Chapter 25: A Dazzling Revelation

A.N: its a short chap

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Marcus's PoV

The streets of the Grand Duchy were quiet as Marcus and Artoria walked side by side. The gentle breeze rustled through the trees lining the cobblestone roads, and the night air was cool. Marcus, still wearing his hood to avoid recognition, glanced at Artoria. Her silver hair, slightly visible under her own hood, shimmered in the soft light of the street lamps.

As they rounded a corner, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, swiftly and silently. The figure knelt before Marcus, bowing its head.

"Your Highness," the shadowed figure murmured with reverence.

Artoria tensed, startled by the sudden appearance, but Marcus remained composed. He gave a small nod, his voice steady. "I want you to fetch some clothes," he said, gesturing toward Artoria. "Something in her size. Bring it to the mansion."

The figure nodded silently before vanishing back into the shadows, leaving Artoria standing there, more confused than before. She glanced up at Marcus, her eyes narrowing.

"Who exactly are you?" she asked, suspicion clear in her voice.

Marcus chuckled softly, understanding her confusion. Slowly, he reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing his features under the dim light. His striking red hair framed his sharp, defined face, and his piercing grey eyes gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

"Let me introduce myself properly," he said with a teasing smile. "I am Marcus Aurelius, the Grand Duke of Solstern."

Artoria blinked, her breath catching for a moment. She hadn't expected this. His appearance was... remarkable. Even in her era, long before her stasis, few could match such a striking figure. His red hair contrasted against his pale skin, and his grey eyes held an intensity that was both unsettling and mesmerizing.

For a second, Artoria found herself staring, unable to look away. But the smug smile tugging at Marcus's lips snapped her out of it.

"I see you're impressed," he teased, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Should I give you more time to take it all in?"

Artoria's face flushed with embarrassment, and she immediately scowled at him. "Wipe that smug look off your face," she snapped, her voice laced with annoyance. "It's disgusting."

Marcus raised an eyebrow, the smirk only growing. "Disgusting, huh? That's harsh."

Her face turned a deeper shade of red, her hands clenching into fists. "You know what I mean," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, I know," he replied, his voice teasing. "But it's not every day someone looks at me like they've seen a ghost."

"I wasn't staring!" she shot back defensively. "I was just—caught off guard. You didn't tell me you were a Grand Duke."

Marcus shrugged casually, still clearly amused. "You didn't ask."

Artoria huffed, crossing her arms and turning away slightly. "Well, I'm not impressed," she muttered under her breath, though the redness in her cheeks betrayed her flustered state.

"Oh, really?" Marcus leaned a little closer, still smirking. "You looked pretty impressed."

Before she could retort, Marcus added in a more serious tone, "You remind me of my sister, actually. You're about the same age."

For a moment, Artoria was silent, but then, with an annoyed tone, she said, "I'm 17. Seventeen years old."

Marcus raised his hands in mock surrender, smiling. "Okay, okay. You're 17."

The teasing smile on his face didn't go unnoticed, and Artoria shot him another glare. "Stop that," she huffed.

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The playful banter between them gradually settled, but the exchange left Artoria feeling a mix of emotions—annoyed, flustered, and yet slightly curious about the man who now knew her name but had revealed himself as the Grand Duke of an empire she knew nothing about.