interior was breathtaking. Light filtered through colored glass, casting soft hues across polished floors. The air carried a faint, calming scent. And something else, faith. Divine. Gentle. Welcoming.
"... Your Highness." A familiar voice approached. High Priest Bane. He bowed slightly. "It is an honor to have you here."
Mariana smiled politely. "Thank you."
Bane's gaze softened slightly. "If you would allow it, I will call for His Holiness."
Mariana blinked. "The Pope...?"
"Yes."
"... o-okay..."
Bane nodded and departed. Mariana stood there, slightly unsure.
Zafiel remained beside her. Too close, as usual.
Minutes passed. Then, footsteps. Slow. Measured. Approaching. Mariana turned and froze. Because she recognized him. The old man. The one she had shared kebabs with. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Yo-You-"
The man smiled warmly. Gentle. Familiar. "My child."
Mariana's breath caught.
"... Great-granddaughter."
Her brain short-circuited. "... WHAT...?!"
Behind her, Zafiel's gaze sharpened just slightly.
The old man-no, the Pope, His Holiness Aristophane IX-turned his gaze toward Zafiel. And for a brief moment, his eyes narrowed. Annoyance. Clear. Undisguised. Zafiel smiled softly. Politely. But his step shifted closer to Mariana. Subtly claiming.
The air between them tightened, unspoken tension crackling. Neither looked away. Neither yielded. A silent clash hidden beneath civility.
Mariana noticed none of it. "... wait, wait, wait..." she stammered, pointing slightly. "Why are you calling me that...?"
The Pope's gaze softened instantly as he looked back at her. "Because it is the truth."
She blinked.
"My granddaughter," he explained gently, "Grand Duchess Darelene was my daughter's second child."
Mariana's eyes widened. "... so that means..."
"Yes," he smiled. "You are my great-granddaughter."
Her mind spun, connections forming.
That's why...
Her magic. Her affinity. Her faith-divine mana.
"... that explains a lot..." She murmured.
"Come," the Pope said warmly. "Sit."
They moved. And just as Mariana settled, Zafiel sat beside her. Close. Too close. Her shoulder brushed his. Her entire body tensed. She subtly shifted. Trying to create space. Zafiel shifted too, closing it again. Mariana's cheeks flushed.
Is he serious right now?!
"Crown Prince." The Pope's voice cut in, calm but firm. "... sit farther."
A pause.
Zafiel glanced at him. Then back at Mariana. Then, moved barely. Still close. Just... less obvious.
The Pope's eyes narrowed slightly. "... you resemble your father." He remarked.
Zafiel didn't respond.
Mariana blinked. "His father...?"
The Pope nodded. "Emperor Consort Belial."
Mariana leaned in slightly, curious despite herself. "... what about him?"
The Pope exhaled softly. "Many years ago," he began, "he was assigned as the personal knight of then-Crown Princess Lilith."
Mariana listened intently.
"He was unwavering," the Pope continued. "Loyal. Devoted." A pause. "And very... possessive."
Mariana blinked. "... possessive?"
The Pope nodded. "He made it very clear," he said, glancing briefly at Zafiel, "to any potential suitors... that the Crown Princess was solely his."
Silence.
Mariana slowly turned her head toward Zafiel who smiled calmly. Unapologetically. And suddenly, everything made sense.
"... you inherited it." She muttered.
Zafiel didn't deny it. Not even slightly. And for some reason, that was far more terrifying than if he had.
···
A/n: Hey, it's me. Ah fudge, I couldn't insert any explanation regarding the power system of this story.
Lemme js start with, uh, the three classes: Knight, Mage and Priest.
They wield aura, mana and faith respectively.
The levels for each are the following:
· Knight → Swordmaster → Sword Saint
· Mage → Archmage → Demigod
· Priest → Pope → Archangel
I'm sorry for forgetting to put it in as I was too focused on the pacing of the story. Tbh, the main plot hasn't even started. Haha. I'll prolly post pics abt how the characters look like in the next chaps, so stay tuned. Lots of love to y'all, mwa!