Chapter 597

Chapter 597
The corridor was quieter than the gardens.
Cooler.
Empty.
Seraphim walked back from the bathroom, small steps echoing softly, still humming the rhythm of the game they had been playing.
Clap—clap—miss—
She turned the corner—
And walked straight into someone.
“Oh—”
She stumbled back slightly.
Looked up.
A boy stood there.
Older.
Dressed too well to be anything but noble.
He looked at her.
Once.
Then again—
Slower.
His eyes dropped.
To her ears.
To the soft movement of her tail behind her.
And his expression changed.
“…What are you.”
Seraphim blinked.
“I’m Seraphim.”
He let out a short laugh.
Not loud.
Not kind.
“That’s not what I asked.”
She frowned slightly.
“I’m—”
He stepped closer.
Not enough to touch.
Just enough to make it uncomfortable.
“Are you a wolf,” he said, tilting his head, “or are you a vampire?”
She didn’t answer.
He smiled.
Sharp.
“Or did they just… mix things together and hope for the best?”
Her fingers curled slightly.
“I’m not wrong.”
He shrugged.
“You have ears like a dog.”
A beat.
“And a tail.”
Another.
“But you’re dressed like you belong here.”
His gaze dragged over her again.
Deliberate.
“It doesn’t match.”
Her throat tightened.
“You look like something people forgot to finish.”
That landed.
Hard.
Seraphim stepped back.
He didn’t stop.
“If I were you,” he added casually, “I’d hide that.”
A small gesture toward her ears.
“Before people notice.”
Her eyes burned.
She turned—
And ran.
Fast.
Not thinking.
Not stopping.
Until—
She hit someone again.
“Hey—”
Yara caught her immediately, hands steady on her shoulders.
Seraphim’s face was tight.
Eyes bright.
Breathing uneven.
Yara’s expression changed.
Instantly.
“…Who.”
Seraphim shook her head once.
Then pointed.
“He said I’m wrong.”
Yara’s gaze followed.
Locked.
She saw him.
“…Show me.”
Seraphim grabbed her hand and pulled her.
“There.”
The boy was still there.
Composed.
Unbothered.
Yara walked toward him.
Straight.
No hesitation.
“I want to speak to your parents.”
The boy blinked.
Thrown off.
“…Why.”
Yara didn’t answer.
She just looked at him.
He pointed.
Across the hall.
A couple stood there.
Elegant.
Detached.
Clearly used to being left alone.
Yara approached.
Stopped in front of them.
They didn’t acknowledge her.
Continued speaking.
Ignoring her completely.
Yara waited.
One second.
Two.
Then—
“I suggest you stop pretending I’m not here.”
That did it.
They turned.
Slow.
Measured.
“Yes?” the woman said coolly.
Yara didn’t blink.
“I need a moment of your time.”
“And you are?” the man asked.
Yara tilted her head slightly.
“Yara Venn Carter.”
A flicker.
Recognition.
She didn’t stop.
“Daughter of Lys Venn Carter.”
A beat.
“Former president of the Trium Pact.”
Now—
They were listening.
“And,” Yara added, voice calm but sharp, “sister-in-law to the prince of Noctis Dominia.”
Silence dropped.
She gestured lightly toward the boy.
“Your son just mocked the princess of Noctis Dominia.”
The air shifted instantly.
The woman turned sharply.
“—What?”
The man’s gaze snapped to the boy.
“Explain.”
The boy froze.
“…I didn’t—”
“Do not lie.”
A pause.
“…I said something.”
“That is not ‘something.’”
The man’s voice hardened.
“You will apologize.”
The boy hesitated.
Just a second.
“Now.”
He stepped forward.
Toward Seraphim.
His voice was lower now.
Controlled.
“…I’m sorry.”
Not warm.
Not kind.
But forced into correctness.
Seraphim looked at him.
Didn’t speak.
Just nodded once.
Yara didn’t move.
Didn’t soften.
She looked at the parents one last time.
“That will not happen again.”
Not a request.
Then she turned.
Back to Seraphim.
She was still there.
Hovering.
Not crying anymore—
But not fully okay either.
Her tone shifted immediately.
Softer.
But still firm.
“You are not wrong.”
Seraphim blinked.
“You are exactly what you’re supposed to be,” Yara added.
A pause.
Yara’s expression shifted.
Subtle.
Less sharp.
She reached into the small bag slung over her shoulder.
Rummaged for a second—
Then pulled something out.
Wrapped.
Familiar.
She held it out.
“Here.”
Seraphim blinked.
Looked at it.
Then at her.
“…This?”
Yara lifted a brow.
“Take it.”
Seraphim took it slowly.
Turned it in her hands.
Recognition hit immediately.
Her eyes lit up.
“Chocolate.”
Human realm.
The same one she had liked since she was small enough to barely say the word.
Yara shrugged lightly.
“I brought it.”
A beat.
“…Just in case.”
Seraphim looked at her.
Then at the chocolate again.
Then back at her—
And suddenly—
She threw her arms around Yara.
A tight, happy hug.
Yara stiffened for half a second.
Out of habit.
Then sighed quietly—
And let it happen.
“…You’re sticky,” she muttered.
Seraphim laughed softly against her.
Already better.
Already lighter.
Just like that.
She pulled back, holding the chocolate like it was something precious.
“Thank you.”
Yara waved it off.
“Go before someone else annoys me.”
Seraphim nodded quickly—
Then ran off again.
This time laughing.
And Yara watched her go—
Just for a second—
Before turning away like it didn’t matter at all.
Yara walked deeper into the garden, heels clicking softly against the stone path, the noise of the party fading behind her until it was nothing more than a distant blur.
Her phone rang.
She didn’t even need to look at the name to know who it was.
Still—she glanced.
A small shift in her expression.
Then she answered.
“You took your time.”
A pause.
Her tone softened just a fraction.
“Yes, we arrived.”
Another pause.
“In one piece. No disasters yet.”
She listened, rolling her eyes slightly, but there was no real bite to it.
“No, you’re not here to keep me in line, so I had to do it myself.”
A beat.
Then—
“Some brat decided to mock Seraphim.”
Her voice sharpened again.
“I handled it."
Silence on the other end.
She exhaled through her nose.
“She’s fine. Forgot about it the second I gave her chocolate.”
A pause.
Then quieter—
“Yes. I know.”
Her steps slowed.
“…I miss you too.”
Not dramatic.
Not stretched.
Just real.
“I’ll call you later.”
She hung up.
For a second, she stood there, staring ahead—
Then her gaze shifted.
A couple.
Near the edge of the garden.
Partially hidden by the trees.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Looked closer.
Ezra.
And—
A girl?
Yara tilted her head.
Something didn’t sit right.
Then it clicked.
Not a girl.
Lysa.
Her expression didn’t change.
Not even a smirk.
She simply turned—
And walked away like she hadn’t seen anything at all.
Behind her—
Lysa suddenly shoved Ezra lightly in the chest.
“You idiot— I think someone saw us!”
Ezra blinked.
“...What?”
“Someone just walked past—”
Ezra ran a hand through his hair, already shrugging it off.
“It’s fine.”
Lysa stared at him.
“That’s not fine!”
Ezra stepped closer anyway.
Unbothered.
“Relax.”
Lysa huffed, but didn’t step back.
A small silence.
“…I missed you,” Ezra said, softer now.
That shut him up.
Lysa’s expression shifted.
“…I missed you too.”
He stepped forward—
And hugged him.
Ezra smiled, arms wrapping around him easily, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
When they pulled apart—
Ezra reached into his pocket.
“I brought you something.”
Lysa blinked.
“…You did?”
Ezra pulled out a small pendant.
Simple.
Carefully chosen.
“From the human realm,” he added.
Lysa’s eyes softened immediately.
“…You didn’t have to.”
“Yeah, I did.”
Lysa took it.
Held it like it mattered.
“…Thank you.”
Ezra didn’t answer.
He just leaned in—
And kissed him again.
This time slower.
More sure.
Lysa kissed back.
When they pulled away—
Ezra stayed close.
“…Do you want to do this properly?”
Lysa frowned slightly.
“…What do you mean?”
Ezra scratched the back of his neck, suddenly a bit less confident.
“Like… actually date.”
A small pause.
“No hiding. No guessing.”
Silence.
Then—
Lysa smiled.
“…Yes.”
Ezra grinned.
“Good.”
And when he kissed him again—
There was no hesitation left at all.