Chapter 202

Chapter 202 – Really Beautiful

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Soft footsteps soon sounded from the top of the stairs, in a graceful whisper that sounded familiar to Raphael. Automatically, he looked up and then froze as he saw Annette approaching.

A beam of sunlight glowed behind her, lighting on platinum blonde hair, pale as the moonlight. It was pulled back elegantly with platinum jewelry, and it made Annette like the early rise of a silver moon.

Raphael gazed at her, captivating. Her gown plunged over both her br3ast and back, baring her white skin, and her lips were scarlet as roses. Her eyes looked so seductive in their dark makeup, he caught his breath.

All he could think was to take her in his arms and carry her right back up the stairs.

“Raphael?” Annette said softly, and Raphael jolted, stiff and wide-eyed as he looked up at her. All at once, his Annette was a femme fatale.

And she was enjoying it as she moved closer to him, stopping on the second to the last step to bask in his gaze. From here, she was finally Raphael’s height. Normally he was a head taller than she was.

“Have you been waiting long?” She asked. “I’m sorry it took so long.”

She was so close when she looked into his eyes, Raphael’s cold face reddened, and he covered it with a hand. Something about him goaded Annette into mischief, and she pulled his hand down from his face, peeking into his eyes.

“How do I look today?” She asked, bringing her face closer to his. “Don’t I look pretty?”

“……”

“You don’t like it? I know it’s different than usual.”

How disappointing that Raphael couldn’t say a word. Annette lowered her eyes and looked very sad.

“No–no, beautiful. You look beautiful,” Raphael said, quickly catching her hand, and Annette’s eyes widened to see him so agitated. Both of them were surprising each other, but she was glad to see it. It meant it was real.

“Thank you. You look very handsome, too,” she said. It was so easy to kiss him like this, when they were the same height, and she leaned forward, making him freeze again at the unexpected touch. The cool, refined scent of lilies drifted with her, effortlessly stealing his heart.

Raphael’s face could not have been any redder. Annette laughed.

“Let’s go,” she said, tugging him by the hand. “You are today’s hero.”

It was literal truth. The moment she had seen him waiting, everything around him had faded away. He looked so handsome in the dark suit, perfectly tailored to his powerful physique, complimenting his manly face. The crimson trimming added a dangerous sensuality to his normally cold aspect.

I wish there was a real celebration today.

They were on their way to a battlefield, treacherous as thin ice on a river. Annette tried to push away the regrets in her heart as she climbed into the carriage beside him. The ride to the palace felt very short today.

“Raphael, I will be watching Celestine,” she said, as the palace came into view. She took his hand in hers. “If things become dangerous, I will signal to Railin, and he will bring her to me.”

Silently, he nodded. But as she was about to step out of the carriage, he caught her, holding her tight.

“Take care of yourself,” he whispered, his face solemn. “Don’t take any chances.”

He embraced her harder, almost pleading. There was fear in the gesture, a hint of desperation, a wolf afraid for his mate. It touched her.