Bab 408: Regression II
Cecilia pushed open the door to Arthur's room the next morning, her stride brisk and determined. She was on a mission—beating Rachel to Arthur so she could have him all to herself, at least for a little while. After all, teasing Arthur had become one of her favorite pastimes, and with him now trapped in the form of an adorable child, the opportunities were endless.
But as the door swung open, her crimson eyes immediately narrowed at the sight before her. There was Rachel, already in the room. Cecilia's mood soured further—but then she noticed something odd. Rachel wasn't with Arthur. Instead, she stood at a distance, her arms crossed, looking thoroughly displeased.
The real shock was Seraphina.
Seraphina, normally so composed, was sitting next to Arthur with an air of quiet contentment. She held him close, her hand gently patting his head as he sat in her lap. Arthur, for his part, looked surprisingly relaxed, his small frame leaning into her embrace.
Cecilia's jaw tightened as she sidled up to Rachel, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "What's happening here?"
Rachel turned toward her with an expression that was equal parts exasperated and annoyed. "We messed up," she muttered, her voice low. "She got to him because we bullied him too much yesterday."
Cecilia's face twisted into a mix of disbelief and frustration. "You mean we pushed him into Seraphina's arms? Are you serious?"
Rachel shrugged, her annoyance spilling into her words. "I didn't think he'd switch sides so fast. I mean, it was just a little teasing!"
Cecilia clicked her tongue, her gaze shifting back to Seraphina. As usual, the other girl's expression was calm and measured, her icy demeanor unbroken. But Cecilia wasn't fooled. There was the faintest upward curl of her lips, a subtle smile that spoke volumes. Seraphina was clearly enjoying herself, and that infuriated Cecilia even more.
Arthur, meanwhile, seemed entirely oblivious to the undercurrents in the room. His smaller frame made him seem even more vulnerable as he nestled into Seraphina's protective hold, his gaze focused on the book she was holding. It was an ancient-looking tome, full of detailed illustrations and elegant script, and Seraphina was reading it aloud in her soft, steady voice.
"Did you know she could be this doting?" Cecilia hissed at Rachel, her tone a mix of incredulity and jealousy.
"I didn't even know she had this side," Rachel replied, her glare fixed on the duo. "It's like watching a dragon guard its treasure."
Cecilia's lips curled into a smirk despite herself. "Well, if she's a dragon, then I'm a phoenix. And I don't intend to lose."
With that, Cecilia strode forward, her crimson dress swishing with purpose. She wasn't going to let Seraphina monopolize Arthur, not when he was in such an easily flustered state. "Good morning, Arthur," she said, her voice dripping with honey as she sat down on the other side of him.
Arthur glanced up, his wide, innocent eyes meeting hers. "Morning, Cecilia."
Cecilia's heart nearly melted at how cute he sounded, but she masked it with a playful grin. "You look so cozy, sitting there with Seraphina. Mind if I join in?"
Seraphina's eyes flicked toward Cecilia, her calm expression unchanging. "He's fine where he is," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Cecilia, however, wasn't one to back down. "Oh, I'm sure he is. But Arthur's always happier when he's surrounded by all of us, aren't you, Arthur?"
Arthur blinked, clearly caught in the middle of something he didn't fully understand. "Uh… I guess?"
Cecilia's grin widened as she leaned in closer, her hand reaching out to ruffle his hair. "See? He agrees."
Seraphina's hand stilled for a moment before resuming its rhythmic patting. Her gaze shifted back to the book, but there was a faint tension in her posture now, one that only Cecilia and Rachel would notice.
Rachel, still watching from the sidelines, sighed heavily. "This is going to be a disaster."
Arthur looked between the three of them, his young face scrunching in confusion. "Why are you all being weird?"
Cecilia laughed, her melodic tone filling the room. "We're not being weird, Arthur. We just care about you. Isn't that right, Seraphina?"
Seraphina didn't look up, but her reply was calm and pointed. "Actions speak louder than words."
Cecilia's smile tightened, but she refused to be outmaneuvered. "Exactly. That's why I'm here—to show Arthur how much I care."
Arthur groaned, his small hands covering his face. "I don't get adults. You're all so strange."
The three girls froze at his words before bursting into laughter, the tension in the room breaking like a popped bubble. For a moment, it was just the four of them—Arthur, young and bewildered, and the three girls who couldn't help but adore him, each in their own way.
Still, as the laughter faded, Cecilia shot Seraphina a sly glance. "Don't think this is over."
Seraphina didn't reply, but her faint smile spoke volumes.
And so the battle for Arthur's attention raged on, as subtle and fierce as any war, fought not with swords or spells, but with smiles, teasing words, and an overwhelming desire to see him smile.
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Seraphina sat with an air of calm contentment as Arthur rested against her. Her hand moved in slow, soothing motions, gently patting his dark hair. Her serene expression betrayed none of the delight bubbling beneath her surface, but internally, her thoughts were anything but calm.
'Cute,' she mused, her lips curling into a faint smile as her fingers brushed through his hair.
Arthur—normally a paragon of stoic strength, his lean, muscular frame and perfect features radiating an unapproachable confidence—was undeniably handsome. The kind of man who commanded attention in every room, whose azure eyes and effortless charm made him magnetic.
But this Arthur? This younger Arthur, with his boyish frame and wide, slightly bewildered eyes? This Arthur leaned into her with quiet trust, his smaller form so utterly defenseless. This Arthur was adorable. And Seraphina, usually the composed and distant one among the trio, found herself unable to resist doting on him.
It was jarring, seeing him like this. The man she loved—the one whose mere presence could make her heart race, whose rare smiles she treasured—was temporarily gone, replaced by this vulnerable child. The transition from romantic attraction to protective instinct should have been more difficult, but somehow, it felt natural. Different kinds of love, she supposed, but love nonetheless.
Her hand paused for a moment as she regarded him, his head tilted slightly as he seemed to relax under her touch. She could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, the rise and fall of his chest a soothing counterpoint to her own thoughts.
Normally, Arthur didn't evoke this kind of response. Sure, she would tease him occasionally, a quick jab to cut through his stoicism, but that was the extent of it.
But now?
Now, seeing him like this, with his soul regressed alongside his body, she felt an overwhelming urge to nurture him. Not out of pity, not even out of love—though she couldn't deny the affection she felt—but out of some deeper, primal instinct.
'He's so...' Her thoughts trailed off as she patted his head again, a faint warmth rising in her cheeks. 'He's just so... cute.'
Arthur shifted slightly, mumbling something incoherent. Seraphina's gaze softened further, her hand brushing over his forehead before resting lightly on his shoulder. She knew the others would tease him relentlessly given the chance—they already had, as evidenced by his slightly sulky demeanor when she'd found him this morning. But for her, teasing wasn't the goal.
No, she was here to make him feel safe. To remind him that he wasn't alone, even in this strange, temporary state.
Normally, Arthur carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, his strength and intelligence making him a natural leader, a force to be reckoned with. But in this moment, he was just a boy. A boy who deserved kindness and care, who deserved to lean on someone else for a change.
'So cute,' she thought again, her lips pressing together as she stifled the urge to coo aloud.
Arthur's eyes fluttered open briefly, and he glanced up at her, his expression sleepy and confused. "Why are you... patting my head?"
Seraphina tilted her head, her faint smile never wavering. "Because you look like you need it," she said simply, her voice as serene as ever.
Arthur frowned slightly, his boyish features scrunching in a way that only made him look more endearing. "I don't... I don't need head pats."
"Of course you don't," Seraphina replied, her tone teasing but gentle. "But that doesn't mean you can't have them."
Arthur didn't argue further, his small body relaxing against her once more. Seraphina's smile widened imperceptibly as she continued her ministrations, her mind wandering again.
Normally, she wouldn't indulge like this. Normally, she would maintain her distance, her carefully crafted image of unshakable poise and control. But this wasn't normal. This was Arthur, temporarily stripped of his usual strength and composure, and she was going to cherish every second of it.
As her hand continued its soothing rhythm, a single thought echoed in her mind, filling her with a quiet, unshakable resolve.
'No matter what, I'll protect you.'
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone