"Did Koyuki tell you to come here?" Envy asked, her voice a touch strained as she attempted to change the subject.
Daniel nodded, and Envy let out a forced laugh that lacked its usual carefree charm. Her hand lingered on his cheek for a moment, a fleeting touch tinged with unspoken desire.
"She's such a wingwoman, isn't she?" Envy said, her voice barely a whisper. "For both me and you."
Before Daniel could fully process her words, she pulled him down onto the plush daybed. The softness of the cushions was only accentuated by the warmth of Envy's body pressed against his. His heart hammered in his chest, his body responding instinctively to her touch.
But amidst the rising tide of desire, a flicker of something else stirred within him – a pang of sympathy for the vulnerability he glimpsed beneath Envy's seductive facade.
He reached out, his fingers hesitantly brushing against her bare shoulder. Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, a raw emotion flickered in Envy's gaze – a mixture of longing and despair Then, just as quickly, she averted her eyes, a pained smile twisting her lips.
"You still can't completely move on from him, can you?" Daniel asked, his voice gentle, referring to her old lover.
Envy's smile faltered, replaced by a deep sadness. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's...hilarious, isn't it? The only thing I can remember is his name and the feeling I have for him.
Whether it was his face, the sound of his voice...everything else is lost in the mist. I barely remember our first night together." Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "And yet, here I am, drawn to you despite the past holding me captive."
A heavy silence descended upon them, the playful tension replaced by an awkward intimacy. Envy broke the silence first, her voice strained but determined.
"By the way, Daniel," she said, clearing her throat. "In the dining room, you seemed to want to ask me something but stopped yourself because others were with us. What did you want to ask?" Her attempt to change the subject was evident, a yearning for normalcy pushing against the raw emotions she had just revealed.
Seeing Envy wanting to change the subject, Daniel smiled and nodded, playing along. "Oh, right. I wanted to ask you why you're so fixated on protecting the Hightower, even though the people there betrayed you."
Envy's eyes widened a fraction, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. Perhaps it was his honesty, or maybe the unexpected possessiveness that flickered in his gaze. He didn't hesitate this time. Reaching out, he gently drew her close, cuddling her to his side as if afraid of losing her. The gesture, unexpected yet strangely comforting, sent a jolt through Envy.
"Tell me about Merlin," Daniel said, his voice softer now. "What was he like?" A strange mix of curiosity and possessiveness warred within him - a desire to understand the man who held such a significant place in Envy's heart. He held her close, the warmth of her body a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within him.
Envy leaned into his embrace, finding a strange solace in his closeness.
"As I said before," she began, her voice a mere whisper, "Other than his name and how much I love him, I can't even remember his face or what he looks like. The only thing I remember is a faint memory of this place, the Lake of Avalon." She gestured towards the horizon of the pocket realm, a wistful sadness lingering in her voice.
"If you love him so much and still can't forget him, why now? And why me, of all people?" Daniel asked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. He held her close, a gesture caught between comfort and a need to keep her near.
"Because you are the first one in centuries to invoke a powerful curse of Envy in me," Envy answered honestly. "Do you remember the first time I met you, along with Koyuki and little Sylvana? That was the first time in centuries I needed to spend so much of my mana and use many seals to suppress my Envy curse. It nearly broke me. All my efforts for centuries to suppress the curse were in vain."
"The curse of Envy?" Daniel repeated, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. He vaguely recalled about what Greed told him about the Witch's curses and blessings. Envy's curse, the ability to absorb life force, talent, and power from those she envied, seemed particularly cruel.
"So... you're interested in me and decided to engage with me because you wanted to suppress the curse," Daniel mused, a wry smile playing on his lips. He felt a complex mix of emotions – anger at being manipulated, yet also a grudging understanding of her situation. "Since I'm also your man, you won't feel envy anymore, right? Convenient solution."
Envy flinched at the bitterness in his voice. "It wasn't all a ploy, Daniel," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. "If I weren't truly interested in you, I wouldn't even bother..." Shame and embarrassment colored her cheeks. "You know..." Envy looked at Daniel, a slight pout on her lips as he seemed to force her to come clean.
"Alright, you seem sincere enough," Daniel said, playfully feigning anger and reluctance before breaking into a smile. "But let's be clear – if there's any more secrets, I'll know. And just so we're crystal clear, if Merlin ever shows up and tries to woo you back, I'll give him a warning... if he still ignores me... then I'll castrate him," he added with a mock-serious grin.
Envy, understanding the possessiveness laced with humor, couldn't help but chuckle nervously. "Could you at least give him a heads-up a day or two in advance to run?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood while also pleading for Merlin's safety, albeit humorously.
Daniel's smile softened. "Alright, alright, enough for now," he said. "But seriously, about the reason I came here... Can I sleep here?" He leaned back slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, Koyuki doesn't let me sleep with her, and a sofa is hardly comfortable."
"Fine," Envy said, a small smile playing on her lips. "But cuddles and kisses only. I'm not ready for anything more... yet." Her voice softened as she reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "There's plenty of time for that later."