Rumors in the Dawn ( 23 )

Javier propped himself up on his elbow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"Liana…"

She turned from his desk, tilting her head slightly. "Yes, young master?"

His smirk widened, and he patted the empty space beside him on the bed. "Wanna sleep together tonight?"

Liana froze, her usually composed demeanor faltering for a moment. Her emerald eyes widened slightly, and her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink.

"Umm…" she hesitated, quickly regaining her composure, though her voice was softer than usual. "Sure… if that's what you want me to do."

Javier blinked, surprised by her response. He had expected her to scold him or dismiss his cheeky request as she usually did.

"Eh? You're serious?" he asked, sitting up straight.

Liana shrugged slightly, her expression calm but with a hint of amusement in her eyes. "If it helps you sleep better, young master, I don't mind. Besides, I'm here to serve you, am I not?"

Javier's face flushed slightly—a rare occurrence that he quickly tried to hide with a laugh. "Ehehe, you're too good to me, Liana. But don't blame me if I hug you in my sleep!"

Liana chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I'll take my chances. Now, shall we prepare for bed, young master?"

Javier settled back down, the playful tension in the air easing, replaced by the comforting presence of his most trusted companion. It wasn't unusual for them to share quiet moments like this, but tonight felt different—warmer, more sincere.

Liana shifted closer to him, her warmth filling the space between them as Javier leaned slightly forward, his lips brushing near hers.

For a moment, Liana hesitated, her eyes meeting his . Then, she closed her eyes and tilted her face toward him. Their lips met in a tender, lingering kiss, soft and unhurried.

When they finally pulled apart, Liana whispered, her voice gentle and warm, "Goodnight, young master."

Javier smiled, wrapping his arms around her securely. "Goodnight, Liana," he replied, pulling her into his embrace.

She rested her head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her hand found his and guided it to her waist.

"Hold me tightly, young master," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Javier tightened his hold, his chin brushing against her silver hair. "You don't even have to ask," he said softly, his playful tone replaced by something deeper.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the world outside forgotten. For them, this moment was theirs alone—safe, warm, and filled with an unspoken bond that needed no words.

As the quiet of the night enveloped them, Javier's gentle kisses trailed across Liana's forehead, moving softly to her cheeks. Each one was slow, warm, and filled with a tenderness that made her heart flutter.

She remained still for a moment, her breathing steady as she soaked in the intimacy of the moment. Then, her lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushing as she tilted her face toward him.

Javier paused for a moment, silently asking for permission, his eyes searching hers. When Liana didn't pull away, he leaned closer, pressing his lips to hers in a deep, passionate kiss.

Her hand instinctively found its way to his chest, her slender fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as she melted into his affection. The kiss lingered, unhurried and filled with emotions neither could express in words.

When they finally broke apart, Liana's face was flushed, her breath coming in soft, quick whispers. She looked up at him, her emerald eyes shimmering in the dim candlelight.

"Young master…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly—not from fear, but from something deeper.

Javier smiled, brushing his hand gently against her cheek. "Goodnight, Liana," he said again, his voice soft and warm, pulling her even closer.

"Goodnight," she replied, her voice barely audible, but the contentment in her tone spoke volumes.

They stayed there, holding each other tightly. This moment would remain etched in their hearts—a silent promise of their unshakable bond.

As Javier's steady breaths signaled he had drifted into peaceful sleep, Liana gently adjusted the blanket over them, ensuring he would stay warm through the night. Her touch was light and almost reverent as her fingers smoothed his slightly messy hair. She traced the curve of his cheek with her fingertips, marveling at the serenity on his face.

Moving closer, she took his arm and wrapped it securely around her waist. The warmth of his embrace filled her with a comforting sense of security, and she smiled faintly, allowing herself to relax.

But as the silence deepened, her thoughts began to wander. She couldn't help but think about the years ahead. At 18, he would come of age—a man by human standards. By that time, she, as an elf, would still be very young, just starting her own version of growing up.

"Eighteen for him, thirty-six for me," she mused silently. For humans, the age gap might seem odd, but for elves, whose lives stretched across centuries, it was nothing. "By the time he's fully grown, I'll still be young by my people's standards."

Her hand brushed lightly over his as her thoughts grew tender. "But will he still want me then? When he's older and surrounded by so many other choices, will he still see me the way he does now?"

She pushed the doubts aside, focusing instead on the present moment. Right now, he was hers to protect, to care for, and—perhaps—to love in her own quiet way.

Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead and closed her eyes, letting his warmth soothe her. Whatever the future held, she promised herself one thing: as long as she was by his side, she would ensure his happiness, no matter what.

---

Liana woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The chirping of birds filled the air, a gentle reminder that a new day had begun. As she stirred, she felt the warm weight of Javier's arm draped over her, a comforting presence that made her smile.

Hearing some quiet voices outside the door, she pushed herself up slightly, her senses becoming alert. When she opened her eyes fully, she was surprised to see a group of maids gathered just outside the door, watching her with curious smiles.

Her heart raced as she sat up quickly, her hair a bit messy and disheveled. "Th-this… isn't what you all think!" she stammered, feeling her face heat up as the maids exchanged knowing looks.

Some covered their giggles with their hands, others smiled playfully, and a few pretended to be shocked, as if they had expected this all along.

"Why is everyone… thinking such things?!" Liana's voice rose slightly in panic. But before she could say more, she looked over at Javier, who was still peacefully asleep beside her, his tousled hair falling across his forehead.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Ehhh!!! Why doesn't he have his shirt on?!"

She quickly checked under the blanket, her hands shaking slightly. She felt a wave of relief when she saw that she was still fully dressed in her maid uniform. Javier, thankfully, still had his pants on, though his bare chest and strong arms were clearly visible.

Her embarrassment quickly turned into exasperation. Why couldn't he just sleep like a normal boy?

"L-Ladies," Liana managed, her voice sharp but still tinged with panic, "There's nothing indecent happening here! I was only—"

"—Keeping him company? Ensuring his comfort?" one maid chimed in playfully, her grin widening.

Another joined in, "Oh, Miss Liana, we understand completely. No need to explain."

However, the teasing wouldn't end so easily. "Good morning, Miss Liana," one of them said with a mischievous grin. "We didn't know you were this close to the young master."

"Oh my…" another maid giggled. "Miss Liana, you should've at least locked the door."

"Such passion!" another maid chimed in dramatically, while others shook their heads, whispering about how bold she was.

Liana's face turned as red as a tomato. "No! It's not what it looks like! I-I was just… he wasn't feeling well last night, so I stayed to make sure he was okay!"

"Of course, Miss Liana," one of the maids replied, winking playfully.

"Nothing happened!" Liana insisted, clutching the blanket as if it were her only protection. She felt her composure slipping with every giggle from the others.

Just then, Javier stirred, his amber eyes slowly opening. "Hmm… Liana?" he mumbled sleepily, his voice still groggy.

Liana froze, her panic rising as the maids leaned in closer, eager for what would happen next.

Javier blinked at the gathered crowd, then at Liana's flustered face. "What's with all the noise so early?" He yawned, completely unaware of the awkward situation unfolding around him.

One of the bolder maids cleared her throat. "Oh, nothing, young master. We were just… appreciating how much Miss Liana cares for you."

"Eh?" Javier tilted his head, clearly confused.

At that moment, Liana felt a surge of mortification wash over her. Her cheeks burned hotter than ever as she buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed by a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "Out! Everyone, out!" she yelled, her voice firm despite the heat flooding her cheeks.

The maids scattered, giggling as they went, clearly entertained by the scene they had walked in on. Liana slumped back on the bed, her face still flushed, the warmth from earlier now replaced by the chaos of her thoughts.

Javier watched the maids leave, blinking in confusion. "Was it something I said?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.

"No! It's just… let's forget this ever happened!" Liana replied, mortified but trying to regain her composure. She peered up at him through her fingers, half-expecting to see a grin on his face at the absurdity of the situation.

Instead, he just looked genuinely puzzled. "Alright, if you say so. But I still don't understand what all the fuss was about."

Liana let out a sigh, realizing this was going to be a long day indeed, but at least Javier was blissfully unaware of the rumors already beginning to swirl about them.

( End of Chapter )