n

n

nSylvia glanced at the plate in front of her, rather than the man sitting beside her as she slowly chewed and gulped down the food.

nShe actually didn't know what she was eating. The meat tasted like wild chicken, but at the same time, as she swallowed the mouthful, she could feel a wave of energy spreading from her stomach to the rest of her body.

nWas this how eating a magical beast felt? She wondered.

nApart from absorbing the mana in the air, this was also another way of nourishing the body with the world's energy.

nSo without realizing it, she ended up silently eating, gulping down mouthful after mouthful, finishing her entire plate in a matter of a few minutes.

n

"Shall I ask the maid to fetch you some more?

" Mikel asked, making the girl finally turn and look up at him.

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"I am alright. Thanks, your highness.

" Sylvia raised her wine glass and tried to hide the hue in her cheek behind the aromatic red wine.

nShe couldn't help but see that the devil had barely touched the food on his plate. What a wasteful fellow! She sighed.

n

"Are you sure that you don't want some more?

" Mikel asked again after catching her staring at the food on his plate.

n

"Oh. I forgot. You women like to be coaxed into eating more rather than just taking whatever you want and eating it by yourself.

" He chuckled.

n

"How vain and dramatic… Sigh. I didn't think you were also of that type.

"

nThis guy! Sylvia fumed inwardly. He was purposefully taunting her and poking her.

nShe let out a deep breath and looked away from his plate to meet his gaze and answer his unfair accusations.

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"No, thank you, your highness. I am not hungry. No. Matter. How. Many. Times. You. Ask.

"

nShe could in fact eat a bit more but now she definitely didn't want to and lose her face in front of this hateful bastard.

n

"Can we discuss why we are having dinner tonight?

" She asked, changing the subject.

n

"Do I need a reason to dine with you, my dear?

" Mikel chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass and sipping on it leisurely.

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"Of course, your highness.

" Sylvia scoffed. Under the table, her hands were clenched tightly.

"The thing is I am somewhat busy today, so if you don't mind, I would like to excuse myself.

"

nShe stood up and bowed, preparing to leave, when the devil's hand shot forward and stopped her.

n

"Heh. Why are you in such a hurry, my sweet? Are you that eager to burn down a few more rooms of my castle?

" He grinned, still sipping on the wine.

n

"I did indeed call you here for a reason. So stay.

"

nThe grip on her hand loosened and Sylvia nodded and sat back down.

nThough she was not quite fond of being in his presence, she still wanted to know why he had called her over.

nShe owed him some things and he owed her the freedom that she badly craved. As long as this deal can be quickly done and over with, nothing would make her happier.

nAs Sylvia sat back down at the dining table, Mikel stood up and strolled over to the huge windows overlooking the garden.

n

"We need to pay a visit to Lady Priscella's new villa.

" He muttered, gazing into the distance.

nSylvia snapped at the familiar name to look up at him.

nShe wanted to ask him the reason why they had to suffer through such a thing, but the words in her throat didn't quite come out.

nSylvia dazedly gazed at the man in front of her, her eyes for some reason appreciating the things that she had never noticed before.

nLike how the moonlight hit his golden locks so perfectly that they appeared to be sparkling.

nLike how the small blob in his throat moved up and down as he swallowed the sip of wine, his thin lips, slightly rosy, from the brush of the wine.

nSylvia's eyes wandered treacherously on the man's high cheekbones, his angular jaw, making her face slightly heat up.

nShe looked down to avoid his face but that only made it worse as her gaze fell on the man's muscular chest, his arms, and his broad shoulders.

nThe thin shirt he wore with the top buttons casually undone teased her, revealing only a tiny portion of the man's defined muscles.

nHis tall figure leaned against the window, with his one hand holding the wine glass and his other hand on the wall beside.

nFor some reason, Sylvia found this person in front of her different, taller, more attractive, and a lot more seductive.

nShe gulped, tipping the wine glass and finishing the rest of what was in it to quench her parched throat.

nSeeing him in front of her like this, so close, yet so far away, she suddenly felt a strong pang of urge for reasons that she could not fathom.

nCut it out! She scolded herself for wanting to go over there and hug him from behind.

nShe had truly gone crazy!

nShe tried to reason with herself, reminding herself of all the mean and cruel things he had done to her, and yet she couldn't manage to take her eyes off of him.

n

"Hmmm?

" Mikel hummed, feeling the woman's fervent gaze on his back, and turned around to catch her looking at him as if she was starving and he was a piece of meat.

nHis sudden awareness made Sylvia almost jump up in response, her gaze shifting to a black spot on the dining table as she tried to calm herself down.

nPerhaps she had had a bit too much to drink! She placed her wine glass gently on the table, only to find that the devil had now walked back over to the dining table closer to her.

nHe didn't sit back on his seat and leaned on the table right next to where she was sitting.

nShe could feel his eyes bore down on her as if his black irises were peering through her very soul.

"Your highness…

" She muttered nervously.

n

"What? I thought you might like a closer look? Still not satisfied?

"

nSeeing that the man had caught her unsightly action and now was teasing her about it, Sylvia bit her lips in frustration.

nShe wanted to retort him and his stupid accurate comment and looked up, only to meet his gaze and lose her resolve.

nHer heart skipped a beat as she eyed those evil black irises.

nWhat the hell? Sylvia gripped her dress tightly. She had been fine earlier. She had even been fine during the dinner.

nThe wine! Did this guy add something to the wine??? That must be it!

n

"Your highness. You broke my trust.

" She mouthed in annoyance at how the man had broken his words and his promises so soon.

n

"Huh? What are you talking about, Miss Sylvia?

" Mikel asked, his tone as well a bit serious.

n

"I am trying here to be patient with you as much as I can. I was talking to you about something important.

" He stood up and moved away from her.

n

"Yet… you were the one who was looking at me with that expression on your face and now you are blaming me?

"

n

"What on earth could I have possibly done now?

"

nThe man's sarcastic words did little to calm her down and even his lopsided smug grin looked devilishly handsome, making her face once again heat up.

n

"You mixed something in the wine!

" Sylvia controlled her urges and squeezed out the words with difficulty.

n

"Eh? What a random thing to say?

" She heard the man reply as if he was genuinely confused.

nThere was no look of victory on his face making her wonder if he was indeed saying the truth.

n

"Is this the wine in question?

" Mikel furrowed his brows and lifted the jug in his hand.

nHe then gazed at the woman's reddened face, and directly gulped down the contents of the jug.

n

"You see. I am also drinking from it. I have done nothing to the wine.

" He frowned.

nAs he finished drinking, a small portion of the liquid fell on his shirt, ruining it and making the white shirt somewhat transparent.

nThe shirt stuck to his chest, revealing the rest of his defined chest and a part of his abdominal muscles.

nSylvia gulped and looked up to see the man lick his lips seductively. The fine aroma of the wine, mixed in with his masculine scent tickled her nose, driving her crazy.

nThat was it. She could no longer control herself. She did not know what was happening and if he was telling the truth or not.

nShe could no longer think clearly and she knew that she had to leave right now.

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"Your highness. Tomorrow.

"

nShe incoherently mouthed something and shot up from the chair in a hurry to directly run outside the dining hall as if she was fleeing from a dangerous terrifying beast.

n