Helios steps into the shower and turns on the warm water. "She forgot that I'm a Seeker," he mutters as the water cascades over his body. Remembering what Sara said when he first entered the bathroom, he starts chuckling to himself, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "She'll regret not going to the other room," he says with a small, knowing smile.
In the bedroom, Sara is still flushed with embarrassment. "Why didn't I just go to the next room last night?" she sighs, finally removing her hands from her face. Memories of sleeping in the same bed as Helios flash through her mind. She flops back onto the bed and closes her eyes; her white hair fans out across the mattress, catching the morning sunrays until it shimmers like raw silk.
The bathroom door creaks open, and Helios emerges amidst a cloud of steam. He is drying his long hair with a towel, another wrapped loosely around his waist. Sara instantly bolts upright, rushes past him into the bathroom, and slams the door shut.
"You're the one who started it, and you're the one who can end it!" Helios calls out in a teasing voice, smirking at the closed door.
A short while later, Helios is fully dressed in a sharp black military uniform. Three golden chains are pinned to his fur coat, and he pulls on a pair of sleek black gloves. Sara emerges from the bathroom, clutching a towel around her body and struggling to dry her damp hair.
"Do you need help with that?" Helios asks. As his gaze lands on her, his golden-red eyes quickly dart away, and a faint blush creeps up his neck.
"Yes, thank you," Sara replies, taking a seat.
Helios walks over and picks up a hairdryer. At least that guy Agrise did something right, he thinks privately as he begins drying her hair with surprisingly gentle movements.
"Next time, I'll dry your hair," Sara says, watching his reflection in the mirror.
"Only if you don't run into the bathroom like a rabbit being chased," Helios teases. He finishes the job and switches off the dryer.
"Out," Sara commands, pointing firmly toward the door.
"What did I do?" Helios asks, his expression shifting to one of comical confusion.
"What, do you want to watch me change?" Sara snaps, her voice rising in frustration. She shoves Helios out of the room and slams the door in his face.
"Before I forget, I'm bringing you to the meeting at the Imperial Palace!" Helios shouts through the wood.
"Okay!" Sara yells back.
Downstairs, Helios waits by a black car where a P.O.C. member sits in the driver's seat. He glances up at the sun, checking the time. "She's certainly taking her sweet time," he mutters. "It's been so long I thought she'd been kidnapped or something."
He recalls his attempt to check on her earlier. He had knocked on the door, asking, "Sara, are you okay?" When no one answered, he warned, "I'm coming in." The moment his hand touched the handle, a spiral of energy shot through the door, narrowly missing his head. "Do you dare open that door?" Sara's voice had boomed from inside.
Helios shakes off the memory as he spots Sara approaching in the distance. She is wearing a sophisticated black dress with long sleeves, a snake-shaped bracelet coiled around her left arm, and high red heels. Her white hair is elegantly tied up.
"What do you think, Helios?" Sara asks with a confident smile.
"It looks good on you—it almost justifies how long you took to get ready," Helios remarks.
"What was that?" Sara asks, her voice dropping to a slightly menacing low.
"Nothing," Helios says quickly, opening the car door for her. He offers a slight, gentlemanly bow. "After you, my lady."
"What a gentleman," Sara remarks, sliding into the car. She immediately scoots over, leaving space. "Why are you just standing there?"
"You wanted me to walk all the way around to the other door?" Helios asks, amused.
"Maybe," Sara says, patting the seat next to her.
Helios climbs in. "You can go now," he instructs the masked P.O.C. member.
Upon reaching the Imperial Palace, Helios steps out and holds the door for Sara. "Thank you. We can go now," she says as the car pulls away to the park. She links her arm with his, and they begin the walk toward the palace.
As they pass through the hallways, every servant they encounter bows deeply.
"Is that the Supreme Commander who's going to lead the war?" one servant whispers.
"Yes. And who's the woman next to him? They look very close," another adds, turning to watch them pass.
"They look like a wonderful couple," a maid chimes in.
"It seems we're attracting a lot of attention," Sara whispers, leaning closer.
"Don't worry about them. We're almost there," Helios reassures her. They stop before a massive door carved with intricate patterns.
Two guards heave the doors open. Helios walks in to find four people seated at a round table.
"You're late," the King says, his eyes narrowing as he looks at Helios. "And who is she?"
"She will be representing the Seeker faction since I can not represent two factions at once," Helios explains calmly. He signals a guard, who leaves to fetch another chair. Helios then slides his own chair out for Sara to sit in.
"You seem quite kind," a woman with pink hair and piercing green eyes observes.
"And who are you?" Helios asks, his tone wary.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself," the woman says, placing a hand over her heart. "I am the Saintess of the Raikathor Church, the Demi-god of Storms. I am representing the religious faction."
"Why don't we all introduce ourselves since we will be working together?" the King suggests with a thin, fake smile. The guard returns with a chair, and Helios sits down.
"I'm Revilo, representative of the Black Market faction," a boy with brown hair and amber eyes says.
"Why do we have children representing factions?" a man asks with a mocking smirk.
"And you are?" Helios asks, eyeing the man.
"Apologies. I am the representative of the noble faction, Grand Duke Nigel," the man replies haughtily.
"I'm not a kid," Revilo snaps, looking frustrated. "It's just that my summon rewinds my age sometimes."
"I'm Helios, representing the new military faction."
"I'm Sara, representing the Seeker faction," she adds, her voice slightly nervous.
"I don't believe I need an introduction," the King says, his expression turning grim. "Now, let us begin the meeting to discuss our campaign against the Four Kingdoms Alliance: Solariis, Lunaris, Vesperia, and Thalassos."