The hallway was covered in webs yet the candles didn't burn them. A small boy was staring up at a young girl.
"Corvus?" Aurelia tilted her head.
She expected him to be much taller. Maybe more intimidating. He was after all the matriarch's son. Corvus nodded. He felt a lightness in his chest. He was searching for her everywhere these past months and thinking of ways to bond. This was his chance.
Aurelia curtsied, "It's a pleasure meeting Corvus Avern."
Corvus bowed a little. The manners that were drilled into him by the palace staff were kicking in. He was going to give her a handshake but she was wearing gloves. Their eyes met.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Aurelia..."
"Oliva."
"Aurelia Oliva."
Aurelia smiled softly. The conversation turned awkward as they both stood in silence.
"Would you like to have some tea?" Corvus asked.
His goal was to get her to take off her gloves. He thought his system would give him more information if he physically touched her. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry but I'm here to see Miss Valerica," she said with her eyes looking to the side.
Corvus straightened his back. This chance wasn't escaping him.
"Oh, she's actually busy at the moment."
Aurelia nodded, "It's fine, I'll wait for her in the guest hall."
She curtsied again and passed him. Corvus' muscles tensed.
"The guest hall is being used by mother."
Aurelia stopped dead in her tracks.
"Lady Lyssandra?" She turned around and gave Corvus a worried look.
He murmured yes.
"I would love a cup of tea then," Aurelia said with a slight tremble to her voice.
Corvus guided her through the halls. By now he memorized all the spots he could walk freely without the maids stopping him. He made sure that they didn't cross paths with anyone else as well. They entered a living room of sorts.
"Please sit down while I prepare the tea."
Aurelia plopped down on one of the silk sofas. She breathed out a sigh of exhaustion. Her eyes began scanning the room, observing the art. Corvus took note of her interest in the paintings on the walls.
The smell of lavender was filling the room as Corvus prepared the tea. He made two cups. It was hot to the touch but he didn't mind it. This was his plan.
"Here you go," he said as he gave her the cup.
Aurelia stared at him.
"What is this?" she asked.
Corvus sat down. "It's tea?"
He took a sip. Aurelia was still looking at him with an expression of disbelief.
"Tea is cold, this is hot."
Corvus put down his cup.
"I didn't use frost honey for this one," he said.
Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "So it's not tea?"
Corvus chuckled, "It is tea mixed with the leaves of lavender. The heat gives it an aroma that relaxes the muscles."
He motioned for her to drink as well.
"Oh you should take off your gloves though, the heat will ruin the silk."
Corvus watched as the gears turned inside of her brain. She was thinking. She slowly removed her gloves and grabbed the cup with both hands. She sniffed it.
"You know this is how Oleander usually poison their target."
Aurelia was staring right into Corvus' eyes. Corvus looked behind him to see if someone was there.
"You think I'd poison you?" he paused, "I couldn't hurt a beautiful flower."
Aurelia's cheeks flushed pink. She took a sip and let out a hmm.
"This is quite nice," she said as she sipped more.
Corvus smiled. He managed to get her to take off her gloves. Next is a physical connection. He tried to think of ways to get a handshake from her. Then he saw her hands. Her fingernails were pink.
"Your nails are pretty," Corvus said.
Aurelia stopped drinking, "Thank you?"
"I know that blue berries are used for blue but what gives you that pink?" he continued.
She formed a claw with her hand and took a closer look at her nails.
"Do you really want to know?" she asked.
Corvus leaned closer. She smelled sweet yet poisonous.
"Yes."
"It's Oleander poison."
Aurelia took a sip of tea.
"Poison?" Corvus asked.
"Yes, I coat my nails with my own poison."
She avoided eye contact. Expecting him to feel uncomfortable around her now.
"That's actually awesome."
Aurelia choked on her tea.
"What?" she leaned closer, "I'm literally reinforcing the stereotypes that Oleanders are deceptive and that's what you think?"
She was staring at him like he had two heads.
Corvus shook his head, "I mean not the poisoning part obviously but using it as a dye for your nails? That's really cool."
He put a hand to his forehead. He came up with a terrible idea, a stupid idea but an idea nonetheless.
"Can I take a closer look?" he said with a smile.
Aurelia stared into his eyes. She didn't know what to expect from him.
"It's poison, Corvus."
He extended his hand towards her.
"Weak poison though?"
That was more of a reassurance to himself than anything else.
"I suppose for a black widow it should be weak," she said.
Corvus felt her hand in his. She was soft. He noticed her sharp nails and the pink hue that coated them.
Come on system, he thought, do something!
The system remained quiet.
"Do you use a special sigil for the coating?"
He knew every magic had different sigils. A single web sigil could be bent to have a million variations in strength or thickness depending on how the caster used their magic. Aurelia nodded.
Corvus' voice shook, "Could I see how it's done."
Her face froze.
"I can't show you our style," she paused, "But I could show you the application process for my nail polish."
Corvus agreed. He could feel his body getting warm. The poison was starting to work on him. But he couldn't let her see that.
"That's amazing," he said.
He watched her cast magic with her tiny flower and put it on her nails. His vision started to get blurry. He had to find Lyssandra. Aurelia was smiling as she talked about it. Corvus turned to the clock.
"I think Valerica should be free now," he said.
He stood up but he felt wobbly.
"Oh, did time go that fast? I didn't notice."
Aurelia glanced at him.
"I think she wouldn't mind if I'm a few minutes late right," she smiled, "Do you have any more of that tea?"
Corvus tried hard not to look like he was about to die.
"My sister would definitely mind."
Aurelia frowned. Corvus' heart was beating slower. His little spider body was slouched on his shoulder, barely holding onto him. She got up and put on her gloves again. Instead of a curtsy she walked up to him.
Her body was starting to be a blur. Aurelia hugged Corvus tightly.
"Thank you for the tea," she said.
His heart skipped a beat. Instinctively his spider moved to his head and then walked closer to the miniature oleander on Aurelia's head. The spider was embracing the flower.
[Bond initializing...]
Corvus grinned. Finally, he thought. But then Aurelia quickly pulled away. Her face was flustered.
"That was uhh..." she stopped herself.
[Bond incomplete]
Aurelia cleared her throat and ran out of the room.
"Wait."
Corvus tried to move but he fell on the floor instead. His stomach was in pain and his head felt like it was being hammered open. The poison was in full effect now.