"Fufu~"
A soft laugh slipped past Aera's lips as she sat gracefully by her desk, the flickering candlelight painting sharp shadows across her face.
She had expected him to be impressive—intimidating, even—but that kind of pressure… that was something else entirely.
The memory of how her knees hit the cold marble floor still burned in her mind. It wasn't humiliation she felt, though—it was fascination.
That presence… it wasn't something that could be faked.
No wonder that dimwitted, ignorant "shame" of their family—Seo—had shown such interest in him.
Aera's fan tapped softly against her palm, her crimson eyes half-lidded in thought.
Even if she didn't get what she initially wanted tonight, she'd still managed to secure something—a faint connection, a hint of acknowledgment.
And sometimes, that was enough.
She smiled faintly. "Truly, it was the right choice to let my curiosity run wild."
Her mind wandered briefly.
He was strong—stronger than she'd expected.
