A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night-Chapter 52: Artemis’ true intentions; The Date continues

The conversation continued, shifting to different topics over time. But, eventually, the lunch came to an end, and both of them excused themselves in the name of having another commitment with a friend.

Surprisingly, it was Kael who dragged Laura away as soon as they were finished with this free lunch treat, using an excuse. Laura was confused at first, but she played along, not intending to embarrass her husband.

As Kael and Laura left the restaurant, the once cheerful expression on Artemis’s face faded, replaced by a more serious and contemplative demeanor. Her gaze followed them for a moment before she turned to the old man, Dragamir, her trusted royal preceptor.

"Teacher," Artemis addressed him quietly, her voice tinged with concern. "What’s wrong? You seem... troubled."

Dragamir’s sharp eyes, usually calm and composed, narrowed as he looked at her. "Your Highness, I believe something is off about this man, Kael Moonstone."

Artemis raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his tone. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice steady, though she agreed with his opinion.

Dragamir continued, his eyes fixated on her. "He mentioned that he doesn’t have a tattoo when you asked but I’m confident that he had the tattoo on his arm. Not one, but two beasts are sealed within it. His mana reserves indicate he is but a weak Tier-1, yet the suppression on his mana core…" He paused for a moment before adding, "I believe he is as powerful as you, Your Highness."

Artemis’s eyes widened at the suggestion. "As powerful as me?" She was taken aback. "Do you mean he was also a Tier-8?"

Dragamir nodded, his expression unwavering. "I am not entirely certain, Your Highness. It’s a speculation. The fact that I cannot be certain itself is something unsettling."

Artemis frowned, her thoughts swirling. "If a demigod like you cannot see through him, I bet he was carrying some sort of artifact."

Dragamir nodded again. "Possible, Your Highness."

A silence stretched between them as Artemis mulled over what Dragamir had said. The information was unsettling, to say the least.

After pondering on the matter for a while, she opened her mouth. "Teacher, arrange a spy. It’s better to know what was going on in that Moonstone household. Moreover, there is my grandfather’s matter. Initially, I thought if my grandfather had a boy, and the worst-case scenario arrived, we could abduct one of his children and adopt the baby. But after hearing of the possibility that Kael might be a Tier-8, we should carefully make our preparations."

Dragamir voiced his opinion. "There is an easier way, Your Highness. You could simply arrange his betrothal to Kael’s eldest daughter as soon as she was born and make her the head of the House after her marriage, and it would pass to their female heir later on. This way, everything will be alright."

"Oh, that’s a good thing." Artemis’ eyes lit up in acknowledgment. She then said, "Anyway, prepare a spy. Preferably someone who is weak enough to evade everyone’s suspicions."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Kael and Laura were walking down the cobblestone streets as the horse carriage slowly followed them, the bright midday sun casting a warm glow over them. The moment of tension from the restaurant seemed to fade, and they were back to their quiet, private time together.

Laura glanced up at Kael with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "So, what was this other commitment with a friend you had?" she asked.

Kael smirked slightly and shrugged. "None, actually." His response was casual.

"I know." Laura’s smile widened. "But, why did you lie though? I thought you were the one who is more comfortable there." She tilted her head slightly, clearly trying to understand.

Kael chuckled softly. "Today was supposed to be for us, my love. A lunch date, just the two of us, to spend time together—without any foreign dignitaries or other distractions. But she actually ruined my plans. I have to pretend all comfortable and happy in front of her so that you won’t get embarrassed."

Laura’s eyes softened, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She moved closer to him, wrapping her arm around his. "You’re the best husband ever," she murmured, her voice filled with affection. She gave his arm a playful squeeze before resting her head on his shoulder as they walked.

Kael smiled in return, his heart lightened by her gesture. They continued to walk in comfortable silence, the moment between them feeling like a brief respite from the growing tension surrounding them.

Though their day was still young, the weight of Artemis’s earlier words and Dragamir’s unsettling observations lingered in Kael’s mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his own power than he had yet to uncover, and that the future was bound to bring more challenges than he had anticipated.

But for now, he would focus on the moment with Laura, knowing that, for a brief time at least, he could enjoy a quiet, peaceful day—one that was just for them.

Kael and Laura’s past lunch date continued, starting with the Sapphire Theatre, a grand and elegant venue that set the stage for their romantic afternoon.

As they entered the opulent theater, the rich velvet curtains and golden fixtures caught their eyes. The air was thick with the scent of perfume and the soft buzz of hushed conversations as the elite of the city settled into their seats.

"Shall we take our seats, my lady?" Kael asked, offering his arm with a playful smile.

Laura smiled back, taking his arm. "Lead the way, my dear husband," she teased, her voice soft and warm.

They were escorted to a private box, an intimate space where they could enjoy the play away from the crowd.

After a fifteen-minute wait while the other seats were being filled, the lights dimmed, and the performance began at 3 p.m.

The actors took to the stage, telling the story of two young lovers from feuding noble families—an heiress and the son of a rival duchess. It was said to be based on true events.

Kael watched the unfolding drama, his fingers gently brushing Laura’s hand, which was resting on the armrest. She leaned closer, her head resting against his shoulder. "I wonder if love could ever be so simple, with no worries of political or family obligations," she murmured.

Kael chuckled softly, "Perhaps, but then we wouldn’t have all this fun," he said, nudging her playfully.

As the characters on stage fought to overcome their families’ hatred, Kael and Laura exchanged knowing glances. Such a situation wasn’t relatable for them at all, but for those brief few moments, both of them imagined themselves as main characters, thinking about what they would do if they were in their place.

They neither discussed their thoughts. But in both of their minds, the same identical play was going on, quite surprisingly in line with the play that was happening before their eyes.

Both of them were sure that they would indeed fight against their families to keep their love no matter what.

The performance reached its climax, and the young lovers, after ups and downs, found a way to unite, although the so-called happy ending for the couple was different from what they expected. It ends with the male character’s father having a change of attitude while the female character’s father disowns her.

Laura sighed contentedly, her eyes sparkling. "Well, that’s quite a happy ending for the male character."

Kael smiled down at her, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "And this," he said, "this is my happy ending."

Their next stop was the Aviary, a magical dome filled with rare and fantastical birds.

The moment they entered, the air seemed to hum with energy as the birds flitted around them. Brightly colored feathers shimmered in the sunlight that poured in through the glass roof, and the tranquil atmosphere surrounded them.

Laura laughed softly as a brightly feathered bird landed on her shoulder. "Well, aren’t you friendly?" she said, stroking its feathers gently.

Kael stood beside her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I think it likes you."

She grinned at him, before looking at the bird. "I think it just knows I have good taste," she teased, winking at him.

They strolled through the aviary, admiring the different birds and their mesmerizing colors. One particularly stunning creature—a bird with wings that shimmered like liquid silver—took flight and soared above them. Laura gasped in awe, and Kael chuckled, watching her eyes light up with wonder.

"They’re beautiful, aren’t they?" Laura murmured, her voice soft as she looked up at the bird.

Kael nodded, his gaze moving from the bird to her. "Almost as beautiful as you," he said, his voice low and sincere.

Laura blushed slightly, giving him a playful shove. "Stop trying to flatter me," she said, but her smile betrayed her appreciation. This is exactly the kind of attention she was looking for, from her husband.

They spent an hour wandering the aviary, hand in hand, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and each other’s company.

After the Aviary, they visited the Hall of Echoes, which is located within a walkable distance from the Aviary. It is well known for its perfect acoustics.

The air seemed to vibrate with the music, and as they walked inside, the sound of a string quartet playing classical melodies filled the space.

Kael and Laura found a quiet corner, away from the musicians, and sat down on a plush bench. The music was pleasing to their ears; their heart rate completely calmed down to the point that they wanted to take a nap and wash away their worries.

Her sisters, Artemis, her jealousy, nothing came to her head. Laura, at that moment, forgot about everything else and leaned her head on Kael’s shoulder, sighing contentedly. "It’s like the music is weaving through us, don’t you think?" she whispered.

Kael smiled, his fingers gently brushing through her hair. "It’s the perfect soundtrack for this moment," he replied.

They sat in silence for a while, simply letting the music wash over them. Laura looked up at Kael, her gaze soft. "I’m so glad we’re here," she murmured. "Just the two of us, no distractions."

Kael turned his head to meet her gaze, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Me too," he said, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips.

She smiled.

The music continued to swirl around them as they shared a quiet moment.

By the time they got out of the Hall of Echoes and made their way to their next destination, the sun was already beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the Swan’s Lagoon.

The serene lake stretched out before them, surrounded by lush greenery. They rented a swan boat for themselves, a beautiful vessel with delicate white sails, and set off across the smooth water.

The boat drifted silently, the only sound being the gentle lapping of the water against the hull. Laura looked around, her eyes taking in the peaceful surroundings. "It’s so quiet here," she said softly. "Like time slows down when you’re on the water."

Kael sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "Then let’s make sure we make the best of it," he murmured.

Laura laughed softly, her hand resting on his. "I could get used to this," she said, resting her head against his chest.

As the boat glided across the water, Kael rowed with slow, deliberate strokes, their hands touching occasionally as they enjoyed the tranquility of the moment.

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The sun dipped further lower in the sky, casting a fiery orange hue across the horizon as they sat there together, lost in each other’s company.

As the sky turned darker and darker every second, Kael and Laura decided to end their perfect date with a visit to the Obsidian Baths, a luxurious bathhouse renowned for its steam-filled rooms and serene atmosphere.