We waltz through the hallway in silence. I glanced at his side, gritting my teeth in secret.

What did he do to me to obey him? No matter how I tried to scream internally, I felt helpless. My hand in his grip wouldn't bulge, no matter how I want to pull it away.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered through my gritted teeth.

I shot him a glare, scoffing in ridicule. It was truly ridiculous.

Stefan glanced at me indifferently. "Is it?"

"Let me go," I demanded, shifting my gaze to his hand that was holding mine.

I thought I already had enough for today. The thought of Hanz being the worst encounter for today proved me wrong.

This King, Stefan's appearance, was the worst. I was obeying him against my will. Was this what sired means?

To smile at someone without my knowledge, to speak the opposite I wanted to say and to act against your will. It was... terrifying.

"Ohh… so that's how it is." Stefan nodded in understanding.

What was he saying?

"Stop —" My breath hitched as he dragged me with him. Being pushed at this point, I had no other choice.

"Lakre —"

Unfortunately, Stefan guessed my plans. Before I could call for lakresha, he pulled me firmly.

In a split second, I winced as my back crashed against the wall with my wrist pinned above my head.

"I thought you're a little smarter." He smirked as his eyes as bright as bright rubies glinted. "Why are you so eager to die?"

Unlike his calm mien moments ago, his mood instantly switched. His gaze was so sharp it felt like it was piercing into my soul.

I gulped, not giving away from his intimidating gaze. I'm not eager to die, but I'm eager to survive.

"Using lakresha takes a lot of life force. Do you believe you have many lives to spare?" He cocked his head to the side, scoffing in mockery.

"How ungrateful of you. This is the third time I saved you and yet, you're glaring at me. Lara really tried to undo the effects, huh?"

Lara? Saved me? What was he saying?

"You abducted me, Your Majesty," I stressed, as I panted for air.

Stefan tightened his grip on my wrist as his smirk grew broader. "I planned to talk to you in the garden to… reminiscence. Alas, you'll wield your weapon at your king? Did you think you can slay me with the meager power you have?"

I clenched my teeth as my heart hammered against my ribcage. Every breath I took suffocated me.

More than that, more than this uncomfortable position, I hated myself. I'm truly naive to think I could survive by just trying to make a false front. I realized it too late.

That was not how I would survive this hellhole.

I could fight them with words, but that's all I could do. It was clear that before I could defend myself, my head would roll immediately.

Having Silvia, whose intention was unclear on my side, was not enough.

Each and every one of them had their own motives. They might be easy to read at first, but the more I thought about it, they all had hidden faces beneath their exterior.

Yulis, Hanz, Silvia, Dominique, Stefan, Sam… were all different individuals. However, they also share similar tendencies.

They show what they wanted you to see. If I wanted to survive, I had to think and act just like them.

Soon, my stiffed shoulders eased as my eyes drooped. I stabilized my breathing, watching as my soul slowly put on a mask.

If that's what they want… so be it. I'll have my own multiple faces and truths. If I couldn't fight them by sheer force, I had to have my other means.

"I know you're quick to realize it and adapt," Stefan mused, nodding as he slowly let me go. He then stepped back, smiling, as he watched me in amusement.

'Are you so happy to see me suffer?' I wondered internally, keeping my emotions in check.

"Mister Fabian told me the same," I replied, breathing out through the gape of my lips.

I raised my hand to him, staring at him straight in the eye. I'd do it on my own accord before he could command me, and I'd feel the guilt of acting against my will.

I won't let them have it their way.

"Will you take me to a stroll, your Majesty?"

"Do you hate the feeling of being sired with me that much?" Stefan unhurriedly took my hand. "That hurts, though."

Disgusting.

"Do you prefer it when I act because you ordered me to?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

"Of course, not. I don't like forcing people," He humored, escorting me towards the garden.

Silly, I thought. Sam also said the same thing to me back then. But the feeling was different.

My eyes glinted as I looked ahead, hearing our footsteps across the silent hallway.

'I'll survive in here and have the last laugh. This hell that tormented Sam and me… I'll burn it to the ground.'

*

Meanwhile, in the Crawford Mansion training grounds.

"My lord, Lord Noah is here to see you," Fabian announced solemnly, gazing at Samael, who had been standing in the middle of the training grounds while staring at the starless night sky.

It was the training ground Lilou had spent all day on training.

"Greetings, your Grace." Noah greeted as he stepped forth. But there's still no response from Samael.

"We found your Catharsis being sold in the black market, so I brought it with me. I also heard what happened to Lady Lilou."

Noah kindly spoke, gesturing his knight to hand over a small box containing Samael's divine weapon. However, the latter didn't even flinch.

The wind whistled, sweeping the dust, making the leaves dance in constant harmony. Noah's eyes softened as he gazed at Samael's back.

"Your Grace, shouldn't you go to the Capital now that Catharsis is back in your hands? Lady Lilou…" Noah wanted to console him with his subtle words.

But Samael intervened.

"Noah," Samael called out softly as he pivoted on his heel and faced him. "You're rich, right? How many residences does the House of Remington owns in the Capital?"

"Eight, your grace," Noah replied despite his bafflement.

Samael nodded in understanding, rubbing his chin before he spoke, "Give them to me."

"Pardon?"

"I need a place to stay in the Capital," Samael explained in a knowing tone. "I'm not staying in that damn palace."

"I don't have a problem handing the ownership of the eight residences the House of Remington owns in the Capital as we're indebted to you. However, may I know the reason why do you need all of them?" Noah inquired, as he furrowed his brows in bewilderment.

"Why?" Samael pondered as he rubbed his chin. "So I can burn them instead of burning the palace?"

"..."

"Anyway, dig up Klaus and tell Cameron to protect that damn child with his life. My bride has taken a liking to it." Samael waved his hand nonchalantly, walking towards Noah as the corner of his lips curled into a smirk when he brushed past Noah.

Noah shuddered upon sensing the aura exuding from Samael. "Are you planning to overthrow the king, your grace?"

"There will be a truce, Lord Remington," Samael uttered as he cocked his head back in Noah's direction. "Even though my feelings for my bride were remnants of Sam, I need to see why I like her in the first place."

Samael uttered, throwing his hands on the back of his head as he whistled while walking away.

"He... I can't believe he really went back to his old ways," Noah murmured in disbelief as Samael's aura felt different from the last time he was in Whistlebird.