Night had fallen over the Balmount Kingdom, leaving the streets quieter than usual. A few people roamed under the dim glow of lanterns—beastkin and humans alike, walking in small groups. Couples shared whispered conversations, friends laughed softly, and families strolled together, savoring the calmness of the night.
Amidst this subdued bustle was a lone man. His short black hair appeared disheveled, his striking green eyes dulled with exhaustion. Clad in a crisp brown uniform, he walked through the streets with his hands buried deep in his pockets. People paid him no attention as he passed by, blending seamlessly into the background.
He sighed inwardly. The Countess sure gives me a lot of work—this and that, no breaks at all. Sigh. Where does she expect me to find the missing princess in this entire kingdom?
As he turned a corner, his gaze fell on a family walking together—a beastkin bear father, a human mother, and their two children. The little girl bore her father's beastkin traits, with small rounded ears and a faint golden fur on her cheeks, while the boy, human like his mother, had her gentle features.
The father wore a simple brown tunic paired with worn black trousers, while the mother donned a plain gray dress with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. The children were dressed modestly: the girl in a patched red frock and the boy in a beige shirt and shorts. Despite their humble attire, they laughed and smiled as they walked hand-in-hand, their joy radiating in the chilly night air.
The man's eyes lingered on them for a moment longer. When was the last time I smiled like that? he mused before chuckling bitterly under his breath. I really am getting old.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as memories of the past surfaced, unbidden and vivid.
The flashback carried him to a small, dimly lit room, its only furnishings a simple wooden bed, a nightstand, and a chair by the window. The air inside felt heavy with the scent of worn linen.
Angelo sat on the edge of the bed, naked save for the sheet draped across his lap. His expression was distant, his mind clearly elsewhere, until a hand reached out to touch his shoulder.
The touch was familiar, possessive. He turned to see Countess Serphina behind him, her amber-gold eyes glinting even in the low light. Her hair was tousled, and the sheet she held against her body barely covered her form.
"What's wrong, Angelo?" she asked softly, her fingers trailing down his back. "Not feeling well?"
He shook his head. "No, Countess. Just thinking about some unfinished business."
Her lips curled into a sly smile as she leaned closer, brushing her lips against his ear. "Unfinished business? Let me guess—illegal trades in the kingdom?"
"Yes," he admitted, his voice flat.
She cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "What did I tell you about calling me 'Countess' when we're alone?"
Angelo hesitated. "Sorry... Serphina. It's just that—"
She cut him off, her tone sharp despite her smile. "It's just what?" Her hand slid lower, brushing against his thigh, her nails grazing his skin teasingly. "Don't forget, Angelo—I own you. What I say is final."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Yes, Serphina. You really do own me."
Satisfied, she moved closer, straddling his lap as the sheet slipped from her shoulders, revealing more of her smooth, bare skin. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous mix of dominance and desire. She leaned in, capturing his lips with hers—demanding and fierce, her hands tracing his chest with firm, purposeful movements.
Angelo felt his heart pound under her touch, his breathing growing heavier as she pulled back just enough to whisper against his lips. "You think too much," she murmured. "That pretty head of yours needs a distraction."
His hands found her waist, holding her steady as she ground against him slowly, deliberately. He gritted his teeth, fighting back a groan, but she noticed. She always noticed.
Smirking, she leaned down to nip at his neck, drawing a low hiss from him. "Don't hold back," she whispered. "Let me hear you."
He couldn't help it—a strained sound escaped his throat as she moved against him, igniting every nerve in his body. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling just hard enough to make him meet her gaze.
"You belong to me," she repeated, her voice low and sultry. "Say it."
"I... belong to you," he replied, breathless and trapped in the fire of her touch.
She rewarded him with another searing kiss, her hands sliding down his chest and over his abdomen, tracing the lines of his muscles. She took her time, savoring the way his body tensed and relaxed under her control.
"I'm the only one who gets to see you like this," she purred, biting down lightly on his shoulder, making him gasp. "Don't forget it."
Angelo couldn't answer, his mind clouded with a mix of longing and resignation. She knew exactly how to play him, pushing him to the edge without letting him fall.
When she finally pulled away, her lips were curled into a satisfied smile, amber eyes still gleaming. "Now," she whispered, brushing her lips against his ear, "remember your task. Find the princess. Do it right, and I might just give you another reward when you return."
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus despite his racing heart. "Understood... Serphina."
She gave one last playful tug on his hair before slipping from his lap, letting the sheet pool around her feet as she walked to the window, completely unbothered by her nakedness.
"You're dismissed," she said casually, not even looking back.
Angelo took a shaky breath, forcing his body to calm down as he grabbed his clothes and dressed hurriedly. As he left the room, he couldn't shake the feeling of being both used and cherished—trapped in a cycle of desire and loyalty he couldn't escape.
The memory faded, dissolving into the present as Angelo found himself back on the dimly lit street, the cool night air brushing against his face. The soft hum of distant conversations and the faint clatter of a closing tavern door reached his ears, but they felt distant, like echoes in a dream.
He stopped for a moment, looking up at the moon, its pale light spilling over the quiet streets. His green eyes reflected its glow, thoughtful and weary. Finding the princess will take time, he mused, his lips curving into a faint, humorless smile. At least there's no deadline... yet.
The weight of the task ahead seemed to press on him more with every passing moment. The kingdom was vast, and the odds of finding her felt almost insurmountable. Still, he knew there was no refusing Serphina's command—not when it came from her lips, not with the kind of hold she had over him.
Angelo let out a slow, tired sigh, the kind that came from a deep reservoir of exhaustion rather than simple fatigue. He pulled his hands from his pockets, letting them swing at his sides as he resumed his walk. The chill of the night seeped into his bones, a cold that reminded him how far he'd come from the warmth of that memory—and how much further he still had to go.
He passed by shuttered windows and empty storefronts, his footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. A faint breeze carried with it the scent of damp stone and wood smoke, mingling with the distant laughter of a late-night reveler. For a fleeting moment, Angelo thought of home—not just a place, but a time when his life was simpler, freer.
But that was long gone. His path was set, whether he wanted it or not. Looking up at the moon once more, he muttered under his breath, "This isn't going to be easy."
Then, steeling himself against the growing chill, he shoved his hands back into his pockets and continued onward, his silhouette fading into the stillness of the night.