The exaggerating carriage finally stopped taking back Esme's thoughts from running too wild. She had been distracted and somehow felt uneasy deep inside her heart since the old lady warned her to escape away from here.

Was she just blabbering or there was any meaning behind those words?

When the horses tittered, she looked straight and assumed that they had arrived at the discerned destination. Thus she quickly came back to her normal expression and intended to come down from her carriage.

Viviana was already standing at the exit door waiting for her lady to descend down as she offered her a helping hand respectively. 

Esme was lifted down and finally paid attention to the mesmerising standing still.A crystal clear watered river was passing by a wild jungle without knowing it's direction.

The unique black stones were dazzling under the warm sunlight.A falling stigma from the nearby hill made the environment more peaceful and relaxing.

As she took a long breathe pestering a sweet smile on her lips, her mood lifted up automatically.

Vivana was quite satisfied judging her expression still asked,

" How is it, my lady?

Are you enjoying the view?"

Esme nodded and replied with another sweet smile before started walking towards the Riverside. 

Vivana gestured the guards to stay there as she followed Esme from behind.Esme moved forward and found a quite spot to stand straight and admire this natural beauty of god.

Her smile was still blooming on her lips as she asked Vivana curiously,

" This place is indeed so beautiful.

Is that a jungle over there?"

Esme asked pointing at the abnormal pitch darkness opposite the river. Vivana's expression changed a little as she nodded comprehensively.

She didn't want to continue the topic but Esme was much more curious than her.

As she continued,

" Can we go there too? I think, there might be deers and we can hunt them." 

Vivana shook her head instantly and warned with a serious tone,

" No, my lady. There are no deers present in that forest. Nobody is allowed to go there even the king himself." 

Esme knitted her eyebrows together and asked,

" Why? "

Vivana seemed reluctant and contemplated for a while. When she noticed that Esme was waiting for her answer, she replied shortly,

" There's a place called Reisan Hallow inside the forest. 

People used to tell that that hallow is cursed and dangerous for any creature.Years ago, an accident occurred and a young girl lost her life there terribly.Thus our king forbade us to enter the forest after that."

Esme's mind went blank at the name of Reisan Hallow as she looked ahead blankly recalling the old Lady's words. 

As she wanted to ask further, Vivana warned seriously,

" My lady, you shouldn't talk about this cursed place anymore. King won't appreciate that."

Thus Esme could only swallow back her words and nodded her head slightly still gazing at the forest absentmindedly.

That old lady.. wasn't she taking about this place?

Can it really take her back?

She bit her lips tightly in dilemma and decided to investigate further about this mysterious Hallow. 

Thereafter she stayed calm and started enjoying the view pushing away the thoughts for the time being. 

After enjoying the first freedom being here, Esme headed to the castle before evening fall down as per Aaron's order. 

Much more than that, Viviana was urging her continously telling that they should head back as soon as possible as she didn't intend to anger her Lord. After all, she had the clear concept about his bad temper. 

Reaching at the castle, she found it much quiet. Later one maid informed her that Queen Mother was out of the castle and his so called husband and his sister were nowhere to be seen too.

Stretching out her hands in the air lazily, she quickly found her way upstairs at her room.Lying down on the bed, she stared at the celling blankly and felt that it wasn't felt so bad to roam outside. 

Just she wished that she was alone all her own. 

Poor luck! Aaron will never agree to this. 

While ruffling her messy hairs, she crooked her eye brows remembering something serious thus she got up instantly. Her mind reverberated the words regarding that mysterious hallow and felt more and more curious to discover the place. 

She had to find a way soon!

Sighing heavily, she made her way towards their terrace to refresh her dull mood.Standing still, her eyes were on the darkened trees but her mind was lost somewhere else in her thoughts.

Suddenly she felt the cold touch on her waist and gasped loudly turning back. 

Despite her frightened view, the man remained calm and asked rising up his sharpened eyebrows sarcastically, 

" Tsk.. You are so easy to get scared." 

Is it? 

Everytime he will present himself like a god descending from the heaven and expected that she shouldn't get afraid..! 

Where's his sense of humour? 

Thus Esme could only stare at his devilish face disdainfully despite having the urge to screw his face right now. She was still panting slightly because of the earlier incident. 

She ignored his words completely and treated him like air as she intended to turn around not having the mood to see his face anymore. 

The man was erupted at her action thus he could only use the force right now. 

His tightened hands gripped one of her slender arm and forced her to face him quickly. 

Esme jolted at the pain in her arm and stared at him speaking nothing. Her gaze was enough to express the eternal hate for him. 

Aaron growled and watched the pair of drawn eyes angrily, 

" I guess, only you have the gut to ignore me in this whole world, Esme.Don't you think that I give you priority above everything?" 

Even though she was facing a death glare, she replied cold gently struggling to free her arm, 

" Then don't come to me. I don't want your companion. As I said, you're my husband for the whole world but not in my heart and never will be. I will not give my heart to a man opps a bloodthirsty animal who forced me to marry him. In my heard, this marriage is null. "

Her gaze was clear like water as she watched him without having a slice of emotion.She seemed to take a vow for treating him badly always. 

Aaron stared at her face blankly. Even though he was accustomed to hear this emotion less words from her, still it pricked his heart like a needle. He badly wanted to win her attention even though he was clueless about his sudden impulse. 

Much to her surprise, his gaze lowered to hide the mixed feelings hidden behind.His cheek blew in frustration and madness. 

Still he didn't get provoke by her merciless words and changed the topic instantly. 

He asked taking one of the strand of her long hairs asking softly, 

" Did you have fun today?" 

Esme was dumbfounded at his revulsion and suddenly felt a bit scared. 

Will he push me downstairs from here or suck my all blood? 

Surprisingly she analysed one thing till now that no matter how domineering, dangerous he was, she always had the impulse thought that this man would never hurt her. Perhaps this impulse feeling made her more outrageous towards him. 

Not wanting to provoke his mood anymore, Esme just nodded her head in affirmation still gazing at his playful hand.

The man's expression changed into a pleasing appeal as he took a step close embracing her body. 

He demanded in a low but ordering voice, 

" Tell me, where did you visit today?" 

Clearly he asked a simple question but Esme felt that his voice sounded more sensual than before stinging inside her mind unknowingly. 

She parted her lips to speak, 

" We.. went near... a..." 

Her words got stuck on her tongue sensing the touch at her back. 

She lifted her gaze to see the man who was enjoying her reddened face.Today She wore the backless gown before going out. Later she didn't get the time to change her outfit before this man suddenly appeared. 

She mentally cursed herself for not changing after her return. 

His long fingers were brushing her exposed skin from back to forth like a fair play. Her whole body quivered at his touch. Under his stern stare, she felt more nervous and hot suddenly. 

His touch felt smooth yet sensual as if her whole body was inviting him to touch more and more. 

Her breathing became shallow as he heard his dominated tone again this time harshly, 

" Speak." 

Finding no way out, Esme gulped and replied stammering at her words, 

" Vi.. Viviana.. took.. me..near..a riverside.. that's.. all.." 

" Good", he replied shortly giving her the urge to think that he would let go her now. 

But the man continued brushing and caressing as he added, 

" Shouldn't I receive my reward now? Especially when you enjoyed the whole day." 

Hearing the word reward, her heart went blank at the sinful thoughts. She could only ask boldly even though she could hear her voice shaking, 

" What.. what.. reward..do you want.. now?" 

Aaron felt amused at the thought that only his closeness could scare her off easily. 

He replied smirking at her face, 

" Give massage to my body.." 

Unwittingly, her gaze shifted in a certain part of him and asked in disbelief, 

" Where? "

Aaron chuckled and asked back, 

" Where do you think so?" 

Esme "....."