Ciel's POV
My eyes widened, barely able to process the words Jason had just spoken.
"Fallen angels?" I repeated, my voice low, shaken.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said gravely.
I leaned back in my chair, stunned. Fallen angels... The words echoed in my mind like a warning bell. Why would they attack Serena? Why now?
Unless—
A sharp jolt of fear coursed through me.
Could they have found out?
My heart pounded. If they knew… If they had discovered who she really was… then Serena was in far greater danger than I'd ever imagined.
"Did you find out why they attacked?" I asked quietly, my tone more desperate than I intended.
"No, Your Majesty. But… I assume you already have your suspicions," Jason replied, his voice heavy with unspoken meaning.
I nodded silently, unable to deny it.
Everything was getting more complicated. I could feel the layers of deception closing in around us.
"For now," I said, straightening up, "I want you to keep investigating. Find out who they are and what they want. And keep an eye on Serena — and everyone who gets close to her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Oh — and tighten security for the banquet. I don't want another incident."
"As you wish," he said with a bow, and left the room.
The moment the door closed, I sank deeper into thought. Fallen angels. That changes everything. This isn't just about demons or power anymore.
This is about Heaven.
And if they're involved…
We're all standing on the edge of a storm.
Clara's POV
"Your Majesty," I heard a soft voice as the door creaked open.
It was Lila.
"Yes?" I asked, sitting up slightly as she stepped in with a suspiciously mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
"I just wanted to let you know," she began, her eyes practically glowing with excitement, "that I've ordered some… materials to help you with your goals."
"Materials?" I repeated, raising a brow. "What kind of materials?"
She waved her hand casually. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. You'll see soon enough." Her grin widened.
Something about the way she said that made a chill creep down my spine.
"And also," she added, lowering her voice like she was sharing a treasured secret, "I've decided to tell you something important. About Master Ciel. I wasn't sure if I should before, but now that I know your true intentions…" she trailed off with a wink.
I narrowed my eyes. "What is it?"
She leaned in slightly, whispering, "Master Ciel… he enjoys bathing in the spring baths every evening. It's one of his few routines. If you were to join him… you might have the perfect chance to grow more intimate with him." She looked at me with such excitement it made me uncomfortable.
I stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Yes, I wanted to earn Ciel's trust — I needed it — but the way she said intimate made something in me recoil.
"Lila," I said firmly, "that's not what I meant when I said I wanted to get closer to him. I meant emotionally, not—"
"Oh, Your Majesty," she interrupted with a teasing wave, "don't be shy. It's perfectly natural to want to connect with your husband… body and soul." She giggled.
"I didn't mean it like that," I began again, but she cut me off.
"I have to go now — the materials I ordered should be arriving soon. You can think about the springs in the meantime. Good luck, Your Majesty." And with that, she curtsied and disappeared from the room before I could stop her.
I sat in silence for a moment, her words echoing in my head. Something about her felt… off. Too eager. Too invested.
I frowned.
Why is she so determined to push me toward him like this?
Still, the mention of the springs lingered in my mind like a whisper.
Could this really be an opportunity?
Or was I walking right into another trap?
I lay back on the bed, my eyes fixed on the amber light bleeding across the sky.
It'll be evening soon…
Should I really go?
Lila's words echoed in my mind, tempting and dangerous. What if she was right? What if… a little intimacy would get me closer to him?
No, I thought, biting my lip. I'm not that desperate.
But my feet moved before my doubts could catch up.
I slipped on a robe and quietly opened the door. The castle corridors stretched before me, shadowed in soft twilight. I walked briskly, unsure of where exactly the springs were, turning each corner with growing frustration.
Then—of course—I ran into Jason.
"Your Majesty," he greeted with a slight bow.
"Hi," I replied curtly, not bothering to hide the cold edge in my tone. I still hadn't forgotten what he did to Lucien.
He blinked at me, slightly confused. "Is something—"
"Do you know where the springs are?" I interrupted flatly.
"The springs? Yes," he said, pointing down the hall. "First left."
"Thanks." I turned without another word.
He hesitated. "His Majesty is already there. Just so you know."
"I know," I replied, and walked away.
The corridor grew warmer as I reached the baths. Steam curled along the walls like ghostly fingers, and the scent of mineral water and cherry blossoms clung to the air.
Then I saw him.
Ciel.
He was half-submerged in one of the spring pools, his head tilted back, silver hair wet and glistening, eyes closed in peaceful silence. For a moment, I stood there, paralyzed. The mist swirled around him like a painting come to life — dangerous, beautiful, ethereal.
He must've heard my footsteps. His eyes opened slowly, and his head turned.
He saw me.
Surprise flickered in his gaze.
"Clara?" he said, voice low and smooth, water trailing down his skin.
I took a shaky step forward.
"I… I wanted to bathe too," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.
A pause.
Then a slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.
"Of course. Come in."
I let the robe fall.
The fabric slipped down my shoulders, brushing my skin like a feather before pooling silently at my feet. The warm mist rose up around me, curling over my bare legs, wrapping around my waist like invisible hands. Underneath, I wore a silk nightdress — thin, black, delicate — the kind that clung to skin like water and revealed more than it hid.
Across the spring, he saw me.
Ciel's head had been tilted back, resting against the edge, his silver hair dampened by the steam. But the moment my robe dropped, his head turned — slowly — and his eyes found me through the haze. They didn't blink. Didn't shift. His gaze burned into me, crawling up my skin like a living flame. I could see it — the way his throat moved as he swallowed hard, the tension in his jaw as he clenched it, trying to keep control.
And still… he didn't look away.
My heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it. Still, I stepped forward, the sound of water rippling gently as I eased myself into the spring. The heat wrapped around me instantly, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe.
What was I doing?
What was I thinking?
This wasn't part of the plan. This wasn't how I was supposed to get close to him — not like this. But then again… maybe it was. Maybe this was what I needed to do. To escape. To survive.
The water embraced me, and with each slow movement toward him, my fear mixed with something else — something dangerous. Excitement. Temptation. A dark thrill that made my skin tingle.
Ciel didn't move, but his eyes followed every step — every sway of my body through the water. When I got close enough, I stopped. My voice came out low, uncertain, seductive and trembling all at once.
"This is nice," I said softly, trying to fill the silence, to ground myself in something real.
"I know," he said. "You used to love it here. You'd sneak into the springs at night… just to feel the silence. The warmth. You said it made you feel alive, how did you know about this place" he asked.
I moved closer — too close now. I could feel the heat of his body beneath the surface, the slow thrum of his magic in the air. The tension between us grew taut, electric, almost unbearable.
"I wanted to know what you loved," I whispered. "So I asked Lila."
He reached for me.
Without warning, his hands found my waist, gripping me firmly and pulling me into him. Our bodies collided under the water, skin brushing skin, silk clinging between us like a whisper. My breath caught in my throat.
"Why?" he asked again, his voice raw now — deeper, darker.
"To get closer to you," I whispered, barely able to form the words.
His eyes flared. "Do you mean it?"
I nodded.
And then… the world disappeared.
His lips crushed into mine — wild, urgent, filled with hunger that had been held back for too long. His mouth moved against mine like he was starving for it, like he needed me to breathe. My hands flew to his shoulders, fingers curling into his wet hair as I moaned into the kiss, letting it consume me.
His tongue slipped into my mouth — slow, exploring, possessive — and I melted into him. Every part of me ignited. The heat from the water, from his skin, from the ache in my core — it was overwhelming.
His hands slid down, gripping my hips beneath the water, pulling me closer until I could feel everything — the full hardness of him pressing against my thigh, the tension in his muscles, the storm in his chest.
My body trembled.
His mouth left mine, trailing kisses down my jaw, my throat, to the sensitive place beneath my ear where he whispered, "You drive me mad, Serena."
A gasp escaped me.
He bit gently, and my knees nearly gave out. He caught me, lifted me slightly, and sat me on his lap in the water. I could feel the thickness of him beneath me — hard and throbbing between us — and it sent a jolt of heat down my spine.
"Ciel…" I breathed, my hands still tangled in his hair.
"Do you want this?" he asked, voice low, smoky.
Yes. No. Maybe. I didn't know anymore.
"I want…" I started, but the words were lost as he kissed me again — slower this time, deeper, like he was savoring every second. His hands explored me under the water, tracing the curve of my back, the dip of my waist, sliding dangerously close to places that made me shiver.
"I can stop," he whispered into my lips.
But I didn't answer.
Because I didn't want him to.
I wanted this — the heat, the escape, the forgetting. I wanted to be touched. To be devoured. To feel something other than confusion and fear. For this moment, I didn't care if it was all a lie. I wanted to fall.
And I did.