The Thawing Ice

Chapter 11: The Thawing Ice

After passing the interview at Eon Corporation, Luca returned home in the evening. His mind was flooded with countless thoughts. Being part of this company meant getting closer to Magnus. But it also meant taking a huge risk. Still, for the sake of his goals, he had to take that risk. What he planned to do wouldn't just affect him—it would shape the future of all humanity.

As he stepped out of the company’s building, he inhaled the cold night air. The stars shimmered in the sky, but instead of offering light, they only left him with a sense of emptiness. He had stepped into Magnus’s domain, but this was just the beginning.

He had dreamed of getting close to Magnus for years, but it wouldn’t be that easy. The company was filled with enemies and hidden dangers. Even the smallest mistake could cost him everything. On top of that, he had no idea what Camille would think about this. Would working there put her in danger? Or worse… if Camille tried to protect him and made a mistake, would they both end up on Magnus’s radar?

Lost in his thoughts, Luca realized he had already reached Camille’s house. Strangely, the living room lights were still on. Normally, Camille went to bed early. As he stepped inside, he saw her sitting at the table with a cup of tea in her hands. The serious expression on her face made it clear that she was deep in thought. It seemed like Camille cared about his interview outcome even more than he did. As soon as Luca entered, her eyes turned to him.

“You’re back,” Camille said with a faint smile.

Despite the weight in his chest, Luca nodded, took off his jacket, and sat down. Camille’s questions always made him more nervous than any job interview ever could. She turned to him with curiosity. “How did it go? Were you accepted?”

“Yes,” Luca replied, taking a deep breath. He tried to smile, but the usual thrill of victory was absent in his voice. Still, he wanted to lift Camille’s mood. “I’m officially an intern at Eon now. That means I get to work alongside Princess Camille herself!”

Camille narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. “You’re joking, but you do realize how dangerous this is, right? Eon isn’t just a company—it’s Magnus’s kingdom. You won’t just be an employee there. You’ll be seen as a threat.”

Luca sighed. “I know.”

“No, you think you know.” Camille’s voice hardened. “But being inside is nothing like watching from the outside. That place is far more complicated than you realize.”

Luca could see the concern in Camille’s eyes, even if she refused to say it outright. She was trying to protect him.

“This is our best chance,” Luca said, holding her gaze. “If we want to watch Magnus, if we want to understand what’s going on, I have to be in there.”

Camille studied him for a long moment. Then, she got up and sat in the chair across from him, pressing her lips together. “Alright then, my handsome knight. Your first day will be crucial. First impressions matter. You need to prove yourself to the people there. But don’t draw too much attention to yourself. If Magnus gets suspicious, you’re finished.”

Luca smiled slightly, but Camille noticed the distant look in his eyes. She frowned. “I feel like you trust me too much.”

Luca chuckled softly. “Do I have another choice? You’re the only person I trust.”

Camille hesitated for a moment before smiling. Then, she placed her hand over his. Luca flinched slightly but soon relaxed under her warm touch.

“I missed you,” Camille said softly. She had been waiting a long time to say those words. And as she did, a sense of relief washed over her.

Luca’s heart skipped a beat. Camille’s voice was so sincere… Her warmth seemed to melt all the tension inside him. But whenever Camille acted like this, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was hiding something. She rarely said things like this. Her strong, guarded nature usually kept her emotions locked away. There was more to this than just sentimentality—there was something buried beneath.

Suddenly, Camille stood up and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Luca froze at the unexpected embrace. The scent of her hair filled his senses. He could feel her heartbeat against his chest.

“Don’t be afraid,” Camille whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “No matter what happens, I’m with you.”

Luca caught the faint tremor in her voice. He hesitated in her arms, his thoughts racing. Why is she doing this? Was she saying goodbye? Or was she genuinely scared? When he turned his head slightly, he noticed the unshed tears in her eyes. But she didn’t cry. She was holding herself together. Luca knew that when Camille acted like this, it meant she was hiding something. She had learned to suppress her emotions long ago.

Camille suddenly pulled away, avoiding his gaze. She lifted a hand and gently touched his cheek. Her fingers trembled slightly, but her touch was soft and warm. Then, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Luca’s eyes widened, but he couldn’t find the words to respond.

Without looking back, Camille quickly turned around. “I… I’m going to bed now! Good night!” she blurted out before rushing to her room.

Luca watched as she disappeared down the hall. For a few seconds, he stood still, trying to process everything. His heart was still racing.

Her warmth lingered on his skin.

But… what did it mean?

Her touch, her words, her warmth… They stirred something deep inside him. But Luca couldn’t afford to let his emotions take control. He knew Camille was worried about him, but he couldn’t allow himself to be distracted. His priority was learning Magnus’s plans and getting his revenge.

Slowly, he got up from the chair and walked to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water. After taking a few sips, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were slightly red—he was finally feeling the weight of everything that had happened today.

Taking a deep breath, he headed upstairs. He paused briefly in front of Camille’s door. There was no sound coming from inside. He reached out and lightly touched the door but decided not to knock. There’s no point in talking now, he thought. She has her own things to think about.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Camille’s last words echoed in his mind.

"No matter what happens, I’m with you."

A faint smile formed on his lips. At the very least, in this dark world, there was someone by his side. A part of his mind lingered on Camille. Her touch still felt like an imprint on his skin.

The next morning, he was jolted awake by the sound of his alarm. The sky was still dark, but he had to wake up early. It was his first day as an intern at Eon, and he couldn’t afford to be late.

As he took a quick shower and got dressed, he glanced at himself in the mirror. He put on the simple yet elegant suit given to Eon employees. Camille had prepared his outfit, and it smelled just like her. For a moment, he was mesmerized by the familiar scent—but he quickly shook off the thought.

When he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Camille having breakfast. He hesitated for a moment.

Camille looked up at him and smiled slightly. Did she remember what happened last night? Or was she, as always, choosing to hide it?

“You’re up early,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee.

Luca nodded. “Big day today. I have to make sure I look worthy of my princess’s company.”

Camille eyed him from head to toe. “Not bad. But you need to cover up that lack of confidence. At Eon, showing weakness is the same as inviting death. Don’t forget that, my prince.”

Luca sighed. “I know.”

Camille placed a folded piece of paper on the table. “I wrote down some tips for you. How to behave, what to avoid. And…” She hesitated, then averted her gaze. “If anything happens, let me know immediately.”

Luca took the paper and tucked it into his pocket. Smiling faintly, he said, “Don’t worry, princess. I plan on staying alive.”

Camille frowned but said nothing.

Luca and Camille had planned to start work at different times to avoid drawing attention to their connection. Camille had already left early and was inside the building. Luca finished preparing and set out for Eon Industries.

On his way, he began reading the notes and clues Camille had written for him.

1. "Never be the first to speak."
Explanation: People at Eon believe that the one in control is the strongest. The first to speak often reveals their position. So when dealing with Magnus’s men, wait for them to speak first.

2. "Don’t stay too long in private offices."
Explanation: Everyone at Eon watches each other, especially newcomers. If you spend too much time in someone’s office, you’ll be marked as suspicious. If you need to talk to someone important, do it in public where others can see.

3. "Stay away from Sarah."
Explanation: The last time we saw Sarah, she was with Professor Lionel Krane. She might be one of his people, so don’t give her a reason to keep an eye on you. If she approaches you, be friendly but maintain your distance.

4. "Look strong, but not threatening."
Explanation: If you appear weak, they will try to crush you. If you appear too threatening, they will try to eliminate you. Find the balance.

5. "Never ask Magnus direct questions."
Explanation: Magnus dislikes being questioned. If you want information, ask your questions indirectly. As an intern, no one will be surprised if you’re curious. Let him talk and extract clues from what he says.

6. "Bring your own food and drink."
Explanation: At Eon, everyone is ready to betray one another. Trust no one. If you don’t want to be poisoned as the new intern, choose your own food.

7. "And lastly... Don’t forget me."

This sentence was different from the others. It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t a warning. It felt more like a plea—like someone trying to prove their existence.

And just below it...

A faint pink lipstick mark stained the corner of the paper.

Luca’s heart momentarily stopped.

He could imagine Camille as she wrote this note. Maybe last night, she had put into words what she couldn’t say out loud. Maybe, beneath all that seriousness, she carried a deep fear. A fear that Luca would disappear into this dark world and never return.

Slowly, he ran his fingers over the lipstick mark.

Then he read the final words:

"If you leave, I fear you won’t come back."
"I want to hold on to you in this world."
"No matter what happens, remember me."

Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly. He took a deep breath and carefully folded the note. He inhaled its scent one last time before slipping it into his pocket.

Just a few lines. Just a simple kiss mark.
Yet the feeling it stirred within him was something he couldn’t put into words.

He couldn’t forget this.
The unshed tears in Camille’s eyes…
The words she spoke when he wasn’t listening…

This wasn’t just a battle against Magnus.
This was a battle to keep himself from being lost.

As he finished reading, he realized he had arrived in front of Eon Industries. The clock was ticking.

Luca took a deep breath and stepped forward.

This was his new stage. And there was no room for mistakes.

No matter what, he was resolute in his mission and his actions. There was no turning back now.

Today, he would take his first step into Magnus’s world.