"Ummm… Mikel…

" Sylvia hesitantly muttered, running her fingers through the golden locks of the man lying on her lap, who was quick to respond to her, albeit with his eyes still closed.

"Yes, dear?

"

"Won't you get in trouble for being here with me… like this… when so many people are there in the castle…?

"

"Hmmm?

"

"Someone might see us… Maybe Priscella or one of her maids?

"

"Let them see?

"

"Hey. I am being serious here.

" Sylvia pinched the nonchalant smug face of the devil on her lap.

"I am alright. You don't have to stay here and risk everything for me.

"

"Huh? Quite self-centered, are we? I am staying here for me. Not for you. It sucks for me when I am away from you.

"

He then pulled the woman down to capture her mouth with his, kissing her softly and gently.

"See… I can't do this whenever I want if I am away from you.

" Mikel sighed.

"Sometimes… I think… Life would be simpler if we could just go away somewhere.

" He added in a low voice which Sylvia couldn't quite catch.

"Did you say something?

" She asked, to which Mikel simply nodded. Though the man was joking around, she could see that there were lines of tiredness all over his face.

"Say… what did you do all evening?

" Mikel asked changing the subject.

Sylvia immediately became tense as she didn't want to tell him about Michelle.

After what happened on the yacht, she was worried that her adorable devil might do something drastic if he came to know everything that happened.

"I was just searching for a lost ring in the garden.

" She vaguely replied and then added with a frown.

"Under your fiance's instructions, of course.

"

"Sorry, sweet girl. Please bear with it for a couple more days and then you will never have to see her again.

" Mikel sat up and peppered kisses, trying his best to make the frown disappear.

"You should head to the castle library and pass your time there. If anyone asks, just tell them that I instructed you to dust the bookshelves.

"

"That's a good place to hide for someone who loves to read.

" He rubbed her lips with his thumb, gently coaxing her.

"Mmm… Thanks for the tip.

" Sylvia smiled, turning her face away, hoping that the man's question stopped here.

But how could that happen?

"So what else happened?

" Mikel asked, to which she smiled gingerly and shrugged.

"Nothing worth mentioning…?

"

"No.

" Sylvia nodded.

"Are you sure?

" Mikel chuckled, his eyes concealing a glint.

Unable to meet the man's gaze, Sylvia hurriedly blurted out.

"Ummm… There was a wolf in the garden earlier. I played with it for a bit.

"

"Wolf?

" Mikel raised his brows slightly.

"Hmmm… Probably someone's tamed beast. You didn't get hurt right?

"

"Of course, not.

" Sylvia shook her head with conviction.

"Alright then. If there is nothing else… then I should probably leave…

" Mikel chuckled and stood up, his eyes fixated on the small knot moving down the woman's throat as she gulped nervously.

In reality, he already knew everything that had happened since like always he had asked Theo to look after her from a distance.

He also could guess why she was not telling him the full truth.

"On second thought… You should leave first.

" Sylvia nodded and quickly scurried away as if she was running away from danger, making the grin on Mikel's face widen even further.

Did she really think that I have such little self-control? He shook his head, amused by her concern and worry for him.

After Sylvia left, Mikel leisurely strolled in the garden for a few more minutes when Theodore walked towards him from somewhere in the darkness and joined him.

"What happened? Why the rushed engagement?

" He asked worriedly, even though it was not his usual nature to be nosy and ask about things before Mikel told him on his own accord.

"Theo…

" Mikel turned around to look at him. There was chilling despair on his face.

"Can you believe it… even fate is working against me…

"

"What happened Mikel?

"

"A beast clan member… A young boy has been captured and is currently being held in the prison below the castle.

"

"What…?

" Theodore was utterly shocked unable to believe the timing of this occurrence.

"So this is why…

"

"Yes. This is why my father had urgently called everyone together. He suspects that several beast clan members might have infiltrated our Kingdom.

"

The graveness in his voice and the gravity of the situation did not escape the knight who only knew too well what this really meant.

"Sylvia is in danger.

" Theodore blurted out the inevitable.

"Especially if you…

"

"Mhm… She is indeed in a very dangerous situation.

" Mikel hummed.

"Especially if I do something to trigger her dormant side.

"

"But if you don't…

"

"Yes… If I don't, then I would never be able to get the power that I need to take down my dastardly father.

" Mikel's lips curved upwards, though it was a smile filled with sadness.

"Mikel… listen… it's not too late… you can still…

"

"I can still… what? Run away and live a happy and blissful life with her?

" He chuckled. Theodore sighed, knowing that such a thing was probably never going to happen.

"Wipe that look off your face, Theo.

" Mikel patted him.

"I won't do anything rashly. Let's first get back to the castle and figure out a new plan.

"

"We will figure something out. Perhaps it is time for you and Sylvia to leave the Kingdom first.

"

"I can't change what I want now, but I am also not giving up on my future with her. Don't worry.

"

Theodore nodded silently listening to Mikel. He knew that everything was going to become so much more complicated now.

After these many years… for a beast clan member to have been captured now… was indeed truly unfortunate.

"Alright. I will take my leave then.

" Theodore bowed and turned to leave when suddenly Mikel waved at him again.

"Oh and Theo, send the maid named Michelle to my room.

"

Mikel strolled in the garden for a few more minutes when he spotted a few people at the distance and walked over to them, joining their conversation with a smile as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile… Sylvia had already joined the other maids in the castle and was eating dinner with everyone.

The entire kitchen was very lively as there was a lot of high-grade meat and fine dishes left unfinished. So it was a feast for the kitchen staff as well.

"Eh? There you are! I was looking all over for you but you are sitting here and eating like a pig.

" Michelle frowned, as soon as she walked in and caught sight of the silver-haired woman in a corner, sitting next to Jane and Ana.

"Get up and come here.

" She shouted, grabbing the plate of food from Sylvia's hand and tossing it into the sink with food still left on the plate.

"How dare you sit here and stuff yourself when my Lady's precious ring is still missing! Who gave you this much courage?

"

"Do you want to be whipped? If you don't find the ring by tomorrow morning, I will whip you myself until you know your place, slut.

"

Sylvia sighed and quietly followed the woman, once again resuming her aimless search for a ring in the garden sprawled across hundreds of acres.

This was all because of her damned stomach! She cursed herself for not listening to Mikel and heading down to the library immediately.

She had met Jane on the way who invited her for dinner and tempted by the delicious food, she was once again caught by the bully.

And now she could only wait for another chance!

"Damn it. This time I will quickly go to the library. Surely, she will nod off soon, right?

"

However, to Sylvia's dismay, Michelle remained very alert and sharp and did not look like she was going to doze off any time soon.

The woman was even picking her teeth happily, after letting out some burps. Unlike Sylvia who did not get much to eat, this woman had clearly eaten her fill of the fancy dinner.

So unfair! Sylvia lamented her plight and continued searching through the plants and bushes.

This went on a for while, when suddenly close to midnight, Sylvia noticed a familiar figure approaching them.

Theodore walked over to Michelle and nodded at both Sylvia and Michelle like the gentleman that he was.

"Miss Michelle. Please come with me.

" He politely muttered with a straight face.

But Michelle, on the other hand, had a completely different expression on her face.

She was blushing from top to bottom and her face was bright red from the various thoughts running in her brain.

Why would a man come and talk to a maid personally in the middle of the night..? Even asking her to go along with him… and that too alone…