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nAfter Prince Nicolas left, Mikel as well stood up to leave.

nHe casually walked past Sylvia without bothering to say anything else.

nHis eyes, however, fleetingly hovered on her for a split second before returning to their blank distant state.

nJane made sure that the man turned around the corner and she hurriedly rushed towards Sylvia's side.

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"Oh dear, are you alright?

"

nSeeing that Sylvia was standing frozen like a statue, she was extremely worried.

nJane sighed. She didn't know how to console her.

nIt was indeed demeaning and traumatizing for anyone to be traded away like a piece of meat.

nBut it was normal for men of power and status to have several lovers, some as official mistresses, while others as mere maids and slaves.

nThis has been happening for decades and centuries and it was nothing new.

nJane, however, was slightly surprised that his highness had been intimate with Sylvia and even said such inappropriate words about her.

nAs far as she knew, the Prince had always been a kind and caring gentleman.

nHe was unlike other nobles and royals and seldom abused his power to violate women against their wishes.

nIn reality, he didn't have to do things like that in order to satisfy his needs.

nWomen, particularly women of status, many of them with exceptional beauty, threw themselves at Mikel constantly.

nThis was no secret. The man was dashing, gentle, charismatic, and absolutely captivating.

nEven though his talent in magic was sub-par there was no end to women who were willing to become his lover.

nBut weirdly enough, Prince Mikel had always kept women at an arm's length.

nHe was not rude to them but at the same time he also didn't lead them on.

nHe was always polite and charming but curt.

nSo even Jane was shocked when she heard such vulgar words from the Prince and the fact that he had been intimate with Sylvia.

nIn all her years of working for his highness, she had never witnessed such an incident.

nShe couldn't help but look at Sylvia again and sigh. She looked ghastly pale and sad, but her beauty still shone.

nSometimes beauty was nothing but a curse.

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"Let's go, dear. Why don't you head back to your room and take a rest?

"

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"There are no chores left anyways.

"

nJane tried her best and continued chatting with her, talking about random things, but Sylvia walked silently in a daze back to her room.

nAnd once Jane left, after closing her room's door, tears rolled out of Sylvia's eyes uncontrollably.

nShe had only just now come to terms with her life as a slave.

nShe had thought that at most she would be a maid for the rest of her life.

nThough this was not many young girls' dream, it was still a peaceful and uncomplicated life.

nShe could learn to live with just this. It was not too bad.

nBut before she could even digest this, the cruel man had tossed her away like she was nothing.

nHe was placing her as a bet, as something that could be won, that too against a mere book.

nSylvia's lips trembled.

nHer fate now rested in the hands of two men, one who had spoken such obscene things about her and the other who had looked at her as if he was mentally undressing her.

nHer worst nightmare was thinking about what would happen once Nicolas was also done with her.

nWould she again be traded to another man?

nJust how many times did she have to tolerate being humiliated and demeaned like this?

nWas this her life now?

nThe cruel heartless bastard had told her that he was not interested in her body and he had other plans for her.

nBut in the end, it looks like all she would ever amount to was a sex slave.

nTears streamed out of Sylvia's eyes until they were red and swollen.

nThey didn't, however, manage to ease the helplessness and the frustrations that the woman felt.

nWhat could someone like her even do? Someone so weak and powerless...

nAs long as she was weak, powerless and a nobody, her fate would always rest in the hands of others.

nSylvia was in too much pain and agony to notice it, but right at this moment, the crescent mark in the middle of her chest surfaced again.

nIt faintly glowed, emanating a soft golden light amidst her darkness.

nSylvia didn't know when she finally fell asleep but the next day morning, she woke up abruptly as she felt a pair of hands nudging her.

nPanic and fear immediately flooded her senses and she backed away like a frightened animal, her eyes tightly shut.

nWas she already traded? Were men here to take her away?

nShe bit her lips and awaited her fate when Jane's gentle voice sounded through her delusions.

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"Dearie, wake up. Wake up fast. His highness is calling for you.

"

nSylvia had slightly relaxed when she heard Jane's voice but then she again froze on hearing the last sentence.

nJane quickly conjured up a pail of water for her to freshen up and helped Sylvia change her clothes.

nThe girl's hands were shaking too much, so Jane took over and hurriedly got her ready.

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