Chapter 270: River of the past
The once-dark clouds that filled Emily’s mind with gloominess and uncertainty no longer bothered her. Instead, her heart fluttered with joy as she walked beside Raylen as they made their way back to the castle.
As they left the town, Emily couldn’t help but feel the heat in her cheeks. And while the townsfolk watched them for as long as they could, eager to catch a glimpse of the new couple, her attention was stolen by the Archdemon. When she heard a small flick of metal, her eyes moved to him, watching him as he skilfully ignited the end of a cigar between his teeth.
Her hazel brown eyes observed the graceful motions of his cheeks hollowing as he took a drag from the cigar, and there was something elegant and sensual about the way he did it that made her stomach flip. As if sensing her gaze, his icy blue eyes snapped to meet hers.
When Emily turned her gaze forward, pretending as if she weren’t openly admiring him, Raylen withdrew the cigar from his lips and exhaled the smoke in the opposite direction, all while keeping his eyes fixed on her. He offered,
"Want to try a puff?"
"I think I am fine. I have never understood the allure of smoking," Emily responded. Not until now, she whispered to herself in her mind.
Raylen felt content and reassured by the fact that the smoke had little to no effect on Emily, as if its association with Nathaniel had been completely erased. He said, "It will warm you right up."
"Is that why you smoke?" Emily inquired as they left the town behind and entered the forest path.
A slightly wicked smile appeared on Raylen’s lips before he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and replied, "You aren’t far from the truth, Princess. Also, you won’t truly know until you try. After all, I am an archdemon, and you hail from an archdemon bloodline. Smoke is what makes up a demon—fire, smoke, and ash."
"You are like a devil whispering on my shoulder," Emily murmured, earning a chuckle from him. She said, "I cannot believe you used to walk this far when you were young. Didn’t you feel cold?"
Raylen’s eyes, which had momentarily fixated on Emily’s delicate lips, tore away to look into her eyes as she turned her face to him. "The cold doesn’t bother those whose hearts are hollow. Besides, I was waiting for my princess."