CHAPTER 152: CRACKS IN HIS CALM

Pandora used her hands to cover her mouth as her heart began to beat faster. She had not expected that sound at all, and as the cloth she had been biting now fell into place, she realized she had just moaned.

The electrifying feeling she had experienced when his hands brushed against her nipple, so sensitive...had completely caught her off guard.

She looked at him as he smiled softly at her as if reassuring her. He slowly arranged her shirt back into place and then handed her the bra.

She took it shyly, her face burning as she turned to the side. Why did that person have to knock now, of all times—just when she was feeling so good? And now she was sure Raven would need to leave for his work, and he would arrive late when she had already fallen asleep.

His hand gently held her chin, making her face him. He stared at her, noticing the way her expression had fallen slightly—she was sad about it. But he was more annoyed, and despite his calmness...trained not to show expression at all—that did not mean he didn’t feel them.

"I will be back, okay? How about you finish writing? Your meal will be brought to you..one of the maids will bring it. Please stay here, alright?" he whispered softly. She nodded, looking at him.

Raven leaned in, cupped both her cheeks, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He slowly sucked on her lower lip before he pulled away gently.

"Go wear your bra now. We wouldn’t want anyone seeing what’s mine, would we?" he asked, and she shook her head quickly, her ears burning.

"That’s my Dora," he said softly, making her smile before she turned and headed to the bathroom.

And just as the door closed, Raven’s eyes darkened as he moved.

When he opened the door, a guard stood there with a raised brow.

"Why did you take so long in there?" he asked, staring at Raven.

Raven’s face gave nothing away as he closed the door, and they both began walking. His expression was calm when he spoke:

"Did you come here to ask me such a question, or to tell me what you actually wanted to tell me?" he asked, his face now cold. The guard looked at him again before speaking.

"You’re supposed to be at the gate. The imported goods arrived about twenty minutes ago, and we need you for the usual cross-check," he said. Raven nodded, and they walked calmly outside toward the gate.

This time, the guard spoke again.

"Bro... was there anybody in your room?" he asked curiously, certain he had heard a soft voice.

He noticed the way Raven’s expression faltered slightly before returning to normal, as if nothing had happened.

"That’s none of your business—even if I do have someone, or not," Raven said calmly. The guard nodded. He respected his privacy, but still, he noticed Raven had changed..he was less playful and unserious like before.

Which was fine, but he missed that part of him. Raven now made a lot of decisions and took work seriously, even though he was once known as the most playful.

He was the only one bold enough to make up a story in the tents right in front of His Majesty that night. That news had spread among the soldiers quickly when they returned.

One thing about soldiers—when something happens, it spreads like fire among them. They laugh, joke about it, talk about it, and then forget it. That was how it always went.

They finally reached the gate, where five more guards stood waiting. The carriage had arrived, and the goods were at the back, waiting for Raven to give his order. He had earlier planned on coming—he would have even been earlier than the carriage itself..but he had decided to check on her. And one thing led to another...

"We have been waiting, Raven. Why did you just leave? You surprised us—we guessed you would, and you did," the man spoke as Raven simply stopped, his face cold.

Another man then spoke calmly.

"Raven, you’ve been acting strange lately. Where is the playful Raven we know? You’re all serious now, and we want the playful Raven back," he said, but Raven remained silent.

Another moved to lightly punch his shoulder, but then his eyes widened.

"Oh my heavens, you smell so good—and feminine," he said, making them all turn. It wasn’t that Raven didn’t normally smell good, he did—but this was different. It was surprisingly calm, pure, so good, yet mild and feminine.

"Fuck, brother, you smell so divine —like coconut," he said again. The group fell silent, staring at him. Raven knew that scent belonged to Pandora. He had noticed before that she carried a unique coconut scent he never failed to recognize.

He had thought it was because she was a mermaid, and he was drawn to it. Now, surprisingly, that scent had clung to him, and one of the guards had noticed.

No wonder mermaids were the best seductresses; they each had unique traits that could draw men effortlessly.

Another then spoke.

"It must be from the lady Raven has recently been close with," he said. No one spoke again, waiting for Raven to clarify, but his silence only meant that the man was not lying.

Raven looked at him briefly before moving to the carriage where the goods were placed. He began checking the cloth that had arrived, as he was meant to cross-check them before they were sent to the general market at the royal village.

"I wonder if she’s one of his women he would just use and spend the night with. And besides, why is she clinging to him like a second skin? I haven’t seen her here before. I’m guessing Raven is with her because of her figure and..." Before the guard could finish, a fist connected with his face. His body staggered back as blood dripped from his lips down to his chin.

The whole place turned silent, shock written on their faces. Raven’s expression was cold and unreadable.

"Fucking say that again and your head will be the one rolling," he spoke as his eyes flashed red his claws elongated and then withdrew. Blood dripped down Raven’s hands.

"Jordan, you’re in charge. Take my place for today," Raven said as he walked out. He could not stay there any longer, because he knew if he did, he would do something dangerous to that man.

Was this how it felt to be annoyed? The anger in him was shocking. He was used to tolerating such things, but today he couldn’t—and it surprised him. It was like he couldn’t control himself, and the anger already burned through. It was now certain he could not tolerate anyone talking badly about Pandora. But why? It wasn’t like he had never heard people talk badly about others before, and he never minded.

But this... this really got on his nerves. His hands trembled, still shaking, and he still felt angry at himself for not punching that man hard enough. It was like he wanted to see more blood.

This was not him at all. Something was definitely wrong. He had never acted like this before. He was always the calm and playful type.

He walked straight back to the room—he really wanted to see her. At this point, he didn’t even know why, but he was not feeling calm at all. He was literally struggling with himself: to either go back there and teach that man a lesson, or to have a cold shower to calm his head.

He reached the door and pushed it open, but his body stiffened when he noticed the blood on his hand. He didn’t want Pandora to see him this way, so he moved to shut it.

"Raven."

Her soft voice made him still. He entered—he could not leave again. She had called him, and that was enough.

The moment he stepped inside, he noticed the way her body stilled and her eyes widened slightly. He cursed himself. She was now wearing her nightwear, as evening had already come. Her hands were trying to towel-dry her hair.

He cursed again internally, wondering if he had scared her. As he moved his hands back to hide the blood, her eyes had already rested on them. He clenched his jaw.

"P... Pandora... I... I—" he tried to speak, but no words came.

Why was he finding it hard to speak? Why was he trembling?

Pandora walked towards him, but he stepped back. He was scared. What if he did something to her?

Still, she walked, worry etched on her face. She finally reached him, but he stepped back again.

"Don’t..., Raven. Let me touch you," she said, and her words finally made him halt.

Then she calmly took soft steps so as not to make him move back again. He didn’t move this time. She noticed the way his hands were trembling.

She moved closer until she finally reached him. She stared into his brown eyes that reminded her of chocolates and cookies. She smiled softly, that smile that could make any man fall to his knees—and cupped his face.

Their eyes locked.

"Raven, are you okay?" she asked softly, but he was silent. She understood, and instead moved to hug him tightly.

Her soft scent wrapped around Raven as his trembling hands finally calmed. Lowering himself to the ground as she pulled away softly to look at him, he knelt and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. His hands rested around her waist, yet he was still very careful—not hugging her fully, since his hands still carried blood, and he didn’t want that filth touching her.

Pandora smiled softly as she gently caressed his hair softly.

But then her body stilled. She felt slight wetness against her silk nightgown. Her eyes flew wide.

W... was he... was he crying?