Five

NOVARIA’S POV

With that been said, Sylvester gently took my hand and led me upstairs.

Even after everything that had happened tonight, my body still remained tense. Every unfamiliar sound in the mansion made my heart jump slightly, and although I trusted Sylvester more than anyone else here, I still felt nervous being surrounded by dangerous men I barely knew.

At the same time…I felt embarrassed. 

The image of me running straight toward him downstairs replayed repeatedly inside my head, making heat creep into my cheeks.

God. I must have looked pathetic.

But strangely, Sylvester didn’t seem bothered by it at all. His large hand remained loosely around mine as we walked through the long hallway upstairs. 

The mansion had become quieter now, though distant voices occasionally echoed faintly from downstairs.

Eventually, he pushed open a door. And I stepped inside. 

The bedroom was enormous. Dark grey walls blended perfectly with the black furniture while soft warm lights illuminated the luxurious space beautifully. A massive bed sat at the center of the room, neatly arranged beside floor-to-ceiling windows covered by heavy curtains.

Everything about the room screamed luxury.

The moment the door closed behind us, I suddenly became hyperaware that we were still holding hands.

My eyes widened slightly and I quickly pulled my hand away.

Sylvester didn’t react. Instead, he walked casually toward a wardrobe.

“I’ll get you some clothes for tonight,” he said calmly. “Mine and Collins’ clothes would drown you.” A faint smirk appeared briefly on his lips.

“You can wear Kelvin’s instead. He’s one of the guys you met downstairs.”

I nodded awkwardly.

Then he pointed toward another door at the far side of the room.

“The bathroom is there. Go take a shower while I get the clothes.”

As he started heading toward the door, he suddenly paused. Then he looked back at me.

“And Novaria…” His voice softened slightly.

“You don’t need to worry about what happened downstairs earlier.” His eyes held mine steadily.

“You’re safe here.”

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten strangely.

I nodded slowly.

“Thank you.”

The moment he left the room, I exhaled deeply.

Everything still felt unreal. A few hours ago, I had been walking through the snow to buy bread. Now I was inside the mansion of the most feared mafia family on the continent.

I rubbed my forehead slowly before heading toward the bathroom.

Even the bathroom alone was almost bigger than my bedroom back home.

White marble counters, a huge glass shower, warm golden lighting, expensive mirrors… it looked more luxurious than some hotels I had seen online.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. My face still looked exhausted from crying. My cheek still hurt faintly from the slap. And somehow, despite everything, I still couldn’t stop thinking about Sylvester.

The warm shower ended up calming me far more than I expected. The hot water melted away the lingering cold buried inside my body while the steam slowly relaxed my tense muscles.

For the first time that night, I finally felt safe enough to breathe properly.

As I dried my hair, I decided that later I would at least text my mother. Not because I missed her. But because despite everything, I didn’t want her thinking I was dead somewhere.

After changing into Kelvin’s oversized hoodie and joggers, I stepped out of the bathroom.

Immediately, I froze.

Sylvester was sitting near the window with his phone pressed against his ear. And he sounded furious. His sharp brows were furrowed deeply while he spoke harshly into the phone in a language I couldn’t understand.

Japanese?.

At least… I thought it was Japanese.

His tone was cold and dangerous, the kind that made even me nervous despite not understanding a single word he said.

For a moment, I simply stood there quietly, watching him. It was strange seeing this side of him. The calm, protective man who had spoken softly to me earlier now looked terrifying again.

Finally, he ended the call abruptly and turned around.

The second his eyes landed on me, his expression softened immediately. The change was so quick it almost startled me.

His gaze slowly traveled over the oversized hoodie hanging loosely around my small frame. My hands barely poked out from the sleeves while the joggers almost swallowed my legs completely.

I noticed the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.

The shower had done wonders for me. My body no longer felt frozen, and the warmth had cleared some of the panic clouding my mind earlier.

Seeing Sylvester in my room was a bit surprising to me, because it was already late and as such he was supposed to be in his room at that point in time.

Then Sylvester spoke.

"Hope you don't mind sleeping here with me tonight?”

Huh?

My eyes widened slightly.

He leaned back casually against the chair.

“The fact now is that we don't have a guest house, as my friends each have a room of theirs. So if it's okay with you, you can sleep here with me", Sylvester said.

Now I finally see the reason he was in my room, sorry his room. 

Well…

It wasn’t like I had many options.

There was absolutely no way I was sharing a room with Kelvin or the other men downstairs. Collins felt safer, but still awkward. Sylvester was the only person here I trusted with my body. And honestly? The only reason I wasn’t completely terrified right now was because of him.

After thinking for a second, I nodded quietly.

“That’s okay.”

A faint look of relief crossed his face.

“Good.”

Then his gaze shifted toward my damp hair.

“Did you dry your hair properly?” he asked suddenly. “You’ll catch a cold if you sleep with it wet.”

I blinked in surprise.

“Ah… I did.”

The question felt oddly domestic. Like something a husband would ask his wife. The realization made my cheeks warm slightly.

But strangely enough… I liked hearing him care.

Sylvester had apparently showered earlier while I was downstairs with Collins, so after that, there wasn’t much left to do except sleep.

The atmosphere became awkward again as we both climbed into bed. Thankfully, the bed was huge. Very huge.

We stayed far apart beneath the covers, each keeping to our own side.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke. The room remained peaceful and warm while snow continued falling quietly outside the windows.

And somehow…Without even realizing it, I fell asleep.

—-----------

Morning came softly.

Golden sunlight slipped through the curtains and landed gently across my face, slowly pulling me awake.

I frowned sleepily before shifting slightly beneath the blankets. That was when I realized something. Warmth surrounded me. A lot of warmth.

My eyes slowly opened. And my breath caught instantly.

I was curled against Sylvester’s chest.

One of his arms rested loosely around my waist while my face was pressed comfortably against him beneath the blanket.

I froze.

Oh my God.

Sylvester was still asleep. His breathing remained deep and steady while soft snores occasionally escaped him quietly.

And honestly?

He looked unbelievably handsome sleeping like this. Without the cold expressions or dangerous aura surrounding him, he looked… peaceful.

My eyes wandered slowly across his face. His sharp jawline. The dark strands of hair falling slightly over his forehead. The relaxed expression he never wore while awake. I should have moved away immediately. Instead… I snuggled closer. Just a little.

The warmth radiating from his body felt far too comforting, especially with the winter cold lingering outside the mansion walls.

I rested my cheek against his chest again and closed my eyes slowly. Maybe I could sleep a little longer.

The steady sound of his heartbeat somehow relaxed me completely. I was already drifting back to sleep when.

BANG!

The bedroom door suddenly burst open.

My eyes widened violently in shock.

Unconsciously, I bleated as if it was obvious that the person had just ruined my moment.

Seriously?!

I had literally been seconds away from falling asleep again.

Beside me, Sylvester groaned deeply in annoyance. 

“Boss…”

The man’s voice abruptly stopped.

I kept my eyes shut immediately, pretending to still be asleep while secretly peeking through my lashes.

The guy standing near the doorway suddenly looked horrified after noticing me in Sylvester’s bed. He instantly stepped backward. Clearly regretting every decision that led him here.

Sylvester slowly sat up beside me, irritation radiating from him dangerously. His voice came out low and deadly.

“What makes you think you can walk into my room whenever you want?”

Even I nearly flinched hearing that tone of his voice. The difference between how he treated me and how he treated everyone else was honestly shocking. With me, he was calm. Gentle even. But with them? Terrifying.

I liked seeing him like that though, because I feel that no one would dare mess or play around with him.

The intruder visibly swallowed hard.

While all this was happening, I completely refused to wake up or give them the impression that I was already awake. 

“I…I’m sorry, boss,” he stammered nervously. “We just needed the mission details before moving.”

Sylvester sighed heavily.

Then unexpectedly, he pulled more of the blanket over me carefully. Almost protectively.

The small gesture made my heart skip embarrassingly.

“Ask Kelvin,” Sylvester muttered coldly. “He planned the operation, not me.”

I suddenly felt his large hand gently cover one of my ears. Probably trying to stop me from hearing whatever came next. But I didn't actually care or bother about it; so far as I was still warm and comfortable. 

But while my ears were covered, I think I overheard him say something like.

“And listen carefully,” Sylvester added dangerously. “If you or anyone ever walks into my room like this again…I’ll personally separate your hands from your body.”

And just like that I heard the door shut.

 I then slowly opened my eyes although a bit tired, but more awaken than before.