The Extra's Rise-Chapter 525: Coming Of Age (5)

The morning light filtered through the curtains when I stirred, though calling it morning felt generous given what my phone displayed when I reached for it with sluggish fingers. The glowing screen greeted me with the time: 1 PM.

I stared at the numbers, momentarily disoriented. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept this long—if ever. My body had been attuned to six hours of rest since my early training days, no more, no less. It was a discipline that had served me well through countless challenges, but apparently Cecilia had managed to exhaust even my enhanced constitution.

"Did we really fall asleep at seven?" I muttered, running a hand through my disheveled hair as fragments of the previous night drifted back through my consciousness. freewёbnoνel.com

Beside me, Cecilia stirred like a contented cat, her golden locks splayed across the silk pillow like rays of captured sunlight. Her arms instinctively wrapped around my waist as she nestled closer, a serene expression softening features that were usually animated with mischief or determination. Even in sleep, she seemed to radiate that particular confidence that made her so captivating.

I smiled despite myself, unable to help the warmth that spread through my chest at the sight. She looked so peaceful, so different from the teasing, boldly provocative woman she had been throughout the night. There was something almost vulnerable about her like this, though I suspected she’d hex me if I ever described her that way while she was awake.

Gently, I ran the back of my fingers along her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin and the way she unconsciously leaned into the touch.

Her crimson eyes fluttered open at the contact, and a sleepy but thoroughly satisfied grin spread across her lips. "Arthur," she murmured, her voice still thick with drowsiness as she caught my hand. To my surprise—though perhaps I should have expected it by now—she brought one of my fingers to her lips and gave it a deliberately provocative lick, her eyes never leaving mine.

I chuckled, shaking my head at her incorrigible nature. "Good morning to you too. Are you not tired?"

"Mentally? Not at all." She stretched languidly, every movement deliberate and graceful despite what we’d put each other through. "Physically..." She paused, testing her range of motion with a theatrical wince before smirking at me with unmistakable satisfaction. "Let’s just say you definitely did your job. I genuinely can’t walk properly, and I have the distinct feeling I won’t be able to for the rest of the day."

Her words made me laugh, a sound mixed with pride and slight concern. I leaned down to kiss her forehead, tasting the faint salt of dried sweat. "Good," I whispered, though part of me wondered if I should feel guilty about her condition.

"Though I have to say," Cecilia continued, propping herself up on one elbow to study my face with those penetrating crimson eyes, "your stamina is absolutely ridiculous. Like, unnaturally so. Are you sure you’re entirely human?"

"Ceci..."

"Don’t ’Ceci’ me," she interrupted, though her tone was playful rather than accusatory. "I’m not complaining—quite the opposite, actually. I’m just saying that if this is what you’re like right now, I’m genuinely curious what you’ll be capable of in the future. The other girls might need to start taking turns just to survive."

"How about you join me and my family for lunch?" Cecilia asked as she began to move more purposefully, stretching her arms above her head with an elegance that somehow made even her winces look graceful.

"What?" I blinked, the sudden topic change catching me off guard.

"Come on now," she said, fixing me with that look that brooked no argument. "My father already knows something’s up. This isn’t some fleeting dalliance we can pretend never happened, is it?"

The weight of her words settled over me like a lead blanket. She was right, of course. We’d crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed, entered territory that had permanent consequences. "I don’t think this is the best timing, Ceci."

She narrowed her eyes, the expression transforming her from satisfied lover to imperial princess in an instant. "Arthur, you can’t avoid my father forever. Now that we’ve taken this step, you’re going to marry me eventually. That means dealing with him as your future father-in-law. Or were you planning to run away from this responsibility?"

The casual way she mentioned marriage sent my pulse racing for entirely different reasons than our earlier activities. "You know I love you, Ceci."

Her expression immediately softened into a victorious smile that reminded me exactly why she was so dangerous. "Good. Then get dressed—and help me with mine while you’re at it. I’m going to need assistance with some of the more intricate fastenings."

I raised an eyebrow. "Can’t you just use mana to dress yourself?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically, her lips forming that particular pout that made her look younger and more vulnerable than her usual commanding presence. "Mana’s not exactly helpful when it comes to untangling the aftermath of activities like ours. And let’s be honest—we couldn’t exactly have done what we did using mana manipulation, could we? Some things require a more... hands-on approach."

Her words hung in the air with typical Cecilia boldness, matter-of-fact yet laced with the kind of intimate knowledge that made my thoughts scatter in several directions at once. I shook my head with a laugh, already resigned to whatever chaos she had planned for the day.

"Besides," she continued, standing carefully and testing her balance, "I rather like the idea of you helping me dress. It feels appropriately... domestic. Like we’re already married."

"Don’t get ahead of yourself," I said, though I was already moving to assist her.

"Oh, I’m not getting ahead of anything," she replied with serene confidence. "I’m simply acknowledging the inevitable. By the way, you can stare as much as you want now. You’re the one man who’s allowed to."

I groaned, shaking my head at her shameless boldness. "You shouldn’t tease me when you’re so sore, Ceci. That’s not exactly fair play."

She rolled her eyes with theatrical exasperation. "Oh, and like you didn’t spend months teasing me endlessly, only to set that ridiculous rule about waiting until we became adults? Deal with it, you hypocritical, horny boy. Consider this my revenge for all those times you left me frustrated and wanting."

I sighed, recognizing the truth in her accusation. "Fair enough," I muttered, moving to help her with the complex lacings of her undergarments.

The process was intimate in a different way than our earlier passion—careful, tender, requiring communication and trust as I helped her into garments designed more for appearance than practicality. Between her pointed observations about my technique and the occasional soft sound of discomfort she tried to hide, we managed to get her into a sleek, elegant outfit that perfectly balanced her natural confidence with a subtle softness appropriate for a family lunch.

"We clean up nicely," I said once I’d dressed myself, examining our reflection in the full-length mirror that dominated one wall of her chambers.

Cecilia nodded approvingly, adjusting the ruby necklace that served as the final touch to her polished appearance. "No one would guess what we spent the night doing. Though of course, I wouldn’t mind the world knowing about us."

"Let’s keep that between us for now," I replied, trying not to think about how her father had probably already drawn his own conclusions.

"First time meeting your girlfriend’s father?" Cecilia asked, her tone carrying that playful edge that usually preceded trouble.

Technically, I’d navigated similar situations in my previous life, but this was indeed uncharted territory in my current existence. "Not just that," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Your father happens to be the Emperor of the most powerful nation on the continent, and I’ve just... let’s say I’ve crossed several significant boundaries with the daughter he treasures above all else."

Cecilia smirked, patting me on the back with mock sympathy that did nothing to ease my growing anxiety. "Well, congratulations, Arthur. You’ve really outdone yourself this time. And guess what? There’s absolutely no escaping this now. You’re committed, whether you’re ready or not."

I sighed, already dreading the impending encounter with a man who could order my execution with a casual gesture. She, however, seemed completely unbothered by the prospect, casually pulling out her phone to summon her personal maids for final preparations.

Watching her calm confidence in the face of what felt like impending doom, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was enjoying my discomfort far too much. Then again, knowing Cecilia, that was probably exactly the point.