"Cora," Arthur called her na.
She said nothing in response. Just held him tighter. Her face pressed against his back between his shoulder blades.
Her breathing was slow and asured but he could feel the emotion in it.
They stood like that for a long mont. Neither speaking. Just together in the peaceful silence of the inner world.
Finally, Cora spoke. Her voice was muffled slightly against his back but clear enough to hear. "Thank you."
"For what?" Arthur asked.
"For agreeing to help," Cora replied softly. "For not turning Lady Ayara away. For... everything."
Arthur’s expression softened. "You don’t need to thank for that. I gave my word. I keep my promises."
"I know," Cora said. "That’s one of the things I respect most about you."
Another pause. Then Cora continued speaking. Her voice was quieter now. More vulnerable than Arthur had ever heard it.
"I need to tell you sothing," she said. "Sothing important."
Arthur didn’t respond imdiately. He simply waited. Giving her ti to gather her thoughts and words.
Cora took a slow breath. "When I agreed to follow you... when I chose to serve you... it wasn’t just because I recognized your strength or potential."
Indeed, at so point. She had submitted to Arthur of her own Accord and not because o a soul seal.
She paused again. Her arms tightened slightly around him. "I am asha that it was also strategic and calculated. I knew that if I wanted to find my sister, if I wanted to have any chance of confronting the enemies who destroyed Avalon, I would need soone powerful backing ."
"Soone who could stand against forces that have persisted for centuries. Soone who could challenge beings that most cultivators couldn’t even imagine facing."
Arthur listened quietly. His expression remained calm and neutral.
"So I made a decision," Cora continued. Her voice was steady but carried deep emotion beneath it. "I tried convinced you to help by offering sothing valuable. Sothing I hoped you might accept."
She paused for a long mont before speaking again. "I’m offering you control over my sister’s sect. Complete control. Not just temporary assistance, but full authority over the Evil God Extermination Sect and all its remaining mbers."
Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. "That’s not your decision to make. The sect belongs to your sister and her disciples."
"It is my decision," Cora said firmly. "Because I’ve already taken steps to ensure it. I’ve placed influence over Lady Ayara’s soul. Subtle. Undetectable. She doesn’t even know it’s there."
Arthur went very still. "What did you do?"
"Nothing harmful," Cora assured him quickly. "Just a small connection. A thread of influence that will naturally spread to the other sect mbers over ti through their existing bonds. It won’t control them or change who they are. It will simply... incline them toward trusting you. Following you. Accepting your authority."
She took another breath. "And I’m offering more than just the sect. I’m offering myself. Completely. My heart, my body, my soul. Everything I am and everything I can be."
"I want to beco your lover. Your partner. Your... companion in every sense of the word."
Arthur remained silent. Processing what he was hearing.
Cora continued, and there was sothing almost desperate in her voice now. "I know I might not be worthy of being your wife. I understand if you would only take as a concubine. I would accept that. I would be content with whatever place you’re willing to give ."
"As long as you help save my sister. As long as you use your power to find her and bring her back safely. That’s all I ask."
Arthur slowly reached up and gently took hold of Cora’s hands where they were clasped over his chest. He carefully unwound her arms from around him. Turned to face her.
Cora looked up at him. Her pink eyes were bright with unshed tears. Her expression was vulnerable in a way he’d never seen before. Open and honest and completely unguarded.
"You know you don’t have to do this," Arthur said quietly. His voice was gentle but firm. "I already agreed to help. You don’t need to offer yourself as paynt or bargaining."
Cora shook her head slightly. "It’s not just about paynt. It’s not just strategy or calculation anymore."
She looked directly into his eyes. "Sowhere along the way, it beca real. My respect for you grew into sothing deeper. Sothing I didn’t expect or plan for."
"I genuinely want this. I want to be with you. Not because I have to. But because I choose to."
Sothing within Arthur the fate gem pulsed slightly... causing him to lant inwardly.
’Fate huh...nice one.’
Arthur studied her face carefully. Searching for any sign of deception or uncertainty. But all he saw was sincerity. Raw, honest emotion that couldn’t be faked.
Besides he could perceive her emotions clearly with his ability.
He reached up slowly and cupped her face gently with one hand. His thumb brushed against her cheek. Soft and careful.
"Are you certain?" he asked quietly. "Once this step is taken, there’s no going back. Things between us will change fundantally."
"I’m certain," Cora replied without hesitation. "I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life."
’So love can blossom like this?’ Arthur sensed her feelings clearly.
’Hmm, this isn’t bad...’ Arthur would be lying to say he held no desires towards Cora. She was truly beautiful.
Moreover, she has heaven defying talent and is a renowned immortal alchemist.
You could say she qualifies to walk with him.
Most importantly, he has gotten found of her over ti.
They stood there for a mont. Looking at each other. The world around them seed to fade away until only they existed.
Then Cora rose up slightly on her toes. She closed the distance between them. And she kissed him.
It was soft at first. Tentative. As if she was still giving him the chance to pull away if he wanted to.
But Arthur didn’t pull away. Instead, he kissed her back. Gently but firmly. His free hand ca up to rest on her waist while the other remained cradling her face.
The kiss deepened slightly. Not urgent or desperate, but warm and sincere. A silent communication of feelings that words couldn’t fully express.
When they finally separated, both were breathing a bit harder. Cora’s cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were bright and happy.
Arthur looked at her with an expression that was softer than his usual composure. "Very well," he said quietly. "Since it has co to this..."
He moved suddenly. One arm slipped behind her back while the other went under her knees. He lifted her effortlessly in a princess carry. Cora let out a small sound of surprise but didn’t protest.
She wrapped her arms around his neck naturally. Her head rested against his shoulder. A small, genuine smile crossed her face.
Arthur began walking. The inner world responded to his will. They moved through the gardens toward the center of the palace complex where the master bedroom was located.
The building was elegant and refined. Classic architecture that spoke of tiless beauty rather than ostentatious wealth. Arthur carried Cora through the entrance and down a quiet hallway.
When they reached the bedroom, the doors opened smoothly at his approach. The room inside was spacious but not overwhelming. A large bed dominated one side. Soft lighting ca from formations built into the walls. Everything was tasteful and comfortable.
Arthur stepped inside. With a thought, he activated the privacy arrays built into the room. Powerful formations that would ensure complete isolation. No sound would escape. No spiritual sense could penetrate. What happened here would remain private and protected.
He moved to the bed and gently placed Cora down on it. She sat there looking up at him. Her pink hair spread around her shoulders. Her expression open and trusting and filled with emotion.
Arthur sat beside her. He took her hand in his. Their fingers intertwined naturally.
"I want you to understand sothing," Arthur said quietly. "This isn’t just about your sister or the sect or any strategic benefit. If we’re going to be together, it needs to be real. Genuine."
Cora nodded. "I know. And it is real. At least for ."
"Good," Arthur replied. He lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "Because you deserve to be valued for who you are. Not just for what you can offer or what role you can play."
Tears welled up in Cora’s eyes again. But this ti they were tears of happiness. Of relief. Of being truly seen and accepted.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. They stayed like that for a long mont. Just breathing together. Existing in each other’s presence.
"Thank you," Cora whispered. "For seeing . For accepting . For... everything."
Arthur’s free hand ca up to gently stroke her hair. "You don’t need to thank for that either."
They pulled back slightly. Looked at each other. And in that mont, there was a connection between them that went beyond words or physical attraction.
A eting of souls. A recognition of two people who had found sothing precious in each other.
The rest of the evening passed in quiet companionship. They talked softly about hopes and fears. About the upcoming challenges and future possibilities. About what it ant to trust soone completely.
And when words were no longer needed, they simply held each other. Finding comfort and strength in the closeness. In the warmth of another person who understood. Who cared. Who was willing to stand beside them no matter what ca next.
But after a mont what happened next was not unexpected...
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[A/N: Mc unexpectedly lost his v card in this new life....]
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