As we continued along the busy street, I took a bite of the crepe, tasting an explosion of flavors. The smoothness and creaminess of the cream melted in my mouth, while the freshness and sweetness of the strawberries danced exotically. I was awed, and I loved it.
Because I couldn't help myself, I said, "This is very delicious, my lord." I offered the crepe to the man for a taste. "Try some."
"Thank you, Alfie," he said. Then he wrapped one hand around my wrist and took a big bite at the spot where I had bitten before him. The fact that his lips brushed against the tip of my finger and thumb didn't go unnoticed by me, and I happened to blush in the process.
I watched him taste the delicious offering, erotically licking his sensual lips in the process. "Hmm, it is very nice."
I didn't know why, but I said, "You can have some more if you want."
"Then don't mind me." This time, he held both of my wrists as if to prevent me from changing my mind and escaping after I had made the offer. Then he devoured the crepe like some starved beast. Strangely enough, the way he ate—in that rather barbaric way while his eyes gazed into mine intensely like that—set my heart racing and my body quivering in the oddest way.
Some of the white, fluffy cream spilled out of the crepe in the process and slowly slid down the side of my hand and forearm.
"Oh dear," I said softly. I made a move to wipe it off, but Lord Geoffrey held me still. Without a word, he proceeded to lick my flesh—hotly and slowly—cleaning my skin of cream.
Suddenly, I felt my body turning hot, and by the time he was finished licking me, I felt flustered and out of sorts.
Once he released me, I hastily pulled my cap down to hide my hot, red face. I suddenly felt embarrassed and shy in front of Lord Geoffrey.
I was just taking a small bite of what was left of my crepe when Lord Geoffrey leaned in close and asked, "Was I too greedy and took too much from you, love?"
I shook my head. "No, it's fine." Then I hastily finished the rest of the crepe before he could ask for another bite and I'd have to go through that rather erotic sight of him eating the sweet treat again.
It was some fifteen minutes later when a palace carriage appeared as if out of nowhere, and Lord Geoffrey ushered me inside. He must have contacted the palace to pick him up via the WIFI communication system, I thought. How very convenient.
Once inside, I took the seat with my back to the driver. When Lord Geoffrey entered after me, he took the one opposite me, which made us sit facing each other.
Once the carriage started moving, I asked, "My lord, do you mind telling me a bit about the Aurora barrier?"
"Of course," he said. "What would you like to know in particular?"
I licked my lips, racking my brain as to how I should phrase my questions so that he wouldn't suspect that I was a completely new person here in this realm.
I said, "The barrier ecosystem."
Lord Geoffrey folded his arms across his chest and said, "Ah, that."
"Is it weakening? Because it's what Aria was saying earlier today."
"Unfortunately, yes. It is weakening. It has been two thousand years since it was first created. Like any system—magic or not—it is bound to weaken and need maintenance with constant use."
"When it weakens, will other foreign matters that don't belong within the realm appear?"
Lord Geoffrey nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. And it will cause havoc. We do have a system against that, though, which so far has been working fine."
I thought about this very seriously. The weakening of the barrier could be the explanation for why I got accidentally transported here. It was probably because of a glitch in the mechanism of the Aurora shield, which somehow caused the barrier to break at a certain point, leading to creating an opening. Then that opening was accidentally connected to a distant space and time with a distant star and planet, which happened to be where I had been at that point in time and place.
Of course, all this was merely speculation on my part, and, needless to say, I shouldn't take it too seriously. I needed more information. I needed to read more of Lord Noah's books to get the details, obviously.
I asked, "Then how could it be fixed? The weakening of the Aurora ecosystem?"
Lord Geoffrey said, "You shouldn't have to worry yourself about such things, Alfie. It's not your job."
I cocked my head to one side. "Then it's yours?"
He nodded. "As one of the rulers of Acaedien, which is one of the larger kingdoms in Aurora, yes. In fact, we're having a conference next month in the Wulin Kingdom, and one of the many topics is in regard to the Aurora barrier."
He looked as though he was in thought for a moment and then asked, "Would you like to come along to the Wulin Kingdom for the conference, Alfie? Of course, you won't be attending the conference itself, but Wulin is a beautiful country. I thought you'd like to visit it, if you haven't already done so."
I was pleasantly surprised that he'd ask me to visit the Wulin Kingdom with him during his conference. Of course, the name sounded Chinese, and I was rather excited at the invitation and the prospect of going there.
I eagerly nodded my head. "Yes, please. I mean, only if it's not too much trouble."
"There won't be any trouble, Alfie." He cocked his head, a one-sided smile playing about his sensual lips. "In fact, leaving you behind would be a problem, especially with your pure qi and, of course, Felix and Caleb."
I frowned. I understood about my pure qi, but what did leaving me behind have to do with Felix or Caleb?
I wanted to ask Lord Geoffrey what he meant but decided against it, and hence, we moved on to another subject of conversation all together. I started asking him many questions about the Wulin Kingdom.