“Since I made the effort to bring it, at least have a bite,” Kirine insisted.
It seemed that Ares wouldn’t eat unless he was forced. Seeing this, Kirine took a forkful of salad and held it to his mouth. Startled, Ares protested that he would eat it himself, but Kirine was persistent.
Seeing Kirine’s determined expression, Ares reluctantly accepted the salad.
“It’s nice to see you eating well,” Kirine remarked.
“Yeah, right,” Ares muttered.
“I brought strawberries too. Want some?” she asked.
“No, the oranges,” Ares replied, pointing at the fruit.
Without hesitation, Kirine carefully handed him each piece, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
This isn’t so bad, Ares thought to himself, surprised by his own contentment.
Before he could fully savor the moment, Ares splashed water on his face.
“What was that? Why did you do that?” Kirine exclaimed, shocked by his sudden action.
Ares, however, remained calm. “It’s nothing,” he said nonchalantly.
“Nothing? You just poured water on your face, and you call it nothing?” Kirine retorted.
“I told you, it’s nothing,” he insisted.
“Fine,” she sighed. “At least wipe your face.”
Kirine gently dabbed his face with a handkerchief, wiping away the water droplets that had soaked his silver hair.
“Why play during lunch?” she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Despite her scolding tone, Kirine’s gentle touch sent a strange shiver down Ares’s spine, making him want to escape.
***
I’m bored.
Ares lay sprawled across the desk, watching Kirine as she meticulously analyzed the failure of his latest potion. He wanted nothing more than to head to the training grounds, but in his current form, he was helpless to do much of anything.
“She sure is diligent,” Ares muttered. Seeing Kirine so focused felt unusual; he was used to that intense look when it involved money, but this seriousness was different. Unable to pull his gaze away, Ares continued observing her in silence.
Her brows knitted slightly in concentration, and beneath her long lashes, her red eyes gleamed with intent. Dark hair spilled messily over the desk, its contrast against her pale skin making her seem almost ethereal. Though her sharp eyes often gave her an intimidating air, a subtle smile softened that edge, making her hard to look away from.
Her appearance… she’s definitely my type…
Before he could finish the thought, Ares smacked himself on the head.
“What’s that about?” Kirine asked, startled by the sudden noise.
“Nothing,” he mumbled.
“Nothing? I just saw you hit yourself,” she pointed out.
The sound was loud enough to make Kirine glance up, startled. But Ares, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment, stubbornly shook his head.
“I told you, it’s nothing,” he insisted, hoping she would drop the matter.
“Are you, by any chance, one of those people who enjoy…?” Kirine asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
“No! Absolutely not!” Ares denied, his face turning red.
“A kid like you shouldn’t be thinking like that already,” Kirine scolded.
“I only look like a kid. I’m the same age as you,” Ares retorted.
“Yes, I know, you little squirt,” Kirine teased.
Ares opened his mouth to argue, but he quickly realized the futility of arguing while in his current form.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Chief, may I come in?” Cecil’s voice called out.
“Yes, come in,” Kirine replied.
Ares quickly ducked under the desk to hide. Cecil entered the room cautiously. “What’s the matter?” Kirine asked.
“I have an update regarding the order from the magical artifacts workshop. They suggest you should check it in person,” Cecil explained.
“Oh, yes, right,” Kirine said, her voice distracted. “I’ve got a bit of work to do here, so could you step out for a moment?”
“Of course,” Cecil replied, leaving the room and closing the door.
Once Cecil was gone, Kirine crouched down to address Ares. “Think you can manage alone?” Kirine asked, her eyes scanning his small figure.
“Do I look like a kid?” Ares retorted, annoyed.
Kirine’s expression spoke volumes: If you’re not a kid, then what are you?
“My body may look young, but stop treating me like a child,” Ares insisted.
“Fine,” Kirine sighed. “I’ll be back soon, so stay put.”
“Of course,” Ares replied, eager for her to leave.
As soon as Kirine left, Ares slumped into a chair, feeling a wave of frustration. He couldn’t believe his current predicament. Then, he heard a familiar voice from outside the window.
“Well, the Chief isn’t exactly ordinary, is she? I mean, she did marry the Commander.”
Curiosity piqued, Ares peered through the curtain. It was one of the knights, gossiping.
Interesting, Ares mused. Didn’t expect to hear gossip about me here.
Amused, yet slightly irritated, Ares listened in. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
“Honestly, I didn’t think she’d end up marrying the Commander,” one knight said.
“Why’s that?” the other asked.
“Well, I heard the Chief and the pope had… something going on,” the first knight revealed, his voice lowered.
Ares couldn’t sit still any longer.