CHAPTER 234: QUALITY TIME 1

The confrontation in the pocket world had left a residual chill in Khione’s veins, a frost that no amount of steam could fully thaw. She had submerged herself in a long, scalding bath, the scent of jasmine and sandalwood filling the air, but the coldness in her heart was not so easily dispelled. It was a protective layer, forged by the princess’s audacious claim. When she finally emerged, wrapped in a robe of silver silk, her expression in the mirror was as composed and unreadable as a frozen lake.

Yet, beneath the ice, a current of need flowed—a need for reassurance, for the quiet, grounding presence that only one person could provide.

A single, discreet message was all it took. No words, just a time and a place: the central fountain in the Leclair estate’s main gardens. With the others still recovering from their late night or lost in their own training, their absence would go unnoticed. It was a stolen morning, a secret pocket of time that belonged only to them.

The morning sun was gentle, filtering through the ancient trees and dappling the cobblestone path. The fountain, a masterpiece of marble depicting intertwined sea serpents, murmured a constant, soothing song. Khione arrived first, dressed in a simple but elegant dress of pale blue, the color of a winter sky just after dawn. She stood watching the play of light on the water, her posture as straight and graceful as a silver birch.

She didn’t need to turn to know he had arrived. She felt him—a shift in the air, a subtle warmth that counteracted the chill she carried. Nero approached, his footsteps quiet on the stones. He was dressed casually, his dark blue hair still damp from a recent shower. He didn’t speak. He simply came to stand beside her, his shoulder just barely brushing against hers as they both gazed at the flowing water.

No words were needed. The silence between them was not empty; it was profound. It was filled with the understanding that had grown between them, a language built on shared glances and unspoken comforts. He could feel the tension in her stillness, the faint echo of a recent storm. He didn’t ask. He simply offered his presence, a silent anchor.

After a few long, peaceful minutes, he offered his arm. She slid her hand into the crook of his elbow, her touch light but certain. Together, they walked towards the waiting sedan car, its engine purring softly. The drive into Angel’s City was a quiet journey. They didn’t speak, instead watching the sprawling Leclair estate give way to the waking metropolis. Sunlight glinted off skyscrapers, and the city moved with a vibrant energy that felt a world away from the secluded tension of the estate.

He led her to a café he had clearly scouted before. It was nestled on a quieter side street, with a canopy of wisteria vines sheltering a handful of small tables. It was popular but not yet crowded, buzzing with the gentle hum of morning conversation and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee.

They chose a table in the sun-dappled shade. A waiter came, and Nero ordered for them both—a dark roast for himself, a fragrant herbal tea for her, and a plate of delicate, flaky pastries to share. When the drinks arrived, he prepared her tea exactly as she liked it, a single cube of sugar stirred in without being asked. The simple, intimate act sent a wave of warmth through her, finally beginning to melt the residual ice around her heart.

And so, they sat. The world moved around them, but they existed in their own serene bubble. Nero took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze calm and observant. Khione cradled her teacup, the warmth seeping into her hands. Her eyes, which had been so cold and sharp just hours before, softened as she looked at him. She didn’t need to voice her fears or her possessiveness. In the quiet stability of his presence, those turbulent emotions settled, soothed by the unshakable certainty of what they were to each other.

He broke a pastry in half and offered her the larger piece. A ghost of a smile, the first true one of the day, touched her lips as she accepted it. They ate in comfortable silence, their legs occasionally brushing under the small table, each point of contact a silent affirmation.

There were no grand declarations, no passionate kisses. This was something deeper, more foundational. It was the romance of shared silence, of a knowing glance across a sunlit table, of a hand that finds the other without needing to search. It was the profound peace of being fully seen and fully accepted, without the need for any words at all.

For over an hour, they simply existed together. They watched the people of the city pass by, they felt the sun on their faces, and they basked in the simple, unparalleled joy of each other’s company. In this sunlit café, with the taste of sweet pastry and bitter coffee on their tongues, there was only this perfect, wordless moment. And for both of them, it was more than enough.

Leaving the café was like stepping out of a dream, but the serene bubble they had cultivated traveled with them. The transition from the sun-dappled quiet of the side street to the bustling main thoroughfare was a gentle shock, a return to the world’s noise. Yet, it did not break the spell. A silent, mutual understanding passed between them, a shared desire to prolong this wordless communion. Nero’s hand found the small of Khione’s back, a subtle gesture that guided her not with force, but with unspoken intent, towards a grand, arching building of blue-tinted glass and steel—the Angel’s City Aquarium.

They bought their tickets without a word, the transaction completed with a smile and a nod to the cashier. As they passed through the turnstile, the world transformed once more. Time to head to their next destination.