Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Daran Carver

"How? Is it nice to touch my face?"

I held Jonea's hands firmly and placed them on my cheeks. She tried to get away, but I kept her there.

I really showed my sweet smile in front of her. Our faces are so close. I had to bend my head to line up our faces.

"You've been staring at me. Am I cool? Am I handsome?"

I really want to know how she will react. But that girl just showed me a straight and cold face. Oh, I'm so annoyed.

"You just look like a fraud!" Jonea curtly said to me and withdrew her hands very quickly.

This time I was really offended. She says my face is like a con man's face? Seriously!

If only she knew, all the girls in the pack and the country of Blackton are vying to get me. I should teach this little fox a lesson.

I took her to my regular shop. This is the one character I used to frequent if I wanted to leave the house. And now, Loko already replaces me to shop and come there.

So, how many years have I not come to this shop since the last time? 100 years? And wow. Look at this store has not changed at all.

I glanced at Jonea over my shoulder. She stood beside me. We both stared at the shop building that looked so old and exotic.

This shop stands in the middle of a city filled with modernity. But the building is the only thing that stands out because it maintains the old style.

I opened the shop door.

"I frequent this shop. Almost all the equipment you need can be found in this shop."

I walked first into the shop. Since setting foot from the front door, we were greeted by piles of old books along the hallway. It was utterly deserted, and only the two of us were there.

Then, I realized it seemed that Jonea was no longer keeping up with me. I turned around and saw the girl still standing by the door.

"Is this place open?"

"Yes, this is only the appearance. You must pass by an antique shop when you visit the auction house, right?"

"So where is the real shop? Is that behind the door?"

The girl suddenly walked fast and rushed towards me. She pushed me aside.

I was surprised by her speed and power.

I saw her find a door at the end of the hall closed. She hesitated as she turned the knob and looked at me.

"No! You are wrong. That's not where the entrance is."

"Then where?" asked the girl with her eyes.

After all, why was she so eager to know the original form of this shop? Is there something she wants?

I walked straight up and turned left. There is a hidden passage just behind the bookshelves. Jonea probably didn't notice. But, there are differences between the shelves.

"Eve… Evangelista! Where are you?" I shouted for the shop owner.

After I shouted, I heard a vibration on the bookshelf before me. The bookshelf opened, and a woman appeared who, if in the human world, would look the same age as me.

"Huh? Daran? Daran Carver? Is it really you?"

Eve came out with long, flowing hair. She was only wearing a T-shirt and shorts. The pencil was tucked in her left ear. What is she actually doing?

I'm sick of Eve's reaction when she saw me today. She really made my pride drop in front of Jonea.

"What are you doing?" I hissed at Eve. "Be respectful to me."

Even though she was my subordinate, Eve didn't listen to my protests. She instead laughed out loud and continued all her nonsense in front of Jonea.

"How did you come here and leave your lair? After 100 years? Wow… gosh… look. Your face hasn't changed at all, Daran Carver. You're still the same as before. Cruel and ruthless!"

I had to raise my voice to stop her.

"Eve, I've come with guests today. So please control your words."

I dragged Jonea beside me so Eve could see her. The woman immediately froze, and her face turned pale. She glanced alternately between me and Jonea.

"Hu-human?"

"Don't play dumb, Eve. You know exactly who she is."

"Yeah, I have to correct my words. She's a Lycan girl, young, beautiful, attractive, and energetic. Unfortunately, she looks like she hasn't awakened yet. How old are you? 18? 17?"

"She's not that young, Eve. She is 20 years old now."

Jonea just watched Eve.

I saw Eve now open her mouth wide, staring at Jonea silently.

Eve waved her hands as if she wanted to say something. "Is this beautiful girl who can get you out of the hiding hole, Daran?"

"You are also the same as me, right? After that incident, you kept hiding here and pretending to be a lonely, gloomy human."

"That's different!" Eve protested, "I'm here on business."

"I want you to prepare all the equipment Jonea needs."

"This girl is called Jonea? Is she mute or something?"

I hugged Jonea's shoulder with my right hand and touched the girl's ear while glancing at Eve.

"Three days ago, I made this girl my fiancé. We're getting married."

"Married?" Eve nearly screamed.

I was very pleased with Eve's surprised reaction. As if I just won a game on it. I stood up straight again and arrogantly nodded my head.

"That's why we came here. Because I know you can prepare everything for our wedding procession. Loko should have conveyed this to you, right? Why are you pretending to be surprised like that? Do you mean to please me?"

Eve was confused and shook her head. "No! Loko says nothing about marriage. Moreover, the marriage of a Daran Carver. I believe there will soon be mass heartbreak across Blackton country."

I frowned. "Then what did Loko tell you?"

"He did come here a while ago. He told me to prepare everything to move to Blue Sapphire."

For the first time, Jonea reacted in front of Eve. She grabbed my hand and demanded that I look at her.

"What do you mean you'll switch to Blue Sapphire?"

I raised both hands. "Why? Are you surprised? I thought you hated the country already? Or vice versa, you still like that country very much?"

"What do you mean, Daran? You know that's where Luke Draken reigns. What are you planning? Do you want to go there and leave me here alone? Then what about the deal we made?"

"What is this?"

Eve asked me in confusion. Maybe she was surprised because she had never heard Jonea speak. But once she spoke, only anger and hatred came out of Jonea's sweet lips.

"Is this a fight between lovers? I'd better stay out of it."

I would answer, but….

“Daran!” Jonea shouted. "Say something!"