Twilight: Darling of Volturi (YURI/GL)

Sophie lifted her gaze, and her breathing stalled for a brief moment.

"You're really handsome!"

After spending time in Italy, Sophie had naturally picked up the locals' habit of flirting. Calling someone handsome or beautiful wasn't because she was frivolous. It was simply because the man standing before her was absurdly good-looking.

Someone this handsome is only a driver for a travel agency? With a face like that, he could be on the cover of a fashion magazine.

The driver looked utterly unsurprised.

"There are plenty of handsome men and beautiful women in Italy." He pointed toward a nearby Roman colonnade. "If you're one of the passengers from that bus, I'd suggest going through the small door beneath the center of that corridor. It's a shortcut. Don't waste your time with the public exhibition."

Sophie found his wording strangely roundabout.

Couldn't he have simply said, 'If you're a visitor'?

The driver's attitude was cold, his expression permanently dark. Even while giving directions, he somehow radiated an unmistakable killing intent.

If not for the travel agency logo on his uniform, Sophie might have seriously questioned who he was.

After quietly thanking him, she headed toward the Roman colonnade.

The arched double stone doors in the center were tightly shut. She tried pushing them open, but they refused to budge. After straining herself, her hypoglycemia worsened, and black spots began swimming across her vision again.

I need to find Irene as quickly as possible, get my money back, and buy something to eat.

Hypoglycemia could be fatal.

The stone doors were incredibly heavy. Sophie paused to gather her strength.

Suddenly, a hand appeared behind her.

Long, pale fingers rested against the door she couldn't move no matter how hard she pushed.

She turned around.

The gloomy driver had silently followed her.

Using only one hand, he effortlessly pushed the massive stone door open.

A chill ran down Sophie' spine.

Seeing him up close, she realized his face was unnaturally pale. His entire body was wrapped in black clothing. His presence was so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet the strength hidden beneath those clothes was undeniably terrifying.

Before she could study him any further, he stepped back again.

"Hurry inside. Don't miss your chance. There may already be many people waiting for you."

Another strange way of putting it.

Her instincts warned her that this man was hiding something.

Her reason, however, urged her to find Irene immediately. Otherwise, she might literally starve to death before she even had the chance to launch a crowdfunding campaign.

The stone doors closed behind her.

Their immense weight shut out every ray of sunlight.

Inside, it felt as though night had fallen. Dim candlelight flickered from sconces mounted along the ancient walls.

Sophie unconsciously held her breath.

It felt as though countless memories had been embedded within these walls, hidden beyond the reach of the candlelight. Those memories seemed to be silently watching every visitor who stepped into the palace.

Only when her lungs began aching did she cautiously draw another breath.

The air was cold.

Ancient.

And... tinged with the faint scent of rust.

The air itself seemed eager to tell her something unusual.

I hope my breathing doesn't disturb you.

Summoning her courage, she stepped onto the hard stone floor as lightly as possible. Only after confirming it was solid enough that she couldn't possibly hurt it did she dare quicken her pace.

She first walked past what appeared to be a reception room before entering a long gallery.

Beneath the dim candlelight, every oil painting wore a veil of time. The portraits seemed to stare directly at every visitor passing through.

Several times, Sophie stopped, tempted to reach out and touch them.

But the figures' gazes felt almost tangible, making her acutely aware that she was being watched.

Beyond the gallery, the corridor branched into three different directions.

Sophie hesitated.

Where is everyone?

Where are the signs?

Almost every trace of modern civilization had vanished.

Taking a deep breath, she cautiously followed the direction where the scent in the air seemed strongest.

"Whoa..."

Voices!

People!

Excited exclamations echoed faintly in the distance.

Sophie dug her fingernails into the back of her hand. The sharp pain cleared the haze clouding her vision.

If I can stay conscious long enough to walk this far, then maybe I can notice more.

With the last of her strength, she rounded the corner.

A tour guide holding a small flag.

Tourists of every complexion.

And...

Irene.

The woman who had stolen all her money.

She was walking arm in arm with her boyfriend.

The tour group was gathering outside another exhibition hall. The magnificent doors gleamed brilliantly, looking as though they had been cast entirely from polished bronze.

Or perhaps...

Gold.

Every grievance Sophie had endured finally found an outlet.

Supporting herself against the wall, she shouted with all the strength she had left.

"Irene... Irene!"

The crowd was too lively.

Sophie' voice was too weak.

Even after calling several times, Irene never turned around.

Instead, the beautiful female tour guide carrying the flag noticed the uninvited girl. She frowned ever so slightly while urging the tourists into the hall.

Sophie rushed forward and grabbed Irene's sleeve.

"Irene! Give me my money back!"

A professional debt collector? She's certainly dedicated.

The tourists who had already stepped inside immediately turned back.

Even if they had no idea what had happened, everyone loved watching a bit of drama.

"Miss, did you buy a ticket?" the guide asked politely, stepping between Sophie and Irene. "Even minors need a ticket to enter the palace."

Sophie froze.

"The driver never said anything about tickets," she hurriedly explained. "I thought admission was free."

Meanwhile, Irene shook off her hand.

"I don't know her. She's crazy."

Muttering those words to the surrounding tourists, she pushed her boyfriend deeper into the exhibition hall with the rest of the group.

Sophie was furious.

Just as she was about to loudly expose everything Irene had done, the guide suddenly bent down.

Raising one elegant finger, she gently pressed it against her beautiful red lips.

"Shh... Don't disturb this ancient castle."

Only then did Sophie truly notice how breathtakingly beautiful the guide was.

Her voice.

Her flawless skin.

Those perfectly shaped lips.

Even the faint trace of red hidden within her blue eyes. Everything about her was perfect. So perfect that she resembled a trap crafted specifically for humanity.

Without the slightest resistance, Sophie obediently followed her instruction.

Her hands and legs began trembling.

In the smallest voice imaginable, she complained pitifully.

"She tricked me out of every penny I had. I don't have a single euro left. I haven't eaten all day. I'm so hungry my eyes are turning red."

The guide gently patted her head. The height difference made the gesture feel wonderfully natural.

"There, there," she soothed softly. "A lot of people come here with red eyes from hunger. Why don't you join us inside the exhibition hall?"

As she spoke, her warm breath brushed lightly against Sophie' forehead.

Sophie was just about to agree.

"No!" Irene suddenly screamed.

The sharp outburst instantly shattered Sophie' fascination with the guide.

Only moments ago, she had almost forgotten she was starving.

She had wanted only to obey.

But Irene's voice snapped her awake.

Along with her senses came the overwhelming hunger and exhaustion she had temporarily forgotten.

The face Sophie had once considered beautiful now looked utterly hideous.

"Isn't it just money you want?" Irene pulled out her wallet and casually tossed over two banknotes.

They fluttered lightly through the air.

Before they could touch the ground, the guide caught them with astonishing speed. Then she smiled warmly and handed them to Sophie.

Who says beautiful things are poisonous? Miss Guide is so kind!

Sophie accepted the money.

Only then did she realize they were merely two ten-euro notes.

While she had been bending down to pick them up, Irene had already run off. She hadn't chosen twenty euros out of generosity. Those were simply the smallest-denomination bills in her wallet.

Three years of working together...

And Irene thought she could dismiss everything with twenty euros?

Worse still...

That money had originally belonged to Sophie.

Before disappearing behind the hall doors, Irene even reminded the guide to throw out the penniless girl who hadn't bought a ticket.

"If you truly insist," the guide said softly, her voice carrying an irresistible temptation, "you may still come inside. Volterra welcomes your arrival."

Tears welled in Sophie' eyes.

Realizing she was about to cry, she immediately turned away, missing the look that flashed through the guide's eyes.

Stuffing the money carelessly into her pocket, she quickly composed herself.

She needed food first.

Being this emotional wasn't like her at all.

It was only because she was starving.

Once she filled her stomach, she would surely regain her usual calm, rational self and figure out a way to recover the rest of her money.

"No, thank you."

Her tear-washed eyes were exceptionally clear.

Imitating the guide's gentle gaze, Sophie looked at her with complete sincerity.

"I'd rather go find something to eat. I'm really too hungry. Could I come back and visit another time?"

"But..."

If the guide possessed extraordinarily elegant lips, then Sophie possessed remarkably beautiful eyes.

When she looked at someone with complete sincerity, they became impossible to refuse.

The guide finally relented.

"...Very well. Of course you may."

Sophie became even more convinced that the guide was a genuinely good person. She was worrying about a complete stranger who had interrupted her work.

Once again, beauty captured Sophie' heart.

She completely ignored the goosebumps prickling across her skin.

Looking back the way she had come, she mentally traced the route from memory.

The palace's layout wasn't particularly complicated. It followed sensible architectural logic, so she wasn't worried about getting lost.

Only that enormous arched stone door concerned her. 

She doubted she'd have enough strength to push it open again. Perhaps only a massive surge of adrenaline would do the trick. This body, stunted by years of malnutrition, imposed too many limitations.

Sophie often imagined...

If I were taller with incredible strength... how many more places could I explore?

"Then I'll..."

"Heidi." A voice suddenly interrupted.

"What’s taking you so long? Aren't you going to eat?"

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