"You're lucky I'm so damn patient," Elias deadpanned. He grabbed her hand and turned her palm around, worried she was injured. Seeing she was fine, and the regret on her face, he held back a sigh.

Elias would deal with Asher later—in ways that Adeline should never be present. Soon, the entire Marden family will cease to exist. He suppressed a large, wicked smile. These fools won't know what hit them.

"I'm sorry," Adeline muttered.

Adeline pulled her hand back, and he let her do so. She felt a burning stare upon her skull. She turned her head, but his hand slipped into her hair, and kept everything in place.

"The ball is coming to an end. Let's bring you back to my floor," Elias said. He forced her to look at him, his eyes flashing with warning.

"Don't I have to see the guests out?" Adeline stated. She was thrown off by his unexpected possessiveness. Wasn't all of this just an act?

Adeline believed the marriage would not last for more than a year. When the marriage ended, she thought her freedom was guaranteed and she could depart the castle.

"There's no need," Elias said.

Elias preferred to keep her hidden. He didn't want her pretty little face to be seen by everyone, even if he had introduced her before the entire crowd. He trusted her, but did not trust the guests.

"I was taught that i-it's the proper thing to do," Adeline responded.

"Why are you stuttering again, my sweet?" Elias murmured. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.

Uncertainty reflected in her eyes. She was nervous about betraying etiquette. "It would be improper to not see them o-out."

Elias's grip tightened on her waist. Was it so wrong to hide her away? This would be the first and only time Wraith would ever see their Queen? He didn't want her tiny shoulders to carry the weight of the world. He didn't want to see the light dim in her eyes, filled with greed for power.

"It will be fine, darling," Elias said.

"Sounds like the King is embarrassed to be seen with you, Adeline," Asher deadpanned.

Adeline's head snapped around. She saw the pointed look in Asher's gentle but infuriating features. He was not mad at her, but at the King. His words cut deep. Was it true?

"Spreading slander is another crime that won't go unpunished," Elias mused. He grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips, causing her attention to instantly go back to him. Adeline was astonished by his actions. She quickly pulled her hand back. Her heart raced with fear. What was he doing? Seeing her frightened look, his smirk widened.

"Are you embarrassed by me?" Adeline asked with a befuddled look.

"What's there to be embarrassed by, darling?" Elias asked.

Adeline's lips parted. She could think of a thousand things to say. Her stutter, her dreary shoulders, her unruly ringlets of hair, her short eyelashes, and so much more. But self-pity gets people nowhere in life.

"Seems like your pet thinks of otherwise," Elias instantly added on, creating a sense of doubt in their relationship.

"Wait what? No, Adeline, I'd never think there was something wrong with you!" Asher instantly said. He took a daring step forward, ignoring the dangerous glower of the King.

"You must believe me, Adeline—"

"What kind of servant dares to call their master by their name?" Elias bit out.

Asher stiffened. His hands clenched into fists. This man knew nothing about Adeline, yet he was proudly declaring her as his wife. What kind of useless, self-centered, egotistical ruler was this? Asher never had his hopes up in the first place, and he was still disappointed. As expected of a bloodsucking vermin.

"Asher is a good friend of mine," Adeline finally said. "I'd prefer it if friends do not call me by an address."

Elias's smirk widened. His eyes flashed with amusement. "Yes, FRIENDS shouldn't call you by a title," he said.

Adeline hurriedly nodded, agreeing with a slight simple, believing he meant no ill-intentions. Though, she did not see Asher's flinch and reclusive appearance.

Elias certainly did. He relished in the pain of the useless rat. Seeing the bodyguard so discouraged and hurt brought him great entertainment.

He glanced down at her, wondering what ran through her mind. She was fingering her necklace whereas her other hand dug into his upper arm. He did not understand why, but he allowed her to do so. She shifted in his arms, an uncomfortable look suddenly crossing her face.

"What is it, darling?" Elias murmured, grabbing the hand that tightly clenched his for support.

"N-nothing," she said.

"Seems like this conversation with your bodyguard made you uncomfortable," he loudly announced.

"W-what? I was just—"

"Come, my sweet, you need a good rest," Elias beckoned. He slid a hand around her waist. With haste, he guided her away from the staircase.

"Ah, Elias, but my bodyguard—"

"Does something hurt?" Elias worriedly said whilst ushering her towards the exit of the ballroom. Adeline was surprised by this question. She didn't bring it upon herself to say it, because she didn't dare to. But now that this question was presented to her, she could no longer hold back her complaints.

"Yes, the heels I'm wearing is lovely and precious, but it's been digging into my feet… I didn't want to seem like a burden, I'm sorry."

Adeline sharply gasped when she was no longer standing. Elias swept her off her feet, literally. Clamour of chatter instantly began, as people parted for the King and his beloved to walk through.

"Elias, you didn't have to," she mumbled.

Elias was glad she did not protest. Most women would've hid their faces and blushed. She was prim and proper. He expected an unpleasant reaction from her.

"And what was I suppose to have you do?" Elias teased her. He glanced down, his chest filled with a strange twinge. For once, his ice-cold body felt warm. It was an indescribable feeling.

Adeline was looking up at him with awestruck eyes, like a maiden watching her knight in shining armor.

"L-let me endure the pain until the end of the night?" she sarcastically whispered.

Elias let out a burst of thundering laughter.

The crowd exchanged astonished glances with each other. The gossiping would not stop, even when the sun rose again. Instead, it would intensify, as word quickly traveled of the human girl who captured the King's attention. magic

His Majesty was rarely caught in a scandal. There were never talks of a woman in his life. People just thought he had secret affairs. He was handsome and reclusive, mysterious and charming, there was nothing to dislike about him. Women loved him, men respected him. They did not dare to make promiscuous rumors that questioned his sexuality.

"The only thing you will endure at night is pleasure," Elias cooed into her ear.

"Like that night?"

Elias was taken back. He thought she would fumble and blush. But she showed no hints of embarrassment. There was pure curiosity written on her face, mixed with a bit of hesitation.

He chuckled a bit. "Even better than that night, darling."

Adeline swallowed. What could be better than that night? Was there something else that she was not aware of? They did not consummate anything, but she had still felt an immense pleasure that overwhelmed her senses. Even when she was carried in his strong, powerful arms, she recalled the tingle of her body, the warmth of his skin, the arch of her back, and the burst of passion.

"I see you're fantasizing about that night, darling," Elias teased in an equally low voice. But this time, his voice had lowered and tightened.

"N-not fantasizing," she whispered. "J-just remembering."

"About?"

"H-how good it felt…"

Elias's gaze darkened. Suddenly, he felt the need to pull at his suit tie. She was going to kill him. Her words tempted him, her shaky breath tortured him. Did she plan to seal their fate even before the marriage? He would not mind. If she asked him too, he would take her upon a wall.

But he wouldn't do that, especially for their first time.

"Goodness, Adeline, you're going to be the death of me," he muttered.

Adeline merely laughed, her eyes brightening a bit. She thought it was a joke, but did not think the words would come true by midnight.