Chapter 67: Bet On Abs
The sheer curtains, stirred by a lazy morning breeze, danced around him like whispers of silk, occasionally brushing against the bare skin of his lean figure as he leaned with one shoulder against the cool wall. His gaze was distant at first, lost in thoughts that didn't seem to have an end, until it slowly found her, sitting curled up at the edge of the bed, her head resting atop her knees, half-covered by the mess of a soft blanket. Then, as if the weight of time suddenly pressed on her chest, she lifted her face, her sleepy eyes widening in disbelief.
"What? Eleven A.M. already?" she murmured with a startled breath, her voice still rough from sleep as her gaze met his.
Kael's lips curled into a lazy smirk, and without moving from his relaxed position, he tilted his head just enough to let the light catch the mischief in his eyes. "I guess it is. Honestly, it's about the time I usually drag myself out of bed anyway, but for the past few days, someone's been ruining that noble tradition of mine."
She narrowed her eyes at him, watching the way he dramatically pressed himself further back against the wall as though the moment required a stage.
"So," he added with a flourish of indifference, "what exactly are you planning to do about it, m'lady?"
Seraphina shifted beneath the blanket with her usual grace, pushing it aside in one fluid motion. The fabric slipped off her shoulders and pooled at the foot of the bed, revealing the pale softness of her skin contrasted by the silver cascade of hair tumbling across her face and neck. Her legs extended forward in slow, careful movements, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor. She placed both hands flat on the sheet for support, and for a moment, she simply sat there, back straight, expression unreadable, her silver locks now fully cloaking her forehead, giving her an almost ethereal look.
"Kael..." she spoke his name softly, but with an undertone that made it sound like a warning or perhaps the start of something serious.
"Yes, darling?" he responded without missing a beat, a gentle smile playing on his lips as if savoring the simple act of teasing her.
She turned her head slightly but didn't meet his eyes this time. Instead, she stared at the wall ahead, as though speaking to the shadows, "Can you do me a favour today?"
"Of course, darling," he said with a dramatic flair, raising one hand to stroke his chin in mock contemplation. "But, let me guess... what sort of favour are we talking about here? Should I worry? Or should I be excited?"
"I want you," she began, slowly and firmly, "to make your own breakfast today. Just for today. I know I promised I'd do it every morning, and I meant it, but I'm seriously late, worse than I thought. If I go and make it now, I'll lose even more time. I'll make dinner tonight, no matter what. But for now, I need you to take care of yourself. Just this once."
Kael didn't answer right away. His expression shifted, not from playfulness to anger, but to something gentler, touched by understanding, maybe even a sliver of guilt. He gave a soft, crooked smile and nodded slowly.
"No need to explain," he said finally, his voice quieter now. "I can handle breakfast. And dinner too, if it comes to that. Don't stress over it. But—" his smile widened again, teasing now, "are you really going to leave without even sitting down for five minutes with your charming husband?"
Seraphina stood up, straightening her back with that same calm precision she applied to everything. She slipped her soft sandals on with quiet steps and then looked over at him with the faintest shrug. "I'm going to have to skip it today. I don't have a choice. And anyway, everything that happened last night was entirely your fault. That's why I'm late."
She crossed the room toward him with slow, deliberate steps, and Kael scratched the back of his neck, pretending to be hurt.
"Hey, no one made you listen to my nonsense last night. You could've ignored me, walked away even. But you didn't. And—" he placed a hand over his stomach, clutching it with theatrical agony, "the way you kicked me... right in the stomach, no warning, no mercy. I mean, next time... just hug me or something, alright? It actually hurt. A lot."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, but said nothing. Her silence was louder than words, heavy with judgment, though her lips twitched just enough to betray a smirk that never fully formed.
"And...," she said, almost as an afterthought as she reached for the door, "don't forget to train."
Kael's eyes widened as though she had spoken a forbidden word. "Training? Seriously? How did you even remember that? You were halfway out the door!"
Seraphina paused, one hand resting lightly on the handle, her back still turned to him. "If you skip today again," she said, slowly, as if testing the weight of every word, "then I won't have any other choice but to make you my—"
He raised an eyebrow. "My what?"
She turned her head just enough for her voice to carry, a chilling calm beneath her words. "I've been thinking about it for a while now, actually. The way you keep casually skipping training just won't do. And since I'm always too busy to personally watch over you, I was considering hiring someone. But hiring costs money... and I found a more practical, cost-effective solution."
Kael blinked, now feeling a faint tremor of dread.
She continued, "I can make you my slave."
He recoiled as if the word itself had struck him. "Slave? What?! No, wait, you're joking right? You can't seriously mean that. Seraphina... I'm your husband. You can't make me a slave. And didn't you personally outlaw slavery in Velhart? Remember that speech you gave?"
"I said, if you keep fooling around," she replied, her voice as cold and smooth as ice. "And yes, I forbade slavery officially... but unofficially? There are still a few magicians who know how the old seals work. If I wanted to... I could find one. And once I bind you, I'll have complete control over you."
Her fingers made a small spiral in the air, and her lips curled into a smile so quiet it chilled his bones.
"I could make you silent," she whispered, "or bend your body to kneel with just a thought. You wouldn't even be able to roll your eyes unless I allowed it."
Kael dropped to his knees with dramatic despair, hands raised to the heavens. "No! Not the seal! Please, Seraphina, I swear... I'll train! Not only today, I'll even do extra to make up for yesterday. Just don't enslave me. I'm begging you. I'll cook, I'll clean, I'll even sing if you want me to!"
His mind spun with panic. "That smile... she's definitely planning something. That wasn't a bluff. That was a warning."
"I'll think about it," she said coolly, and once more reached for the door.
But just before she could open it, Kael's voice cut through the air like a thread snapping.
"Hey... don't you think, the way things are between us this morning... if someone saw us like this... what exactly would they think?"
Seraphina froze. For a moment, the silence between them was thick and crackling. Then, very slowly, she turned her head back to look at him. Her cheeks were flushed now, faint but unmistakable, and her blue eyes shimmered like frozen fire. Her lips tightened as she glared at him with an expression so venomous, it could have made mountains crumble.
"You really want to become a slave, don't you?"
Kael raised both hands in surrender instantly. "I'm sorry. I take it back. It won't happen again. I swear on my abs."
There was a pause.
And then Seraphina turned fully to face him, her expression a blank slate as cold as marble. "But you don't have abs."
Kael blinked. Her words, simple and flat, hit harder than any blade. His face twisted in fake pain as if physically wounded. "Oof. That was... harsh. You didn't have to say it like that. Maybe I don't have abs right now, per se, but that's temporary. Soon I'll have a six-pack so sharp it could slice bread. You know... the way I've been training lately."
He ran a hand along his jaw and tilted his chin slightly, adopting a noble, almost tragic posture, like a hero from a painting who'd just suffered a great loss, but still held hope.
She crossed her arms slowly, one brow raising. "Hmm... we'll see. Though I wonder what kind of abs you think you're building. They certainly don't come as a gift from sleep."
"Wait..." he leaned forward with sudden energy, his eyes brightening as if struck by a wild idea. "Are you... challenging me? Are we having a debate now? Then how about this, let's turn it into a bet. What do you say?"
She looked at him like someone trying to decide whether the insect crawling on their table was amusing or worth smashing. "A bet, huh?" Her tone was flat. "Not interested."
"Oh, really?" he said, voice rising in mischievous delight. "What's wrong, darling? Don't tell me the mighty, terrifying, always-graceful Knight Captain has suddenly developed a fear of losing. Or... is it that you already believe I'll win? Hmm?"
Her eyes darkened, her arms tightening slightly across her chest. The room shifted with her silence, tension blooming like a sudden wind. Then, very slowly, she tilted her head just enough to let a few strands of silver hair fall from her brow.
"You know I never go back on my words," she said at last, her voice edged with ice, "so if we're really doing this, you better be prepared to follow through. Because once you lose, and you will, don't you dare try to weasel out of it. So, go ahead, tell me... what kind of ridiculous bet are we talking about?"
Kael clapped his hands together like he had just won a prize, then started pacing in an exaggerated circle, hands clasped behind his back, as if he were on a stage. "Ahm… let me think," he said, drawing out each syllable. "It has to be something important, something meaningful, something—" he stopped abruptly.
Seraphina squinted slightly. There was something odd about the way he paused, the sudden shift in his expression. His usual cocky grin faded into something more unreadable. His gaze dipped, shadows catching under his lashes as he avoided her eyes.
She frowned. "What is he thinking? Why is he acting like that? He never gets like this unless, wait… no, no way. What is he going to ask? I should've just walked out… he will definitely win. And I didn't refuse when I had the chance. Why?"
Kael inhaled slowly as if summoning courage. "If I manage to get abs… like real ones, you'll have to…" he hesitated again, and for a brief moment, the silence between them grew thick, like something just beneath the surface waiting to break through.
Seraphina's heartbeat ticked up half a beat, though her face remained composed. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "This better not be something weird… I swear, if he says something insane—"
"You'll have to let me comb your hair… and give you a new hairstyle."
The words landed so softly, so unexpectedly, that Seraphina didn't react right away. Her mind had braced for something far more dangerous, even scandalous, and yet—
"…What?"
He finally looked at her again, but this time there was a strange kind of honesty in his eyes. "That's it," he said, nodding with a small smile. "I want to comb your hair. Style it. That's all."
Her expression went blank. Completely. Utterly.
"…You want to comb my hair?"
"Yep."
"And give me a hairstyle?"
"Mhm."
She stared at him, her thoughts a mix of confusion, disbelief, and… a tiny flicker of something warm she immediately shoved back down. "That's all you want? You're sure about this?"
Kael grinned, not backing down. In fact, his face sparkled with childish delight, as if he'd just won a secret treasure. "I'm very sure. I want to run a comb through those ridiculous strands of yours and give you a look I actually like. Honestly, your hairstyle bores me. A woman should change her hair every now and then, but you just stick with the same one. I might even braid it if you let me."
She blinked again. The tension she'd built up suddenly had nowhere to go. "You're really sure that's all you want?"
"Positive," he nodded enthusiastically. "It's a dream I've kept secret... until now."
Seraphina took a long, slow breath, equal parts confusion and mild resignation. "Alright then. If that's what you want so badly, then fine. Deal's done. But if I win... what do I get?"
Kael tilted his head. "Up to you. Choose anything... just don't make it something inhuman or tormenting. I have limits, you know."
She gave a soft, rare laugh, barely audible, but unmistakable. "Then here's my offer. If I win, you'll do exactly what I say, no questions, for three days straight. I'll own your schedule, your choices, your actions."
Kael narrowed his eyes in mock suspicion. "So basically, you do want to make me your slave, even if just for a few days. That's the second time today. Is this your secret dream or something?"
Her lips quirked. "Only when you deserve it."
"Alright then," he said, extending his hand dramatically, "challenge accepted. May the abs be with me."
"Try not to embarrass yourself," she muttered, and turned toward the door again.
But before she could leave, Kael shifted awkwardly. His hand went to the back of his neck, and this time the dramatic act seemed genuine.
"Actually... there's one more thing," he said, almost hesitant.
She turned to look at him again, this time with a sigh of frustration rather than surprise. "What is it now?"
He looked down, then away, his foot drawing an awkward little circle on the floor. "It's nothing, really. Just… um… do you have… you know...?"
"Let me guess..." She exhaled. Long and slow. "You need money...?"
He gave a sheepish nod, avoiding her eyes like a scolded child.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "You'll find it in your room. Maybe look around a bit instead of acting so dramatic."
He looked up at her with quiet relief. "Thanks…"
"No need to thank me. It's not like it's the first time. Just, don't waste it. I'd be grateful if you didn't. I don't have anything left in savings. I already spent everything."
He blinked. "You did? Why?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her voice softened just a little, just enough. "Does it matter? I spent it. That's all. But… don't worry about the money. As long as I'm alive, you're not going to starve to death. Got it?"
His gaze lingered on her. "Why're you pretending to be cool about this?"
She gave him a faint, unreadable smile. "No reason. Just wanted you to know... I'm here."
He didn't respond with words, just gave a slow, sheepish nod while avoiding her gaze like a guilty child.
And with that, she stepped through the door and closed it behind her, her presence fading like a whisper carried off by the wind.
Kael stood there for a while, the silence wrapping around him as he walked toward the bed and dropped onto it with a quiet thud. He leaned back on his arms, staring at the ceiling.
"This time, my darling is going to lose. Because no matter what..." he placed a hand on his stomach, "these abs are coming." A small smile tugged at his lips.
"And that means... I'll finally get the chance to touch her silky hair. Aww."
His grin appeared, then slowly faded.
"But first, I really need to make some money," he muttered. "Still... where did she spend all her savings?" He closed his eyes, thoughts drifting. "Well... it's her choice, not mine. But I've definitely been getting lazier these days."
He glanced toward the window where the sunlight cut across the room, warm and undisturbed. "Maybe just for today... I'll let it be."
Meanwhile, outside the room, Seraphina stood still for a long moment, the quiet pressing against her like a second skin. Her back rested gently against the closed door, as if she needed its support to steady the sudden shift inside her chest. She tilted her head upward, eyes tracing the invisible patterns on the ceiling above, lost in thought that stirred like a breeze through leaves.
Her hand moved almost absentmindedly to her shoulder, fingers delicately reaching for a loose strand of silver hair. She twirled it slowly between her fingertips, letting its softness slide over her skin in a small, thoughtful rhythm. Her voice, barely a whisper, slipped past her lips.
"He wants to comb my hair... wait... does that mean..."
The thought cut through her with a strange warmth, and before she could stop it, her ears flushed with a faint pink, not bold enough to be obvious, but just enough to betray the flicker of uncertainty blooming beneath her cool exterior.
She frowned slightly, her brows drawing in, eyes narrowing as she tried to reason with herself. "He was asleep... wasn't he? I spoke to him after he'd already dozed off... I'm sure of it..."
Yet doubt lingered like a shadow at the edge of her mind. Her grip on the strand tightened just a little.
"Then why would he suggest that... of all things... why combing my hair...?"
Her heart gave a soft, reluctant flutter.
"It has to be a coincidence... something random... nothing more. There's no way he was awake at that hour. If he was, he would've just mocked me."
But her mind wouldn't stop racing, and the silence around her only made it worse. She closed her eyes for a brief second, trying to will her thoughts away, trying to remind herself who she was.
"And even if it's not... even if he really did think about it... what kind of idiot has his eyes on my hair, of all things? Has he been staring at it for a long time... of course he has." After a pause, her face went blank. "I'm no one to talk."
She exhaled, slow and quiet, as if letting go of something too delicate to speak aloud. Her fingers finally released the strand, letting it fall back across her shoulder. With her expression unreadable once more, she turned and walked toward her own room, her steps light but the weight of her thoughts still lingering behind her.
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(Chapter Ended)