Chapter 42

The high, arched overpass did not have any significant cover.

Thanks to that, she could feel the cold wind coming from the forest.

Ayla’s black hair, which rolled down next to her ears, fluttered a little in the wind.

As she lowered her gaze, she could see the mist spreading under her feet.

Tensing up as the altitude was higher than expected, Ayla frowned and straightened her back.

Arriving in front of the glass door at the end of the long bridge, Ayla took a small deep breath and carefully opened the door.

Upon going inside, there were no windows other than the two big ones at the entrance.

Darkness and calmness. There were only two things in the silent palace.

On the wall, there were portraits of previous kings, and on the black wallpaper underneath them, vintage patterns were drawn, creating a luxurious atmosphere.

Without windows, the dark interior depended on the light emitted by the torches on the hallway walls, which were placed at consistent distances from each other.

As she walked along the pitch-dark hallway, she saw two doors and a marble staircase going to the upper floor.

In the dreary atmosphere, Ayla swallowed dry and headed upstairs.

‘Is he the child of darkness or what? Why is it so dark?’

As she went up the stairs, she saw a large fireplace and a console.

On a small bookshelf next to it, there were several books written in languages she was seeing for the first time.

A low table and a two-person sofa were placed on top of the soft-looking rug, and several books were spread out on the table.

The interior was filled with silence, and only the sound of Ayla’s shoes resonated in the air.

‘Is there anyone here?’

How much more did she walk? As she walked through the obsidian floor, it made a loud noise.

Upon entering the inner part, she noticed a large bed in the middle.

Seeing that there was a shape on the bed, it seems that someone is here.

Ayla frowned as she slowly looked around the interior.

‘That’s why his skin is pale.’

There wasn’t a single window in the room, as if this man really was the child of darkness.

The colors inside were all black and white.

It was a sharp contrast to Owen’s bright and lively residence.

“Your Highness… I brought the tea.”

“…”

Ayla called Theon as far away from the bed as possible, but he didn’t answer, as if he hadn’t woken up yet.

“Your… Highness?”

‘He’s not dead, is he?’

The shape on the bed was still unresponsive, and she wanted to get out of this dark, gloomy place quickly.

Should she get closer?

No. It’s her loss if she gets closer and he behaves harshly.

Still, she has to go, just in case…

While she was being indecisive, the shape on the bed turned a little.

She could see Theon’s black hair through the white blanket.

As if he felt her presence, Theon slowly raised himself up.

His disheveled hair, which he always kept neat and tidy, and his robust chest muscles, which could be seen through the black silk robe, were very provocative.

‘Is it their hobby to sleep naked? Why are they like that? It’s really embarrassing.’

Ayla’s face turned red at Theon’s unexpected appearance.

Sweeping his hair up, Theon looked at Ayla, but her gaze was fixed on the floor.

“Is something wrong?”

Theon’s naturally low voice resonated even lower as it was hoarse from having just woken up.

“Tea… You told me to prepare the tea… Early in the morning, haha.”

“…”

Ayla’s voice faltered because of the nervousness.

Theon was looking at Ayla without saying a word.

‘What am I supposed to do? Why is he being like this.’

Ayla kept biting her lower lip in nervousness.

“Come here.”

There was an awkward atmosphere between the two, and Ayla swallowed dry at Theon’s words, who had been silent.

As Theon’s voice, which was lower than usual, resonated inside his residence, Ayla could feel her heart pounding.

‘Why is he telling me to come closer? What is he going to do.’

Something was different from the day she was face to face with Owen. A weird feeling as if your heart is tickling.

Looking at Ayla, who was standing there, frozen, while holding the tray, Theon gestured with a frustrated expression.

“Didn’t you say you brought the tea?”

“What?! Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Then, give it to me.”

“Ah… Hahaha. Yes. I will prepare it.”