Free Web NovelChapter 276: 276:reveals.
"Okay, okay. Don’t get angry, I won’t do it again," he placated her, his hands slightly raised in surrender before he dropped them. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"You say that every time."
"This time, it’s true. But it’s also fun seeing you squirming from the sudden cold."
Lilith closed her report and fully turned to him. Atheline relaxed slightly. The tension he hadn’t noticed carrying finally began disappearing.
The palace felt different from the wilderness. It was safer, quieter, and home. Lilith studied him for a moment then spoke.
"So?"
Atheline knew what she meant. She wanted to know everything that had happened. Atheline wouldn’t put it past her to already know everything but still want him to recount it just for the pleasure of it and control.
He spent the next hour recounting the events; the beast swarm, the corrupted creatures, and the stupid competitions.
He also subtly complained about Prince Lucifer’s increasingly ridiculous behavior and Simion’s predicament of nearly being dragged into several unnecessary fights.
Lilith actually laughed once, a genuine but small laugh. Mostly when he described the mammoth incident.
"I still think he could have used the hammer, it’s stupid to have a weapon with you but still abandon it for your body."
Lilith shook her head.
"I think that’s missing the point."
"You’re probably right on that one. I don’t get the point at all."
They continued talking. The conversation remained light, comfortable, and easy. Until eventually the King grew quieter.
Lilith noticed the change instantly. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did something else happen?" She asked, her brows furrowed. She moved closer to him, almost subconsciously, when she noticed his conflicted expression.
Atheline sighed. There was no hiding it, not from her. Eventually, he sat upright and then told her, about returning to the clearing, the remains, the crystal fragment, and finally, about the broken words.
Lilith listened carefully, never interrupting or rushing him. When he finished, silence filled the room.
The fire crackled softly nearby while snow drifted beyond the windows as though matching her closed-off reaction
Lilith remained thoughtful.
"So you’re saying this might be another sovereign core?"
Atheline nodded.
"I don’t know if it’s really so, but it’s just a hunch and I can’t seem to get rid of it."
Lilith didn’t answer immediately. Eventually, she moved closer until their bodies touched. Her hand found his. It was warm, steady, and comforting unlike his still cold ones.
Atheline squeezed gently as Lilith looked toward the fire.
"This is proving to be more and more complicated, but... I think it might be with the way you acquired it. That might have been a trial of sorts, just like with the darkness sovereign."
Lilith seemed to have come to that conclusion after a while. Atheline was beginning to think it might be right.
He nodded.
"I think you might be right but also wrong. We don’t really have much going on in terms of facts."
Lilith considered that then sighed softly.
"There are too many things we don’t know."
Atheline laughed quietly.
"That seems to be our lives lately."
Lilith actually agreed, for several moments neither spoke. The uncertainty, questions, and mysteries remained; yet somehow, they felt less overwhelming sitting together like this.
Lilith eventually rested her head against his shoulder. Atheline ran his hand through her hair before eventually angling her chin for another kiss.
They separated moments later and Lilith’s thumb lightly rubbed her cheek.
"You don’t really think a kiss will make me forget, do you?" She said, her lips curved into a smirk.
"Yeah, could you just forget that?"
She chuckled pressing her thumb harder on the corner of his lips.
"You crossed the border without my permission, " she quietly said, " must I always remind you?"
"I got carried away. Just let it go this once okay. "
He leaned in and took her lips into a fierce kiss. He knew she was weak against his touch. His efforts worked like a charm. She was fully distracted.
.
.
.
Morning arrived quietly and for once, there was no usual chaos. Only the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains of the royal chambers.
Atheline opened his eyes slowly, and for several moments he remained still beneath the blankets listening to the quiet breathing beside him.
The room was peaceful. Beside him, Lilith remained asleep, one arm draped across his side, her slightly longer dark hair spread across the pillow, she seemed to have forgotten to reduce it to its normal size. This was a rare sight, she looked the same but also slightly different.
Atheline smiled softly. He carefully disentangled himself from her grasp. Lilith stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Satisfied, he climbed out of bed.
Winter’s chill immediately reminded him why blankets existed. He quickly wrapped himself in a robe before making his way toward the balcony doors.
The moment he stepped outside, cold air greeted him. Snow covered the palace’s courtyard below. The court far beyond remained buried beneath a blanket of white.
Smoke rose from chimneys and the court was only just beginning to wake.
Atheline stretched lazily, then his attention shifted toward the balcony corner, toward the nest. For weeks, the strange egg had remained there after he had moved it from its designated nursery.
It was now protected from the harshest of the winter but still given an opportunity to thrive in its natural environment. Lilith had suggested it might hatch in a week or two and two weeks had already passed since then. freewёbnoνel.com
Atheline walked over, then stopped. The egg was cracked, but unlike the first time, it had spread more across the shell in several thin lines.
Atheline blinked, then immediately crouched beside it, his sleepiness vanished.
The cracks were very fresh. Atheline’s excitement began building.
"Well..." he leaned closer, "I think something’s happening."
The egg did not respond but Atheline waited anyway. Several minutes passed but nothing. Then, a tiny crack. A faint sound echoed from inside the shell.
Atheline immediately straightened, his eyes widened. Another crack appeared then another. The shell shifted and a small piece broke free. Something white appeared beneath it.
Atheline laughed quietly.
"No way."
