Royal Reboot: Level up, Your Majesty!

Chapter 82: The Pandemic of Desire (3)

The Pandemic of Desire 

3

Eydis plucked a book from the shelf, then another, rearranging them carelessly. Through the narrow slats between the shelves, she had a perfect vantage point.

Her real target sat at the central reading area, utterly engrossed in his book.

Adam Sapphire.

An Elite, Gifted, and Talented. Or so the academy claimed. In reality, he was…what was the polite term?

Exceptionally adequate.

Still. Unlike most of his peers, Adam was competent. And his Gift? Water-affinity. From the way he hunched over the pages, one might assume he was unearthing the secrets of the cosmos. But Eydis had already caught the title.

Mana Stabilisation, authored by Professor Philippe Le Bleu.

Hm. Not exactly light reading. But she doubted this was leisure. The last time Adam had studied this text had been—

Ah.

Right when Natalia’s condition had worsened.

A rustle broke the silence as he turned a page. Loud, in the hush of the library. Half the student body was already down. But those who had yet to succumb?

Some had resisted Lust’s influence, or perhaps just that website. Then there were those who had indulged yet somehow remained untouched. They were the loudest of all. Not in volume, but in presence.

She could tell now. She should have been able to tell earlier.

The distant, glassy-eyed daze. The way they blinked a fraction too slowly. The look of someone who had seen.

Or worse, someone who had experienced. An entirely different kind of religious revelation. The kind that had them calling out to gods who did not exist.

Eydis suppressed a shudder. She might need to start carrying disinfectant before sitting anywhere in public. Or, better yet, just flood the entire place and start over.

And now that she really thought about it, her neighbours had been particularly, enthusiastically vocal in the nights leading up to Thomas’s masquerade. Her pattern recognition, she now conceded, had been… momentarily compromised.

Had she truly been that distracted? 

Unfortunately, yes.

Too preoccupied with the Blackwoods. Too preoccupied with Astra.

Speaking of Astra…

A slow, deliberate prickle brushed against Eydis’s skin. Her lips twitched.

“Astra.”

“Eydis,” The word escaped Astra’s lips like a delicate note in the otherwise still air. “Aren’t we supposed to ask for his help?”

Eydis hummed softly in reply, her gaze still unfocused, lost in thought. “I’m thinking...”

She glanced sideways, her eyes catching the group of students who passed by, their attention lingering on them with an almost shameless hunger. And somewhere in the distance, something smouldered, curling through the air.

Joseph.

Red-haired, freckled, his entire being practically radiating heat, smoking from the ears, literally.

The Fire-Affinity Gifted, D-Class, froze the moment their eyes locked. He took an instinctive step back, but he didn’t leave. He stared.

At Astra.

Eydis returned her gaze to Astra, a teasing smile forming on her lips. “Has anyone ever told you that your presence is exceedingly distracting?”

Astra blinked once, then followed Eydis’s gaze, her expression unreadable. Without a single word, she did something.

Nothing overt. 

Nothing obvious. 

Yet the moment her eyes swept the room, the students shifted. Scattered. Or at least, pretended to. Awkward feet shuffled, heads turned, but no one truly looked away.

“I’m sure they weren’t just looking at me.” Astra sounded almost irritated.

Cute.

Eydis inclined her head. “You’re almost too good at intimidation.”

A near-smile played on Astra’s lips as she stepped closer. Close enough that her breath skimmed Eydis’s ear, the whisper meant for her alone.

“Coming from the Queen of Shadows herself?”

Eydis’s amber eyes glinted. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Joseph still watching Astra with that look—dazed and glassy-eyed. It made Eydis want to remind him…

That kind of interest came with consequences.

She shifted toward the reading area, where Adam had just closed his book and pushed to his feet.

Maybe today, that consequence would come in flames.

Eydis leaned back, not far, just enough for her spine to brush the soft fabric of Astra’s white shirt. Just enough to hear the sharp inhale Astra tried, and failed, to suppress.

Standing behind her, Astra’s fingers dug into the bookshelf. But she didn’t step back.

The heat in the room was rising, but Eydis didn’t notice. The moment they touched, all she could see was her.

“Indulge me, Astra,” Eydis murmured near the curve of her cheekbone. “What precisely about me is so terrifying?”

“Terrifying?” Astra smiled. “Interesting choice of words.”

There was truth in the quickening of Astra’s heartbeat, something felt against her back, not seen. Eydis leaned into it. But before she could act, a harsh grunt snapped their attention.

The acrid smell of smoke grew stronger now. Joseph staggered back, clutching his stomach.

“Joseph!” Adam moved, chair toppled behind him, his book clattering to the floor. Blue light flickered in his irises as he drew water from the atmosphere and pressed it gently to Joseph’s burning skin.

“Shouldn’t you call a doctor?” someone asked.

“The infirmary is overloaded,” Adam shot back.

Eydis and Astra’ eyes met, a silent amusement passing between them as they watched Adam work gently, carefully.

Her voice dropped to a tease. “I would wager poor Joseph’s little meltdown was entirely your fault, Astra.”

“It wasn’t,” Astra muttered. Then, smoothly, she turned her head, and just like that, their lips were a breath apart. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because self-control,” Eydis purred softly, “was a much simpler concept before you.”

Astra’s gaze dipped. “Are you speaking from experience, Your Majesty?”

Eydis laughed. Not just amused—delighted. Because oh, Astra was getting bolder.

“How am I supposed to resist…” She trailed off, pressing the soft kisses to Astra’s cheek, slow enough for Astra to react, to inhale, to still.

“When you dress,” Eydis continued, her lips brushing lower, just beneath Astra’s jaw, “to impress…”

Her breath drifted to Astra’s ear, teasing along the edge of the black metal cuffs she wore today. Rebellious, as always.

“…Me?”

“Is that what you think?” Astra’s voice turned rough.

Eydis smiled against her skin. “I don’t think. I know.”

“And what do I dress like, then?”

“Like sin,” Eydis said softly. “The kind that tastes better when it’s wrong.”

“Like fire,” she added, her fingers finding the inside of Astra’s wrist, where heat gathered and her pulse gave her away. “Something consuming.”

“Like smoke,” she finished, eyes dropping to Astra’s lips. “Something near, something far. Always elusive.”

Astra let out a low sound, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. “One week ago, you were clueless. Now you’re seducing me with metaphors?”

Eydis smiled and laced their fingers together. “I’m just making up for lost time.”

Astra’s crimson eyes darkened visibly. “Is that a promise, Eydis?”

“I promise,” Eydis breathed, her lips ghosting over Astra’s. “I’m a quick study where it matters.”

Astra’s pulse thrumming against Eydis’s skin. But then…

A throat cleared.

Adam.

Eydis did not sigh. She was a queen. The Queen of Shadows did not sigh. But she did mentally calculate the exact trajectory needed to throw Adam out the nearest window with minimal effort.

Then she blinked, recalling that this entire endeavour had been her idea to begin with. Right. Focus. Astra was just… increasingly, infuriatingly distracting.

“Eydis… uh, Astra…” Adam sounded like a man who had just discovered new depths of regret. He averted his gaze. “Can I… request your help?”

“What, precisely, do you require assistance with?” Eydis asked.

Adam swallowed. Hard. Then, in a hushed, deeply concerned voice, he said, “I think… um… whatever this is between you guys… it’s not helping Joseph.”

Eydis tilted her head.

Ah.

Joseph’s condition had escalated from concerning to apocalyptic. His body was practically sizzling against the timber floor, wisps of smoke curling from beneath him. His crimson eyes burned, quite literally, as they locked onto them both. A dribble of blood had begun to seep from his nose.

It would have been almost comical if he didn’t look like he might spontaneously combust at any moment.

Astra cleared her throat, her face tinged with a suspiciously pink hue.

Adam stared. Gawked, really. Because Astra blushing in public was a myth.

She did not return his look. She did not explain herself. She did not dignify this disaster with words. Instead, very decisively, very efficiently, she turned on her heel and strode straight out of the library.

Not fled. Strided. Like a woman making an executive escape. Though she threw Eydis a knowing look. Like she’d already pieced together the Queen’s game.

Eydis watched her go, thoroughly entertained.

Adam’s shoulders sagging with relief. Then, as if suddenly remembering something very important, he eyed Eydis warily.

“You’re… not following her?”

If Eydis were to be truly honest… With Astra around, it was difficult to see anything else. But now…

Focus.

“Now, why would I do that,” she mused, “when I could watch you work?”

Adam opened his mouth. Closed it. Then, wordlessly, he sat back down and resumed healing Joseph.

Eydis picked up Professor Le Bleu’s book and flipped through with idle fingers.

After a while, Adam’s hands trembled with exertion, but the heat radiating off Joseph only seemed to intensify, as if his body were generating more energy than Adam’s magic could dissipate.

“Can’t reach his Arcane Heart, Adam?” Eydis flipped another page.

Adam, visibly frustrated, sighed. “I did. I stabilised it according to the book’s instructions, but his fever isn’t breaking.”

Eydis’s gaze shifted to Joseph, his nosebleed worsening, his breath a ragged, heat-scorched thing. “And where does the excess Arcane energy go, Adam?”

“My magic should be counteracting his Arcane energy, balancing his core temperature, but…” Adam’s frown deepened. He looked helplessly at Joseph’s body, as if it were some foreign object he couldn’t figure out.

Eydis shut the book with a snap. “Does the book specifically say this method works on Fire-Affinity Gifted?”

A beat of silence.

Adam’s eyes widened. “…It doesn’t.”

“Thought so. This book assumes a universal application of magic. It doesn’t account for the unique way Affinities affect the body.” Eydis remarked dryly.

Adam’s expression shifted as understanding dawned. “Fire-Affinity Gifted don’t just generate Arcane energy,” he murmured. “Their Arcane Heart stores and channels mana into thermal energy. When that limit is reached, Joseph’s body attempts to radiate the excess energy as heat.”

“Precisely,” Eydis said.

Adam’s brows knitted. “But if I cool him too rapidly…”

“His blood will clot,” Eydis finished smoothly.

Adam nodded, a spark of insight flaring in his eyes. A grin tugged at his lips. “I need to accelerate evaporative cooling. Draw the heat out in a way that doesn’t overload his system.”

Eydis’s lips curled in approval. “There we go.”

Adam shot her a quick, grateful grin before returning his attention to Joseph. He adjusted the mist around the boy’s body, refining it with increasing precision.

Eydis simply watched, lips curving in quiet amusement.

Once Adam finished healing Joseph, the boy muttered a quick “thanks” before bolting out of the library, not without first casting Eydis a look of pure horror. As if she had just personally signed his execution order.

Rude.

Adam’s gaze following Joseph’s retreating form. “Thanks for your help, Eydis,” he said. Then, after a quick scan of the room to ensure no one was listening, he leaned in slightly. “I need to ask you something. But not here. Will you come with me?”

Eydis considered the request with exaggerated deliberation. “You know, a girl once tried to lure me out at night.” Then, leaning closer, she murmured, “It was a trap.”

Adam stiffened. “It’s not. It’s… a private matter.”

“Should I care?” The truth was, Eydis did care. But for the moment, that was irrelevant.

Without a word, she started walking. As expected, Adam scrambled after her, only to skid to a stop at the doorway. He nearly collided with Astra, who shifted just an inch, cold and unreadable as always.

Again, cute.

Eydis smiled despite herself.

Adam hesitated. Then, taking a deep breath, he reached out, catching Eydis’s elbow. Only to recoil, hard, when he felt the weight of a very particular crimson glare.

Eydis grinned, relishing his discomfort.

“I need your help! I can do anything to repay you!” Adam blurted. Then, quietly, he added, “I’m out of options.”

Ah, there it was.

Turning to face him, she lowered her voice. “Forgive me, Adam, I should have realised sooner… when the Verdant Peacock goes missing, it is, of course, a matter of national concern.”

Adam groaned. “I hate that I understand that. But you could’ve just used his name.”

Astra’s lips curled. But she schooled her expression quickly.

Eydis’ grin widened. “I could have. But if we’re to be discreet, shouldn’t we commit to the bit?”

Adam stared, shifting incredulous glances between the two women. Then, cautiously hopeful, he asked, “So… you’ll come with me?”

Eydis let the silence stretch, watching his hope waver. Then she smiled, a hint of a fang barely visible.

“Why, Adam.” She lifted a shoulder in an elegant half-shrug. “I’d be heartless to ignore a friend in need.”

Adam all but melted with relief. Which was darling because she hadn’t said yes. She had only set the stage for the moment when she would, on her terms, in her time.

With the price already written.

As Adam turned to lead the way, Astra’s voice brushed against her ear. “So this is what had the Queen scheming.”

Eydis’s eyes glinted with mischief. “Impress?”

Astra smiled. “Maybe.” She paused, her gaze lingering on Eydis. “But you just wanted to watch him burn.”

“That’s quite the accusation.”

“Though…” Astra leaned in. “You burn hotter than he ever could.” Without warning, pressed a brief, deliberate kiss to Eydis’s cheek.

Wordlessly, she followed Adam.

Eydis blinked. Stunned. One kiss, and the temperature had shifted. Inside and out.

Astra, it seemed, had abandoned subtlety along with restraint. So this was the game now, was it? Astra was clearly playing her, and the distraction wasn’t exactly innocent. But somehow, the thought of being pulled into this dance made Eydis smile.

There was a certain pleasure in being played this well.