"I don't have any relationship anymore with those clowns." Max leaned his head to the bath tub and put his right hand on the forehead.
After giving up his succession title, he already made it clear to his step-mother that he doesn't have any interest to the throne. For him, they are just bunch of strangers who feed him for the past twelve years. "Just ignore every invitation from them."
"But, we are knows that your resignation will be valid after you are turning twenty."
"I don't care."
Hugo cleared his throat, "I heard Her Majesty Imperial Empress is sick. She can barely walk and spend so much time in her room."
"Hmm." Max didn't even pretend to be shock or at least showing a tiny sympathy about that sad news.
"I heard the head priest from Holy Temple was visiting her regularly. There is a speculation that she is not infected with physical disease but, caused by some nasty black magic."
"I called it as karma. Rather than talking about them, bring me a cup of hot milk instead. My head is spinning arround."
"Aish, Boss! You are like a drunken man — now. I thought you didn't drink any liquor while working."
Max rubbing his forehead when his underling got out from the bathroom to bring him the beverage which he requested.
How come he is becoming like this just because a noble girl who younger than him? He doesn't hate those feeling. But sometimes, it always put him on the edge. Tickling his senses. Everything about her making him excited.
Something dark creeping inside his mind. Wanting every part of her becoming his. Keeping her only for himself. Just one smile can make him stunned under her spell.
"Such an unhealthy obsession." He dives his head in the water. Try to fill his lung with the cold water. Small bubbles escape from his mouth when her try to breathe. His dark brown hair dancing slowly inside the water.
Should I giving up? He asked himself. I can't let myself fall deeper to her. Yes, that's right. Let Hugo handle that Lancia's daughter.
"Boss, it's ready." Hugo's voice, cutting off the trail of his minds. He raised from the bath tub and his underling quickly handed out a white bath robe.
Max sipped his cup after wear the robe. He takes a glance to Hugo who waiting him. Perhaps because of the warmth from the milk he drank, Max's mind became clearer.
Hugo might be his most trusted underling. His skill in either fighting or espionage are exceptional. But he can't use teleportation or any other magic skill.
A good fighter should know when to fight or escape. They need to master the skill to calculating the possibilities for survive without getting any injury as well.
But, Hugo is (mostly) reckless and won't stop until he won or badly injured. Cecilia might end up in danger if Hugo became her guard.
"Is there anything wrong?" Hugo asked when he noticed that his employer is in the deep thinking.
"No, I just realize something."
"What is it?" He asked in curiosity. Is it about the mission he carries on?
"The fact that I am such a talented and outstanding man. The only one who can beat me is me."
"Duh! I shouldn't have asked." He rolled his eye before left the bathroom with the small silver trolley which he brought to serve the beverages for his boss.
Instead of following his underling, Max took another direction which lead to his room to changing his clothes.
"Then, I should help her to finish the quest on the island. After that, Duke Lancia will terminate the contract and I don't have to meet her every day. The faster, the better."
--
"Oh, look at this, Miss! The next volume of your favorite novel is here!" Mary shows the book, which covered in pink, with excitement.
They were on the City Hall's library for looking on her next project references.
Cecilia, who burying herself into a bestiary book, didn't even take a glance on it, "I never like those kinds of book, Mary."
"But, Young Miss seem to enjoy this book when we are in the carriage."
"Because I have nothing to do. Besides, I don't understand why do people able to fall in love in their first meeting. They barely know each other."
Mary clasped her hand like she was praying, "That's the point, Young Miss! Isn't it romantic to find someone who can mesmerizing you just with one glance?! One person who can change your world into a better place to stay. Ah, I hope Young Miss will found a decent man to fall in love with!"
"You too, Mary. Perhaps you should've giving up on Christo."
Her maid let out a heavy sigh and pouted, "I will try my best, Miss."
Cecilia smiled faintly, and suddenly, she remembered her past as Ji Eun.
Like any other teens, she is ever falling in love too.
Once, she was rejected by her classmates because of her appearance. That's make her realize that love doesn't exist for an ugly girl like her.
She already forgot the face of her crush, but the pain of being rejected, still lingering in her heart.
For Ji Eun, love is just unreal feeling which driven by lust.
"Oh My! Young Miss, look at this! They were drawing the illustration of the author! He is so handsome!"
Her servant pointed a picture in the last pages of the books.
A man with dark chocolate hair and a pair of beautiful eyes which have the same colour with his short hair. He looks like a small porcelain doll with warm smile.
Just as Mary say, he is indeed a good-looking man. Gillian Bridgerton was a name which written under his picture.
"Young Miss, he is living in Capital! A young man who wrote so many romantic stories must be knowing about how to treat woman! I like him already!"
But, Cecilia feel weirdly familiar when she saw this picture. As if she ever met him in her past. But not sure if it from Cecilia's or even Ji Eun's past.
A curiosity creeping her mind. It's like she can't sleep before finding out the answer.
There is no other choice, she said to herself with frustrated feeling. I have to investigate it.