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Sweet Flower

Sweet Flower

DARAH. Aroma besi memenuhi udara, bercampur dengan wewangian mawar yang hampir tak tertahankan. Ruangan itu diterangi hanya oleh cahaya lilin yang bergetar, menciptakan bayangan yang menari di sepanjang dinding batu yang dingin. Langit-langit tinggi dan perabotan kayu gelap menambah suasana yang mencekam, seakan-akan tempat ini bukanlah bagian dari dunia nyata. Eleanor Blackwood berdiri di tengah ruangan, tubuhnya membeku dalam ketakutan dan keterkejutan. Tangannya sedikit gemetar saat menyentuh gaun sutra birunya yang ternoda merah—darah. Cairan hangat itu masih segar, merembes perlahan, meninggalkan jejak kematian di serat kain yang seharusnya sempurna. Tapi itu bukan darahnya. Tidak. Itu milik seseorang yang sekarang terbaring tak bernyawa di lantai, napasnya telah lama pergi bersama roh yang tak akan pernah kembali. Di hadapannya, seorang pria berdiri dengan tenang—Lucian Sinclair, Duke of Ravenshire. Sosoknya menjulang dalam kegelapan, dengan mantel panjang berwarna hitam yang menambah aura berbahayanya. Wajahnya tajam dan aristokratik, dilingkupi ketenangan yang mengerikan. Tidak ada bekas keterkejutan, tidak ada penyesalan. Hanya ketenangan yang sedingin batu nisan. Mata abu-abu kelamnya menatap Eleanor tanpa emosi, seolah membaca setiap ketakutan yang berputar di dalam dirinya. Namun, ada sesuatu yang lain bersembunyi di balik sorotannya—sesuatu yang lebih mengancam daripada sekadar ketidakpedulian. Itu adalah sorot mata seorang pria yang memegang kendali penuh, seseorang yang tidak terbiasa ditantang atau dipertanyakan. "Kau seharusnya tidak ada di sini, Eleanor." Suaranya rendah, dalam, dan mengandung bahaya yang terlalu nyata. Getaran dalam nada suaranya menyusup ke dalam tulangnya, membuat napasnya tercekat. Jantung Eleanor berdebar kencang, bukan hanya karena ketakutan, tetapi juga karena sesuatu yang lebih mengerikan—hasrat yang tak terhindarkan. Perasaan yang seharusnya tidak ada di sini, di tengah malam yang kelam dan berlumuran darah. Namun, ia merasakannya, sekuat ia merasakan ketakutannya sendiri. Seharusnya ia berlari. Seharusnya ia meninggalkan tempat ini sebelum semuanya menjadi lebih buruk. Namun, bukannya mundur, Eleanor justru melangkah maju, menghampiri pria yang seharusnya ia hindari. "Apa yang kau lakukan, Lucian?" bisiknya, suaranya nyaris patah. Pria itu tersenyum tipis—senyum yang lebih mirip ancaman daripada kelembutan. Sebuah permainan yang hanya ia yang tahu aturannya. "Aku melindungi milikku," jawabnya. Dan sebelum Eleanor bisa bereaksi, ia merasakan sentuhan dingin di pinggangnya. Lucian menariknya dengan mudah, membuat tubuh mereka bertemu dalam benturan yang membakar. Nafasnya hangat di lehernya, begitu dekat, begitu menguasai. Jari-jari pria itu menekan punggungnya, menciptakan sensasi yang tidak semestinya muncul dalam situasi seperti ini. Eleanor seharusnya merasa takut. Ia seharusnya memberontak, menolak perangkap yang kini telah menelannya. Namun, tubuhnya tidak bergerak, pikirannya kabur, tenggelam dalam pusaran bahaya yang dibawa Lucian Sinclair. Matanya menatap wajah pria itu dalam kegelapan. Pria yang dikenal sebagai Duke of Ravenshire, pria yang ditakuti dan dihormati dalam takaran yang sama. Seorang pria yang berbahaya, yang berdiri di antara batas moralitas dan kehancuran. "Apakah ini yang kau sebut perlindungan?" Eleanor mencoba menguatkan suaranya, tetapi yang keluar hanyalah bisikan rapuh. Lucian menundukkan kepalanya, bibirnya hampir menyentuh telinganya. "Ya, Eleanor. Ini perlindungan dengan caraku. Dan kau tidak punya pilihan selain menerimanya." Jari-jarinya yang kuat menelusuri sisi wajahnya, menghapus jejak air mata yang tidak ia sadari telah jatuh. Eleanor menutup matanya sejenak, mencoba mencari pegangan di tengah badai yang mengancam untuk menelannya bulat-bulat. Namun, bagaimana mungkin ia bisa bertahan jika badai itu adalah Lucian sendiri? Ia telah jatuh ke dalam perangkap yang tidak memiliki jalan keluar. Dan yan
Sejarah
9 Chs
If I need a concrete chapter number for Li Xuantiang, is Chapter 232 the strongest early answer?
Chapter 232, "Rescue, Deception, and Xia City in Turmoil", is the clearest early answer because it pushes Li Xuantiang into a new phase or setting. The chapter gives readers a real answer by opening on From start to finish, his goal was not to kill, but to create an... and ending on Having collided with a master of seven manes for the first time, his....
1 answer
2026-06-11 06:01
If I only want one chapter that proves why Long Mountain matters, should I jump to Chapter 223?
Chapter 223, "Outbreak of Battle, Breaking the Siege, Honored Guest", is the clearest early answer because the buildup finally cashes out in a real clash. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Hundreds of blood-colored arrows came rushing from the rear, all... to Simultaneously, he swung the staff with both hands from behind, from....
1 answer
2026-06-11 06:00
If I only want one chapter that proves why Yi Blade matters, should I jump to Chapter 244?
Chapter 244, "Besieged, Strength, and Rescue (Part 2)", is the clearest early answer because the buildup finally cashes out in a real clash. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Just like last time, this time he could only crash into five or six... to The immense strength of the Twenty-one 鬃, even if the earlier battle....
1 answer
2026-06-11 06:00
If I want the chapter where Jade Bone Medicine stops being setup and becomes an actual event, which one is it?
Chapter 260, "Medicine Workshop Upgrade, Population Surge, and Resource Easing", is the clearest early answer because the rescue effort creates visible on-page results. Early on, Are these bottles made of porcelain?" Xia Hong didn't look at the.... By the end, As Cheng Feng continued with the introduction, Xia Hong became....
1 answer
2026-06-11 06:00
Where in the first 1000 chapters does Cloud Jiao Army get its most concrete on-page development?
Chapter 280, "The Disappearing Beast Tide, Tenfold Marching Speed (Part 3)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Cloud Jiao Army's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Xia Hong shook his head and chuckled softly, not caring, and... to Go back to notify the Six Ministries, temporarily mobilize all the....
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
Is Chapter 236 the chapter where the power growth arc finally becomes concrete for Wu Ming?
Chapter 236, "White Dew Gu, Despairing Yuwen Dao, Yang Lu", is the clearest early answer because it turns Wu Ming's situation into a concrete plot event. A useful checkpoint is the way the scene starts with Divide into four teams, attack from four directions, don't let them... and follows through with Run, something bizarre has come!" Li Xuantiang's expression instantly....
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
If I only reread one chapter to remember Brother Hou's situation here, should I pick Chapter 234?
Chapter 234, "Probing, Arrangements, and Hou Hu’s Confidence (Part 2)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Brother Hou's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Xia Hong had just swept his gaze over the people in the hall when Hou... to If Hou Hu wasn't wary of him at all, that would be strange..
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
Which chapter would you cite if someone asks for the most direct payoff tied to Xia Hong?
Chapter 317, "Wrapping Up the Migration, Great Xia's Flourishing Scene, Star-picking Hall (Part 3)", is the clearest early answer because it turns Xia Hong's situation into a concrete plot event. It opens with The meaning of Xia Hong's words is that her authority as his wife is... and closes on When these Ice Trees bear fruit, the fruits and branches will be....
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
Which chapter is the best bookmark for readers tracking Xia Chuan through the relationship tension storyline?
Chapter 312, "Regaining Focus, Killing, Shock, and Submission (Part 4)", is the clearest early answer because the violence around Xia Chuan becomes final instead of hypothetical. The setup is During last night's attack on the city, the casualties among the..., but the pressure keeps building through The majority of the dead and injured were from the Earth-digging....
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
What chapter gives the clearest reader-friendly payoff for Cold Beasts in this early arc?
Chapter 322, "The Cold Beast Clans Joining Forces for Treasure, White Dew Gu's Panic (Part 3)", is the clearest early answer because Cold Beasts gets a payoff that changes the stakes. It opens with Ten groups, each with more than twenty heads, that adds up to more... and closes on Xia Hong turned to look at the western side of Yangyuan Peak, his.... The key payoff is that the chapter closes with With Six Departments heads in all four zones being Cold Resistance Level, that totals 24 people.
1 answer
2026-06-11 05:59
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