Valencia looked away as she crawled away from him.
“Young Duke… I think there was a mistake—”
“Heh… how could it be a mistake if you snuck into my room without anyone noticing it?” he asked. Then he hovered over her on the bed. She grabbed her clothes and covered her chest, locking eyes with him and blushing. “Miss Elyane, tell me… you rejected my proposal more than once… but now you’re in my bedroom. What does this mean?”
Valencia bit her lower lip, gulping. This arrogant bastard… I just want to flick a void ball at him! She breathed heavily.
“Young Duke, there’s a misunderstanding… I…”
“I heard the name that everyone was too afraid to mention… Eldrich. The Magic Tower Master?” Kael wondered, staring at her.
Valencia choked on the words, moving her gaze away slowly.
“Uh…”
“Tell me… did he teleport you here because you asked him?”
“No!” she yelled.
Kael smiled and placed a finger on her lips.
“Sh… no one knows that you’re here… any noises will make them curious about why there’s a lady’s voice inside my room,” Kael stated.
Valencia shut her lips tightly. As she took one deep breath—
HIC.
She gasped, throwing her face into the blanket. Fuck! I’m having hiccups?!
HIC.
Kael laughed as he fell to the side of the bed. He stared at her, waiting for her to get up.
“I’m not going to hurt you…” he murmured.
Valencia’s burning ears flared. She peeked with one eye.
“The stupid Magic Tower Master teleported me here… I don’t know why,” she said, muffling.
Kael grinned as his eyes gleamed. He rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling.
“I see… so you didn’t come here because you wanted to… that’s quite painful to hear,” he teased.
HIC.
Valencia took a deep breath, but she held it, hoping it would stop her hiccups. She perked up and flushed—
HIC.
“Argh! Why won’t it stop?!”
She dropped her face back down onto the bed and started kicking. Kael watched her and chuckled. He raised his hand and rested his head on it.
“So… Miss Elyane, have you reconsidered my proposal?” he asked.
Valencia groaned as she looked at him with her mouth covered in the blanket, her hair in a disheveled state on her face.
“No… well, yes.”
He crept closer to her face, startling her.
“What is your answer then?” he pried.
She stood and pouted as she looked away, blushing.
“Wear some clothes so we can talk…” she muttered.
Kael looked at his bare chest, then chuckled. He then stood, leaning toward her. His breath warmed her neck.
“What if I want to talk like this?”
Valencia flinched like a stray cat, pushing him away and shutting her eyes tightly.
“Then I’ll wait until you wear some clothes!”
“But what if you run away when I grab some clothes?” he teased more, leaning closer.
“I won’t!” she screamed as she pulled her head away. “Please just go wear something!”
Kael stood and headed to the closet, grabbing a robe. He sat in his chair and stared at her. She had her hands over her face.
“I’m done,” he said.
Valencia popped one finger up and turned her head. She peeked at him. She slammed her hands down after seeing him in his robe, frowning as she crawled out of the bed.
“Okay… well—”
“Your hiccups are gone,” he commented.
Valencia shot a glare at him and tightened her jaw.
“Yes… anyways, I would like to have a few terms included in the proposal.”
“Yes, Miss Elyane. What would you like me to add?”
She took a deep breath and locked eyes with him.
“One, no one must know that I am Persai’s daughter, including your family…”