Chapter 35: Sleeping Together?
"Wild awakened?" Lumien repeated. The term sounds unfamiliar and strange to him.
"It’s the term the authorities use to describe Awakened who aren’t affiliated with the Churches, the Military, or any other formal organization," Azalea explained.
"That does sound... wild,"
Azalea didn’t harp on the topic and began. "Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that the authorities don’t always play by the rules. There are times when they have to compromise. As long as you don’t cause any notable trouble—like, say, lighting up some buildings with a stray fireball—they won’t bother you."
"I see." Lumien nodded thoughtfully, feeling a wave of relief at her words.
"And don’t forget about our nobility status. The authorities wouldn’t dare mess with us unless they’re ready to deal with the consequences. But just because we have that privilege doesn’t mean you should go around stirring things up." she warned him again.
"You don’t need to remind me twice. It’s not like I’ve been causing trouble or acting like a troublemaker." Lumien shrugged.
Azalea chuckled softly. "I’m just saying, in case you let your Awakened identity go to your head and start getting cocky."
"Do you take me for an idiot?" Lumien couldn’t resist rolling his eyes.
"Well, you’re not an idiot, but you’re definitely still my silly little brother. How could I ever stop worrying about you?"
Then, with a small sigh, she abruptly changed the subject. "Well, I’ve got only a month left before I leave for the Capital. So, I’d better use that time to teach you how to control your power and share everything I know about the Awakened and other relevant knowledge."
Before Lumien could respond, Azalea leaned forward, and her expression immediately became serious. "Let’s start with your power. Show me again—this time, I want to see it more clearly."
...
"Father, we’re still two days away from going home, right?" Azalea asked suddenly amidst their family dinner.
Lumien, sitting beside his sister, glanced down at his own plate. The meal before him was the same plain, bland-looking food he had grown accustomed to over the past years.
With his next appointment with the family apothecary still pending, his parents, especially his mother, insisted he maintain his strict diet. Though Lumien had repeatedly assured them that he felt fine, they were unwilling to take any unnecessary risks until the apothecary personally confirmed his condition had fully stabilized.
Thus, his plan of eating like a king had failed even before it could begin.
Their father, Leonard, paused mid-cut through his steak, sparing Azalea a glance. "That’s right. Why do you ask? Are you missing home already?"
"That’s part of the reason. The other reason is that I’d like to visit the outskirts of the city tomorrow since I’m free. I heard there’s a small farm just west of Arsnova where they grow unique fruits that can’t be easily cultivated elsewhere. I thought it’d be interesting to try some." said Azalea with a bright smile.
Leonard’s brow furrowed slightly as he set down his knife. "If it’s just the fruits you’re after, we could send the servants to fetch some from the market here in Arsnova. I’m sure they’re being sold there."
Azalea shook her head gently. "It’s not the same. I’ve heard the taste is best when they’re freshly picked. And honestly, staying cooped up in the estate all the time is stifling, I just want a little change of pace, Father."
They argued back and forth for a while before Leonard finally let out a heavy sigh and conceded. "Alright, I’ll arrange a carriage for you tomorrow."
"No, Father, I’d like to ride a horse instead," Azalea said.
"A horse?" Leonard repeated, clearly taken aback.
"Yes!"
"Why?" It was Eleanor who spoke this time. She had quietly set down her utensils at some point, her full attention now on the father-daughter conversation.
Azalea smiled faintly and answered casually, "I just feel like riding. Oh, and Lumien will be coming with me. Since he hasn’t undergone any formal horse-riding training yet, I’ll let him sit in front of me."
For a moment, silence filled the dining room. Eleanor stared at her daughter, clearly processing what she’d just heard. Then, she was the first to break the silence with a sharp, resolute rejection.
"No way! Do you hear yourself, Azalea? You’re planning to travel on horseback for an hour with Lumien? Have you completely forgotten his condition?!" Eleanor’s voice rose slightly.
Azalea’s calm demeanor didn’t falter. "Mother, Lumien has already shown significant improvement. He’s been eating well, and he’s even more energetic these days. I’ll make sure the ride is smooth. He won’t strain himself—he’ll just sit in front of me. I’ll handle everything."
Eleanor wasn’t convinced. "And? Just because he’s eating better and looks energetic doesn’t mean he’s perfectly fit. What if this so-called improvement is just temporary? We don’t know for sure yet. The apothecary hasn’t given us his full assessment!"
Leonard couldn’t help but add. "Your mother is right, Azalea. Leaving Lumien’s health aside, the idea of the two of you riding a single horse is absurd. Have you forgotten your noble status? Do you think it’s appropriate for the children of House Ofnir to go galloping off to some farm on horseback? What do you think other noble families will say if they see you—my daughter and my son—riding together like commoners? They’ll think we’re so destitute we can’t even afford a carriage for our own children!"
Azalea gave Lumien a subtle glance.
With their unspoken understanding, Lumien immediately caught the meaning behind her look:
"See? Told you they wouldn’t get it."
And just like that, the topic of them venturing outside the city was put to rest—for now.
Later as the night deepened, Lumien returned to his room, only to find Azalea already sprawled across his bed.
She lay on her stomach, exuding a sense of casual confidence. Dressed in a black nightgown that clung to her figure, the fabric revealed more than it concealed, showcasing her smooth, porcelain skin.
Her legs swayed lazily, lifting and falling in rhythm, and with every motion, the hem of her nightgown inched upward, teasingly revealing the soft curve of her pale, silky, smooth thighs. Her face was buried in one of his pillows, her arms stretched forward.
Azalea seemed lost in her own thoughts, but when a few seconds passed without a word from Lumien, she turned her head, her hair slightly disheveled, and gave him a curious look.
"You... why aren’t you saying anything?" she asked, raising a brow.
Lumien ignored her question, walking further into the room without meeting her gaze. "It’s just as you expected. Father and Mother opposed your idea."
He kept his back to her, his posture stiff, before stopping by the window.
Pushing it open, he let the cool night air flow in, the breeze brushing against his face, slightly cooling down the inner heat that was just now madly running through his body.
Azalea didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about Lumien’s behavior. She casually sat up, smoothing her disheveled hair as she spoke with a light, almost teasing tone. "Of course, I know them best. There’s no way our ever-protective mother and ever-conscious father would let me take you on horseback. It’s practically written in stone."
As Lumien’s body slowly cooled down, he finally turned to face her. "So, you knew your plan was doomed to fail from the start?"
"Obviously. But wouldn’t I be an even bigger fool if I knew it would fail and still did nothing? That’s why I’ve prepared something else—so we can still go tomorrow." Azalea replied with a smirk
Lumien’s curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
"You’ll see tomorrow," she said, her smile turning into a sly, mysterious one.
No matter how much Lumien pressed her for details, Azalea remained tight-lipped, stubbornly refusing to reveal her plan. Eventually, he gave up.
"Aren’t you going to go back to your room?" he finally asked, unable to hold back any longer.
Azalea tilted her head, blinking at him cutely as though the idea had never crossed her mind. She stretched her arms lazily, her loose nightgown shifting slightly as she moved. "Hmm, why? This bed is comfier than mine. I grew really attached to this bed. In fact, I think we’re going to be going steady. Besides, I like the breeze here. It feels nice."
Hearing her response, Lumien felt like he was slowly losing his mind. Even with the cool autumn breeze nearly freezing him to his core, a wave of heat coursed uncontrollably through his body like a volcano as his gaze fell on Azalea.
What’s more dangerous than a seductress with captivating beauty who seduces you openly? A seductress who’s completely unaware of the irresistible charm in her every action.
This was the description he thought fit Azalea quite well.
"Why are you standing near the window for so long? Even though your health’s improved, you’ll catch a cold like that." Azalea frowned, patting the empty spot next to her, declaring boldly,
"Come, sleep here. It’s been a while since we last shared a bed."
Lumien froze. "What? Sleep together?"
His voice cracked slightly as horror flickered across his face.
Seemingly noticing his expression, Azalea let out a small uncomfortable smile as though she was offended by his words. "Why? We used to sleep together all the time. Does the idea of sharing a bed with me sound that unbearable now?"
"No, that’s not it!" Lumien hurriedly denied, fumbling to explain himself. "It’s just... back then, we were kids."
Azalea crossed her arms and pouted. "Why are you always bringing up how we’re not kids anymore, or how you’re an adult, blah, blah, blah, every time we talk these days?"
"It’s annoying, hmph!" she snorted and made a grabbing motion at him in the distance.
Before Lumien could even register what was happening, he saw her shadow disconnect from her body. It slithered across the floor like a living snake, dashing toward him.
He failed to react in time. The shadow coiled around him like a snake and yoinked him, sending him flying through the air toward the bed.
In less than a second, he landed exactly at the spot where Azalea had patted moments before.
"See? Not so hard, is it?"
