102 - Noodles
For several moments, neither of them moved. Morning light spilled quietly across the room, wrapping the two of them in a strange stillness Mariana didn't quite understand.
Zafiel's arms remained around her carefully, almost cautiously now, as though he feared she might disappear the moment he loosened his grip too much. And honestly? That thought bothered her more than it should have.
Mariana lowered her gaze slightly.
His exhaustion feels real.
Not the dramatic kind. Not the exaggerated suffering nobles liked to flaunt for sympathy. No, this felt deeper. Older. Like someone carrying far too much alone for far too long.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened slightly against the back of his shirt. Zafiel noticed immediately, his breath hitching almost imperceptibly. Mariana didn't catch it. She was too busy thinking.
He wants to tell me something.
The realization settled heavily in her chest. She could feel it in the way he held her. In the hesitation behind his silence. In the exhaustion hidden beneath every word he spoke.
Zafiel closed his eyes briefly. He wanted to tell her everything.
About the world unraveling faster than it should.
About the massacred villages in western Clematis.
About Aguerico disappearing. About the Magic Tower drowning in blood.
About the Archmages lying half-dead beneath collapsing mana circles.
About the hidden enemy manipulating everything from the shadows.
And most importantly about Mariana herself. The reason that monster was moving. The reason the world was destabilizing. The reason he was willing to burn the empire apart if it meant keeping her alive.
But the moment he imagined telling her all of it, he could already picture the fear that would enter her eyes. And he couldn't bear it. A quiet sigh escaped him. "You're my only safe place right now."
Mariana blinked. "Huh?"
The words slipped out so quietly she almost thought she imagined them. Zafiel slowly loosened his hold just enough to look at her properly. His amethyst eyes looked tired. Not physically, soul-deep.
Mariana's chest tightened strangely again. "You really do look... miserable." She muttered softly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Cruel."
"I'm being honest."
"I know."
Silence settled between them again. Then, awkwardly, Mariana lifted one hand toward his head.
Zafiel blinked once in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"I-I don't know either, okay...?!" She immediately got defensive. "You looked like you needed... I don't know... comfort or... something...?" Her voice grew quieter toward the end. Still, her fingers slowly threaded through his dark hair. Gentle. Careful.
Zafiel froze completely.
Mariana tried not to think too hard about the fact that his hair was absurdly soft. "This feels weird..." She muttered under her breath while lightly combing through the strands with her fingers.
Zafiel stared at her silently.
Then suddenly, his expression softened completely. Not the amused softness he usually showed her. Not teasing. Not obsessive. Just... happy, purely happy. It stunned her a little.
"... if you want," Mariana mumbled awkwardly while avoiding eye contact, "I'll call you Zai." Silence. Then, "... what?" She immediately got flustered. "Do-Don't make me repeat it...!"
Zafiel looked genuinely shocked for the first time since she met him. "You said it willingly."
"I know what I said...!"
His gaze softened impossibly further. "Say it again."
"Absolutely not."
"Iana."
"No."
"Please."
Mariana nearly short-circuited again.
Why does this terrifying man keep saying please like that...?!
"... Zai." She muttered weakly.
The effect was immediate. Zafiel smiled brightly, actually brightly. Like someone had placed the sun directly into his chest. Mariana stared in stunned silence because-
Oh no, he's handsome when he smiles like that.
That was dangerous information. Before she could recover, warmth brushed against her cheek. Mariana froze. Zafiel had kissed her cheek softly. "Thank you." He murmured sincerely.
Her face exploded red instantly. "YO-YOU CAN'T JUST-"
"To celebrate." He announced calmly while standing up.
Mariana blinked rapidly. "Celebrate what...?!"
"You calling me Zai willingly."
"That doesn't deserve a celebratio-WHA?!" Without warning, he picked her up. Princess-style again. Mariana immediately grabbed onto his shoulders out of instinct. "PUT ME DOWN...!"
"No."
"WHY ARE YOU SO CASUALLY KIDNAPPING ME AROUND YOUR OWN PALACE...?!"
"Because carrying you is pleasant."
"That's not a normal answer...!"
Zafiel ignored her complaints completely as he walked out of the room. Servants they passed immediately bowed deeply while pretending not to notice the blushing girl in the Crown Prince's arms.
Mariana wanted to evaporate. "This palace has no shame...!" She muttered miserably.
"You're cute when embarrassed."
"Stop observing me like some strange wildlife documentary."
A quiet chuckle escaped him. Eventually, they arrived at a large kitchen on the second floor of the palace.
Mariana blinked in surprise. "Kitchen...?"
Zafiel finally set her down carefully. "Yes."
"What are we doing here?"
"I'm cooking for you."
Silence. Then, "You can cook?!"
Zafiel looked offended. "I'm capable of many things."
"That's somehow not reassuring."
Ignoring her again, he rolled up his sleeves slightly before moving around the kitchen with alarming familiarity.
Mariana watched cautiously from one of the stools nearby. "You actually know where everything is."
"I designed this kitchen."
"... of course you did."
Zafiel glanced at her briefly. "You liked instant noodles in your previous life."
Mariana froze. "... excuse me?"
"You especially liked spicy ones." He continued calmly. "Dark broth. Soft-boiled egg. Extra scallions."
Her jaw slowly dropped open. "How do you know that...?"
Zafiel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he began preparing ingredients with precise movements. The sound of chopping vegetables echoed softly through the kitchen. Then quietly, "Because I paid attention."
Mariana stared at him silently. Something about that answer struck her harder than expected. Not because it was obsessive-
Okay, maybe a little because it was obsessive-
But because of how sincere it sounded. As though memorizing her preferences was the most natural thing in the world to him. Soon, rich aroma filled the kitchen.
Mariana's eyes widened slightly. "... wait."
The broth simmering in the pot smelled incredible. Not artificial. Not instant. Homemade.
Zafiel moved efficiently, assembling the bowl with practiced precision before finally placing it in front of her. Steam curled upward warmly.
Mariana stared at it. Dark spicy broth. Fresh noodles. Soft-boiled egg. Perfectly sliced meat. Scallions. Even the spice level smelled exactly right.
"... no way."
Zafiel leaned lightly against the counter, watching her expectantly. "Try it."
Mariana hesitated before taking the chopsticks carefully.
One bite. Then another. Her eyes widened fully.
"This is so good...!" Zafiel visibly relaxed at her reaction.
"It tastes exactly like the kind I liked before.
.." She whispered in disbelief before looking up at him suspiciously.
"... you really know everything about me. "
A quiet silence followed.
Then Zafiel answered simply, "If I don't," he said softly, "then I'm practically useless."
Mariana froze. The words weren't arrogant. They weren't possessive either. They sounded honest. Like he genuinely measured his own worth by how well he could understand and care for her.
And somehow, that hurt her chest a little. Because no one had ever looked at her like that before. Like she was something worth dedicating an entire existence to.
Mariana lowered her gaze slowly toward the bowl again, her cheeks warming faintly. "... you're really unfair..." She muttered quietly.
Zafiel tilted his head slightly. "Why?"
Because you make it hard to hate you.
But Mariana absolutely refused to say that out loud.