Ragna couldn't even believe that this was not a sick nightmare he was having. He was inside Rachel's bedroom, a private room that no one should enter unless you were some kind of a formal person who had earned Rachel's trust, or so he thought. But here he was, sitting on the edge of her own queen-sized bed, right beside her. Recalling the events that had transpired before he was here, Rachel forced him to get up as he was still stuttering like a busted person who was caught for being a liar. People turned their heads to their direction while the girl went on, bringing the enigmatic red book along without booking it on the librarian. As they were outside, Rachel teleported them back to her castle's balcony. They were greeted by Nago, Gii and Valkenhayn, much to Ragna's dismay. Now the old man's going to assume bullshit about them.

And sure enough, he was right. The butler was insulting him in consecutive manner, which almost break his cool, but thankfully, Rachel hushed him up. Ragna couldn't help but let out a satisfied smirk as the girl lectured Valkenhayn for being a whiny asshole who couldn't even try to think of why. He was aware that he would get him one day, but no way in hell would he leave Rachel's side now. Not only for a Valkenhayn Free Zone he would get from her, he had to let her know somehow one day, and sticking with her side would be the first step.

After the ordeal with Valkenhayn, the two proceeded to go to her room, and here they are, in an awkward silence. The red book was neatly placed on the table lamp beside the bed. Ragna was growing worried at the silent treatment he was receiving from her. Her eyes were closed, as she kept an unreadable expression on her face with arms crossed. He was not liking this one bit, and he better do something fast. Or else he would lose it.

Rachel let out a soft sigh, which startled the man beside her. About time she would move on her place, but that made him grew even more nervous. This woman was extremely hard to read by just expressions!

She opened her eyes and gazed at Ragna. "Tell me, Ragna. What made you decide to visit a library and read a book?"

The man's heart skipped at her question. He almost forgot about the part where Rachel read the page he had read earlier. Her face was still unreadable, and he could feel his blood in his veins lose its warmth by the scary result. Knowing the kind of woman Rachel was, he was left with no choice but to admit the whole truth. "Tch. Guess I can't get out of this one... Look." He was quivering from intense nervousness. Goddammit, self! Calm down!

Ragna heaved out a heavy sigh. His face softened up, loosing his gruff expression. "I don't know how the hell did you even made me become like this. You're getting on my nerves whenever you do your cryptic talking and giving me silent treatments. Hell, your way of talking to me is the most annoying thing in my whole life."

Rachel only smiled softly at him. She was liking the flow of this answer he was saying.

"Despite all of that, I could tell it's just who you are." He lowered his head, avoiding eye contact. He could feel his cheeks heating up. Dammit, Ragna. You just have to admit it as you, not like those guys in their stinky bullshit proposal about their feelings. Breathe in, breathe out. "It's weird, you know? You're a bitch, and you manage to make me become a softie for love?" He shook his head in slight disbelief. Strangely, he grew on with his feelings and didn't pushed them away. "I can't help it. You're that... important. Without you, I'll be nothing. I'll be dead. But you're here, repeatedly helping me to go on the right track, even though I'm being an uncaring asshole."

Now that could be some sort of miracle to hear it from Ragna's mouth. If he had forgotten, it was few hours before Christmas Day hits, although the woman couldn't even care less about that holiday. Somehow, it fitted on what he was doing right now: His gift was his confession. Her smile wider, happy to know that it was not a selfish dream, but rather, a selfish reality.

Ragna looked back at Rachel to see her smiling. Wait, what?! Rachel was smiling?! It wasn't like the typical smile she wore whenever she's amused! He could feel his heart race every second from staring at her. His mouth opened slightly in awe. Her natural beauty had captivated not only his heart but his mind as well. That sweet smile... it could bring him to tears right now. The man went closer to Rachel and wrapped his arms around her body, softly holding her close.

She didn't mind the sudden invasion of personal space, as she welcomed it by snuggling closer against his body. "You are a fool for even daring to do something affectionate toward me."

He mischievously smirked as he squeezed his hold around her. "Then why are you not fighting back? Am I too powerful for you now?"

Rachel let out a soft giggle. "My, aren't you getting too confident tonight? Was that little book of yours helpful to boost your ego?"

The man pulled back to gaze directly at her. He leered at her in annoyance. "Shut up, rabbit. You know you liked it."

Smirking in a playful manner, she placed both of her hands on his cheeks and squeezed it softly. Ragna could only grunt as he let the girl do as he please, in return, hearing her genuine and rare to hear laughs of being happy. The moment ended after Rachel ceased her fits of laughter.

The girl pulled away and stood up from her seat. "I suggest we visit Valkenhayn and others so that no one will think of you as a lowly pervert." With that, another amused smirk surfaced on her lips.

Ragna buried his face on the pillow, muffling his own screams of agony. How could she always made him lose his self and still find a way to make his life miserable?!

A/N: The three-chapter run I planned on this story went to the garbage thanks to extremely busy things to do in my personal life, and how it tends to shift routes as I progress on the story. The last chapter will be hopefully posted tomorrow.