Name: [Vastarael Richinaria.]
Alias: [Veneri]
Age: [18.]
Title: [Prince of Anqerise], [Heir of Dynasty Richinaria], [Prince of Beauty].
Species: Aeterium (Nexus Bloodline)
Affiliation: [Dynasty Richinaria], [Dynasty Vazakiel (By Marriage)]
Status: [First Phase Ascender, 999,999/1000]
Pinnacle Tethers: [Sapphire Materialization], [Omniphage.]
Base Tethers: [Circlecraft], [Rune Drawing], [Sapphire Bond], [Mystic Eyes], [Peony Creation,] [Inventory], [Soul and Body Regeneration], [Limitless], [Soul Vision], [Memory Implantation and Extraction.]
Major Divinities: [Protection (Unlocked)], [Love (Unlocked)], [Justice].
Minor Divinities: [Water]
Codex: [Prince of Anqerise], [Handsome Prince of Freedom], [Peony's Chosen], [Obsidian Towermaster], [Fallen Bridge's Conqueror.]
Artifacts: [Calimostria], [Peccavi's Shard], [Divine Mystic Book of Altherion], [Volcano's Resonance], [Orchestral Vialex], [Peony Overwrite Seed], [Primofrost's Snowflake], [Obsidian Crystal], [Bowl of Wisdom]
Boon: [Ethereal Beauty]
Bane: [Trouble in Paradise]
Destiny: [Suffering Before Reward]
Fate: [A Death In The Embrace Of Love]
_____
Adelasta stared. And then stared some more. Her jaw slackened slightly as her mind raced to process the overwhelming amount of information in front of her.
She raised a trembling hand to her lips as her eyes darted from one section to the next.
"Circlecraft... Rune Drawing... Mystic Eyes..." she murmured, her voice catching on each word. Her gaze lingered on "Omniphage" for a moment before moving to "Peony Creation."
"Peony Creation? What in the..." She trailed off, shaking her head in bewilderment. "What doesn't he have?"
Her eyes moved further down, scanning through his titles. Prince of Beauty caught her eye, and she snorted softly, though her cheeks flushed.
"Of course, he's called that," she muttered under her breath, biting her lip. "As if his face doesn't already remind me every second."
But as she continued, her amusement faded. Artifacts came next and her eyes widened.
"Calimostria. Peccavi's Shard. Divine Mystic Book of Altherion? Volcano's Resonance?" She buried her face in her hands for a moment, groaning. "This man could probably take on an army with just his inventory!"
And then she saw it. Boon: Ethereal Beauty.
Her cheeks burned hotter as the realization hit her.
"So that's why I always feel like I'm in a daze around him sometimes," she whispered, gripping the fabric of her gown. She clenched her fists, muttering, "It's literally a divine effect. That's... completely unfair. Unfair... and infuriatingly attractive."
But her growing annoyance evaporated when her gaze fell on his Bane. Trouble in Paradise. Her heart sank slightly and a frown crossed her lips. She didn't like the sound of that at all.
She knew what it meant but still, it didn't make her feel better.
Her eyes continued to the final entries: Destiny and Fate.
Her breath stopped entirely.
[Destiny: Suffering Before Reward.]
[Fate: A Death In The Embrace Of Love.]
Her chest tightened as a wave of emotions surged through her.
"A... death in the embrace of love?" She whispered, her voice trembling. She stared at the words. "Oh no. That's not happening. Not to him. Not to us."
Adelasta let out a shaky breath, her gaze softening as she looked over the profile once more.
Her attention finally returned to him, still sleeping peacefully beside her. His serene expression, framed by strands of white hair, made her heart ache in the best way.
"You have no idea how amazing you are, do you?" She murmured, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair from his face.
Her lips curved into a tender smile as she whispered;
"Whatever your fate says, Vastarael, I won't let it take you. I promise."
And with that, she leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. As she pulled back, she gazed at him for a long while, her thoughts settling into one simple truth.
'He's mine. And no fate or destiny will ever take him from me.'
Vastarael's eyes fluttered open, the warmth of the morning sun illuminating his features. His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths as he stretched, his body relaxing as he shifted to his side.
He turned his gaze towards the soft, tranquil figure lying beside him. There, nestled among the sheets, was Adelasta.
"You're awake."
"Morning, wife." h
He murmured in his velvety, husky morning voice, the words slipping from his lips like a warm whisper, coated with the drowsiness of sleep. His husky voice, with the remnants of slumber, did things to Adelasta. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks as she instinctively clenched the bedsheet beneath her.
She wasn't sure if it was the word wife or the deep, warm undertones of his voice that affected her most. Either way, the sensation was undeniable, intensely so.
A soft chuckle escaped Vastarael's lips as he noticed her reaction, her flushed face turning away slightly as she tried to hide her embarrassment. He had always been acutely aware of the way she reacted to him and the fact that she never failed to get flustered was both amusing and endearing to him.
But his attention quickly shifted as his eyes caught his profile. He blinked, puzzled for a moment, before his gaze sharpened.
"Adelasta, what's this? Are you... looking at my profile?"
Adelasta froze, her fingers tightening around the sheets as she quickly tried to hide the display. But it was too late. Vastarael was already too close, his gaze studying her with an amused smile.
"Why? Don't you think you should be curious about your husband?"
She replied, her tone light but dripping with playful arrogance. She tilted her chin slightly, meeting his gaze with a hint of a challenge in her eyes. She knew exactly how to get under his skin.
Vastarael's lips curled into a knowing smile as he leaned back a little, his fingers lightly brushing against her hair as he teased her further.
"Curious about me? Adelasta, I think you already know everything about me. Besides, I didn't expect you to be this interested. I didn't think it would take you this long to get to know your husband, but I guess you're just full of surprises."
Adelasta gave a playful roll of her eyes, turning slightly on her side to face him fully.
"What? You think I shouldn't want to know everything about you? You're my husband now. And I'm your wife so shouldn't I know the man I just married, down to the last little detail?"
Vastarael's smile widened, a dark gleam of amusement lighting his eyes. Adelasta was getting bolder now.
"I see. You're trying to make me feel like I'm the mysterious one, huh? Not sure if I should be flattered or concerned," he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he lowered his voice, "Or perhaps you're just trying to get me to confess all my secrets."
Adelasta smirked, her hand casually resting on the side of her face as she returned his gaze with equal intensity.
"Maybe," she replied in a soft, teasing tone. "Or maybe I just enjoy finding out these things for myself."
Vastarael chuckled, his fingers brushing against her arm as he leaned in even closer.
"Well, I can't help but say... I like the way you think. But remember Adelasta, I'm full of surprises."
Her heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching as she felt the heat of his words. She wasn't sure if he was just flirting or if there was something more behind the playful teasing. Either way, she didn't mind.
"Full of surprises, huh? Well, then show me, husband."
For a split second, his smile faltered, as if he were about to say something more. But instead, he leaned in just enough for their lips to almost touch.
"Maybe later."
Adelasta's heart fluttered.
"You're a dangerous man, Vastarael," she said, trying to keep her composure, but she couldn't stop the flush creeping onto her cheeks.
"And you," he replied, with a playful glint in his eyes, "are definitely my wife now. Welcome to marriage, my dear. Take care of me, won't you?"
"We'll see about that—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the entire spire shuddered beneath them, a groaning, ominous sound reverberating through the walls. The bed shook violently and the two of them instinctively grabbed the edges of the mattress for balance. Vastarael let out a frustrated groan, his head tilting back as if asking the heavens why he couldn't catch a break.
"For fuck's sake you octopus, let me enjoy my time with my newlywed wife!"