Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Preparation

I held Athlea close, gently rubbing her back as she trembled in my arms. Her pain was raw, open, and inescapable, and I couldn’t deny the feeling of helplessness that settled deep in my chest. Still, I whispered softly to her, hoping to soothe some of her agony.

“It’s going to be alright,” I murmured, stroking her hair. “Your husband will come soon. Don’t worry.”

Inwardly, I was less certain. The man had practically vanished, and I had no doubt that he wouldn’t show up anytime soon, especially now that we knew there was something hidden within his company’s walls. But Athlea needed comfort, not more questions, so I kept my suspicions to myself.

I felt her nod slightly, though the relief I’d hoped to offer didn’t seem to reach her eyes. I was about to say more when I noticed something unusual—a group of knights lingering near the hospital entrance, their attention focused intently on us. They weren’t hiding it either; each gaze was sharp, assessing.

“Athlea,” I asked quietly, “what exactly happened with Arno?”

Her expression faltered, confusion clouding her face. “They said they’d examine his body… and give it to me tomorrow.” She hesitated, her gaze darting nervously toward the knights. “They’re acting… strange.”

I tilted my head, looking at her intently. “Strange? How?”

She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face as her eyes took on a distant, almost wary look. “They kept asking questions, as if… as if there’s something they already know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They kept asking where he worked, and who he was working with.”

I frowned. “And you told them the truth?”

“Of course,” she replied, sounding almost offended at the implication. “I told them he worked for my husband’s company. But they… they didn’t seem to believe me. And they wouldn’t tell me why.” She hugged herself tighter, glancing at me with worry-filled eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel like there’s more they aren’t telling us.”

I nodded slowly, gently squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, Athlea. I’m with you. Nothing will happen. We’ll get to the bottom of this together.”

As I finished speaking, the soft click of approaching footsteps echoed through the entrance, and my head snapped up. A group of knights entered the hallway, their faces grim and serious. Among them was a woman in a flowing robe, her long hair cascading over her shoulders—a woman I immediately recognized as the queen of the country.

Her presence shifted the atmosphere entirely. She spoke quietly to the knights, her voice barely audible, but her expression held authority tempered by something else, something softer.

Finally, her gaze flickered toward us, and for a moment, our eyes met. She offered Athlea a sympathetic look, an expression of understanding, and then moved past us, disappearing into the hospital’s interior.

I turned back to Athlea, who seemed more on edge than ever. Her gaze was fixed on the door where the queen had vanished, a mix of fear and sadness reflecting in her eyes.

“Athlea,” I murmured gently, “come with me.”

She shook her head, clinging to the last shred of determination she had. “No, I need to stay here,” she insisted, her voice trembling. “I… I want to be here. What if they bring Arno back out?”

I placed a hand on her shoulder, my tone firm yet gentle. “The knights won’t let anyone inside right now. And they’ll bring him to us tomorrow, just like they said. I’ll come with you in the morning, and we’ll face it together. But for now, let’s go back. You need rest.”

She hesitated, looking uncertain, but finally, she nodded. I wrapped an arm around her, guiding her gently out of the hospital and back toward home.

The journey was silent, the weight of everything hanging between us, too heavy for words. Once we arrived, I walked her to her room, watching as she sank onto the bed, exhaustion finally catching up with her. I draped a blanket over her, brushing her hair back.

I closed the door softly behind me, letting out a deep sigh. The events of the night felt like a tangled web that only grew more complex with each new piece of information. I had no doubt that Latros held the key to it all—and that I was headed into a storm.

I made my way to my room, running a hand through my hair as I leaned against the doorframe, lost in thought. It was then that I heard the faint creak of the door opening.

“Master, you’re here.”

I turned to see Alpha standing in the doorway, her eyes meeting mine with a hint of something unreadable. She wore a silk nightgown that shimmered in the dim light, her silhouette framed by the glow of the hallway.

“Yeah, I’m here.” I exhaled, tension building up inside me as the night’s events played back in my mind. “The knights were… intense tonight. They didn’t take their eyes off us.”

Alpha approached, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “They look at everyone like that, Master,” she replied, reaching out to trace a finger down my chest, her touch both soothing and electric. “Paranoia is their language.”

I chuckled softly,. “True, but this was… different.”

She leaned closer, her fingers deftly working to unbutton my shirt. “Perhaps they sense something coming. Perhaps they know you’re planning something that’ll turn their world upside down,” she murmured, her voice dipping into a seductive whisper as she slipped her arms around my shoulders, her gaze holding mine with a familiar intensity.

I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips, feeling some of the tension start to dissipate under her touch. “Well, they’re not wrong.”

She tilted her head, her fingers tracing slow, and removing the belt of my pant and zipping down, only to let my pants drop on the floor.

“We’ve got a lot to prepare for tomorrow,” she murmured, her face mere inches from mine as her gaze locked onto my lips.

The spark between us ignited, pulling me out of my thoughts. My hands found her waist, and I pulled her closer, lifting her effortlessly into my arms. Her breath hitched as I captured her lips in a kiss, our movements instinctive, driven by the need to forget—if only for a moment.

In one fluid motion, I carried her over to the bed, lowering her onto the mattress as I pressed my body against hers. Her arms wrapped around my neck, fingers threading through my hair as she returned the kiss with a fierce hunger that matched my own.