Not knowing what came over her, Sylvia stepped into the prison cell, walking directly right through the solid bars.

She would have been surprised that she was actually able to do something like this, but she was far too rattled right now to notice it.

Covering her mouth with her hands, she extended her hand to touch the small helpless child. He seemed to be only a few years old.

What possible crime could this boy have even committed? Even the innocence and purity in his childlike face hadn't yet completely disappeared.

Tears streamed down Sylvia's cheeks as she caressed the young boy's cheeks.

There was a bloody wound slashed across his tender cheeks that would most definitely leave a scar for the rest of his life, that is if he were to ever make it out of this prison alive.

"How could these people be so cruel?

" Sylvia shuddered, her gorgeous blue eyes turning the shade of dark amber gold.

Without thinking about anything, she reached for the chains that tied the child to the wall. She wanted to break them open.

However, unexpectedly, her hands only passed right through the chains. She noticed that she actually couldn't touch anything, not even herself.

Sylvia started panicking as her gaze hurriedly shifted to the big snow white wolf, pleading it for help but the beast simply stared back at her, peering into her bright golden eyes, seemingly almost as confused as she was.

This only made Sylvia panic more and suddenly she had flashes of images passing through her brain, finding herself in the place of the child, locked and chained to the wall just like him.

"No. No. No. Let me go. No.

" Sylvia shouted, completely losing track of reality, her mind spiraling into an utter chaotic mess.

She clutched her head, no longer understanding what was going on, her entire world turning dark but just when she was about to completely lose herself in the nightmare, a familiar voice sounded near her.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. What happened? Calm down. I am right here. What happened?

"

Sylvia snapped her eyes open only to find Mikel kneeling next to her and patting her head gently, his eyes betraying the worry and concern he had.

She looked around to see that she was still in the library. Even the book she was reading was still in her hand.

"I… I… Was that just a dream?

" Sylvia stammered and the next second she fainted in Mikel's arms.

Mikel looked at the girl's troubled expression and wondered what had happened. He had just seen her earlier that night and everything was fine?

His brows knitted together in worry as he carefully picked her up and walked out of the library carrying her in his arms.

"I already made all the preparations, but it seems like I was still late in the end. I am sorry, my dear.

"

He leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her forehead as he walked all the way to the guest rooms of the castle, even passing by a few people.

In fact, this was the reason why he had gone to the library to find the girl. All the rumors about him having a mistress didn't quite spread themselves on their own.

It was him who had done it in the background to ensure that no one would dare to take advantage of Sylvia and mistreat her like what had happened earlier today.

Of course, doing this brought a few risks to the table but he would rather take those risks than allow the woman to be continuously bullied and mistreated, especially when he was the one who had asked her to keep her head down.

So after much thinking, he decided to nip this problem in its bud. He carried the woman in his arms all the way to his room, not in the least bothering to hide it.

And as he neared his room, just as he had expected, Priscella was still lingering around, the gloves on her hand stained red here and there.

"Your highness!

" Priscella's eyes flew wide in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

The man she was just engaged to that evening was carrying another woman to his room the same night?

Wouldn't she become a laughing stock of the entire kingdom if someone else saw his?

Priscella was insanely enraged! She clutched the edges of her robe and glared at Mikel, her eyes demanding him for an explanation.

Mikel, however, nonchalantly continued walking, only stopping as he stood in front of his room.

"We are not yet married, my Lady.

" He mouthed, his lips curving upwards into a sneer.

"It would only tarnish my reputation if my fiance is found loitering the corridor like this at a questionable hour.

"

"What is your explanation for such unsightly behavior? Or perhaps the Duke was lenient in teaching you manners?

"

"But… I…

" Priscella muttered, completely shaken. Her insides were boiling with rage.

How dare he question my behavior when he is with another woman right in front of my eyes??? She was livid with anger.

However, Mikel was not done talking yet.

"My mistress is currently asleep. I do not want to disturb her rest. How about I introduce you both to each other over tea tomorrow?

" He muttered as a matter of fact after flashing a kind and gentle smile.

And before Priscella could even comprehend the meaning of his words, let alone accept his invitation, the room's door banged close right on her face, leaving her behind in a complete mess.

For a second, she couldn't help but doubt who was the mistress and who was the wife in this scenario…

With an ashen look on her face, she turned around and walked back to her room in a daze as if she had seen a ghost.

Her worst nightmare had just come true and she had no idea what she was supposed to do now.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Mikel gently placed the woman in his arms down on the bed. He tucked the errant strands of her hair behind her ear and then covered her with a blanket.

Sighing, he checked the girl's pulse, temperature, and heart rate one more time before silently sitting on a chair beside her.

He watched over her for the entire night, only relaxing when the girl lightly stirred awake at the brink of dawn.

Sylvia jolted up from the bed, sitting erect as her eyes searched the room in a panic.

"I am here. I am here. Everything is alright.

"

Mikel shuffled closer to her and pulled her into his embrace. He still couldn't understand what might have happened in that short period of time.

"Mikel… I saw a child… He was locked in the prison underground. I… There was the King... They locked me as well. I couldn't get out. There was a wolf.

"

Sylvia's entire body was trembling as she hurriedly tried to explain or rather make sense out of her nightmare.

She sobbed into the man's chest, her words, half-drowned in her sobs.

"It's fine. You are fine now. You must have just had a bad dream.

" Mikel smiled and gently patted her, kissing her silver locks.

"Did you read something weird in the library?

"

"I DID NOT!

" Sylvia immediately retorted, looking up to see the familiar teasing smile on the man's face.

Was everything really just a dream? That child... was he okay? She sighed, letting out a deep breath, and clung on to him tighter, burying her body into his.

She only relaxed after a few minutes passed and she was still comfortably nuzzled in the man's warmth and embrace.

But then she suddenly realized something and looked up frantically.

"I am here? Won't you get in trouble?

" Sylvia asked, her eyes widened. She was sure that Priscella was a woman who had a million eyes even on the blank castle walls.

"Heh. I didn't have a chance to tell you the good news yet. You are officially my mistress from today, my dear.

" Mikel proudly informed her.

He gazed into her eyes and leaned in closer for a kiss as if he was waiting to be appreciated for the good deed he had done.

However, Sylvia placed her hand on his mouth and leaned away from him.

"Mistress?

" She asked, her brows knitting together.

Ah~~~ Mikel suddenly found himself at a loss for words. He gulped as he nervously looked at the woman in his arms.

"I am a mistress?

" Sylvia asked again, this time louder, as she stepped out of his embrace and out of the bed, her eyes glaring at the man as if he had terribly wronged her.

"But dear…

" Mikel tried to explain, but he was stumped by her unforgiving eyes.

"Your highness, did I ever ask you for such a thing?

" Sylvia completely forgot about her strange nightmare and crossed her arms in front of her chest, her voluptuous breasts heaving up and down.