[Mature content, R18, no rape] "Who has done this to you?" Azel asked softly, his jaw tightly clenched as he stared into her teary, bright amber eyes, his fingers itching to caress her cheek. "Tell me," he whispered, "and I will sever his head and present it to you upon a platter of gold..." *** Her birth alone left her mother in a terribly weakened state... Adelia, the only daughter and child of the Veldon house, was… strange. Neither her birth mother nor her beloved father, nor even the witches posing as servants in the castle knew what she truly was. Adelia herself was clueless. She blamed herself for her mother's illness, and with each passing day, both grew worse—the affliction and her guilt. For her mother's sake and for hers as well, Adelia willingly enters into a ruthless deal, a path to salvation that was bound to lead to her demise, one that would deny her the experience of love. Still, she didn't care for the consequences and sacrifices, for the need to cure her mother was far greater… But fate, ever mocking her resolve, throws her onto the path of an insolent stranger, a man with the power to alter her desires... *** Obsidian armor. Strong. Ruthless. These three words defined a single knight, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard of him. Countless tales spoke of his exploits, yet his identity remained shrouded in mystery. Azel Latham, the embodiment of this figure, was known by none, for his face had never been seen in battle. With a single stroke, he could fell twenty warriors in an instant. Azel had many secrets. His presence was strange, his appearance even more peculiar. A mischievous and playful look on the outside but a shattered and enclosed heart within. …It would not remain frozen for long, however, for an amusing encounter with a captivating woman would leave him wanting more… **Cover art does not belong to me, credit to the artist!
"How would you like me to style your hair, My Lady?" Lyra asked as brushed Adelia's locks gently.
Adelia sighed. "How else?" She demanded. "Do it the way you normally do. I'm not going anywhere special today. I'll just be in the orchard practicing my archery or reading."
"It certainly didn't sound that way to me, My Lady." Lyra countered. "You rushed me like you had a meeting to attend urgently."
Adelia let out a weak laugh. Her maid's guess was too close to home.
She stood up almost immediately after Lyra was done Gathering her locks into a single braid and gave herself a once over in the mirror before she hurried towards the door.
"Be careful, My Lady." Lyra chided. "You know running is forbidden in the Castle halls."
Adelia rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to run." She said before she pulled her doors open, stepped into the hallway and started heading straight for the dining room.