"...You're mine," he said as his eyes gleamed a deep, bloody red.

But the reddish glow of his eyes didn't scare me at all since neither of his pupils held an ounce of malice at all.

Rather, his eyes were red, filled with passion and desire so hot that it nearly burned me.

My throat was a little dry and so I took a small gulp of air and desperately held my gaze directly against his, refusing to let him dominate me.

"You...belong to me as well...okay?" I said as I reached my hand out to him and lightly brushed my hand through his silvery-blue hair.

He went quiet for a moment as he simply closed his red, glowing eyes and relished the feeling of my fingers running through his hair and traveling down to his cheek.

"From the start...I've always belonged to you, Cordelia."

.

.

.

I leaped, swinging my sword, and slicing the air continually without stopping as if I were dancing.

For some reason, it was always easier for me to calm down whenever I had my sword in hand.

The feeling of the beautiful blade as it glimmered under the light of the sun and glided through the air was so peaceful that it almost felt as if though the blade had become a part of my soul somehow.

Months ago, when I had returned from the Dragons' Labyrinths, I was able to see the sword for the first time in all of its glory.

Of course, I already knew what the sword's appearance would be somewhat before coming to the surface since I had already examined the blade in detail using fire as a light source.

But everything changed the moment the sword first had contact with sunlight.

When I had returned to the castle, I was surprised to see that the entire sword from the hilt to the tip of the blade had turned into a stunning shade of gold.

I immediately had the sword appraised by a professional to see exactly what the sword was made of but the master swordsmith simply shook his head and was just as stumped as I was.

At first, I thought the sword was made out of gold but, unfortunately, it wouldn't make sense.

Gold was much too soft and impractical of a metal to use in a sword.

And the dragon's sword I had received was durable and sharp enough to crush through the skull of an eighteen-foot-tall ogre or even through the tough shell of a hundred-meter long centipede with a single thrust.

Besides...the blade was much too light to be something heavy like gold.

"It's a strange sword, Lady Cyllia. I've never seen anything like it before," the master swordsmith sighed as he returned the sword to me.

"I see..."

"I'm not sure what kind of sword it is either...it has a guard that is similar to a rapier's but...I've never seen one designed as intricately as this one before. And besides...the blade is a bit too wide for it to be considered a rapier...it's more like a longsword with a very sharp tip. But...the blade is so thin that it can't possibly be a longsword either...besides...the handle has a very strange grip..." he rambled as he assessed the sword in my hands.

"...Thank you for your help. But this has been enough for today..."

I recalled how I was forced to return home without a single clue what this sword really was.

Ever since then, I've avoided using the sword, since there were too many unknown variables involved.

But now...

As I held the sword in my hands again, it felt as if though I were reuniting with an old, dear friend of mine...like it was a mistake that I had ever even attempted to forget this sword in the first place.

Truly, this sword was the perfect match for me.

"I'm jealous," a voice said from behind me.

I turned around to see my personal servant, Grey, with a few maids behind him.

A few of the maids were carrying a few refreshments that I assume were meant for me.

"You've been training since the crack of dawn. Aren't you tired, milady?" he asked as he ordered a few maids to pour me a cup of lemonade.

"I'm fine," I said as I wiped away a bit of sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.

"These days, you've been acting like you're running out of time, milady. Why?" Grey asked as he brought the glass of lemonade to me, which I gratefully accepted.

I took a sip of it before I answered him.

"I've been slacking too much lately. What will happen if I fall behind?"

"Milady, there's no need for you to spend so much of your time training. You are already leaps and bounds in front of the rest of your peers," Grey sighed.

"It's not enough," I murmured.

I knew exactly what it meant to be weak and I absolutely had no intention of returning to those days.

"If that's the case...would you care to have a little spar with me?" Grey asked with a wide, unreadable smile as he picked up an old wooden sparring sword.

"Huh?"

"It might not seem like it, milady...but I am quite skilled with the sword as well, you know. I'm just a bit...rusty. It's been a few years after all," Grey chuckled.

Grey was good with the sword?

Of course, I had no doubt in my mind that Grey was probably a sword prodigy of the highest caliber since he was a male lead, but...whenever we had practiced sword fighting when we were younger, Grey always seemed zoned out—as if he couldn't even bother to pay attention.

So I simply assumed that he wasn't interested in sword fighting.

"Are you sure? I thought you didn't like using the sword," I replied as I also picked up my own wooden sword, placing the dragon's sword safely away from me.

"Well...it's not like I don't like using them, milady. It's just that...whenever I hold a sword, bad memories tend to return to me," Grey said as his smile turned a bit bitter.

"..."

I've wondered this before but...why is it that Grey seems so lonely at times...?

As if he were always hiding a piece of his past away from all of us...

"In any case, would you care to take me up for a quick spar, milady?" Grey asked as he steered the conversation back on track.

"Of course. I'm a little curious to see how good you are," I nodded as I flicked the wooden sword in front of me a few times to get used to the difference in weight.

"I promise to not hold back, milady," Grey smiled as he straightened his posture as well.

"Don't worry. You won't be able to hold back even if you try," I said with a cheeky grin.

As per customs of a regular duel, Grey and I took ten steps away from one another before turning around and giving a bow of respect to our partner.

"Are we permitted to use magic, milady?" Grey asked me as he lifted his head.

"Sure, if you want to," I nodded.

"Well then..." Grey murmured as he removed his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt.

"..."

I watched stiffly as he removed the tops of his clothes, allowing his chest to be bare against the wind.

What the actual heck—

Grey was the type of man who simply oozed rated-R vibes.

From the way he sensually removed his shirt, to the way his muscles rippled whenever he moved his chest, to the way he licked his lips, and to the way his tattoos marked his smooth skin...

This man was just...

Hot.

And...

Sexy.

Yes, very sexy too.

I covered my eyes, hoping to grip onto any last ounce of innocence in my mind that I had left...and failed miserably.

Dang it!!!

How the heck was I supposed to focus on the match like this?!?!

This was practically foul play!!!

"I hope you don't mind, milady, but it's quite hot out today," Grey said with a chuckle as he watched my expression.

This sinful man...

...knew exactly what he was doing.

"Evil...pure evil...must purge him..." I muttered under my breath as I held my sword toward him.

"Please go easy on me, milady," Grey called out.

"Ugh...3...2...1...Begin!" I yelled to him as I immediately charged toward him.

Grey was already moving as well and he attempted to circle behind me, but I didn't let him.

I rose a wall of ice spikes from the ground behind me and blocked any paths Grey could take to sneak up on me.

But he easily destroyed the walls with his shadow magic and continued to charge with a very erratic pattern that I couldn't read.

Instead of waiting for him to reach me though, I skidded across the ground to him within seconds and raised my wooden sword, preparing to slash down on him.

However...

The moment my sword was just an inch away from his head, he deflected it and reached his fingers out like claws toward my eyes.

Surprised, I jumped back a few times until I was a safe distance away.

What...

What type of reflexes did he have??

I was certain that I was moving at a much faster speed than he could see with his eyes...and yet, he was able to move so fluidly to deflect it.

...as if he were a seasoned soldier with countless years of battle.

"You're better than I thought you were, Grey," I gave a grin.

"I'm happy you think so, milady," Grey replied.

Grey ran towards me, utilizing his shadow magic to disappear into the shadows and reappear behind me.

I could sense his movements though and, without even needing to turn my head first, I swung my sword behind me and felt it collide against Grey's sword.

Strange.

Again, I was sure that I was moving at a speed that Grey could not see but, over and over again, he was always able to block my attacks as if he were basing every single last one of his movements on instinct alone.

The ability to trust instincts above rationality...

...was something someone could only obtain after years of battle experience and numerous near-death experiences.

But Grey was only seventeen.

"Grey..." I murmured as I swung my sword down on his.

"Yes, milady?" Grey responded with a deep grunt as he knocked away my sword once more as a rough expression that I wasn't accustomed to seeing on him appeared on his face.

For while we continued like this...with me continually slashing my sword down on him while he continued to defend himself with his sword.

It was as if we were dancing endlessly with one another.

When Grey was almost out of breath, I finally opened my lips to ask the question that I have been wondering for a while now.

"Grey...you're hiding something from everybody, right...?"

As soon as those words left my lips, Grey's eyes widened and he stumbled over his own feet.

I used this opportunity to tackle him to the ground with the tip of my sword pressed against his bare chest.

".......It's my win," I said as I slowly lowered my sword away from him.

"..."

Grey was completely out of breath and was sweating from head to toe.

As I sat on him, I could feel his chest rise and drop erratically as he tried to stabilize his breathing.

Wait a minute...

I immediately jumped off of him the moment that I realized our position could be taken the wrong way.

No...

No...

No more dirty thoughts please—!

Grey took a few more seconds to breathe before he sat up from the ground, brushing his black hair back, and letting his sweat shine under the sunlight.

Why...

Why was this man so hot?!?!?!

It was as if every single one of his movements utterly dripped sex appeal...!

It wasn't fair!!

"Yes...it was your win, milady," Grey replied with a throaty chuckle as he finally turned his eyes up at me.

"...You were better than I thought though," I mumbled with a sigh.

"You must be joking, milady. I don't even see an ounce of sweat on you. You don't look worn out at all."

Well...Grey was right...

I didn't feel tired at all and had plenty of more stamina to go train some more.

But that didn't mean Grey wasn't exceptional with the sword.

"...I've grown rusty..."

I blinked my eyes and looked up at Grey, who was mumbling something under his breath.

He looked utterly frustrated with himself but, at the same time, he was smiling as if he were thinking of something funny.

"Did you just say something, Grey?" I asked him.

"No, nothing at all, milady," he said with a small chuckle and shake of the head.

"I was right..."

"..."

"You're hiding something, aren't you..."

"..."

----------------------------------------------------

A/N: Sorry for cutting this chapter off in a weird spot!! I had originally planned it to be longer but my family members want to drag me off somewhere right now, so I'll just have to end it here. :(

I know some of y'all are craving some Ace x Cordelia action, but I have to progress the plot somehow...soooo I promise I'll get to all that lovey-dovey stuff you guys want soon~

Speaking of which...Can you guys believe it's the 90th chapter?!?!?! There are literally only 10 more chapters before we reach chapter 100!!! WOOOOO!!!

I never thought I'd ever write this much but here I am~~~

Since it's been so many chapters, and I'm sure a lot of you guys might be having trouble remembering all the character names and backgrounds (or maybe you aren't, idk), I'm planning on uploading a second character description sometime tomorrow so y'all can look back on it for reference~!

Also...hehe...Who knows whether Grey will finally confess his past to Cordelia~? Will he ever do it~? Who knows :)

Anyways, thanks, again, to all of my readers/voters/commenters! I love you all so much~!

Stay safe, everyone~

Okie byeee!

Word Count: 2404