Amy woke up first. The first thing she saw was Sebastian's sleeping face. It took her a few seconds to process the situation and her face became flushed.
We kissed and slept together yesterday...
She felt as if she could take down anything now!
Although her thoughts sounded very suggesting, it didn't matter to her as nobody could hear her anyway.
Amy caressed Sebastian's face with a loving gaze and then leaned over to kiss his nose.
After she finished, the tips of her ears became flushed in embarrassment. How would he react if he were to awaken now?
But...
It was an undeniable fact that Amy and Sebastian had kissed twice yesterday. Something that only lovers would do. But, had they confirmed their relationship?
Sebastian had suddenly kissed her but even when they talked, he didn't mention anything about becoming lovers. Amy was very troubled.
What if it was just a whim...?
Although she wasn't narcissistic, even she knew that she was beautiful compared to most women among the major houses and the academy. What if Sebastian just wanted a taste?
Amy quickly shook her head and sighed.
"What am I thinking? He isn't like that at all."
She tried to sit up but found that Sebastian held onto her and refused to let go. Amy broke into a smile and gave him another kiss on the nose before moving away. She really had to take care of the aftermath.
Sebastian had been missing for a week and she didn't know where he had been. There were heavy bags under his eyes and his skin looked as if it hadn't been properly taken care of.
Her heart ached and he began inspecting his body. She could see the wounds and bruises on his body and knit her brows tightly. Was he kidnapped?
Although she had only planned to look at his face, neck, and arms, she raised his shirt and the color drained from her face.
There were three large gashes about to turn into scars extending from his chest to his upper abdomen. It looked like it was mostly already healed but wounds this severe wouldn't heal with just a week, he was definitely still injured.
She quickly called Baritos and he soon came with a doctor.
"This... it looks like it has been done by a flying beast. These look like the marks of a hawk's talons."
Amy's face was pale as she looked at Sebastian. He hadn't left her side yesterday. Could it be that he didn't go to a doctor?
"Doctor... will it leave a scar?"
Amy looked like she was about to cry.
The doctor felt sad for her and sighed. Although it was a bit much, he still felt like he had to tell her the truth.
"He's already very lucky. The wounds are very deep but it stopped just before they hit anything important. If they were even a fraction of an inch deeper, he would be dead. Getting off with just scars is the best we can hope for. The scars won't be too severe, it seems like the wound was soaked in water and then had medicine applied on it."
The water helped stop the blood from flowing out and then Sebastian cleaned his wound with the herbs. If he hadn't cleaned it and used herbs, he would've fallen ill and possibly die.
Amy watched as the doctor began applying more medicine on Sebastian who continued to sleep peacefully. The only thing she could do right now was to hold his hand and deal with the Walt House.
...
When she used her position to help search for Sebastian, Markus spoke to her as someone who lead the House of Luna.
"You are too devoted to that boy," Markus spoke while looking at Amy's state.
"I don't care what anybody says. He is my light. Without him, I'll be the darkness that envelops this world," Amy answered. She wasn't thinking straight and spoke words she shouldn't say.
Markus looked out of the window with an indecipherable gaze, "even if one day, that boy will be separated from you?"
When Amy heard that, her eyes widened and the energy in her body became disordered. Her lips trembled as she asked, "what... do you mean by that?"
Markus turned to look at Amy, "that boy is carrying a secret. A secret that none of the nobility would tolerate. He will become an enemy of the world. Even then, would you stand by his side and abandon your family?"
Amy opened her mouth but no words would come out. She had so many questions to ask but the words wouldn't form properly.
"I'm certain that he'll choose to leave you in silence. He can reciprocate your feelings but he won't be able to cross the line. He knows that one day, you two will be separated. If he doesn't do so, then you would fall into darkness with him. At that time, you might hate him, you might loathe his very existence for abandoning you.
"So I'll ask you here but you don't have to answer until that day comes. What if you grow to hate him?"
...
Amy hadn't thought about it before. She knew he was weak and she also knew that she might eventually have to leave him for some other man in a political marriage. Even then, she wouldn't leave him alone and continue to take care of him.
But, she had never thought about him being the one to leave. Markus' words made her more unstable as each day passed with Sebastian missing.
Sebastian's attitude had assured her he wasn't going to leave anytime soon. But, what about in a year? Two years?
She felt herself growing ever fearful of that day. A version of her who loathed Sebastian. Would she eventually turn into that?
It was only when Sebastian returned did her fears and worries vanish.
At that moment, she swore a silent vow. Even if he had the entire world as his enemy—even if he became a good for nothing—she would never abandon him. Her only solace was him.
...
Because of the commotion that Sebastian's disappearance caused, they had to solve the problems with the major houses. The morning immediately after, Sebastian and Amy left together to go to the Walt House.
Although Sebastian was injured, the doctor helped him wrap it in bandages. And immediately after that, he received an hour long scolding session from Clarice and Amy.
Jonathan and Markus were going to meet them there. The heads and successors of all three major houses would meet and talk about the losses and Sebastian's disappearance.
The matter about the forest was already being taken care of by the subordinate houses and in a few days, news that the fire is quelled would definitely arrive.
The three heads of the Walt House and the houses of Sol and Luna met under one roof and they were all accompanied by successors to their houses.
The Walt House had Gilbert, the House of Sol had Sebastian and his elder brother, and the House of Luna had Amy who sat down next to Sebastian.
Markus didn't seem to be at all concerned that his daughter, the heir apparent to the House of Luna was sided with the House of Sol. That fact alone made Gilbert flare in anger.
But, there was an extra person sitting at a chair reserved for the head of a household. The heir apparent to the House of Leon, Arthur von Leon.
He had blond hair and his eyes sparkled in the same color. Compared to the other people in the room, he definitely stood out.
Most people born without any bloodlines of Inheritors would typically be born with brown or black hair. The House of Luna had children born with ink black hair, the Walt House had people born with brown hair, and the House of Sol had red hair.
"I apologize for involving the Walt House in the search," Sebastian's elder brother was the first one to speak.
"It isn't too troublesome of a matter, the one missing is one of the House of Sol's direct lineage after all," the Walt House's head spoke slowly while looking at Amy by Sebastian's side.
Markus followed, "my daughter had been rash and convinced your son to join the search so we definitely must compensate you."
Jonathan raised a brow at Markus but stayed silent.
It was public knowledge among the major houses that Markus is an insanely crafty and greedy person. He only did things that could help him profit and people wouldn't even realize they had already fallen into his schemes.
If such a person were offering compensation of his own volition, then anyone would get suspicious.
Sure enough, even the head of the Walt House didn't know how to respond for a few seconds, "no, it's only a a small matter. There's no need for compensation."
He chose the option to evade Markus' plot.
After being denied, Markus' smile faded and he sunk back into his chair.
Seeing how he reacted, the head of the Walt House wiped his cold sweat. The last time Markus asked to compensate someone, it ended up destroying a minor house in one night. Even the royal family was cautious of him.
Arthur, who was sitting at the side had a rigid smile on his face.
"Is there anything you want to say, Arthur?"
Jonathan was the one to ask. Arthur was sent here to observe the talks between the three major houses and had the authority of a house head with him. Although he couldn't exert the right in full, he was still on equal standing with Markus, Jonathan, and the Walt House head, at least for the duration of the meeting.
Arthur seemed to be hesitant. He was looking at Sebastian and could feel the pressure he gave off. It was suffocating.
Arthur knew he was stronger than Sebastian, but what was with the pressure around him? It felt like an Adept beast was threatening to eat him whole.
Trying to find someone else who felt it, he caught sight of Gilbert gnashing his teeth while looking at Sebastian.
So he feels it too, this crushing pressure. Does nobody else feel it?
Amy, Markus, Jonathan, they were all composed. Even Sebastian's elder brother didn't seem to be disturbed.
What in the world is he? Arthur lamented in thought.
This time is a chapter about Amy.