Love The Way He Lied

Eva stood up abruptly, her legs wobbling slightly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Aranel blinked at her. "What happened, Eva? Are you alright?"

Eva's thoughts spiraled. I can't tell Aranel… I absolutely can't.

"You're pale… and red?" Aranel tilted her head. "Wait—what did you just read? Let me see that book."

"No!" Eva blurted, holding the book tightly against her chest.

Aranel froze. "What?"

"I-I just remembered I have something important to do," Eva said quickly, her voice trembling as she tried to keep calm. "Let's go back."

"But we just got here," Aranel said, confused. "I didn't even finish my book."

"Aranel…" Eva swallowed, glancing away. "Let's buy it. This book. We can read it at home."

Aranel gave her a strange look. "But—"

Before she could finish, Eva had already grabbed her hand and dragged her to the carriage outside.

Inside the carriage, Eva's knee bounced nonstop, her foot tapping anxiously on the wooden floor.

"Why are you tapping your legs like that?" Aranel asked.

"N-nothing. It's nothing," Eva replied, voice tight.

When they finally reached Eva's house, she practically flew out of the carriage before it had fully stopped.

"Eva, wait! Your book—!"

Without a word, Eva whirled around, snatched the book from Aranel's hands, and shot a flustered smile. "Thanks! Bye! Let's meet again soon!"

"…Okay?" Aranel replied, utterly baffled.

Eva slammed the door shut behind her, tossed the book aside, and slid down to the floor, burying her red face in her hands.

"What the hell did you just do, Eva…" she groaned to herself.

"I slapped him… and I bit him…" Eva muttered under her breath, her eyes wide in horror.

"No. No, no, no… this can't be happening."

She began pacing the living room, her bare feet padding across the wooden floor in frantic rhythm. Her fingers tugged at her sleeves, then went to her lips as she bit nervously at her nail.

"Did I really do that? It can't be," she whispered, Panic tightening her voice. "Kyel did say I got drunk, but he didn't mention anything like that..."

Her eyes suddenly widened as a memory flashed back—Kyel's cheek this morning, Deeply flushed. And the scarf. He was wearing a scarf even though it wasn't cold.

"Oh gods…" Eva stopped mid-step. "Was he covering up a bite mark?"

She gasped and clutched her face. "Did I actually attack him while drunk?! Like some wild animal?!"

She dropped onto the couch, burying her face into a pillow. Her muffled voice broke through. "Why did he act like nothing happened this morning? He just smiled like… like it was normal!"

A dramatic groan escaped her lips as she flopped over onto her back.

"I'm so embarrassed. How am I supposed to face him? I want to die." She stared blankly at the ceiling, frozen in horror. "What if he thinks I'm some kind of freak?"

Her thoughts spiraled as she sat up and hugged the pillow tightly.

"Eva… why the hell would you bite your husband? Are you a dog?!"

She dropped her head again with a soft thud against the pillow and let out a helpless squeak of shame.

---

(Royal Palace)

Eyan stirred awake after five uninterrupted hours of sleep. A rarity.

With a low sigh, he stretched his long limbs across the bed, his muscles protesting slightly after days of exhaustion. As he shifted to sit upright, a sharp sting pulsed at the side of his neck. He winced and instinctively brought his hand to the spot.

His fingers brushed over a faint mark.

"Oh… right," he muttered, lips curling into a half-smirk. "I forgot about that."

He raised his hand toward the ceiling. "Talon."

A faint shimmer of dark mist appeared near the window, and from it stepped a majestic black wolf—his ever-loyal companion. Talon's eyes met his master's as he padded across the marble floor with quiet grace.

Eyan knelt in front of him and pointed to his own face and neck. "Can you take care of these?"

Talon tilted his head, then gave a slow nod before stepping closer. With a few careful licks—first along Eyan's face, then down his neck—the sting faded. A cool, soothing sensation replaced it, one that only Talon's enchanted healing could offer.

Eyan stood and moved to the mirror. He leaned in, inspecting his reflection.

"Perfect. All gone," he murmured, satisfied. Then he turned to Talon and offered a rare, genuine smile. "Thank you."

The wolf gave a soft chuff in response.

"You can go back now," Eyan said.

With a final glance, Talon vanished into the same misty shimmer, leaving the room silent once again.

Eyan rolled his shoulders, his expression hardening.

"Alright… time to get back to work."

---

(The Emperor's Chambers — Late Afternoon)

Eyan pushed open the heavy chamber doors with a loud crack, his anger barely contained.

The emperor looked up, startled by the sudden intrusion. "Eyan! What do you think you're doing? Where are your manners?"

Eyan stepped inside, his voice sharp. "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you, Father. What do you think you're doing?"

The old man narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about now?"

"Don't play innocent," Eyan snapped. "I know what you did. You crossed the line this time."

"I was only trying to help," the emperor said calmly, almost defensively.

"Help?" Eyan's tone turned bitter. "Were you trying to help me... or destroy me?"

His father's expression stiffened. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Do you have any idea what I went through because of you?"

The emperor stood, bracing himself on the armrest, voice rising. "Then you tell me—why did Lady Elinora go home crying after meeting you? What did you say to her?"

"I didn't say anything to her," Eyan replied coldly. "Though I wish I had. I'm not going to marry her, and that's final."

"She's a nice girl, Eyan—"

"I don't care," Eyan cut him off. "This is the last time I'm telling you—stop forcing me."

The emperor glared at him. "Is that a threat?"

Eyan's Voice lowered, calm and dangerous. "No… it's a warning."

"You dare speak to me like this?" The emperor fumbled to rise fully. "I'll teach you a lesson—where's my sword?"

Eyan scoffed, unmoved. "Father, you can't even walk straight. You're sick. Do you really think you can lift a sword against me?"

His father's voice cracked with desperation. "If you know I'm sick, then get married! Have a child! I want to see my grandchildren before I die!"

Eyan turned toward the door. "Enough of this. I'm done listening."

"Wait! Where are you going? I'm not finished yet!"

But the door shut behind him with a thud.

---

(Palace Hallway)

Eyan strode down the corridor, the marble beneath his boots echoing in rhythm with his rising frustration.

"All he ever talks about is marriage… marriage… marriage," he muttered, shaking his head. "The same stupid question over and over again."

He slowed, his steps faltering as a smirk tugged at the edge of his lips.

"You're not going to see me get married in this life, Father…"

He paused.

"…And as for grandchildren…"

A breath left him, almost like a secret slipping free.

"I think… you'll get one soon."

---