Nivara's blade hovered at Raegar's throat, her eyes locked onto his. Her words hung in the silence. His smirk widened as he reached out, his hands finding her waist with a gentle but firm grip. Before she could react, he pulled her onto his lap, the sudden closeness sending a jolt through them both.

Her breath caught, the Aether blade wavering for a fraction of a second as her body tensed against his. The edge pressed just a touch harder against his skin, not breaking it but close enough to make the threat real, but this only made him smile even more as she didn't move or attempt to.

''You're bold,'' Nivara hissed, her voice a low, dangerous purr, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of intrigue that matched his own audacity.

Her body was poised between fight and flight, yet she didn't pull away. Raegar's hands lingered lightly at her hips, his touch leaving her room to break free if she chose. His voice dropped to a murmur. ''Bold's what keeps things interesting, isn't it?'' he said, his gaze never leaving hers. ''You're curious. I can feel it. And I'm betting you're not one to back down from a spark like this.''

Nivara's lips parted slightly, her breath shallow. The blade remained steady, but her free hand braced against his chest, fingers grabbing his shirt as if anchoring herself against the pull of his words. ''You think you know me, human?'' she whispered, her tone sharp but edged with something softer. ''Tread carefully. Curiosity can cut both ways.''

Raegar's lips curved into a roguish smile, his red eyes glinting with a mix of confidence and mischief as he met Nivara's gaze. ''Oh, I'm counting on it cutting both ways,'' he murmured. ''But something tells me you're not one to shy away from a little danger.''

Nivara's eyes narrowed, a flicker of amusement flashing in them. Slowly, she leaned forward until her breath grazed his ear as she whispered, voice a sultry, sending a shiver racing down his spine. ''You're playing a perilous game, human,'' she purred. ''Do you really think you can keep up with a Dark Elf?''

The heat of her breath, the nearness of her lips, sent his pulse hammering, but before she could pull back or press the blade further, Raegar acted on instinct. His hand slid up from her waist to the back of her neck, fingers threading gently but firmly through her hair, surprising the grey-skinned beauty.

In one move, he closed the distance between them and captured her lips in a kiss. It was electric, her surprise melting into a softness. Nivara froze for a heartbeat, the Aether blade still poised at his throat. But her lips lingered against his, caught in the pull of his cheekiness, before she regained her composure.

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her own red eyes blazing with a mix of indignation and intrigue, the blade fading away. ''You are reckless,'' she breathed, a dangerous smile tugging at her lips. ''And far too sure of yourself.''

Raegar chuckled softly, his hand still resting lightly at her neck, his thumb brushing the edge of her jaw. ''Maybe,'' he admitted, his tone warm and unapologetic. ''But I'd wager you're not as immune to this as you'd like me to think.''

The air between them crackled with tension, her eyes locked on his. Slowly, she rose from his lap, their gaze unbroken. ''Perhaps you're right,'' she murmured, a hint of doubt lingering. ''I may have misjudged humans, but that remains to be seen.''

Following that, she slumped down on a nearby sofa as Raegar handed over a glass of sake. The Dark Elf took the offered drink and tried some, only to shiver when her throat was burning. Raegar chuckled at her reaction. ''Be careful about drinking too much, it burns,'' he warned.

Nivara eyed the sake glass warily, the burn still lingering in her throat. She set it down on the table, her lips curling into a smirk. ''You humans and your firewater,'' she said, tone laced with mock disdain. ''Is this how you win wars? Poisoning your enemies with drink?''

Raegar grinned, settling onto the sofa beside her, his own glass cradled loosely in his hand. ''Not quite,'' he replied, taking a slow sip, unfazed. ''But it does make evenings more interesting.''

He leaned back, the cushions creaking under his weight, and the firelight cast shadows across his weathered face. They drank in silence for a while, the crackle of the hearth filling the gaps. Nivara, emboldened by the warmth spreading through her, took another cautious sip, this time bracing for the sting.

Her red eyes flicked to him, studying him as he gazed into the fire, his expression distant. ''You look half-dead already,'' she teased.

When Raegar heard this, he let out a tired laugh, rubbing a hand across his stubbled jaw. ''Long day,'' he admitted, draining the last of his sake.

He set the glass down with a soft clink and rose, stretching his arms with a groan. ''And this stuff doesn't help the exhaustion. I'm off to bed before I collapse here.''

Nivara raised an eyebrow, swirling the liquid in her glass. ''So soon? I thought humans were sturdier than that.''

Raegar only shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ''Even heroes need sleep,'' he said, turning toward the hallway. ''Don't finish that bottle without me.''

Giving the Dark Elf a knowing smirk as he disappeared into the shadows of the house, leaving Nivara alone with the fire and the lingering warmth of their exchange. Raegar trudged down the dimly lit hallway, his boots scuffing softly against the worn wooden floor. The weight of the day chewing at his bones, each step heavier than the last.

He pushed open the door to his room, the familiar creak of the hinges greeting him like an old friend. Moonlight filtered through a cracked window, casting pale streaks across the simple furnishings, a comfortable bed, a chair, and a small table cluttered with maps and half-read books.

Raegar didn't bother lighting a candle. With a groan, Raegar collapsed onto the bed, the straw mattress crunching beneath his weight. He lay there, staring at the shadowed ceiling, the faint burn of sake still warming his chest. His eyelids grew heavy, and within moments, the world faded into a deep sleep.

The first rays of dawn were creeping through the window when a sharp giggle pierced the silence. He stirred, groaning as the sound grew louder, accompanied by the patter of small feet. Before he could fully rouse himself, the door burst open, and Zahara and Dahlia stepped into the room.

''Rae, remember you have to meet the Duchess this morning?'' the blonde reminded him.

Raegar's eyes widened, but a smile crossed his face. ''I'll go get ready. Are you girls sure about this?''

''Eva's a good woman, wasted on Maxwell,'' Dahlia answered. ''She'll be a good match for you, handsome.''

''I'm not looking for any more women,'' he responded, chuckling to himself. ''But I'll see how she is.''

The duo nodded as Zahara commented. ''She reminds me of your mother and sister, are you guys related?''

Raegar looked confused, but Dahlia explained. ''The Westfalls are an ancient family who have been ruling the Western Islands for generations. If I remember correctly, the Vaelthrone's married into them hundreds of years ago, and as you see, the white hair appears every few generations.''

''And this time it's Duchess Eva?'' he questioned.

The brunette nodded in agreement. ''Yep. A strong-headed woman who loves to punch people, especially spoiled nobles. She's well known for it.''

Following that, he got ready by washing down his sweaty body as the women chose his outfit for the meeting. After ten minutes, he stepped out of the bathroom only to see a black shirt and pants. A pair of boots sat at the bottom of the bed, causing him to start getting ready.

Raegar noticed a note on the nearby stand, prompting him to read it, only to learn the harem was going north with Dahlia. There was an emergency that the brunette needed help with, and the women offered their aid. When he heard this, he smiled before heading out of the palace as Arthur appeared by his side.

''Is this the woman who runs the Western Islands?'' the Blue Knight asked.

''Yes, but that's not the point of this meeting,'' he answered. ''I wanted to get to know her for now, I'll still travel there when the time's right.''

Afterward, Raegar headed toward the capital on the quiet road, and once reaching the square, he didn't spot Eva, but he headed toward a nearby bench, sitting down to wait for the Duchess. People were heading for work thanks to it being early hours, and shops opened as the foot traffic got busier.

An hour later, he spotted the duchess stepping out of a carriage and he was shocked at what she was wearing.