“Hungry?”
His expression softened even further than when he had entered, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. It was fleeting, like fireworks blooming in the night sky—brief but utterly captivating.
“Mm-hmm!”
Avira nodded enthusiastically, her gaze focused intently on the beautiful cake before her. Her dark, shining eyes sparkled like rippling waves of light. “So hungry…”
As expected, Asake is amazing!
I must maintain a good relationship with Asake!
Just as she was thinking this, a hand lifted the cake out of her reach, and an exquisitely plated dish was placed in front of her. “Finish your meal before you eat the cake.”
Avira pursed her lips, blinking as she watched the cake being relocated to Asake’s side. Obediently, she began eating her food.
Asake’s lips curved into a pleased smile as he observed the girl across from him, her gaze lowered as she ate earnestly.
The wine in his glass swirled as he tilted it slightly, its deep red hues shimmering with an alluring glow.
His gaze, thoughtful and deliberate, fell on the delicate red ribbon tied around her slender wrist.
“That ribbon—is it important?”
He had noticed it from the very first moment he saw her.
The crimson lace ribbon, the only ornament on her body, stood out like a blazing flame, impossible to ignore.
“Hmm…?”
Avira glanced up at him, her expression puzzled. She followed his gaze to her wrist, then nodded firmly. “Mm-hmm, it’s very, very important. It’s something from the person I most want to surpass in this world…”
There were only two such ribbons in existence.
They were something shared between her and that person, a connection they both possessed and exchanged.
“I see.”
Asake responded softly, his tone contemplative.
Something so important…
He recalled someone he knew who also owned a ribbon.
That boy, half-angel and half-demon, carried a black ribbon that seemed completely at odds with his image. Yet, it was always tied around his wrist, an inseparable part of him.
Despite being a simple ribbon, when worn by him, it seemed to emanate an air of enigmatic nobility, as if narrating an ancient story that belonged solely to him and the people in it.
And now, Avira gave him that same feeling…
“Asake, Asake…”
His sleeve was suddenly tugged, pulling him from his thoughts. Avira had somehow appeared beside him, her wide eyes blinking with hopeful anticipation.
“I’m full now… Can I eat the cake?”
Asake’s gaze swept over her plate, which bore only a few bites of food, and a faint smile curved his lips.
She had only ever wanted the cake, hadn’t she?
“You may.”
Upon receiving his permission, Avira obediently sat beside him and began to savor the cake she had been eyeing for so long with a sense of reverence.
As expected…
There was no cake in the world better than the ones Lucas made! She really wished she could have Lucas for herself, tuck him into her pocket, and have him make cakes for her every day…
Asake propped his head up with one hand, his gaze resting on her.
Under the dazzling lights, his deep purple eyes carried a faintly dreamy quality, as if harboring secrets too subtle to be unraveled.
“Do you know Cole?”
“Co… le?”
Avira paused, her face tilting slightly as she stared at the wall in front of her, her expression one of deep concentration.
Her delicate, bright face scrunched up in thought, the dollop of cream on her lips making her look like a strawberry cake—pink and adorable.
“Hmm… I don’t know them…”
She shook her head, her gaze puzzled as she looked back at him, not understanding why he would bring up this name so suddenly.
Cole…
She had heard of him.
The legendary prodigy of basketball, a national MVP, and one of the aces of Sandfield’s team.
Just the mention of his name was enough to make people uneasy.
And even more so knowing that Cole wasn’t the only ace Sandfield had.
The other four players on that championship team were just as terrifying in strength, making it no surprise that they had won the title year after year.
Asake studied her, a smile gracing his lips without him even realizing it.
He reached out and wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth—a gesture so natural, so effortlessly noble and poised, as though it was simply a part of him.
