Chương 28: Constellations

"Good, right?"

"Yeah. You nailed it." Inside the private lounge, where trailing wisps of warm steam still lingered in the air, Noa stood before a polished bronze mirror. He was adjusting his hair—the dark strands Vionette had styled moments ago—running his fingers through it one last time as if confirming that reality had indeed settled back into place. Vionette stood behind him, peering into the mirror over his shoulder while fixing her own hair, as if it were possible for her to look any more stunning.

Both of them had already changed back into their usual dark attires.

"Let's go then." The next second the bamboo doors slid open with a soft, sweeping sigh against the floorboards, the guards and attendants stationed outside bowed in synchronized motion. As they walked down the quiet corridor, Vionette leaned in close to Noa, a slight, knowing smile gracing her lips.

"So, was it worth it?" her voice remained light, but laced with genuine curiosity.

"Hell yeah." He turned his head back toward her; their faces were incredibly close, their eyes locking onto each other.

"What did you expect a guy to say after sharing a bath with the most beautiful woman?" Vionette snapped her face back immediately, her gaze dropping to the wooden floor below as a delicate flush bloomed across her cheeks—a vivid pink like the first dawn breaking over winter snow. Her fingers met in front of her waist, twisting together in a timid, restless fidget. The most beautiful? The most beautiful? The most beautiful? The most beautiful?

The words spun on a loop inside her head, and she stubbornly refused to let them fade. When being the most beautiful to Noa, it didn't matter whether it was Seoyeon in Vionette's body or Vionette with Seoyeon's soul. He only cared for the person in front of him right now. Her beauty had caught his eyes. Her personality had made him stay. This was not a romance born from the desperation of a battlefield, nor was it gratitude mistaken for affection. It wasn't a fleeting spark ignited by bloodshed or shared danger.

It was something much quieter. Something far more stubborn. They were like two lonely constellations that had drifted through the cosmic dark for centuries before finally aligning. Their mutual gravity gently pulled at the threads of each other's existence, weaving them together so tightly that neither star could remember where its own light ended and the other's began. They were not blazing; they were simply… compatible. Noa and Vionette continued down the hallway until they hit a crossroads.

To the right, the corridor led toward the common baths, humming faintly with distant laughter. To the left lay the main exit, where the crisp night air waited. They both automatically turned left.

"Mmm…" Vionette stretched her arms above her head, interlocking her fingers as a soft, satisfied yawn escaped her lips.

"That was so freaking refreshing."

"I know, right?" Hmm…? Vionette's brow furrowed in confusion. That reply hadn't come from Noa. It wasn't even a man's voice. Her steps faltered as recognition set in, and she slowly turned her head toward the right hallway, half-fearing that reality had decided to play a cruel prank on her. There stood Rose. And hovering behind her were Kaelen and Lucien.

"What the hell…?" Vionette muttered under her breath.

"Eeeeeh? P-princess?!" Both Noa and Vionette flinched back in perfect synchronization, their mouths agape and eyes wide, looking like they had just seen a ghost rise straight out of the bathwater. Noa's finger shot out, pointing accusingly at Kaelen and Lucien.

"Why the fuck are you guys here?!" … Apparently, after their massive winning streak at the gambling house, Rose, Kaelen, and Lucien had decided that since fate had graciously gifted them both coins and free time, they might as well surrender to pure indulgence. Naturally, they had hit the hot springs to wind down before heading back to the castle.

"… And that's the whole story," Rose explained calmly, her expression already shifted back into her professional head maid demeanor, as though she hadn't just stumbled into a scandal shaped like her queen and a certain commoner. Upon realizing who was standing before them, Kaelen had immediately straightened like a spear planted in the dirt. Lucien had his arms crossed behind his back, his expression unreadable.

Since they hadn't spent much casual time with Noa and Vionette, a layer of politeness still wrapped around them. Noa waved his hand lazily.

"Just relax, dudes. You're off the clock. Even if you weren't, it's fine. I hate it." Kaelen and Lucien exchanged a silent glance—one of those soldier-to-soldier communications—before nodding slightly and relaxing their shoulders.

"Anyway, let's just go home. It's getting late," Vionette said at lightning speed, clearly desperate to avoid something, and began power-walking toward the exit.

"Yeah…" Noa matched her quick pace, his expression mirroring hers. Rose stared at them skeptically.

"Umm… did you two happen to use a private bath alone?" Rose and the guys had used the gender-separated wings. But judging by the corridor Noa and Vionette had emerged from, it was blindingly obvious that hadn't been the case for them. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The moment the question hit the air, both Noa and Vionette twitched, freezing mid-step. The accusation hung heavily in the corridor like thick incense smoke.

"W-what if we did?!"

"Y-yeah… is that an issue or something?" Their voices overlapped awkwardly, their panic betraying their guilt far louder than an actual confession ever could. Rose crossed her arms and leaned forward slightly, leveling them with a deadpan stare that could peel paint right off the walls. So they really did share one, she sighed inwardly. I honestly don't know what the princess is thinking, taking a commoner as a partner. Well… he is capable, though. And…

Though Noa's personality irritated her, Rose didn't actually hate him. She had seen what the man was capable of. More importantly, she had noticed the way Vionette smiled whenever he was around—a smile that was just as genuine as the one she gave her inner circle, yet entirely reserved for him and him alone. I guess it's fine…? The moment Rose took a step forward to follow them, Noa and Vionette suddenly burst into a full-blown sprint, fleeing like fugitives trying to escape divine judgment.

Kaelen and Lucien trailed from behind, exchanging identical side-eyes while rolling their shoulders, silently asking each other: What in the world is going on?

"Uwaaaah~" Morning arrived like a lazy cat stretching across marble floors. Noa woke up in his bed, throwing his arms upward as his joints popped softly in the quiet room. He was sprawling in the center of his chamber on a massive, king-sized bed draped in fine white silk. The polished marble floors beautifully reflected the pale morning light, while vibrant crimson accents traced the edges of the room like restrained sunlight. Maybe I drank too much wine last night. Or maybe… I just enjoyed myself too much.

He lay there a moment longer, staring at the ceiling as he replayed Vionette's expressions from the previous night—the adorable way she scrunched her face after biting into that spiced skewer, the half-lidded gaze she gave him when she tried to tease him, and the way some words made her flush a brilliant crimson. Each memory flickered in his mind like scenes from a private movie only he was allowed to watch. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he leaned into the mirror to fix his hair.

He changed out of his sleepwear—loose black pants and an unbuttoned white shirt—and slid into his usual black outfit. <You're up? Then come to my office. > Vionette's voice resonated inside his mind. Noa blinked in surprise. He had almost forgotten that thanks to their shared skill, [A Match Made in Hell], they could speak telepathically and see through each other's perspectives at any moment. <Uh… yea. Can't you just tell it from there? I can see through your eyes if you want to, too.

> Logically, there was no real reason for him to physically walk over. And yet, deep down, he wanted to. <Oh? You don't want to see how I look with your own ey—> <I am coming right now! > [Blink] With a distortion in the air, Noa vanished, appearing in a place he could see through his window. She's getting bold lately. … Creak. The wooden doors of Vionette's office—each standing nearly twice Noa's height—swung open slowly.

"There you are." Her voice greeted him, smooth as silk brushing against bare skin. The very first sound I hear this morning. Absolute peak, Noa thought, closing the massive doors behind him. He turned toward her, and his body instantly froze in place. Vionette was perched atop her work desk, looking like a queen who had decided to entertain boredom rather than rule a nation. Her legs were crossed with effortless grace, one hand held a formal sheet of paper, while the other rested lightly on her thigh.

She was wearing a sleeveless, mock-neck blouse in a vibrant crimson red—the same shade of her eyes and the earring Noa had gifted her. High-waisted, form-fitting black trousers defined her silhouette, tapering down into sleek black heels that rested lightly against the floorboards. A pair of round glasses framed her crimson eyes, catching faint light like twin embers trapped behind crystal.

Her white hair was carefully gathered into a braid and draped over her left shoulder, falling across her chest like a pale ribbon spun from pure moonlight. Noa's gaze traveled up. Then down. Then all the way up again. Finally, he closed his eyes, tilted his chin toward the ceiling, and silently thanked god for the view.

"Heheh~ I knew you'd love seeing me in different outfits," she purred, smiling like a brilliant fox that had set a trap days ago and finally heard the jaws snap shut.

"I like it a lot. Like, an unhealthy amount," Noa admitted, playfully wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye.

"But—why did you call me here?" His tone didn't shift into seriousness, because for the two of them, even kingdom management was just another form of entertainment.

"Well," she said, tilting the paper in her hand toward him, "because a war is about to pop off." Noa walked around the desk, tossing himself into her plush office chair. Vionette smoothly slid sideways, seating herself on the chair's armrest and leaning against him, her arms resting comfortably on his shoulder. Noa held up the letter and began to read.

=== To Her Majesty of Crimvane, By decision of the Eryndor Council, we hereby declare our formal alignment with the Crown of Crimvane in the coming conflict against Aurelyth. Eryndor recognizes the sovereignty of Crimvane and shall provide diplomatic, economic, and logistical support for the duration of the war. Trade routes under our control will remain open to Crimvane supply caravans, and our intelligence networks will share strategic observations where permitted. This decision was not made lightly.

However, Aurelyth's recent mobilization along the eastern mountain passes indicates preparation for large-scale military action within approximately one month's time. Their supply caravans have increased in frequency, and mercenary contracts have been issued across three neutral city-states. Eryndor submits this knowledge as proof of good faith and loyalty to the Crown of Crimvane. May this alliance preserve stability across the continent. Respectfully, Roswell Eryndor.

=== When he finished scanning the text, he looked up at Vionette, a wry smirk on his face.

"Do these guys have the highest survival instincts in the world or something?" The fact that the Eryndor had chosen Crimvane over Aurelyth—prioritizing overwhelming power over strategy—was genuinely surprising to him. Vionette reached down and gently adjusted his collar, though it wasn't even crooked; she just wanted to touch him.

"I guess going to Eryndor that day was a good move."

"You can say that, yeah." He leaned back into the chair, fully leaning into her warmth.

"So, what now?" Vionette tilted her head upward, her crimson eyes gleaming behind her round glasses.

"We have at least a month, just like I planned. Like I told Valric, we'll hold the meeting with the dukes in five days. After that…" She glanced down at him sideways, a glint in her eyes.

"We're going to go forge your sword. On that note, did you get the update about the dragon?" Noa looked back at her, surprised.

"I did, but… how did you know about it?" Vionette reached out and playfully flicked his forehead with her finger.

"Did you think Valric would find out about something and I wouldn't? I just didn't tell you because I knew you'd go hit him up for the details." Then— Creak. The office door swung open, and Rose walked in carrying a silver tray. She stopped dead in her tracks, blinked once, scanned the two of them, and then blinked again. One was sitting in the chair, while the other was perched shamelessly on the armrest, draped all over him.

"You two move fast," Rose said, her voice entirely flat.

"No, this is escalating way too fast." Noa looked up, rubbing the spot on his forehead where Vionette had just flicked him, while Vionette adjusted her glasses without making even the slightest effort to move away from him.

"We were discussing war." Rose's left eyelid gave a twitch.

"Of course you were." May the kingdom survive both the war… and whatever the hell this is.