"Little liar"

Elestria's body trembled from the feeling of being captivated by someone. Did she get caught? Was there any other guard in the room, lingering in the shadows? She questioned herself, unsure of who—the person—was capturing her between his hands.

His grip tightened on her, his fingers digging into her skin.

A soft gasp escaped her lips when she sensed the intruder sniffing just above her neck. His actions sent shivers down her spine, making her eyes widen with shock. Her breathing quickened—was he going to snap her head? her imagination running wild with ominous possibilities. 

Elestria, desperate and terrified, mustered her strength. With a surge of adrenaline, she swung her elbow backward, aiming for the man's abdomen, but before her strike could land, he swiftly yanked her arm toward him, twisting it a little.

Her heart raced, and a cold sweat broke on her forehead when his grip tightened on her arm.

"Hmm, full of hopes and dreams, just the way I prefer," the person hummed, his deep throaty voice vibrating against her neck, making her body stiffen.

She shut her eyes in fear. Her freed hand instinctively reached to her chest, her thin fingers trembling and pressing against her pounding heart as if attempting to suppress its rapid beats. The sound of her own pulse echoed in her ears.

"Am I making you nervous? Little liar?" asked the male voice. 

Her eyes snapped open, and the two words—little liar—echoed in her mind. Did the person somehow know she lied about her age? Panic surged through her veins. Unintentionally, she heard her own voice even before she could shut her mouth: "I didn't lie about my age."

The person's dark, sinister smile resonated throughout the room, shattering the silence that had been gnawing at her from the inside.

"Well, you are weaker than what I assumed you to be, he remarked, stepping back to give her some breathing space.

She took deep breaths, attempting to regain composure, and turned around to face the person.

He was wearing a white silk shirt with a black trench coat, which had large cuffs and deep pleats from both sides of the waist to the hem at the rear. The waistcoat was long enough to fully conceal the wearer's back and was paired with deep black pants.

His disheveled black hair cascaded over his head, veiling his eyebrows.

Her breath caught in her throat when she noticed his eyes. A deep, crimson red—ready to tear anyone apart in their path—they held an intensity that froze her in place. An instinctive fear propelled her feet backward, moving on their own accord.

In her retreat, she stumbled and fell to the ground, her bottom hitting the floor with an impact that left her wincing in pain.

"Troublesome," the man remarked, his voice cutting through the room, and his piercing red gaze continued to bore into her, making her shudder under its weight.

Maintaining his gaze on her sitting position, he walked towards the bed and sat down as if he owned the room.

Elestria tried to maintain his intense gaze but failed to do so, her eyes dropping to the ground. Standing up from her fallen position, she gathered her resolve and questioned him, "Who are you? You certainly don't seem to be one of them." Her voice was as soft as the night sky.

Instead of answering, he nonchalantly reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar, lighting it. Holding it between his lips, he took a leisurely sip and then tilted his head back, exhaling a cloud of smoke. Patting the bed beside him, he gestured for her to join him. He wasn't in the mood to reveal his identity yet.

Elestria, unaware of what she was supposed to do, didn't move from her position. Her left hand clutched the hairpin firmly, ready to use it once again if needed.

"You see," he pointed casually towards the lifeless body of the guard who had been walking just moments ago, now sprawled on the ground, and continued, "the thing you used on him is just a needle for me." His lips curled into a subtle smirk.

He was impressed by this girl. She refused to comply with his orders, opting instead to stand her ground, ready to fight, even though she was acutely aware that he could crush her with a snap of his fingers.

Upon hearing his words, she hid the hairpin under her skirt and walked towards the position where he asked her to sit. However, she was no fool; instead of settling beside him, she chose to occupy one end of the bed, positioning herself to face him directly.

Aware of her calculated move, he chuckled, the sound resonating with amusement as he took another leisurely sip from his cigar. His laughter caught Elestria off guard, making her already trembling heart shudder.

Before she could ask another question, only to be left unanswered, his low, husky voice cut through the air, causing her spine to straighten involuntarily.

"So, what was your plan?" he inquired, pausing for a moment before taking deliberate steps toward her, echoed in tandem with the rapid beats of her heart. Instinctively, she rose from her seated position, her feet shifting backward in a subconscious attempt to distance herself from the predator, who seemed ready to tear her into tiny pieces.

As he reached her, a soft yet cunning smile played on his lips. With a subtle turn, he redirected his steps and walked directly toward the window. "Or was it a jump from here down there?" he mused, glancing in her direction. "But then again, it will be more like suicide than an escape plan, considering the height."

Elestria took deep breaths to steady herself as he refrained from advancing further. Her focus remained fixed on his actions, and her senses heightened, attempting to decipher his intentions.

"Come here, little liar," a throaty command sliced through the air.

The smile he wore wasn't settling with her. There was something off about this person.