Valencia looked away as she crawled away from him.

  “Young Duke… I think there was a mistake—”

  “Heh… how could it be a mistake if you snuck into my room without anyone noticing it?” he asked. Then he hovered over her on the bed. She grabbed her clothes and covered her chest, locking eyes with him and blushing. “Miss Elyane, tell me… you rejected my proposal more than once… but now you’re in my bedroom. What does this mean?”

  Valencia bit her lower lip, gulping. This arrogant bastard… I just want to flick a void ball at him! She breathed heavily.

  “Young Duke, there’s a misunderstanding… I…”

  “I heard the name that everyone was too afraid to mention… Eldrich. The Magic Tower Master?” Kael wondered, staring at her.

  Valencia choked on the words, moving her gaze away slowly.

  “Uh…”

  “Tell me… did he teleport you here because you asked him?”

  “No!” she yelled.

  Kael smiled and placed a finger on her lips.

  “Sh… no one knows that you’re here… any noises will make them curious about why there’s a lady’s voice inside my room,” Kael stated.

  Valencia shut her lips tightly. As she took one deep breath—

  HIC.

  She gasped, throwing her face into the blanket. Fuck! I’m having hiccups?!

  HIC.

  Kael laughed as he fell to the side of the bed. He stared at her, waiting for her to get up.

  “I’m not going to hurt you…” he murmured.

  Valencia’s burning ears flared. She peeked with one eye.

  “The stupid Magic Tower Master teleported me here… I don’t know why,” she said, muffling.

  Kael grinned as his eyes gleamed. He rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling.

  “I see… so you didn’t come here because you wanted to… that’s quite painful to hear,” he teased.

  HIC.

  Valencia took a deep breath, but she held it, hoping it would stop her hiccups. She perked up and flushed—

  HIC.

  “Argh! Why won’t it stop?!”

  She dropped her face back down onto the bed and started kicking. Kael watched her and chuckled. He raised his hand and rested his head on it.

  “So… Miss Elyane, have you reconsidered my proposal?” he asked.

  Valencia groaned as she looked at him with her mouth covered in the blanket, her hair in a disheveled state on her face.

  “No… well, yes.”

  He crept closer to her face, startling her.

  “What is your answer then?” he pried.

  She stood and pouted as she looked away, blushing.

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  “Wear some clothes so we can talk…” she muttered.

  Kael looked at his bare chest, then chuckled. He then stood, leaning toward her. His breath warmed her neck.

  “What if I want to talk like this?”

  Valencia flinched like a stray cat, pushing him away and shutting her eyes tightly.

  “Then I’ll wait until you wear some clothes!”

  “But what if you run away when I grab some clothes?” he teased more, leaning closer.

  “I won’t!” she screamed as she pulled her head away. “Please just go wear something!”

  Kael stood and headed to the closet, grabbing a robe. He sat in his chair and stared at her. She had her hands over her face.

  “I’m done,” he said.

  Valencia popped one finger up and turned her head. She peeked at him. She slammed her hands down after seeing him in his robe, frowning as she crawled out of the bed.

  “Okay… well—”

  “Your hiccups are gone,” he commented.

  Valencia shot a glare at him and tightened her jaw.

  “Yes… anyways, I would like to have a few terms included in the proposal.”

  “Yes, Miss Elyane. What would you like me to add?”

  She took a deep breath and locked eyes with him.

  “One, no one must know that I am Persai’s daughter, including your family…”

  Kael paused, raising both hands over the table and leaning his chin onto his thumbs.

  “Why?”

  Valencia clutched the hems of her shirt.

  “Because being her daughter and being an F-rank is embarrassing. I don’t want the public to laugh at my mother when she’s already long gone,” she lied.

  He stared at her hand movements and nodded.

  “Very well. No one will know. What’s next?”

  “Two, you must protect me from the Royal Family at all costs!”

  The mention of the Royal Family struck him. The unexpected request clouded his mind with painful memories.

  “I…” he chuckled nervously. “I don’t understand why you would request that—”

  “I heard that the previous match was kidnapped and ended up dying at the hands of the Royal Family. I don’t want my life to be cut short the same way…”

  Kael flinched, his jaw tightening. His stomach churned.

  “What makes you think I will allow them to touch you and harm you?” Kael asked coldly.

  Valencia locked eyes with him without trembling.

  “I don’t think you will… but I know they will,” she answered firmly.

  He slammed his hands down, clenching them.

  “Very well. As the heir to Izekiah’s dukedom, I promise to protect you from associating with the Royal Family in any way.”

  She smiled and nodded. She leaned forward, knocking once on his table.

  “Third, you don’t ask me any questions about myself in any way… we are just in a contract without any strings attached—”

  “Now I would like to pause right there, Miss Elyane…” he interrupted with a sly smile. He stood and leaned closer. “If I understand the concepts of a Guide, a Guide is most likely a partner in every way… intimacy, battlefield, and more.”

  Valencia flushed with embarrassment, grinding her teeth together. Of course, that’s what a Guide does! I’m not a fucking Guide to begin with! She closed her eyes, forcing a laugh out.

  “You’re right… but from what I could see, you’re able to be purified by a slight handhold. No intimacy or anything else—”

  “You don’t know that yet…” he smirked.

  “I do… because you look healthy and better than ever!” she claimed.

  He laughed as he walked around the table and grabbed her hand. He pulled her hand up, their lips nearly touching each other.

  “But what if I’m not? What if I need more to feel stabilized because I haven’t had a Guide for eight years?”

  She bit her lower lip, inhaling.

  “Young Duke, don’t you think you’re acting way too much for too long?” she asked.

  Kael’s eyes widened as his grip on her wrist loosened.

  “Acting?”

  “I heard from Sir William that you have a kind heart… but if you’re really crazy as you’re pretending to be, then continue doing so,” she said. Then she sighed. “But if you’re requesting me to be your partner and you’re not even being truthful with me, then don’t expect me to do the same with you.”

  He released her hand and took a step back. His eyes averted away as the words sank in. He let out a soft chuckle with a bitter face.

  “I didn’t expect you to see me that way…”

  Valencia rubbed around her wrist that he grabbed, clicking her tongue.

  “I’m not like those swoony pests… so don’t expect me to be like them either,” she declared.

  He glanced at her and laughed. His hand touched her cheek. She flinched as his skin caressed her cheek gently.

  “I don’t expect you to be like them… but I do expect you to stay for the night,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  He smiled, which came clean yet sent the chills down her skin. She turned and gagged.

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