The silence between Arthur and Cora stretched for a mont longer in the quiet hall.
His arms were still wrapped around her body. Her head rested comfortably against his chest.
She could hear his heartbeat clearly through his robes. The steady rhythm echoed in her ears like a calming drum. Each beat was strong and even.
Cora’s own heart suddenly began racing without warning.
The realization of their current position hit her all at once. Her cheeks ward imdiately.
Pink color spread across her face rapidly like blooming flowers. She could feel the heat rising steadily to her ears. Her entire face felt like it was burning.
Her mind started racing with thoughts she couldn’t control at all. ’What is this feeling? Why am I reacting like this?’
The questions swirled in her consciousness. She’d lived for over a thousand years. She’d faced countless battles and dangerous situations throughout her long life.
She’d fought enemies that could destroy cities. She’d survived wars that spanned decades.
But this simple contact with a man made her feel completely different. It made her feel vulnerable in a way combat never had.
This was the first ti she’d ever been held like this by a man. The thought struck her suddenly.
The realization made her heart pound even harder against her ribs. She felt shy suddenly.
Embarrassed beyond asure. Her usual composure was crumbling like sand. All the confidence and strength she normally possessed seed to evaporate in an instant.
Without her conscious control, sothing stirred deep within her body. Her special physique activated passively in response to her emotional state.
The Divine Body responded automatically to her feelings as power over the six desires was triggered.
A subtle influence began radiating outward from her core.
The energy was gentle but persistent. It spread through the air around them like invisible waves.
Arthur felt the change imdiately. His senses were too sharp to miss it. A faint pressure touched the edge of his consciousness.
It tried to affect his mind in subtle ways. But his soul power was far too strong for such influence.
The pressure couldn’t penetrate his defenses at all. He didn’t even register it as a real threat.
It was like a gentle breeze pushing against a mountain. Completely ineffective.
Cora’s breathing beca slightly uneven as she stood there. Her chest rose and fell irregularly.
Her thoughts continued spiraling in circles. ’His embrace is so warm. His presence feels so safe. Why do I feel this way? I shouldn’t be affected like this.’
Her face grew even redder with each passing second. The pink had deepened to almost crimson now.
Arthur noticed her change in deanor clearly. He could feel her heart racing frantically against his chest.
The rapid beating was impossible to miss. Her body had tensed up in a different way than before.
Not from pain or sadness like earlier, but from sothing else entirely. Sothing more complicated.
He gently pulled back slightly to create so space between them.
One hand moved up slowly to her chin. His fingers were gentle and careful as he lifted her face to look at him directly.
Their eyes t without obstruction.
Cora’s pink eyes were wide and startled. Embarrassnt and confusion swirled in their depths clearly.
She couldn’t look away even though every instinct told her to. Her gaze was locked onto his face.
Arthur smiled softly at her reaction. His expression was gentle and understanding.
There was no amusent in it. "We can have more ti to explore things like this later if you’d like," he said calmly.
His voice was warm and reassuring like a comforting blanket. "For now, let’s take so rest. Tomorrow we shall et with Lady Ayara."
Before Cora could process his words fully or form any kind of response, Arthur released her completely.
His arms unwrapped from around her body. He stepped back smoothly in one fluid motion.
Then he turned on his heel and walked toward the exit of the inner world.
His movents were casual and unhurried as if nothing significant had happened.
*Swoosh!*
He left the inner world.
Cora stood frozen in place like a statue. Her mind was completely blank for a long mont.
Then everything crashed down on her at once. What he said. How he left so easily. The fact that she couldn’t respond at all. The realization of her own reaction.
Her face turned even redder than before if that was possible.
Frustration and embarrassnt mixed together into a confusing storm of emotions.
She stomped her foot hard against the ground.
"Tch!" The sound escaped her lips involuntarily.
"I’ll get back at you, Master!" she called out loudly to the empty space where he’d been standing monts ago.
But Arthur was already gone. He’d vanished from the inner world entirely. Only silence answered her declaration.
Cora stood there alone for several more seconds.
Her breathing was still uneven. Her face was still burning hot.
Slowly, she brought her hands up to cover her cheeks.
They felt like they were on fire beneath her palms.
’What just happened?’ she thought to herself. ’Why did I react that way? I’m supposed to be composed and mature.’
But no answers ca to her confused questions.
...
Arthur erged from the Serene Palace Painting back into his private chambers. The transition was seamless as always.
The night was still deep outside his windows. Darkness covered the capital city. He stood alone in the quiet room for a mont.
His expression was thoughtful. Then he moved with clear purpose toward another location entirely.
He closed his eyes and focused his consciousness inward. His awareness shifted to a different space.
He entered the inner world of the Nine Heavens Palace. This was his original artifact from his true past life.
Not from his incarnation as the Mortal Emperor, but from before that. From when he reigned as the Immortal Supre.
The space opened around him gradually. Ancient architecture stretched in all directions as far as the eye could see.
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