374: A dreamlike truth (part 1)

A dreamlike truth (part 1)

The night had proven to be surprisingly tranquil for Adela. As she lay down to rest, an unusual sense of lightness filled her, a direct consequence of her encounter with Andreas and the reassurance she had received from Noctavian about Larissa's well-being.0

It wouldn't be much longer now.

Her heart ached as her family prepared to depart for Destan the following day, but she was also relieved to know they would be away from the Archduchy for a while.

With the Crown Prince's resolute quest to uncover the hidden mines, she clung to the hope that she could finally purge her Archduchy of the malevolent force responsible for the mutated animals. Once this task was accomplished, she looked forward to welcoming her family back to Lanark with open arms. It was this hope that allowed her to peacefully drift into slumber that night.

She had not been sleeping for long when an unmistakable shift took hold of her body. A gentle tug at the recesses of her mind coupled with a pull at her heart disrupted the peaceful darkness of her dreamless sleep. She found herself surrounded by the warm, inviting ambiance of a room illuminated by countless candles.

Within this intimate glow, she found him.

Egon occupied a chair, one that had long been consumed by the flames that devoured their home seven years ago. His posture exuded casual ease, his legs splayed, elbows resting upon his knees, torso leaning forward. The rigors of the years since their separation had only served to enhance his rugged attractiveness in her eyes.

His face brightened with a whimsical smile, one that bore a complex interplay of guardedness and mischief, reminding her of the boyish grins her husband had often worn a history ago.

"...Why do you smile?"

"Because I've always enjoyed it when you feast your eyes on me."

She sensed another subtle shift in the atmosphere. Something was amiss. The Egon who frequented her dreams had always been a silent, comforting presence—walking beside her, sharing meals, and often indulging in more intimate encounters than she dared to admit. However, the air of arrogance and snobbery that emanated from this figure before her belonged to the real Egon, not the idealized version she had conjured within her dreamscapes.

"... Is this the real you?"

"Yes."

His reply bore the same genuine sincerity she had always admired in him when she received it.

Rather than succumbing to fear, Adela found herself amused by this unconventional intrusion into her dream. Stepping forward, she moved closer to him and stood beside a chair opposite him but refrained from taking a seat, for the act felt too surreal amidst the peculiar circumstances. 

"… At first, I wasn't sure if it was you behind what Kannen did to Mathew's shoulder, but now I'm certain."

Egon could be quite the child at times.

With a swiftness that mirrored his real-life speed, he rose from his seat and closed in on her, there was an exceptional tenderness in his eyes as he regarded her.

"Don't bring another man's name to your lips so casually."

This is dangerous...

The desire in Egon's gaze, fixed squarely on her lips as he made his request, stirred an equal desire that had never truly faded within her, a longing she might have surrendered to masochistically if this were the Egon of her dreams. However, this was the real Egon, and what had once existed between them had long since come to an end.

She scrambled to think of something that could diffuse the intense sexual tension between them.

"…Is this your solution to Noctavian's edict about not coming through my window?"

Egon's lips quirked in response, and then he started laughing—a sound she hadn't heard in years. It was nostalgic, as mesmerizing as it had been back when they were together.

"... Why are you really here?"

His smile faded, and Egon regarded her with a seriousness in his eyes. "I came to hear everything you know about Andreas's first mate."

Certainly, what Egon had learned today was a revelation not only for Andreas but for all his descendants, with the exception of Noctavian. But was it the right decision to divulge everything to Egon about Andreas and the long-standing deceit that had bound him for centuries? It was a matter that hinged on trust.

Despite the complexities of their relationship, why did she still have faith in him?

Upon further reflection, Adela realized that her trust in Egon had never truly wavered when it came to matters concerning his family. He had always been a man who prioritized his loved ones, and she believed that this time would be no different. The only reason she didn't share that same depth of care was simply that he had never truly loved her.

Leaning in closer, Egon's voice became a gentle, deep whisper in the warm, reddish ambiance.

"You tend to overanalyze things. This is merely a dream, we can act without fearing consequences. Can't we? Let's follow our instincts, Adelaide."

"Wai—"

But she couldn't complete the word as he leaned in and sealed the final letter with a kiss.

Initially, it was so unhurried that her defense mechanism wasn't activated. Her lips synced with his as they exerted gentle pressure and shifted. She was sidetracked by how incredibly soft her husband's mouth was. Kissing him was a sensation she never failed to remember but had never lingered upon in any of her dreams.

When he wrapped his arms around her waist to deepen the kiss, her legs beneath her shook.

This wasn't fair. 

Her yearning for him battled with her attempts to reestablish her rationality, considering whether to distance herself or wait until he broke the kiss. But then he groaned, his arms trembling like her legs were or even worse, and she was halted by the profound sadness that took over the kiss, so intense that she could taste tears.

It was impossible, she couldn't discern whether those tears were his or her own.

The duration of their kiss remained a mystery to her, and she couldn't determine who had broken the connection first. All that followed was his guidance to a nearby chair, helping her as she took her seat, and then sitting across from her.

"...I thought you would object," he said, his awe-stricken expression exasperating.

"I would have objected if it were a reality. But such things can only occur between us in dreams, My Lord."

What weighed most heavily on her was the way her heart felt whole during their kiss, only to be dismantled once more when that kiss ended.

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