Chapter 532: Chapter 532- The Power of Endless Ardor

Eleanor had barely taken three steps towards them when suddenly her steps faltered, and she was just about to fall down face first. A gust of wind blew, and a strong arm saved her from falling.

That strong, reliable arm coiled around her waist and pulled her closer towards his warm embrace. The next second, she was wrapped in his coat, shielding her from the cold.

“Thank you.” Eleanor glanced at Reinhardt, who stopped her from falling.

The latter smiled and shook his head. He then pointed at the carriage waiting for them and escorted them in.

They had just settled in their seats when… Grrrrr… a sound cut cleanly through the silence.

Eleanor froze. Her eyes widened; one hand shot to her stomach while the other waved frantically towards them.

“T-that wasn’t me. The wind, yes, the wind makes strange sounds at night, doesn’t it?”

Tried as awkwardly as she might, her stomach betrayed her again with a quieter but unmistakable rumbling follow-up. In that instant, her face turned bright crimson. Immediately, she hunched over, pressing her elbows to her sides as if physically restraining the noise.

“I-I had a very… emotionally demanding performance,” she added, nodding rapidly, as if that explained everything.

Sitting on the opposite end, Reinhardt covered his mouth, eyes crinkling with amusement. While he tried not to make it any more awkward for her, Melissa, on the other hand, laughed openly.

“Your performance was stunning, Lady Eleanor. Even your stomach gave a standing ovation.”

Being teased by her friend, Eleanor let out a defeated groan and buried her face in her hands.

Feeling amused by their exchange, Reinhardt tapped the window next to him and instructed the coachman. “Take us to a good restaurant nearby, somewhere warm.”

Eleanor was not the only one hungry; as it turned out, neither he nor Melissa had eaten properly all day either. Meetings, inspections, and ceremonies piling atop one another until hunger became an afterthought.

The carriage rolled through softly lit streets before stopping in front of an elegant restaurant. Golden lamps glowed behind tall windows, and the scent of roasted herbs drifted into the cold night.

The Atelier… they were a famous restaurant from the capital, now with a branch in Snowpoint City.

With Reinhardt leading, the three of them entered the restaurant. Inside, they were led to a private table, followed by plates of slow-braised venison, freshly baked bread still steaming, herb roasted root vegetables, and a light citrus soup meant to cut through winter’s heaviness.

Seeing the platters decorating their table, both the ladies gulped. Soon, munching noises came from their table as they ate like someone who had been starved. Not messily, but not gracefully either.

Be that as it may, with every bite and gulp, their shoulders loosened and colour returned to their faces.

Reinhardt enjoyed their company and ate with them.

“This is… incredible,” Eleanor murmured, clearly forgetting her earlier embarrassment.

With food on the table, conversation flowed easily. Melissa teased Eleanor about her dramatic denial earlier, and Reinhardt offered quiet praise for her performance back in the theatre.

He was in the midst of making small remarks on the play when he noticed that Eleanor was slightly absentminded. Her fingers tightened around her spoon, her gaze drifting somewhere far away in a daze.

“Something on your mind?” Reinhardt asked casually.

Eleanor looked at him, sighed, and spoke what was on her mind. “The director spoke to me after the show. He told me that my talent three years ago and even now was too big for theatrical play. He wants me to return to major film productions.”

“That sounds like good news.” Melissa tilted her head.

“It should be. But filming means travelling constantly. Different cities. Different sets. Sometimes even border regions.” At this point, her voice began to waver. “The confines of Snowpoint City are still fine. However, I am afraid of going beyond them.”

So that was the case. Reinhardt placed the knife and fork back on his plate. “Today, when I saw you on the stage performing, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were so brilliant and seamless in your act that the entire audience was mesmerised. And when the play ended, seeing your face, your gestures, the slight excitement and flicker of your eyes, it made me realise that you belong there”…

“I know you truly love your craft. So if your indecisiveness is stopping you from taking the next step, then I shall decide it for you. Eleanor Viscounty, accept the offer from your director. Showcase your brilliance to the whole world and live your dreams. As for everything else, leave it to me. You needn’t worry about your protection. I have knights who can guard a battlefield without blinking. Escorting an actress is hardly beyond them.”

Eleanor’s eyes trembled, moisture gathering at the corners. He spoke all those words so easily. However, each and every word of his struck her heart like ripples in a lake, unable to settle down for a long time.

“Lord Reinhardt is right. You should perform freely, without fear. The world deserves to see what you can do.” Melissa added.

For a long moment, Eleanor said nothing. Then she smiled softly and nodded with resolve.

.

.

After the dinner, the three of them returned to the mansion. Reinhardt headed for his bedroom, feeling slightly weary from all the desk work.

CLICK… The moment he opened the door of his bedroom, his steps halted. The aura inside the room, which should otherwise be empty, was different. There was a weird silence and a pressure that was thick and predatory.

Reinhardt’s eyes shifted towards the open window. There, sitting on the windowsill with her tails curled and hugging one of her legs, was a presence. Her purple eyes shone with the moonlight, and her expression was beautiful yet feral.

A figure of sensual curves and feralness, the figure was none other than Zerina.

At some point in time, appearing through his window like a wild cat became something normal for her.

“I was waiting for you.” There was no exchange of hellos; the moment she saw him, she pounced. Her speed, holding true to her level and class, was swift.

However, before she could draw near Reinhardt, the shadows at his feet moved. They pooled, swirled, and erupted upward in a wave of cool darkness that solidified into Karina. She placed herself between Reinhardt and Zerina, shielding the former behind her.

“Mine.” Daggers drawn, Karina hissed at the knight who invaded her master’s personal quarters this late at night.

“Hmph.” Zerina snorted, her body somersaulted and landed on her toes with feline-like grace and agility.

“A girl like you who wraps herself in coldness thinks she can soothe the sun? There is no enemy, hence there is no need for an assassin like you. You should make yourself scarce.”

“Heh, you think you can comfort my master? A woman like you who can only offer soft purrs and lazy stretches? Get lost.” Karina was equally fast in her reply.

“Is that what you think? In that case, you made a fatal error.” The smile tugging on Zerina’s face disappeared, and her eyes instantly turned sharp.

It was the same for Karina; her body started exuding a thick coldness and bloodlust.

As usual, these two women were at each other’s throats. He thought that their carnal night together had brought each of his women closer. However, it seemed that he was mistaken. The long days of abstinence had made them cold towards each other once again.

That said, they weren’t as hostile as when they did something like this the first time.

Reinhardt watched as sparks flew between the two. Just as they were about to make a mess of his room, he walked past Karina and towards his bed.

“Enough, you two!” Saying that, he slumped down on his bed. He was too tired for this nonsense. He looked at the two women with weary eyes, causing both of them to immediately stop their actions.

“The only thing I need tonight is not to listen to you two carve each other up over who claims me, but some rest and peace. If you both want to sleep with me, then sleep together. Or you can both spend the night in the hall.”

Karina and Zerina looked at each other; the attack the two were about to launch at each other halted. A silent eye communication passed between them, and they simultaneously walked over to the bed.

When it came to earning Reinhardt’s affection, they were rivals. That said, the emotions and desire they had for him was deeper.

“How about we compromise today?”

“Fine, but I’m not taking orders from you.”

The two women arrived by his side, their hands working together to get his clothes off. Karina pushed his jacket from his shoulders while Zerina’s fingers worked the buttons of his shirt. They moved around him in a coordinated yet competitive manner.

With his clothes gone, Reinhardt continued to lay back on the sheets. The two women descended on him like opposing sides of a magnet. Karina was the first to seize the opportunity this time.

She straddled his hips, her lithe body sheening from the warm light of the fireplace, her breasts brushing his chest, and captured his mouth in a deep, languid kiss. With yearning, her tongue coiled around his, feeling and embracing his heat.

Zerina was there too, her feline figure slipping into the bed. She didn’t fight for his mouth; no, she took his attention. Her cool lips trailed down his neck, her inky hair spilling over his stomach.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep