CHAPTER 217: HIS COMMAND

Looking into those eyes filled with quiet confidence, Nero couldn’t help but smile. The spark of competition flared within him, that same flame that always came alive when she was around. There was something thrilling about facing Khione—her calm poise, her unshakable composure, and that faint, almost invisible smile that said she expected to win.

After a moment of contemplation, he leaned back in his chair, a small grin curving his lips.

"Let’s play poker this time," he said, his voice steady but teasing. "Same rule as before—the loser does whatever the winner says."

Khione tilted her head slightly, strands of silver-white hair falling across her cheek. Her expression remained calm, but her eyes glimmered with a subtle challenge.

"Fine," she replied. "Don’t regret it later."

"Me? Regret?" Nero chuckled. "Not a chance. This time I’ll win, it’s time for payback."

He rose and walked over to fetch the deck of cards from the nearby counter. The movement was fluid, confident—the kind of easy grace that came from countless battles, though this one required no sword or law. He returned to the table, the crisp sound of shuffling cards filling the quiet room.

The soft hum of the night filtered through the open balcony, carrying the faint scent of the city lights and distant sea breeze(A/N: They moved here especially for this game.)

They sat across from each other, illuminated by the warm golden glow of the hanging lamps above.

Khione leaned forward slightly, her fingers delicately resting on the table. Her composure was perfect—shoulders straight, expression unreadable, the very image of serenity. But beneath that icy calm, Nero could sense it—the faint thrill of the challenge, the subtle stir of excitement that she tried to hide. The Ice Queen held no doubt that she would win this game again.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded.

And the game began, their second one.

At first, they both played carefully, their moves deliberate and measured. Nero’s gaze flicked over his cards, then up to her face, watching for any hint of emotion. But Khione was unreadable—her poker face was perfect. She called, folded, raised with mechanical precision.

He had to admit, she was good at this, her usual personality was really helpful.

Tik! Tak!

Minutes passed. The air between them thickened—not with tension, but with a strange intimacy, the kind that came from their silent exchanges, the shared smiles between plays, and the way her gaze never wavered from his.

Khione, confident in her hand, raised once again. Nero met her gaze, smirking slightly, and matched her raise.

"You’re bluffing," she said softly.

"Am I?" he replied.

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. The faintest twitch of her lips betrayed her.

The next few rounds were a battle of wits. Their cards clashed, their minds danced. Sometimes Khione won a round, leaning back with a small, triumphant smirk. Sometimes Nero claimed victory, his laughter echoing lightly through the room.

But as the night wore on, the tide shifted.

Nero’s confidence grew. He began to read her rhythm—the subtle way she hesitated before raising, the flicker in her eyes when she drew a good hand. Slowly, he turned the game in his favor, one round at a time.

Finally, it came down to the last hand.

Khione sat straighter, her pale fingers hovering above her cards. Nero watched her quietly, his expression unreadable now, all the warmth replaced by sharp focus.

The cards hit the table.

Khione had a flush—strong, beautiful, elegant, just like her.

But Nero... laid down a full house.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.

"Well..." he said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table. "Looks like I win this one my dear."

Khione blinked, her composure cracking for a split second. Then she sighed softly, an almost invisible smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"Seems you did."

She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "So... what is your command, Nero?"

He tapped his chin, pretending to think, though he had already decided long before the game even started. His crimson eyes glowed faintly with mischief as he spoke:

"Dance for me."

Her expression froze. "...What?"

"You heard me," he said, grinning. "A dance. Right here."

Khione stared at him for a long moment. For someone as composed as her, the surprise was rare—and rather endearing. Her cheeks colored faintly, the lightest pink brushing across her pale skin.

"You’re unbelievable," she murmured, shaking her head.

"Maybe," he said, shrugging casually, "but that’s my wish, my command."

She stood slowly, the faint rustle of her dress filling the air. "You won’t let it go, will you?"

"Not a chance."

A soft sigh escaped her lips, but there was amusement in her eyes now—an almost shy glimmer that Nero rarely saw. Then, with quiet grace, she stepped into the open space near the balcony, where the moonlight pooled across the floor.

Music wasn’t necessary. The rhythm was in the air, in the way the night breeze whispered through the curtains, in the gentle pulse of her heartbeat.

Khione moved.

It wasn’t the kind of dance made for crowds or stages. It was quiet, fluid, intimate. Her every motion was deliberate—arms rising like flowing silk, her feet gliding soundlessly across the glass floor. The moonlight caught her hair, turning it into strands of silver flame.

Nero watched, entranced.

Her movements were soft yet powerful, each step blending the grace of royalty and the warmth of someone learning to feel. She wasn’t the Ice Queen here—she was simply Khione, vulnerable and real, offering a side of herself that few had ever seen.

When the dance ended, she stood still for a moment, breathing softly, her eyes lowering shyly to meet his.

Nero clapped once—softly, sincerely.

"Beautiful."

Khione’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Satisfied?"

He nodded, his gaze lingering. "More than you think."

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—it was peaceful, heavy with something unspoken. The city lights glittered far below, the stars stretched endlessly above, and for that brief moment, the two of them existed in a world all their own.

Abruptly Nero stood up and walked toward her, taking her inside his arms he lowered his head to seal those beautiful lips, he had to, the moment was perfect for this, she calmly accepted the kiss, wrapping her arms around him. She instinctively knew what was about to come.