Following that sudden, unreserved contact, Sylvia's lips gradually disengaged from Celestian's. Retracting her frame slightly backward, she created a narrow gap between their faces, yet offered zero effort to vacate her position.
She remained seated directly atop Celestian—her body maintaining its intimate, folded posture. With both of her knees deeply bent, she straddled his waist, positioning her folded legs securely along either side of his torso. Her full body weight remained anchored over his chest and abdomen, while the faint clasp of her fingertips still lingered against the ornate collar of his royal attire.
For a span of quiet microsecond, Celestian held absolute silence. His luminous golden pupils remained locked strictly upon her playful features and her vibrant soft green eyes without a single flicker of his eyelashes.
Then, a subtle, amused curve slowly expanded across the contour of his lips.
Releasing a soft, unbothered breath, he projected in a calm, smooth tone:
"You... capable of missing someone's presence? Absolutely not..."
Allowing his free arm to relax further against the velvet mattress, a flicker of quiet amusement surfaced within his golden gaze as he continued:
"Did you fail to locate anyone else across this entire sanctuary for your entertainment... that you resorted to tormenting me in this manner?"
Simultaneous with those satirical vocalizations, the amused curve across Celestian's lips deepened. Without projecting a single warning, the fingers of his palm clamped securely around Sylvia's delicate wrist.
Applying a measured, swift pull, he redirected her posture away from his frame, depositing her onto the soft surface of the bed.
Yielding to the sudden momentum, Sylvia's equilibrium dissolved completely, causing her frame to collide softly against the plush velvet mattress. Her vibrant locks cascaded across the bedding.
The absolute microsecond she landed, Sylvia anchored both of her palms firmly against the mattress. Transferring her full body weight onto her hands, she elevated her upper torso and chest upward, adjusting into a semi-upright posture while her fingers pressed deep into the velvet fabric.
A flicker of innocent frustration surfaced within her soft green pupils. Pouting her cheeks in a distinctly dramatic fashion, she twisted her facial expression into a petty scowl, projecting with visible annoyance:
"I am harboring zero intention of joking!"
Increasing the pressure against her palms, she locked her soft green gaze strictly into his golden pupils, adding in a distinctly pouted tone:
"I genuinely missed your presence immensely..."
Observing Sylvia's dramatically pouted expression and her emotive complaint, a faint, composed curve lingered across Celestian's lips.
Offering zero immediate vocal reply, he lowered his feet onto the floor and, with a fluid, fluidly royal momentum, elevated his tall frame into a standing posture.
The absolute microsecond he stabilized upon his feet, he tilted his head slightly backward, rolling his neck—causing a subtle acoustic pop to resonate through the space as his golden locks shifted over his shoulders.
Casually clasping his hands behind his back, he angled his posture back toward Sylvia. A playful, distinct sparkle flickered deep within his golden pupils.
Infusing a sweet yet purely satirical undertone into his vocalizations, he projected in a smooth tone:
"Did you finally reach total exhaustion from pulling pranks on everyone else across the realm... that the moment you found spare time, you navigated your steps directly to me?"
Upon hearing Celestian's satirical remarks, Sylvia's facial features contorted into an even more exaggerated scowl. A distinct wave of annoyance flickered through her soft green pupils. Puffing her cheeks outward to their absolute limit, she visibly twitched her lips in a dramatic, silent muttering motion, locking her glaring gaze strictly upon Celestian.
Observing her entirely pouted and irritated demeanor, the residual composure across Celestian's features softened completely. A gentle, sweet warmth surfaced within the depths of his golden pupils.
Tilting his head slightly downward to meet her puffed-up gaze, he raised his palms in a subtle, surrendering gesture, projecting in a distinctly soft and soothing tone:
"Alright, fine... I was merely teasing you."
Upon registering the softened, soothing cadence in Celestian's vocalizations, the exaggerated pout across Sylvia's cheeks gradually dissolved, though a lingering trace of dramatic resentment remained anchored within her soft green pupils. Utilizing the leverage of both palms against the bedding, she adjusted her posture into a completely upright, kneeling position upon the velvet mattress.
Flicking her cascading locks behind her shoulders with a swift tilt of her head, she surveyed Celestian's standing frame, projecting with a distinctly playful undertone:
"Indeed, it serves you exceptionally well that you were merely teasing... otherwise, I possess absolute knowledge regarding how to realign your behavior."
Celestian elevated a single eyebrow at her dramatic declaration, a faint, amused breath escaping his lips as his golden pupils anchored upon her features. Closing the narrow distance between them, he halted near the edge of the mattress, inquiring in a calm tone:
"Truly? And through what methodology do you propose to execute that?"
The familiar, mischievous curve instantly reclaimed its place across Sylvia's lips.
Leaning her upper frame slightly forward, she locked her brilliant soft green gaze directly into his golden pupils, whispering in a low tone:
"That revelation shall remain reserved for the appropriate moment... For now, inform me of the precise location where your presence was hidden for all these days."
Celestian maintained absolute silence for a span of quiet moments. Anchoring both of his broad palms against the plush velvet mattress near Sylvia, he leaned his upper torso forward, significantly closing the physical distance between them until his face hovered in close proximity to hers.
His brilliant golden pupils locked directly into her soft green eyes, absorbing her expression without a single flicker of his eyelids.
Following that brief interlude of stillness, that familiar, subtle, and enigmatic curve reclaimed its position across Celestian's lips. He projected in a low, smooth cadence:
"It encompassed merely a brief duration... however, I encountered an exceptionally intriguing individual at that location."
The absolute microsecond those vocalizations reached her ears, Sylvia's soft green pupils widened slightly. A distinct spark of intense curiosity ignited within her gaze. Surveying his close presence, she inquired in a distinctly curious tone:
"Indeed?... And who precisely might this 'intriguing individual' be?"