Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 20: Scene XX

Night had made itself apparent in the corridors of Myrkzver’s Castle.

Vivid torches prevented obscurity from invading shamelessly over his territory, as no hint of wind traversed the deceitful land nor his residence. Engulfing its air with baneful vibrations of the stealthily moving earth.

Retiring to his private chambers, Aslak paced leisurely with his servant in tail. Through those corridors that welcomed his stomps with submission.

"Make it so these people stay in their lodgings tonight... I don’t want to deal with that man’s face anymore today."

"As you wish, my Lord... Will you join the guards tonight for dinner? They seem suspicious of the men that escorted the guests here... Some witnessed how they spoke to the Archduchess when welcoming them to your territory. Hence... it wouldn’t be odd if a brawl breaks out at the dining Hall tonight."

"Ha. The more reason for me not to assist. Let the men have their fun."

"... Understood. Being that the case, I shall send orders so your meal is taken to your private stances."

"... Alright."

Reaching the stairs that would lead them to the lower floor he was to rest on, the Archduke broke the hush of his domain, halting the steps it listened as he observed the slanted ladders ahead.

"... Uth. The door that links with the woman’s... How does that work? The stone in it." — Fixated on the dark of the lower corridors, Aslak inquired.

"..... That I cannot say, my Lord."

"How come? Are you ignorant or are you just asking for my rage?" — Irked by his warden’s refusal to reply, he spouted. Glaring from the edge of his eye at the humble man.

"... That is not the case, Sire. Please do not think badly of me."

"..."

"Sigh... I am afraid that I cannot answer as I ignore its ways. I apologise. Those chambers truly were kept private to their residents, my Lord."

A scrutinizing flick of a glare was made by Aslak, sceptical to believe Uth’s sayings. Pausing to ponder about them at the loom below, ultimately muttering to the ominosity.

"...... If that’s how it is... There is no way to know now that the previous ones ceased to exist..." — Losing interest at the mention of the ones who had died, a sigh left through his nose.

"..." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Leave."

Bowing to his Master the keeper turned on his feet as the Archduke commenced his path down to his stances.

Dim lited and cold, the corridor adopted the soft orange of the torches illuminating vaguely the path to his chambers. Once at his door, the man’s eyes strolled to that one further inside such passage, where the Wife he had taken for himself was resting.

—... If you wish to continue... Call on me tonight. —

The words of her temptation were recalled through the lips she grazed with warm breath.

— The gem shall announce your summon, Husband... And... I am... keen to heed its call. —

And the intent of her sayings made him recall the rush of the heat that was interrupted.

’The gem...’

Nonetheless, the man became aloof to it, by the lack of knowledge to do as she had instructed while in his lap.

It was already late at night, dinner would be shortly served and...

’In any case... I never got to say I would summon her presence.’

It was the moment Ewelina decided to retire, that any shape of confirmation was negated by the woman’s quick turn of her back on him.

Detachment had settled within Aslak with greater strength from that instant. Being the child and his pipe the ones to bear its effect.

Entering his chambers, the lights of candles welcomed their Lord. While well-arranged sheets in his mattress remained untouched, for sleep rarely came to his lids in comfy grounds.

Water, wine and mead were available for his hand to serve. Yet he did not care for the use of a leather jack and drank from the juice’s original recipient, without restraint or prudent pace while indulging in their numbing taste.

The red liquid left a thin trail down his neck. And throwing the recipient, bored, as no drop was left... The aloof man’s stare fell on the concealed door behind the thick fabric. Intensely. Although blankly, for he ignored how to activate the gem embedded in it.

Nonetheless, curiosity made him close in its direction. And then, still a few steps away, an intense red light pierced through the charcoal-coloured fabric emitting the ray as if it were the flow of a river, along a peaceful sound mixing with the silence.

His eyes narrowed to the sight, following it to pull the curtain away with his hand and observe its luminescence for a long pause.

’... Was it her who...’

It was an intriguing coincidence for it to light at his ponder. Regardless...

The needed summon had been made.

— I am... keen to heed its call. —

The echo of her mouthpiece resounded as he opened the door to cross into the one they were to share.

Only a step had been placed inside the vast bedroom and the meet of their gazes occurred in a room drown by the moonlight.

She, who was also under the frame of her door, wore thin gowns. And following his movement, Ewelina also entered, closing the door behind her just as he did.

"... I... have come to heed your call, Husband."

"..."

’Was it not her?’ — He thought to himself.

Few candles one-sidedly lifted a flame. As if with mind... They lit so the Spouses could see each other in the warm shade of their marital chamber.

At the sight, the woman’s eyes lifted while pacing inside to observe the flames. Composed... yet fascinated.

"... That is... quite interesting... Candles lit by themselves... I had not seen that before."

"... They went off last time." — He answered coming to join her at the centre where she halted.

"..."

Ewelina came to meet his gaze, limbs wrapped in silk as the night was of unpredictable temperature.

"I had thought... no summon would come tonight."

"..."

Shy, her shoulders lifted, glancing cautiously at the wide man. Eventually catching sight of the faint trace of wine that struggled going down his chest now.

’... Was he drinking?’ — Ewelina correctly conceived in their stillness.

However, the shared awareness of their meeting prevented the married from saying anything during a tense moment...

A moment the ruthless man would put to an end with an impulsive request to the woman, who had taught inciting things that afternoon.

"Woman... What we did while you sat on my lap. Do that again."

"!... Are you referring to... grazing our lips...?"

"No."

Her eyes widened, confused by his denial. For nothing besides the dance of their joined lips in a kiss had been done... Intending to show the permitted for others to witness and the one solely permitted for their privacy.

The words she used were at fault. And it was the continuation of his answer that opened her eyes further in blushing surprise.

"Not grazing. The one where we licked each other."

Lacking tactfulness... He stated indifferently to the bluntness of his sayings.