When Arlan entered Drayce's room, he found his friend standing in front of the window. He was staring outside, towards the starry sky, looking deep in thought.

"Since we returned from the marketplace, you have been unusually silent. Did something happen?" Arlan asked as he made himself comfortable on a finely crafted wooden chair with a soft red cushion.

Drayce turned to look at him. "I want to know about the Third Princess of Abetha."

His question startled Arlan and made him curious about why his friend was suddenly interested in a stranger. Even more curious, it was a lady to boost. But then again, knowing his friend's temperament since young, he realized it was actually nothing surprising.

This troublemaking friend of his, would his senses ever fail him to latch on to the things normal people would never even dare to take an interest in? Drayce was like a predator; the more you run, the more you hide things from him, the more he would pay special interest and would like to know more.

For him, it was more than a game. It was a hunt.

Arlan took a deep breath. "What about her? Well, she is a princess and the third daughter of King Armen."

"Are you going to stop acting ignorant, or do you want me to throw you out of this window?" Drayce raised a brow.

Arlan could see that he was serious and spoke quickly with raised hands, "Calm down, calm down. If you do that, so many young beautiful women out there who haven't even seen my handsome face yet will turn into widows. How cruel can you be? At the very least, let me meet them first, so they'll know this handsome me exists!"

Drayce frowned, "Lame joke!"

Red eyes gleaming, he then stepped towards Arlan with a look in his eyes that alarmed Arlan of his dangerous intention.

He was really going to throw him!

"Wait!Wait!"

Arlan stood up and turned defensive as he moved his body behind the chair, using it as his shield.

Drayce stopped, thinking it was enough to scare his friend, and now he would get all the answers he wanted.

However, a teasing smile painted on Arlan's lips. He didn't look scared at all.

"My dearest friend, I will give up my life for you if you really want it. But before you throw me out the window... I would like you to kiss me before I die. At least that way, my wandering soul can boast that I had kissed this continent's most dangerous and handsome man's virgin lips."

Drayce's face turned black, to the point his expression looked darker than the night outside.

"You can't be serious," Drayce exclaimed in annoyance.

"I am." Arlan smiled like a shy woman in love, but his eyes were laughing at his friend's murderous face. "It's my lifelong dream to be the first person to kiss the devil's son."

Since Arlan was still messing around with him, Drayce moved to get his sword that was kept in the sword stand close to the wall.

"To kiss me, you have to be a woman. First, let's convert you into a woman."

Drayce picked up the scabbard, pulled out the sword, and turned to Arlan with the tip pointed at him.

The sight scared Arlan, though he knew his friend wouldn't do it for real.

"Keep that sword back. No need to trouble it." Arlan moved away to get behind another chair, inevitably positioning a wooden table between them. The two friends were ready to move in a circle around the table.

Drayce didn't budge and stepped forward, holding the sword, ready to make a move. "You know, once it's out, my sword doesn't like to get back in its scabbard without tasting blood."

Drayce was no longer joking, and Arlan gulped. "Fine. I'll tell you about her. Now keep it back."

"I'll get to know it from someone else. I'm sure there are others who love their lives more than keeping information from me."

Involuntarily, Arlan's hands moved down to cover a certain part of his body where Drayce aimed to hurt.

"I sure love my life; now keep it back."

Drayce raised his sword, and Arlan closed his eyes. Afterward, he heard the sound of the sword piercing through the air and hitting something.

Arlan opened his eyes only to see the sword's sharp tip stuck on the wall. The sword's blade continued to vibrate for a while, and its sound made his skin at the back of his neck cold.

Drayce shrugged. "I told you, my sword won't get sheathed without tasting blood."

Arlan looked carefully at the wall and only then did he realize that pinned on the tapestry, there was a small wall lizard pierced in its stomach.

"You almost scared me." Arlan let out a sigh of relief but a pair of red eyes glared at him.

"Next time, I'll make sure to replace that lizard with your thing," Drayce warned as his sight moved downward along Arlan's body.