"You are so rude, Max. I didn't even say goodbye to her!" Cecilia pouted and sit in bushes not far from the lake behind the city hall.
Max sat beside her and sneered, "I don't like her."
"It is not a valid reason for being rude." She threw her gaze to the lake surface.
They were wrapped with darkness which surround the lake. Too bad, I can't see anything, she thought.
A second later, Max flicked his finger and creates countless small red light as if he can read her mind.
Cecilia stunned when see it. The lights spreading, make her vision getting better. For a second, she thought it was fireflies.
"It is so beautiful. How can you do that? Is it magic?"
"Nah! It's different and as easy as 123." Max shrugged and sighed heavily, "Umm, I'm sorry for being rude. But, I will do the same in the futures. So, please don't hate me.'
"I don't hate you. I know you are doing this because of the duty of protecting me. I'm just… mad. Sorry, if it hurt your feeling. But, it is embarrassing for me to be unable to greet her properly."
"You really like her, huh?" Max crossed his arms. "She is dangerous, Chili."
"So? She agreed to help us, Max. In my opinion, Miss Kaleela gotten angry because you are provoked her."
"But she is a witch! You can't believe in her. Let's just stop visiting her and I will find you a book about it. You like to read, right?"
"Oh, Max. Please drop this topic. I'm tired of arguing this matter with you."
Max stretch out both of his hand to hold her shoulders. Forced her to see his brown eyes, "Listen to me, Chili. You are nobles. So, act like one. I often see you smiling to your maids, knights and everyone else. It is good to be kind. However, not everyone deserve your kindness."
Cecilia snort softly and answer half heartily, "Yes, yes."
"Ah, whatever! If things go wrong, don't blame me." He jerks his hand and throw a pebble to the lake.
"If things go wrong, then just protect me. That is your duty."
"Finee."
"Anyhow, Max. Why don't we go to the Capital? I want to see night market again."
"No, you will end up drunk again."
"Huh?" Cecilia tilted her head in confusion. "Drunk?"
Max saw her in disbelief, "You forgot?"
"Well, the memory after we met Hugo was a bit... hazy. Hmm,"
Max throws another pebble to the lake. His heart got flutter when he remembered the kiss which lift his curse. He owed her. However, if Max say something about it, does thats mean he has tell the entire story from the beginning
Since the reason why he's using mask was root of everything happened in his life.
Because only handful people who know his real face and identity. What if this little naive girl became afraid of him?
No, it impossible, said a clear voice in his mind. She always thinks that everyone is good people. Look at her admiration to the witch!
Don't do it, said another voices. In the past, you are doing so much worse than witchcraft.
"Max? Are you okay? You look so pale."
He bit his lower lips and found nothing to say when he looked at her red lips. There is something magical which making him wonder how it tastes.
"I, I, I think, we have to go. Now." He raised his left index finger and both of them teleporting in front of her bedroom door.
He was just staring the floor. Have no courage to saw her face, "Good night, Chili."
Cecilia blinked twice and have no idea why do Max acting strange. But, what more strange was she got a feeling that they were getting closer. Despite how many times they arguing, Cecilia knows that Max is kind soul.
"Good night to you too, Max." She whispered it, even knowing that he won't hear it.
***
"Is there something wrong, Boss?" Hugo asked when he noticed Max's arrival in the office. His boss look like he was in rush.
"Prepare the cold water, Hugo. I want to take a bath."
"Eh? Right now? But it is already past midnight!"
Max took off his mask, "Don't make me repeat myself."
"OH! MASTER! YOUR HANDSOME FACE IS BACK!" Hugo shouted in happiness. His both hands clasped in front of his chest. "FINALLY! I CAN'T WAIT TO INFORM---,"
But, the leader of Scorpion staring dagger on him.
Hugo gulped and his smile fading, "Fine, I will prepare the water."
"After that, send a message to Marquess of Hagrav. Tell him to meet me tomorrow at the usual place."
"Yes, yes. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed because Young Master didn't tell me anything about this. Hmph!" Hugo said before he disappeared to the behind of the bookshelf.
Max tailed behind him, walking through the corridor made from red brick. There are so many candles in the wall as light sources.
After ran away from his home, Max built a secret passage that connected into his room and the library. .
Hugo often came here to cleaning up. He didn't even complain because Max pay him well.
A minute later, they are already in the bathroom. It small yet comfortable. White is the main colour in this place.
Hugo quickly refills the water in the white bath tub, meanwhile Max took off his clothes.
"Ask Gale if he can provide me an ice from the ice house."
"Pardon me! Are you trying to take a bath with ice water? You can catch a cold! Besides, ice is one of our biggest source of money. This summer, so many nobles order it as refreshment and food preservation. You don't forget it, right?"
"You are talking too much." He started unbuttoned his shirt and without any hesitation, walk naked and enter the bath tub.
The water was as cold as winter. In other circumstances, Max would grit his teeth and hug his knee. But, now, he didn't even bat an eye.
"Wow, even the scar on your body is gone, Boss. You look like reborn into someone else."
"Hugo."
"Yes, yes. I will close my eyes and my mouth. However, why did you hide this from me? Now, you can meet with His Majesty with chin up! Show them what you made, Sir."
Max closed his eyes and start to enjoying the freezing water which touch his skin. It is refreshing his mind and throw away the dirty thought that lingering in his mind.
This is bad, he said to himself. I'm starting to lose control.
"Oh, I got a message from our spies in the palace. His Imperial Majesty will begin a dance party to celebrate his birthday."
"Hmm, really?"
But there is a little problem, Boss." Hugo let out a heavy sigh and already imagine his boss annoyed face when he dropped this bomb, "They will invite you to come since you are the second prince of this Empire."