[ Leif’s Chamber—Night—Leif’s POV]

. . .

. . .

"Here?"

Alvar asked, his deep voice rumbling close as I lay flat on my stomach, half-naked, the sheets cool against my skin. His palm brushed across my back, warm and steady, pausing between my shoulder blades.

I let out a small sigh. "No... a little lower."

His hand slid down, fingers tracing the curve of my spine. "Here?" he asked again, the corner of his mouth twitching as though he already knew the answer.

I grumbled into the pillow. "Lower, Alvar. Don’t act clueless now."

This time, he pressed just above my hips, dangerously close to my butt. "You mean... here?" His tone carried that sly amusement he never bothered to hide.

Heat crawled up my cheeks. "Yes," I muttered quickly, "right there. It hurts a lot there."

"Alright," he said softly, reaching for the small bowl of oil resting on the nightstand. Eryndor had given it to me earlier, claiming it would help with sore muscles. I honestly think it would work; I can trust elven medicines—and with Alvar’s hands, I was willing to test any miracle remedy.

He dipped his fingers in, the faint scent of herbs filling the air. When his warm, oiled hands touched my back, I couldn’t hold back the shiver that ran through me.

"You need more nutrients, Leif," he murmured, his thumbs pressing into the aching muscles with a gentleness that almost surprised me. "One night, and you’re already lying here like a fallen warrior."

I whipped my head around to glare at him. "One night? You were a monster, Alvar. Don’t pretend otherwise."

He chuckled, low and quiet, as though savoring my irritation. "Then perhaps you should stop asking the monster for massages."

"Shut up," I huffed, pressing my face back into the pillow. "Just... give me a good massage. I deserve it after surviving you."

That earned me a faint smile, softer than his usual expressions. "As you wish."

His hands moved in slow, practiced circles, kneading away the soreness, his touch alternating between firm and tender. It was almost unfair—how someone so feared outside these walls could be so gentle with me. My body melted beneath his palms, every knot and ache unraveling as he worked.

And me? I was in heaven. Absolute heaven.

"You’re really good at this," I muttered, eyes half-closed. "Honestly, Alvar... you could make a fortune as a masseur."

He smirked, the corner of his lips curving in that way that always made me suspicious. "My massages are only for you, Leif."

That earned him a drowsy smile. "Good. I wouldn’t want to share anyway."

For a few blissful moments, there was only the sound of his palms working oil into my back. But then, of course, my brain decided to run wild.

"So... did both elves start working?" I asked.

"Mm." He nodded. "They inspected the stone. It won’t be long. Soon, we’ll have jewels in our hands."

I opened my eyes, excitement sparking. "Now we just need to think of how to sell them. We’ll need a good advertisement."

He hummed thoughtfully, still massaging. "You could open your own jewelry store in the capital city."

"Yes, yes, of course," I said quickly, already lost in thought. "But even for that, I need something striking. Something that makes people notice immediately... Should I hire a model?" I mumbled, more to myself than to him.

"You can," Alvar replied smoothly. "Let them wear your jewels at noble gatherings, parade them at parties—"

I shook my head into the pillow. "Too slow. Too boring. Too much tea. I want something that ends in one day."

Alvar’s hands slid up toward my shoulders, pressing firmly. And then it hit me. I jerked my head up so fast that he almost lost his balance.

"A fashion show!" I declared.

Alvar froze, blinking. "...what?"

"A fashion show!" I repeated, rolling over onto my back to look at him, my eyes shining. "We invite all the rich and important people into a hall, line up models, dress them in the jewelry, and let them ramp walk. One event, one night, done. No endless tea parties. No waiting months. Instant success!"

Alvar stared at me like I’d just suggested summoning dragons for entertainment. "So... let people watch other people walk in lines wearing shiny rocks."

"Exactly!" I grinned.

He blinked once. Twice. Then leaned down and kissed me on the lips, briefly but warmly. "I don’t understand a single thing you just said," he murmured against my mouth, "but I know you’ll make it work."

I smirked triumphantly. "See? You do believe in me."

"Mm," he hummed, nudging me back down onto my stomach. "Now stop plotting world domination for five minutes and let me finish your massage."

I chuckled, nestling into the pillow again. "Yes... but I should start planning. Should I invite all the nobles here? Imagine—’The Frosty Fashion Show.’ It even has a name already!"

Alvar just smiled, his hands steady on my back, listening quietly as I babbled about glittering jewels, strutting models, and shocked noble ladies while he worked the last of the tension out of my muscles.

His calm silence wrapped around me—until he spoke.

"But you’ll have to manage all this yourself, Leif."

"Huh?"

I turned my head to glance at him.

He smoothed his palm over my spine as if to steady me. "I won’t be here to ease your work. I have to return to the capital city. Tomorrow."

I froze. The word tomorrow hit me like cold water. Slowly, I pushed myself up, sitting to face him. "What do you mean? Why so suddenly?"

He opened his mouth. "I have—"

No. No, no, no. Don’t tell me it’s because of that.

I grabbed his hand, panicked. "...is this because I proposed marriage?"

His brow furrowed. "What?"

"If it is—please forget it! I swear I won’t bring it up again. I won’t even say the ’M’ word. My mouth runs, you know that! It was nonsense; just—don’t leave me because of that. Please, Alvar, don’t—"

Before I could spiral further, his lips crashed onto mine. The desperate, messy words died on my tongue as he kissed me deep and hard, his tongue claiming mine until my chest burned for air.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his voice low and steady. "Leif... darling, you are my everything. You mean so much to me; I would flip the law for you." His thumb brushed away the tears I hadn’t realized had fallen. "So stop being afraid I’ll leave you."

My heart ached. I searched his eyes, trembling. "But... you’re leaving."

His thumb brushed my cheek, tender and grounding. "Yes. But only for a short while. There’s something urgent I must do. When it’s finished, I’ll return straight to you."

I swallowed, the fear still clawing at my chest. "Really? You’re not leaving me because I... because I proposed?"

He smiled softly, leaned in, and gave me another kiss—gentle this time, reassuring. "Marrying you would be the best day of my life. Remember that. This has nothing to do with us. It’s just for a time... and then I’ll come back. To you."

Something warm spread through me, heavy but steadying. I nodded slowly, and he pulled me into his arms. His hold was fierce and protective, like he wanted to fuse me into him.

"Take care of yourself while I’m gone," he whispered against my hair. Then his tone shifted, colder, darker, the Alvar that made even knights tremble. "And, Leif... don’t let any other man come near you. Not even by an inch."

Despite the heaviness in my chest, a small smile tugged at my lips. I pressed my face against his chest, breathing him in. "You’re so greedy, Alvar."

"Because you’re mine," he murmured, possessive and certain.

At first, he had been just a guest here. Someone I thought I could keep at arm’s length. But now... now he was everything. And the thought of him leaving, even for a little while, made my heart feel unbearably heavy.