The morning sun danced brightly outside, but within the huge library, it was still quite dark, especially with the curtains not drawn.

A young woman was peacefully sleeping inside the library on the marble floor, which thankfully had a rug on top of it.

Her silver hair was messily sprawled on the maroon-colored rug with small floral patterns, the rug making her look paler than she was and even some drool was leaking out of her pillowy lips.

Sylvia was fast asleep, completely tired and wiped out and unbeknownst to her, a shadow was currently looming on top of her.

"Wake up, kitten."

"You might catch a cold here. Why don't you head back to your room and continue sleeping?"

Mmm… Sylvia hummed in annoyance, ignoring the voice that was disturbing her sleep.

She nuzzled her head on her hand and continued happily dozing away.

Mikel couldn't help but chuckle, looking at the girl's sleepy face.

He had also returned back just this morning and had been plenty tired from his trip, but looking at this girl, he felt as if he was already recharged.

He lazily sat down next to her, leaning his back on the bookshelf. He then lifted the girl's head gently to place it on his lap.

Her warm face felt heavenly as he touched her with his cold hands.

Sylvia winced a bit but she quickly continued sleeping just like before without noticing anything.

In fact, she felt more comfortable now and was breathing more steadily.

Mikel gazed at her for a while and then lifted the couple of books that laid on the floor.

As he observed the title on the books, his eyebrows knitted together and his lips curved upwards.

"Reading about magic, are we?"

"What a smart little kitten you are… Heh." The man stroked the long silky silver strands which slipped through his fingers.

"But what made you suddenly think?" He wondered.

And since Sylvia hadn't cleaned herself up yet, it didn't take long for Mikel to catch a whiff of the slight scent of beasts still lingering on the woman.

"Heh. It seems like a lot has happened in my absence?" The man chuckled. "I definitely can't afford to leave you alone by yourself any longer."

He traced the woman on his lap with his finger. He ran his index finger over her forehead, and then her nose and then her lips and then trailing down all the way to her chest, moving ever so slightly up and down as she breathed.

She looked so delicate and defenseless but Mikel knew better. On his lap was one of the most powerful beings alive.

She was not just any means to achieve his end. She was the only answer.

She was his one and only chess piece, his most important weapon against the Kingdom.

Mikel gazed at her alluring figure, her hidden curves, her slender waist, her mesmerizing face…

There was no doubt that he was captivated by her beauty. Any man would. But he was not a fool to fall for her beauty.

She might look innocent and lovable now… However, that was just a facade…

The beast underneath was probably savage and vicious and wouldn't hesitate to tear him apart if she got the chance.

Mikel sighed and then leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on the woman's forehead when a pair of clear blue eyes flashed open and stared back at him in utter shock.

Sylvia had finally woken up from her deep sleep and the first face she saw after waking up… was the devil's face???

Gudang! Her heart sank as if someone had drenched her with freezing cold water.

"Why are you so surprised? Have you already forgotten me?" Mikel chuckled.

Ah! Sylvia gasped and quickly scrambled up, getting away from the man at lightning speed.

Her head hit his in the process but she couldn't care less about it. She rubbed it whilst continuing to scurry away from him until her back hit against the bookshelf.

"Calm down, kitten. I am not planning to eat you up!" Mikel sighed, smiling bitterly.

This girl always acted as if she was so scared of him but clearly, she had been very busy when he was not around.

"Ummm… your highness. This… I didn't mean to sleep here. I am so sorry." Sylvia mumbled as she continued inching away from the devil.

She didn't even remember falling asleep.

The last thing she remembered was being extremely frustrated the previous night because she was unable to cast any magic spells no matter how much she tried.

She just couldn't manipulate mana at all and how could she? She after all had zero affinity.

She was a fool to even have tried something like that in the first place.

How could things ever be so easy?

Unlike some women who miraculously turned from rags into riches overnight, Sylvia was never one to be lucky.

What was she expecting? For some reason, the crescent mark on her chest would make her some sort of a powerful mage?

Bah! What a laughable notion! Sylvia sighed, letting out a long breath of disappointment.

She stopped scurrying away and shifted her gaze to look up at the man in front of her. This was it. He was it. He was probably her entire future.

To live in the shadows… to be his slave… to please him at his beck and call… this was probably her life.

Sylvia fought holding back the tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.

"Don't look so glum, my kitten. Have I really treated you that bad?" Mikel cocked his head to the side, observing the woman, and all of her expressions.

He then chuckled and leisurely stood up, dusting his back. "Get up and change into something more decent. We are leaving somewhere."

Sylvia absentmindedly nodded.

She was not particularly in a mood for his shenanigans, but she had no other option.

She as well slowly stood up and followed him, walking out of the library.