As he hugged her closely, Sylvia could feel the man's heart beating, pounding loudly, just as fast as hers was.

He didn't say anything else. He didn't make any promises. He didn't give any apologies or explanations.

Yet Sylvia had never felt more closer to the man as she did right now. A tear seeped out of her eye without her permission, not because she was sad but because she finally felt at peace.

The two of them silently sat together, one on top of the other, with their bodies tightly crushed together. Neither even made the slightest move, unwilling to disturb the moment.

Coincidentally, the two other occupants of the carriage also sat still, but their mouths were wide open and their throats were parched.

They both looked at the unbelievable scene in front of them and gulped in unison. They couldn't believe that the man in front of them was in fact, Mikel.

Was someone playing tricks on them by disguising as their aloof and cunning friend? How could this be Mikel?

They knew for a fact that things that had happened in the past had changed him far too much, for him to show such a vulnerable expression, something that was filled with love and yearning.

The Mikel they knew did not have such a weakness within him and yet here he was inexplicably worshiping a woman. They just couldn't believe it but the truth was the truth.

After staring at the couple for a few more minutes and making sure that they were not imagining things, Leol broke into a warm smile and turned his gaze back to look outside the carriage window.

Theodore also averted his gaze to look at the floor, a similar smile dancing on his lips.

They were both glad that their friend who had only experienced hardships in his life had finally found someone to hold and cherish.

After a while, the carriage finally came to a halt near the castle. Leol and Theodore got out of the carriage first, while the other two showed absolutely no signs of moving.

"Alright, I am off.

" Leol left to the stables, shaking his head helplessly, and Theodore as well made a move, heading somewhere into the castle.

Another hour went by and Leol strolled lazily to the castle to get to the kitchen when he noticed that the carriage was still standing there as it was.

"What the hell?

" He walked over and opened the door to peek inside, only to see that the two were still hugging each other without a care in the world.

Hrmm? Leol rolled his eyes and loudly cleared his throat.

"Eh? You guys! Take it to your room. Why are you tormenting the poor coachman? He needs to feed the horses and let them rest.

"

Mikel immediately flashed his eyes open and stared at the annoying pest in front of him, who had dared to disturb them, which made Leol chuckle awkwardly and back away surprisingly fast.

The man even disappeared from their view at lightning speed, running to the kitchen castle to which he intended to go in the first place.

Sylvia giggled at this funny sight but then blushed, realizing that he had been teasing her and Mikel for being so intimate in public.

She hurriedly scrambled out of the devil's lap and out of the carriage, only to find herself being lifted in the air once again.

"Ah! Put me down.

" Sylvia blushed, her finger circling the man's broad chest.

However, the devil obviously had no intentions of putting her down.

He grinned at her half-hearted protest and rejected her request with a smug look.

"You were the one who asked me to carry you. I am just following orders, sweetheart.

"

Hearing the man's shameless words and the sweet endearing term he used, Sylvia buried her reddened face into his chest.

As he walked into the castle with her still in his arms, bundled like a precious treasure, she felt as if she was dreaming.

And she was not alone.

The few guards who were patrolling the castle all had weird surprised looks on their faces as if they couldn't believe what was happening in front of them, but they knew better than to gossip, so they could only silently watch the unreal scene.

So much had happened between them, things that Sylvia had never expected. And now, she was even afraid to move or breathe, wondering if this was going to last.

She gulped, looking at the man whom she had inexplicably grown fond of and wished that this moment could continue forever.

Seeing her brows knitted together and worry flickering in them, Mikel smiled and flicked her forehead gently.

"What are you thinking about?

" He asked as he stepped into his private quarters, with her still in his arms.

"Umm...

" Sylvia hesitated to even start the topic.

"Why are you so nice to me?

" She paused and then added gingerly.

"Your highness.

"

Mikel leaned forward and kissed her forehead, still climbing the spiraling staircase that led to his room, the biggest master bedroom in the castle.

"You don't have to address me in such a formal way. At least when we are in this castle.

" He chuckled without answering her question.

"Just call me by my name.

" He opened the bedroom door with his leg and carried her inside to place her gently on the huge bed.

Sylvia had never been to his room and couldn't help but look around in a daze.

Though his room was considerably less lavish and extravagant, compared to some of the other rooms and dining halls in the castle, it still held a certain mysterious charm to it.

"Mikel…

" Sylvia gulped, calling out to the devil again, by this name, as her eyes took in the view of the room they were in.

"Why are you being so nice to me?

"

Her words brought a smile to the man's face, who loosened the shirt he was wearing and flopped onto the bed, right next to her.

He then turned his head towards her, coming face to face with her, and murmured in a low alluring voice.

"Don't you know…?

"