CHAPTER 195: CLAWS OUT: GUILDMASTER VS. BOYFRIEND

[Lavinia’s Pov—Dawnspire Wing—Continuation]

His hands were warm and firm on my waist, steadying me as if I were something fragile, something breakable. I was still perched on his lap, my skirts pooling around us, and yet, I couldn’t breathe. His thumbs brushed over my cheeks, rough calluses grazing my skin like a secret only he was allowed to touch.

His lips hovered—so close I could feel the ghost of his breath on mine. My heart was pounding wildly, and I knew he could feel it too, the erratic beat echoing in the air between us.

There was something in his eyes—something dangerous and tender all at once: hesitation, fear, longing, love, and that quiet possessiveness that always unsettled me. It was too much and yet, not enough.

And for once, I didn’t care. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to be a princess, daughter, or heir. I just wanted this moment. Him.

Osric leaned closer, and I leaned too, my world narrowing to the shape of his mouth, the promise of a kiss that would destroy every line we had drawn between us. His gaze flickered down to my lips. I didn’t hesitate. I wanted—

KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound split through the moment like a blade.

I froze. So did he. His fingers tightened ever so slightly on my waist, then released.

He blinked. I blinked. And the space between us—so small a second ago—suddenly felt endless.

Slowly, I slipped from his lap, my legs unsteady. "It... it must be Sera," I said, my voice embarrassingly breathless.

Osric cleared his throat, nodding once. "Perhaps."

KNOCK. KNOCK.

We both turned at the same time. That wasn’t the main door.

I frowned. "That... came from behind us."

His hand instinctively went to his sword. "The balcony."

Relief softened the tension in my chest. "It’s probably Solena. She must’ve fought with Marshie again." I tried to sound casual, though my cheeks were still burning.

"I’ll check," I said quickly, needing the space to breathe, to calm the storm inside me.

I walked toward the balcony door, my fingers still trembling slightly. When I opened it, I nearly stumbled back.

"Oh!! Rey...what are you doing here?"

He leaned casually closer to me, the moonlight turning his dark blue hair silver at the edges. At the sight of me, he grinned like a cat caught somewhere it shouldn’t be.

"Why," he drawled, stepping inside, "is the princess locking her doors? Planning to keep someone out... or in?"

Before he could say another word, I kicked his shin. Hard.

"Pervert!"

"Ow—bloody hell!" He bent slightly, rubbing his leg, glaring at me. "What is wrong with you? I was kidding! You really need to stop choosing violence as your first language—"

And then he stopped.

Because he saw him.

Osric was standing now, tall and still, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword, his eyes dark, unblinking, and sharp enough to cut glass. Rey’s gaze landed on him.

Rey straightened, his smirk returning, though a little tighter this time. "Oh," he said slowly, his voice carrying just enough amusement to be a provocation. "We have company. Forgive me, princess—I didn’t realize you were entertaining a... guest."

Something dangerous flickered in Osric’s gaze. His jaw tightened.

"Guest?" he repeated, his tone low and sharp. "Are you talking about yourself?"

"Touchy," Rey said, tilting his head. "What’s the matter? Afraid I might steal a little of the Princess’s attention?"

"She’s not yours to steal," Osric said coldly.

The tension in the room thickened until it felt like the walls were leaning closer. Rey only crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth quirking up like a man who thrived on dangerous games.

"If you’re done growling, Lord Osric," Rey drawled, "I’d like to speak to the princess. Personally. ALONE."

Osric moved forward, his broad frame stepping subtly in front of me, a silent shield. His tone was calm, but the underlying threat was as clear as steel drawn from a sheath. "You want to talk to the princess alone?"

Rey’s eyes flicked to mine for the briefest second before returning to Osric. "...Yes."

Was it my imagination, or did the air actually spark? I could swear a phantom fire crackled between them.

"I should seal these balcony doors," Osric said suddenly, his voice colder now, "because there seem to be far too many pests wandering around the princess’s chambers."

Rey’s eye twitched, but that smirk never faltered. "Pests, hm? Funny. I thought pests usually crawl on the ground. I prefer to think of myself as... a concerned friend."

Osric tilted his head, the motion almost lazy but far too deliberate. "A concerned friend doesn’t break into a princess’s chambers through the balcony doors. What do you think that makes you?" "

"Concerned. Protective. Charming, even." Rey chuckled, the sound annoyingly confident. "The balcony door wasn’t exactly a fortress. You should thank me for pointing out your... security flaws."

Rey feigned innocence, placing a hand over his chest. He looked at me and winked. "Isn’t that right, my princess?"

"Don’t look at her," Osric cut in, stepping fully between us like a wall of steel. "And don’t call her that."

"Oh? What would you prefer I call her? ’My Dearest’? Or is that title reserved for you?" Rey’s smile widened when he saw the vein pulsing on Osric’s temple.

"I should throw you off this balcony," Osric said calmly, which somehow made it more terrifying.

Rey blinked, then clutched his chest like a swooning maiden, gasping dramatically. "Oh my, Lord Osric, you wound me! Such violence! I came here merely to see the princess, and suddenly I’m threatened with flight lessons? How cruel!"

Osric didn’t even flinch. "It won’t be a lesson. You’ll only get to try once."

"Ha!" Rey smirked, leaning on the balcony railing like it was his stage. "So protective. Almost as if you’re—oh, what’s the word? —jealous?"

"Jealous implies I consider you competition," Osric replied without missing a beat, stepping closer, broad shoulders casting a shadow over Rey.

Meanwhile, I?

I was standing between them, SPARKLING like a chandelier on festival night. My hands were clasped dramatically to my chest, my cheeks burning.

This. This is it. The dream every girl in a storybook wants—a duel of egos for my attention.

I finally blurted, my voice higher than usual. "Are... are you two actually fighting over me?"

Both men froze. Slowly, in perfect synchronization, they turned their heads toward me.

And the look? Priceless.

I swear I saw their souls momentarily leave their bodies.

"She’s shining too much," Rey muttered, shielding his eyes like my sparkle was blinding.

"I agree," Osric said dryly, though his jaw clenched as if agreeing hurt his pride.

Then—SLAM!

The door burst open with the subtlety of a hurricane.

"PRINCESSSSSSSSSS!!!" Sera practically flew in, her hair slightly undone, cheeks flushed, and panting as if she’d sprinted across the entire palace.

Both men instinctively stepped back, their tension dissolving for half a heartbeat.

Sera huffed, clutching the doorframe, then spotted them—two tall men practically radiating hostility—and froze for half a second. Her gaze flicked from Osric to Rey, then to me standing there looking far too suspiciously radiant.

"Oh!" she whispered, narrowing her eyes. "I interrupted something, didn’t I?"

Before I could explain, she suddenly remembered why she’d come and gasped, "Forget that! Princess, it’s an emergency! MARSHI BURNED THE ROSE GARDEN!!!!"

The room collectively stopped breathing.

Rey arched a brow. "Burned?"

Osric’s expression darkened like thunderclouds. "How much?"

"All of it!!!" Sera threw her arms wide for emphasis, nearly smacking the balcony door. "There’s smoke! There are gardeners screaming! Someone fainted!"

For a moment, the three of us stared at her. Then Rey muttered, "...And you were worried about me climbing a balcony? Princess, your divine is a fire hazard."

I groaned, rubbing my temple. "It happened again... why does he keep losing control over his powers these days?"

Rey’s brows shot up. "Losing control?"

I nodded and turned sharply toward the hallway. "Did someone put the fire out?"

"Yes, Princess," Sera replied, hurrying after me, her voice still winded. "But the real problem is Marshi himself. He’s... um... sitting in the koi pond now. The fish are not pleased."

I stopped dead, blinking. "He’s what?"

"Sitting. In. The koi pond," Sera repeated, punctuating each word like she was delivering a death sentence. "I think he believes the water will help him control his fire."

A long, painful sigh escaped me. "Of course he does. Because why would today make sense?"

We swept down the stairs, Sera at my side, Rey and Osric trailing behind us like bickering shadows.

"Did you send a letter to Grandpa Thalein?" I asked.

"Yes, Princess," Sera said, nodding quickly.

Rey fell into step beside me, his expression annoyingly amused. "Does this happen often?"

"These days... yes," I admitted with a grimace.

Rey made a thoughtful hum. "Hmm. Maybe it’s... that time for him."

I blinked. "That time?"

"You know..." Rey gestured vaguely. "When animals go into heat. And since Marshi’s divine, maybe his powers are... misbehaving because of it."

I stopped mid-step, the world going still for a heartbeat. Sera looked horrified. Osric froze. Rey looked far too pleased with himself.

"Are you telling me," I said slowly, "that my sacred divine companion might be losing control because he’s... in heat?"

Rey gave a sage nod, deadly serious. "...yes."