"You're welcome to walk the grounds as you please, enter every room that is not locked, and behave as you deem fit, so long as you don't wreak havoc everywhere you go."

Elias glanced down at her, in particular, the wrist that continued to resist him. "Though, I doubt you possess the ability to even knock over a vase."

Her gaze narrowed. She looked like she wanted to slap him, but violence was not her forte. Or so, he recalled. Crown Prince Kaline had trained his daughter as a son, but the young child cried whenever she saw a pitiful or injured thing, even if it was a bug.

"And punishments?" she asked.

"Only in bed."

"Elias," she seethed.

Another teasing smile rested upon his lips. Seeing her try to act so tough was hilarious. When she glared up at him like that, chest heaving with aggravation, he wanted to do nothing more than to push her against the wall.

"Yes, darling?"

"Will you hurt me?"

"Only if you want me to."

"Elias!"

"How many times must you scream my name outside of bed?" Elias dropped her wrist, and side-stepped, knowing she was going to rebel.

Surprisingly, she didn't.

Adeline grabbed her wrist, cradling it whilst glaring at him. There wasn't a single scratch mark on it. Was she feigning pain? He was certain the grip was not unbearable, and that she was not in pain.

"That's a lie, isn't it?" Adeline said. "It sounds too good to be true. T-there has to be a catch."

Elias raised a brow. Had he gone soft just for her? Nah. He just planned to take advantage of their situation later, and trap her in a position she could not escape from. His lips curled into a sinister smile. Yes. That would be the only way to keep her here, in his little cage for his personal viewing. No one else.

Especially not the pesky rat in black that was always hovering over her. "Well?" she asked in a lowered voice, her confidence suddenly wavering.

He was lost in thinking for only a second and she was already hesitating. He needed to capture her before she suddenly backed out.

"The catch?" Elias echoed. "What could I possibly want from a petite little thing like you?"

Adeline wasn't even offended. She opened and closed her mouth, finally speechless whilst she searched for an answer. He was right. What could she provide?

"I… uhm…" An idea came to mind, but it was absurd.

"Well?"

"Isn't the ball thrown to search for a Queen?" she blurted out.

Elias's lips twitched. She said it herself. He didn't imply it. "I suppose."

"You suppose?"

"Go on," Elias said whilst ignoring her previous response.

"I… I can take the burden off of your hands and you don't have to continue the search anymore," Adeline stated.

Her hands tightly clenched the sides of her dress, wrinkling the fine material. It was an absurd request of hers to make. But this was the exact purpose of the ball, was it not? Even if he hadn't made the announcement, everyone thought the same. Why else were there so many esteemed daughters invited?

"You don't have to worry about my legitimacy, I am a Princess of… of…" Adeline felt pathetic. She wasn't able to utter the name to her own kingdom, for she had lost the rights to it when she fled from her land.

"I know who and what you are, darling Adeline."

Adeline was not going to ask how. He had already implied once that he knew of her parents. Wouldn't that make him… too old for her? She warily gleaned at him. Vampires lived much, much longer than humans, with some possessing twice or three times the usual span of life.

Pure-Breds like him were supposedly immortal, though, there are definitely ways to kill them.

"So what do you think?" Adeline managed to say without stammering. She feared the poor fabric of her dress would be permanently wrinkled, but something to distract her nerves.

"Hmm…" he hummed, crossing his arms.

Adeline ignored the bulge of his muscles and intimidating stare. He could crush rocks with one hand and kill her on the spot. However, he didn't deliberately hurt her. Her standards were that low, but she had no other choice.

"I prefer to take up your previous offer of making you a mistress." Adeline ground her teeth. She pressed her lips and looked up at him. He glared down, daring her to question him. And whether it was by her foolish nature or the pride of a Princess, Adeline adamantly shook her head.

"It's too late to take up the previous o-offer after y-you bullied me for it," she managed to say.

Adeline chewed the inside of her cheeks, irritable that she had stuttered again. Her heart raced with anticipation and fear. It was a bluff on her part.

Quite frankly, Adeline was willing to stoop low for her freedom. Her parent's hard-earned fortune rested upon her hands. But what about the contract…? How was she going to convince Viscount Marden now?

Her name was perfectly scribbled upon solid black lines that sealed her to an unfortunate fate. She was such a fool for signing it, but at that time, Adeline had no choice. She was willing to take any offer made to her, so long as she could save herself.

"And what makes you think you're qualified to become my wife?" Elias taunted.

Adeline had just listed one of the qualities. In terms of bloodline and rank, hers were not that bad… even if her kingdom was ruled by someone else. She would never forgive the usurper. Not in this life or the ones to come after that. After all, she had placed her trust in him, and he had trampled on it.

"My darling doe, you stutter when talking to people, shy back when people address you, and everything scares you. Your lack of confidence will not be able to move a bug, much less, the enormous Luxton Empire."

Adeline raised her head. She slowly released the unbearable hold on the sides of her dress.

"I'll change," she said with fierce determination. "I-I'll get better."

Elias cast her a doubtful stare. "I'm sure you will."

"A-a year," she whispered. "A year is all I-I need…"

Elias quirked a brow. A year was all she needed to fix a decade of problems? He viewed her with apprehension. This tiny little thing, with the physique of a swan, fragile heart, and gentle eyes that would cry for the death of a fly… How could she possibly change in only a year?

"And if you fail to change?" he taunted.

Adeline warily looked at him. "I don't have anything t-to give you, Elias." magic

No, she had everything to give. Her smile, her laughter, her future, all of it. He wanted to possess all of her—body, heart, and soul.

"You'll become my mistress then," he deadpanned. "For the rest of eternity."

Adeline let out a small laugh. She did not believe he would be interested in her for that long. Who was he kidding? It was a miracle that he even spoke to her. Nonetheless, she shakily reached a hand out.

"It's a deal…"

Elias glanced down at her hand. For a split second, he nearly smiled just because she had shown him a peal of rare laughter, too pure and innocent for his cruel world. As a child, she never knew the dangers that lurked in the shadows. She still didn't.

Instead of shaking her hand, he grabbed it and pulled her towards him. She peered up, with those large, reflective eyes of hers that mirror a great, grass sea.

"W-what are you doing…?" Adeline whispered, as his fingers shifted to her neck. She shivered, feeling something cool on her skin, but it was not his fingertips. It was the necklace

"It's a deal."