Astria's eyelids, which had been alertly scanning the ceiling, finally grew heavy. Amidst the deep silence of the night and the frosty wind filtering through the window, she didn't realize when she drifted into the depths of sleep.
The wheel of time turned, and the faint rays of dawn began to pierce through the dark shroud of the night.
In the other chamber, Len's golden eyes slowly welcomed the daylight. He rubbed his eyes with his palms and sat upright on the bed with a stretch. Without disturbing the silence of the room, he moved on tiptoe toward the window.
As he pushed the heavy shutters open, the fresh, cool morning air greeted him. Len gazed at the picturesque view outside for a few moments, then turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him without a sound.
The sapphire glow of the empty corridor was now blending with the morning light. Len walked with measured steps and came to a halt right in front of Astria's chamber. The guard stationed at the door bowed in greeting upon seeing him.
"Is Astria awake?" Len asked, keeping his voice down to a whisper.
"No, Master, there has been no movement yet. Is there something specific?" the guard replied softly.
Len offered no answer. He carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside. His gaze landed directly on the massive bed where Astria still lay in a deep slumber.
Len moved slowly and stood by her bedside. Seeing the rare peace and tranquility spread across Astria's face, a sense of curiosity arose within him. He slowly extended his hand and began to stroke the skin of her face with his fingers.
Suddenly, the stillness shattered. The moment Astria felt that unknown touch on her face, her sleep vanished instantly. In the blink of an eye, she caught Len's wrist in a firm grip and yanked him toward her.
Losing his balance, Len fell directly onto the bed beside Astria. Astria snapped her eyes open, her deep voice resonating through the room, "Len! What are you... what were you doing here just now?"
Len locked his golden gaze with Astria's and whispered in a deeply tender voice, "I just came to see you."
Astria's grip loosened. She released his wrist and rested her hand on the silk sheet right beside him. A mocking glint appeared in her eyes. "Are you bored of your new friend already?" she asked with a faint smirk. "I thought you'd be glued to his side, yet here you are, bothering me first thing in the morning."
Len listened to every word with intense focus, his eyes tracing every shift in her expression. Astria found his unblinking stare unsettling. She knit her brows and asked, "Len, why are you looking at my face like that? Is there something on it that you're staring so hard?"
Len instantly averted his eyes, looking away. "No, there's nothing on your face," he said softly. Then, gathering his courage, he looked back at her and added, "It's just that... you look very different when you sleep. That's why I was watching you."
Astria pulled her hand back and sat up straight on the bed. She shot a sharp, sidelong glance at him. Len was still reclining on the bed in the same position. "In what way did I look different to you, Len?" she questioned, her tone turning a shade more serious.
Instead of answering directly, Len decided it was best to sit up. "I... I should go bathe now," he said, skillfully changing the subject. "I'll leave now; your uncle must be waiting."
A mischievous spark lit up Astria's eyes. She had sensed his nervousness. "Since when did you start worrying so much about my uncle?" she teased.
Len had no answer to that. He stood up silently and began to pace backward, as if trying to keep a safe distance from her. He came to a halt a few feet away, his gaze still fixed on her.
"Why are you backing away like that? I asked you something," Astria called out from the bed.
Len took a deep breath and, looking straight into her eyes, said boldly, "You look incredibly beautiful when you sleep."
For a moment, surprise flickered in Astria's eyes. But before she could respond, Len's gaze began to wander again. He lowered his voice even further and stammered, "But... but sometimes, I see two horns on your head."
Astria's expression shifted instantly. She glared at him with an incredulous and flared gaze, as if she couldn't believe her ears. "What exactly do you mean by that?" she asked sharply, an unspoken warning vibrating in her voice.
Len's eyes were fixed on Astria's face, where layers of anger and disbelief were clearly visible. Astria tried to force a sweet smile, though it looked far more dangerous than the glint in her eyes.
"I see... so what you're trying to say is that I look like a witch to you?" Astria asked in a voice that was melodic yet chillingly cold.
Len shook his head 'no' with lightning speed. "No!" he blurted out instantly.
Astria's gaze turned even more peculiar. She tossed the silken sheet aside with a jerk and rose from the bed. Her stature and dominance seemed to fill the room all at once. "Oh, so that's not what you meant? Then what exactly was the meaning of that?"
Len took another cautious step back, as if seeking a safe harbor before a storm could break. "No... you don't look like a witch to me. It's just that... you get so angry when you're awake."
Astria arched an eyebrow and took a step forward. "Oh! So when I get angry, that's when you see horns on my head?"
Len slowly, tentatively, nodded his head in agreement.
Astria's temper had now reached its peak. A vein throbbed with frustration on her forehead, and she clenched her fists. She began to march toward Len with heavy, purposeful steps that echoed against the floor.
Seeing Astria approaching him with such intent, Len's eyes widened. "I need to bathe!" he shouted.
Before Astria could reach him, Len spun around and bolted toward the bathroom door with incredible agility. Reaching the threshold, he stole a quick glance back and said breathlessly, "So... I'm going to bathe now!"
Before Astria could grab him, he vanished inside and shut the door.
Astria remained staring at the closed door, her face flushed with irritation. In a sharp tone that echoed through the room, she said, "You've become quite insolent, Len!"