DIVINE BANE-Chapter 65: the moon looks beautiful tonight

The sparring ground fell silent after Zed's departure, his footsteps echoing off into the estate.

Aurora stood still for a moment, watching him go, her arms folded neatly across her chest. Then, slowly, a smirk crept across her face a rare, proud glint lighting up her deep ocean-blue eyes.

"Yeah... That's my brother," she thought. "I'm so proud of you, Zed."

She turned to Evelyne, confidence radiating off her. "See? I told you it was a bad idea."

Evelyne, still stunned, didn't respond right away. Her gaze was locked on the path Zed had taken. Her heart was racing. Her face was flushed.

"Just... what happened to him..." she murmured softly, almost to herself.

But her voice trailed off into a whisper she didn't intend for anyone to hear.

"...That was so cool..."

Aurora raised a brow. "What was that?"

Evelyne flinched, cheeks lighting up. "N-Nothing!" she stammered, spinning on her heels and rushing to her brother's side, her heart doing somersaults.

She crouched beside Cid, who was still hunched over, hands stained red, blood dripping from his broken nose. "You shouldn't have gone that far, brother..."

But Cid didn't respond.

He wasn't even looking at her.

His gaze was locked on Aurora still standing, her back straight, her smirk smug and glorious.

Cid's lip quivered.

No... my angel...

And then the dam broke.

He began to cry. Loudly. Wet, messy, defeated.

"NOOOO! My angel!!" he bawled, fists pounding the dirt. "Why did you smile at me like that?! Why ?!"

Evelyne sighed, her expression dropping. "Stop crying like a baby, you're embarrassing me..."

"I am a baby," Cid sniffled between sobs. "A broken-hearted, betrayed baby!"

As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, its golden light casting long shadows across the estate, a soft breeze swept the field.

Zander, watching from a distance with Alex, couldn't help but mutter, "And they say our side's dramatic..."

Alex nodded sagely through his skull mask. "Love hurts, huh?"

Zander smirked. "Not as much as a broken nose."

The sky darkened, drawing a close to a day filled with egos, battles, revelations and the faint, unexpected flutter of something new in Evelyne's heart

That night, after dinner had been served and the estate had fallen into a quiet lull, everyone retreated to their chambers for rest. The halls dimmed, candles flickering low as the world slowed.

But not all were asleep.

One figure moved through the shadows with purpose, quiet as a whisper, his presence slipping past every creaking floorboard with practiced ease.

Evelyne sat in front of her mirror, dressed in a soft pink nightgown, gently brushing her long hair. Though her body was present in the quiet of her chamber, her thoughts were far from it still lingering at the dining table, stealing glances.

"Haah... he's changed so much," she murmured to herself, a faint smile curling on her lips.

"He used to be cute, but now... he's handsome. Dashing and Cool. Gods, I wish our engagement hadn't been canceled."

She sighed dreamily, her brush slowing as her mind replayed Zed's face, the sharpness in his eyes, the quiet strength in the way he carried himself.

Just then, a knock tapped softly at her door.

She blinked. "Huh? Who could it be this late?" Then rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, probably my brother again needing comfort for something dumb."

Without thinking, she marched to the door, pulled it open, eyes still half-lidded in irritation, and snapped:

"Just go back to bed already! I'm tired of being your emotional pillow "

Her voice froze mid-sentence.

Her eyes flew open.

Zed stood there, caught mid-step, his expression stunned then quickly turning apologetic.

"Ah—sorry," he said, already stepping back.

"I didn't mean to bother you. I'll go."

The words stung. Embarrassment bloomed hot across Evelyne's cheeks.

Gods, no! Idiot, idiot!

Before he could turn away fully, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside, her voice flustered but sincere.

"Wait, Zed, I'm sorry. I thought it was my brother. I didn't know... you'd come by. Especially not this late."

Zed paused, the light from her room casting a warm halo behind her. He glanced at her at her messy hair, her flushed cheeks, the way her nightgown shimmered slightly in the lantern glow and gave the faintest, bashful smile.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Zed hesitated just inside the room, his gaze lowered, posture formal. Then, quietly, he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Lady Evelyne... for what I did to your brother today. Please forgive me."

He bowed gently, the movement graceful and sincere.

Evelyne, already flushed with embarrassment, felt the heat rise even further up her neck. Her heart thudded awkwardly in her chest. He looked so composed, so... polite and it made her flustered all over again.

"N-No, really, it's okay," she stammered, waving her hands a little too quickly.

"It was his fault for challenging you in the first place. Honestly, he was being an idiot."

Zed glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes. Then he smiled soft and genuine.

"Thank you, my lady."

The warmth in his voice made her chest flutter.

She looked away, biting her lip, trying to suppress a grin that threatened to break through.

Then, just as she was about to say something, anything. Zed reached into his robe and slowly pulled out a small, glinting object.

A ring.

Before Evelyne could react, he knelt down in front of her. The moonlight, slipping through the open window, bathed the room in a soft silver glow. It danced off the ring in his hand, illuminating his calm face and her wide, disbelieving eyes.

Her breath caught.

Zed took her right hand gently, his fingers cold but sure. Then, with care and without hesitation, he slid the ring onto her ring finger.

The world slowed.

Evelyne stared, mouth parted, unable to form words as her heart thudded wildly in her chest.

"It may not be the ring I lost," Zed said quietly, not looking up. "But this one... this one is very dear to me."

She was frozen solid.

Everything blurred, her thoughts, the moment, the moonlight on his silver hair. The cool metal on her skin grounded her, but her mind was miles away. Dazzled. Overwhelmed. Shaken to her core.

She wanted to speak, to say something anything but no words came out. Her throat tightened, eyes stung with heat.

But Zed didn't wait.

With the same quiet confidence, he stood up, gave her a gentle glance and without another word, turned and left the room, vanishing into the quiet halls like a ghost.

Evelyne snapped out of her trance, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted back to the dim room. She turned to the door still slightly ajar and then to the space where Zed had stood just moments ago.

Gone. Like a breeze. Like a dream.

She looked down at the ring, still glinting on her finger, real and warm from his touch. Her heart thumped like a war drum.

And then, It all hit her at once.

She staggered back a step, face flushed deep pink, both hands flying up to her cheeks.

"Haaaa?!"

Her voice echoed in the room.

"What was that? Did he, was that a proposal?!" she gasped, pacing in frantic little circles.

"Does he... does he also love me?" she squealed into her hands, her thoughts spinning like a storm.

A nervous giggle slipped out. Then a flustered groan. "Aaaahhh! What should I do?! What do I do?!"

She jumped onto the bed and buried her face in a pillow, kicking her legs as if trying to physically shake the emotions out of her.

The moonlight stayed, calm and steady, watching the flailing chaos of a girl who might've just fallen deeper in love than ever before.

We see Zed walking slowly up the stone steps to the top wall of the Ravenhart estate, the cool breeze ruffling his hair. Zander and Alex were already there, sitting casually and staring up at the moon, its silver glow washing over the quiet estate.

Alex looked over and grinned. "So... how did your apology go?"

Zed sat down beside them with a sigh. "I don't know. She was stunned. Didn't say a word. I thought she might hate me after all, I punched her brother in the morning and then crept into her room like some kind of thief at night."

He looked at Zander with a guilty frown. "I knew it was a bad idea, Zander."

Zander, still gazing at the moon, asked calmly, "Did she say, 'he got what he deserved'?"

Zed blinked. "Yeah... yeah, she did."

Zander finally looked at him. "Then that's enough. Our work is done. We didn't want the Draven family to have anything to hold against us. We gave them reason and closure."

Zed leaned back against the cold stone. "But don't you feel bad? I mean... we're playing with her heart here."

Zander was quiet for a moment, then said with a sharp edge to his voice,

"Zed... she came here to insult us. Remember that. She came to end a bond like it was a minor inconvenience bringing along that pompous brother of hers to throw dirt at us. We owed them nothing."

Zed stayed quiet.

Alex, sensing the heavy mood, tried to lighten the air.

"Still, though... you gave her your ring, right?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

Zed looked at him sideways. "Yeah. i gave her the one I never take off."

"Ooooh," Alex teased. "That's basically marriage in some places."

Zander chuckled. "Let the poor girl suffer in suspense for now."

Zed smirked faintly but didn't speak again, his eyes locked on the moon. A hundred thoughts danced behind those calm blue eyes memories, regrets, and somewhere in there... maybe a feeling he hadn't yet named.

As the moon rose higher, painting the world silver and soft, Alex pulled out a small, well-sealed bottle from his coat and held it up with a grin.

"It's my last night here, so let's forget all this drama and enjoy ourselves. I brought some wine," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Zed blinked, the realization hitting him.

"Oh right... tomorrow, you're leaving for Welford City... joining an adventurer's guild."

Alex nodded, a bit more solemn now.

"Yeah... figured I should start taking things seriously."

Zander, ever the mysterious one, raised his hand and like magic three wine glasses unfolded into existence, glimmering in the moonlight.

"Then it's a fitting moment," he said. "Let's drink to the journey ahead."

Alex poured the wine carefully into each glass, and they all raised them with quiet smiles.

"You know," Alex said after a sip, "we're still ten. Isn't drinking a bit... bad?"

Zander shrugged with a sly smirk. "My body's above eighteen."

Zed raised a brow. "Liar. You told us yourself you're sixteen."

Zander took another sip, unbothered. "You remember too much."

They laughed, the tension of the day melting away into warmth and easy teasing. The stars above listened in silence as the three boys shared stories, joked, and dreamed beneath the night sky.

They stayed like that till dawn, their wine glasses empty, their hearts a little fuller. Even with all the uncertainty ahead, for that one night... everything felt just right.