Chapter 280: I Like You

As expected, the master bedroom was several leagues above Kai’s previous room.

A queen-sized bed was the centerpiece of the room on the right, complete with a bedside table on each side, a big arching window across from the door, a big rectangle-shaped painting framed in black with red accents hung on the wall across from the bed, and essential furniture to fill the empty spaces.

But none of those things mattered for Kai.

Right now, the centerpiece wasn’t the queen-sized bed but a woman standing right beside it.

A woman who stopped Kai dead in his tracks.

Not because he didn’t recognize her, but because of what she was wearing.

Matila was now draped in something that Kai never thought she would wear—a nightdress that flowed around her in a rich crimson satin. Its lustrous silk fabric caught the candlelight as she stood beside the bed.

Thin, delicate chain straps rested over her shoulders, while the soft neckline traced an elegant line across her athletic figure. Long, translucent sleeves fell loosely from her arms—gathered at her wrists in folds that lent the dress an almost ethereal look.

And a matching ribbon-like collar encircled her alluring neck firmly.

Every beautiful, athletic line and curve of her body was there to see.

"Matilda...? W-What are you wearing?" Kai swallowed harshly.

And then, he shook his head, snapping out of his trance.

A dark strand entered his mind and pulled him back to reality without his consent.

Before she could even answer, his rigid muscles finally eased as it turned out Matilda was the one who had entered his house. He leaned his forearm against the doorframe—and tossed the stick away, and then breathed.

Kai wiped the sweat from his forehead and steadied his breathing.

He was panicking for no reason.

"You almost gave me a heart attack." Kai cast her a glance and then pressed his forehead hard against his forearm, trying to calm his pounding heart inside his ribcage. "I thought there was another assassin sent to kill me."

Only when he said that did Matilda finally snap out of her daze.

She, too, didn’t expect Kai to enter the room suddenly.

Like always, it was hard to really sense him coming even though she was quite alert.

Matilda approached him with soft steps.

She stood beside him and leaned her head to the side, trying to get his attention.

"I’m sorry. Did I scare you too much?" She asked, holding Kai’s hand, and then pulling on it to have him face her. And then, she saw something in his eyes. Something that made her frown in suspicion. "I can see bloodlust in your eyes. What happened?"

Before he could answer, Matilda brought him to the bed.

She didn’t forget to close the door before bringing him away, and Kai didn’t fight back.

Both sat on the edge of the bed, and Matilda’s hand was still clasping his.

"It’s nothing. Just a little bit tired from everything that happened today."

"Don’t lie to me. Kai—don’t keep things to yourself. Do that, and the darkness in you would only get stronger."

"I avenged Talitha earlier... Forced the grey-masked Angel who dragged me out that night to kill his peer, the one who stabbed Talitha. And then I made a deal with the seniors to capture High Angel Hensen and handed him to Dorian. He’s still holding a grudge after almost being executed."

"..."

Matilda was taken aback.

It hasn’t even been half a day since the end of the investiture to this moment.

And somehow, in those hours, Kai had already cleaned up more of the troublemakers.

Considering that it went well, he should feel triumphant, but he didn’t seem that way.

"How are you feeling after doing those things?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Aren’t you glad that they would no longer be a problem?"

"Yes—I am glad that they were out of the way. Happy that things went smoothly. But I don’t necessarily feel anything after the fact."

"Does killing them bother you?"

"No. Killing them doesn’t bother me." Kai turned to look at her, and then flashed a faint smile. "And that’s the point."

"Okay." Matilda stood up and tugged on Kai’s hand, signalling for him to get up, too. "Seems like you need a good rest tonight."

Under her persistence, Kai had no other choice but to stand up again.

Matilda removed his red dragon mask first; it was heavier than it looked, and then set it gently on the bedside table. Then, her fingers found the clasp of the Eventide Mantle of Lifeblood. It opened with a soft click, and she hung the mantle on the coat rack.

After that, she helped him out of his uniform—shirt, pants, shoes, everything.

She stripped him down until he was only in his boxers.

Matilda went to the other side of the bed—and then pulled on his hand again, guiding him to lie down on the bed. He was in a trance, and it was clear that his mind was out of it. Detached from how tired he was.

It had been a long day.

And frankly, this was her first time seeing him like this, so she was worried.

Matilda drew the blanket up, tucking it around Kai until he was fully covered. And then, she slipped beneath it and lay down beside him. Gently, she pulled him close—guiding his head to rest against her chest, holding him tightly.

Making sure that he was comfortable and knew that she was right beside him.

"Don’t think about anything. I’ll protect you tonight."

He was unresponsive for a couple of seconds.

But then, his arms moved—one went over her waist and the other slipped through from under her before pulling her close, reciprocating her gesture. Kai and Matilda lay on the bed, a mess of tangled bodies.

It was hard to push away the voices inside his head.

Even though the night was silent, his mind was as loud as it gets.

However, with Matilda’s nails tracing a slow, circling path across the back of his head alongside her steady breathing, the tension in his body began to melt away. His nerves and mind quieted without him even thinking.

And with her beside him, subconsciously, he knew that it was safe to lower his guard.

Stars in the night sky moved a short but noticeable distance.

Clouds had thinned at the edges, and the darkness softened.

Across the bed, the black-and-red painting had changed in the dimness. Its red accents were no longer burning sharp—they had dimmed to embers, bleeding softly into the shadows like cooling coals.

Beside the bed, the red dragon mask remained unmoved on the bedside table.

And on the other one, a glass of water sat untouched.

A thin condensation formed at its base where the cool air had settled.

Right beside it, the candle already burned a quarter of the way down as hours passed.

Matilda was still embracing Kai through the hours, but her hand that was scratching the back of his head had already stopped. She had made sure that Kai would not think of anything, but couldn’t resist the drowse in the end.

Soon enough, Kai inhaled deeply, and his eyelids fluttered open.

He smelled a warm and creamy scent that wrapped around him. It was soft and familiar, and the thought of waking up felt like an intrusion he could not bring himself to accept because of this scent.

He let his eyes fall shut again.

Sleep wouldn’t come for him without the Deep Slumber, but rest was something else.

It was still possible for him to rest sufficiently without sleeping.

In fact, these hours of rest felt like his soul had been rejuvenated to the fullest.

But his mind worked again.

Kai’s eyes shot open and pulled away. He stared at the person beside him and couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. Hours ago, his mind was still cloudy from everything that happened throughout the day.

Now, the cloudiness was no more.

And for the first time, he took a proper look at Matilda.

Strands of her hair fell to her face, but it couldn’t hide her sharp features.

A trait that gave her the feeling of marble carved into something beautiful and breathing.

She slept soundly, draped only in a silken red night dress that left most of her skin bare to the dim light. From where he was lying, he could see the soft curve of her breasts rising with each breath, the long, graceful line of her neck, and the smooth length of her athletic legs.

In her sleep, she looked defenseless.

A rare sight for Matilda to be vulnerable like this.

Just like that night.

Why is she wearing this? Is-Is she wearing this for me?

Kai didn’t know what to think, but since she was in his bedroom, that must be the case.

But why...? I don’t understand.

Regardless of her reasoning, he felt guilty.

She must’ve been waiting for him, and when he arrived, he didn’t even make a comment about her appearance. Wasn’t fazed at all. Heck—he didn’t even ask her why she broke in and went to wait for him in the master bedroom.

Kai reached out his hand and slowly shook her body.

"Matilda."

"Mmh..."

"Matilda, wake up."

"Hm?"

Slowly, Matilda’s eyelids rose and her dark gold eyes focused on Kai.

As soon as she saw Kai’s eyes, she instantly realized that he was now fully awake.

"What are you doing here? Why did you break in and wait for me here?" Kai asked, deciding not to beat around the bush. His eyes stared into her probingly, demanding an answer. Then, his gaze trailed to what she was wearing. "And this...? What is this?"

Matilda slowly sat up and placed her back against the headboard.

Her cheeks reddened a little in a blush.

"I..." She looked away, avoiding eye contact. "I was trying to give you a surprise. I’ve never really done this before... wearing something like this. I thought you’d like it, but I guess you didn’t."

"Wha—?" Kai was at a loss for words. "Of course, I like it. No way I wouldn’t like it. You have a perfect figure and alluring curves. I don’t think there is a man out there who wouldn’t like what I’m seeing right now. But—

"That night when we... I thought it was a one-time thing. I thought you were only swayed by the atmosphere. Because you were still recovering from the corruption. You even looked like you regretted it."

"You’re wrong." Matilda’s eyes finally shifted and looked at Kai dead in the eyes. "I’ve never regretted it even for a second. That night—I kept thinking about it. No matter how hard I try, I can’t forget it. I... I think I like you, Kai."