Chapter 207: Lazy Kings and Whirling Shadows
Chapter 207: Lazy Kings and Whirling Shadows
Elyn’s POV
I swallowed.
My pulse was racing so loudly that I was almost certain the orchestra could hear it.
"I am not queen yet," I managed to say, lifting my chin slightly even though my voice betrayed me, "but... yes. You may have this dance."
The corner of Zorathys’ lips curved upward in that lazy half-smirk he always wore.
Then he stood fully and pulled me closer. There was very little distance between us.
His hand settled at my waist, firm and unyielding. My hand remained in his. The other rested against his shoulder, and I became painfully aware of the warmth radiating through the thin fabric between us.
The music was soft and slow. Intimate in a way that felt unfair under so many watching eyes.
We began to move.
One step.
Two.
Turn—
And I stepped directly onto his foot. I froze in shock.
"I am so sorry," I whispered immediately, mortified.
He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he shook his head gently.
"Firefly, I told you not to be conscious about dancing. You are thinking about it too much," he told me in a low voice. "Focus on something else, firefly."
"On what? Give me suggestions because I can’t for the—"
"Focus on me, firefly," he said softly, and I blinked in shock.
I did not know what to say to that or even how to reply to him. My cheeks were on fire, I was certain, but I cleared my throat, trying to pretend that I was still in control, and narrowed my eyes at him.
He continued smoothly, "Focus on me. On the many ways you will punish me later."
I let out a small, incredulous laugh, even as my heart beat faster at his words.
"Why exactly would I punish you?"
"You delight in threatening me," he said calmly. "It brings you joy."
"It does not."
"It does."
I huffed, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
"I threaten you because you say the most unexpected things," I replied, "and also do the most unexpected things—things a king like you shouldn’t really be doing."
"Ah," he hummed thoughtfully. "So it is my fault."
"Yes."
"How tragic."
Despite myself, I laughed again, and this time I didn’t step on him.
The rhythm guided us, and his hand at my waist subtly directed each shift in weight before I could overthink it.
"How," I asked after a moment, tilting my head slightly, "are you even still king?"
He raised a brow.
"That is a bold question to ask while I am holding you."
"I am serious."
"So am I."
"You are unbelievably lazy," I continued. "You avoid paperwork to sleep, and even right now, you would prefer to be sleeping than be here. You threaten to make nobles vanish if they breathe incorrectly."
"I do not threaten them for breathing incorrectly."
"Tell me you haven’t done it before," I told him with narrowed eyes.
"I haven’t done it before."
"Zorathys," I called out to him, and he chuckled softly.
"Fine. So maybe I have done it a time or two..." My eyes filled with disbelief, and he cleared his throat. "Maybe more."
I chuckled at that. "You are unbelievably lazy."
He sighed dramatically.
"You say ’lazy’ like it is an insult."
"It is less of an insult and more of an observation," I replied. "You embody laziness."
He hummed thoughtfully at that.
Then, without warning, he twirled me.
The world blurred for half a second as the hem of my gown flared around me. Gasps echoed faintly around the ballroom.
Before I could regain my bearings, he pulled me back into him seamlessly.
My breath hitched, but we continued moving as if I hadn’t nearly lost my sense of direction.
"You are not entirely wrong," he admitted calmly. "I do embody laziness."
"You say that so casually."
"Because it is true."
"You are not even ashamed."
"Of course not."
His hand tightened slightly at my waist as we shifted into another slow turn.
"It is my greatest asset."
I stared at him.
"Your greatest asset."
"Yes."
"Not your power?"
"No."
"Not your strength?"
"No."
"Not your ability to terrify the entire realm?"
"That is merely a side effect."
I blinked.
"My laziness," he continued smoothly, "means I do not act unless it is necessary. I do not interfere unless something truly requires it. I conserve my energy. I observe."
I frowned slightly, considering that.
"I rule because I do not waste effort," he added. "Others exhaust themselves trying to prove dominance. I remain still, and they fear what I might do. I’m the scariest demon in the realm, firefly—lazy or not—and demons respect the most feared person in the realm. If I wasn’t scary, I wouldn’t get to rule them or even last for so long."
I knew they feared him; it was obvious for even those without eyes to see. But I never thought that it was a requirement to be king. I really should have known. They were demons, after all.
And perhaps that was why, no matter what Zorathys did—even when the others looked like they could lose control from just his stare—they still sang his praises.
I didn’t know how I felt about that.
"You truly are impossible."
"And yet," he murmured, "you accepted my request to dance."
"Because it was mandatory," I told him.
"Says the exact same person who wanted to scrap it out," he drawled. "Tell me, firefly, why is it that when it comes to me, it’s me being lazy, but if it’s you... well, I don’t even know what it is called when it’s you."
I refused to dignify that with a response, making him chuckle.
For a moment, we simply moved together, the music guiding us.
Then I remembered something after seeing someone.
"Do you remember your promise?" I asked him.
"Hmm?"
"Your promise to tell me about the demons? You said Rin should go, and you would be the one telling me everything I needed to know."
He frowned. "I said that?"
I gave him a look. "Don’t you dare go back on your words now, Zorathys."
He smiled at that. "Have I told you I like it when you are harsh on me?"