"Spying again? I thought it's not your hobby?" Someone declared out of the blue.

My whole being flinched from hearing it so close by, it even almost made me let out a shriek. I was so shocked that I felt like my soul left my body for a second. Who the hell would just pop out like a ghost? Are they trying to scare me off of my wits?

My head automatically turned to the side to see the owner of that overly familiar voice. I got a bad premonition of who it was already.

I mean, who in this vast green land calls me a stalker other than that one particular perverted person?

And sure enough, it was Lukas. I whirled around only to see his smug face appearing in my line of sight.

"Why are you here?" I couldn't help but ask, slightly curious as well.

Lukas cocked his head to the side, "What? Am I not allowed in the Capital?"

He leaned closer, too close for comfort. Can this man ever learn a thing about personal spaces?

"That's not what I meant! Why are you behind me?" I fired back.

"I'm not behind you," was his deadpanned reply.

"Ugh. Why must he be such a sarcastic bastard..." I muttered underneath my breath, face scrunching from annoyance.

Was he like this in the novel as well?

"I can hear you," Lukas countered.

Ignoring the absurd man, I glanced at Estelle again and found her talking to the owner of the fruit stand this time. She was also hugging a paper bag, probably filled with fruits she bought and had seemed so cheery.

Good. She still didn't leave.

My eyes then went back to Lukas again whom I caught staring down at me. It made me flinch when I met his sharp eyes that seemed to see right through me.

"W-What?" I squeaked out. I then cleared my throat– "Why are you always popping out everywhere?"

"I could say the same thing to you," he countered.

"Wha– For your information, you are always the one who just comes out of nowhere and disturbs my peace. I had never planned to run into you, ever!" I immediately responded which made me sound hella guilty and it pissed me off just as instant.

His purple eyes glinted in the light, obviously showing that he was about to say the darndest thing that will possibly rile me up. He likes provoking me after all.

"Hmm... But I seemed to remember seeing you in front of my manor though? Let's see, it was because you're returning something at that time..." He uttered, all the while acting as if he was deeply thinking about it.

Ah. That episode about the name tag... Now that I think of it, it was definitely unnecessary to return such a small insignificant thing as that... Well, to be honest, I came for another reason anyway.

"That was an exception. I didn't know you live there! I came to meet the von Brandt's, not you!" I replied, saving myself from disgrace.

"The von Brandt's you say..." He muttered before smirking– "I'm a von Brandt, you know."

I blinked upon hearing him say that.

"Huh? Aren't you an Agera?"

Wasn't he the Duke of Agera? So naturally, he should be Lukas Agera, right? Or at least, his surname should be Agera for him to inherit the title. Is he saying that he's also a von Brandt? Maybe, his mother's side?

Lukas didn't say anything and just smiled. If what he did is considered a smile at all. It's more like a leer... or something like that. You know, like a cat, but not a cat. He looked more like a snake in my eyes though...

But yeah, his smile looks so devilish that it sent shivers down my spine. It's truly dangerous! Dangerously sexy– ahem. I didn't say anything.

My eyes squinted upward as I studied him up close. The sun was hitting him just right in his face but he doesn't seem to mind it. It's almost as if he didn't feel it at all. More so, it only highlighted his profile even more than it should.

His tanned skin sheened like gold, almost as if he's an expensive bronze statue rather than an actual human being that breathes oxygen like us. He was wearing a white long-sleeve top and instead of buttons, there was only a ribbon that held the front side together. What's more vexing is that it was tied loosely so I could freely notice his tanned chest that is exposed for the world to see.

The loose clothes showed a lot. Like a LOT. It's too much for my poor eyes.

I could even see the swirly ink peeking through the right part of his body, traveling upwards the side of his neck, and curling under his ear. It was strangely fascinating how beautiful it was and if I'm not already losing my mind, I could perceive that the ink seemed to be alive or something.

I was most definitely ogling this fine specimen in front of me. It doesn't help when he's that good-looking either! Truly a sight for sore eyes.

When I got aware of that, I immediately focused my eyes on his face instead, all the while turning as red as the apple that Estelle was holding earlier because of embarrassment.

Welp, looking at his face didn't help me much either. In retrospect, it just completed the whole package, you know. I would blink and the same stunning vision greeted me. Nothing had changed even when I rubbed them a few times.

I didn't get to appreciate it enough during that night of the Founding Ball for it was dark as hell and I was too panicky to look at him properly. But yeah, he really is a beautiful man.

Lukas is not your typical handsome fella like Ezekiel who appears as bright as the sun. He's more hmm... rogue looking? Like a wolf? Or a snake? Yep, combine those two and you'll get this as a result.

His dark inky hair hung loosely on top of his head, almost covering his eyes entirely, and had made me wonder if he could actually still see. I vaguely recalled what he looked like when it was brushed up and mentally slapped myself from getting carried away.

He's even more handsome with brushed-up hair, what the heck.

His eyes suddenly slid down and held mine, giving me another mini heart attack. I instantly averted my gaze from him, feeling guilty that I got caught staring at his glorious face.

"What?" He then asked afterward.

"Nothing. I'm just still wondering why you're here, that's all," I mumbled, pretending that I wasn't ogling him a while ago.

"I am patrolling around the capital to arrest suspicious people," he answered and leaned forward again– "Should I arrest you?"

"Why me?" I immediately blurted out.

"Because you're suspicious," was his straight-up answer, not even trying to sugarcoat it.

This man!

He then straightened his back–"Who's poor soul is it this time?" and stepped forward to scan the crowd in front of us.

I quickly grabbed him by his arm and tugged hard, pulling him back behind the wall with me.

"Sssshhh! Hide! Do you want to be busted?" I hissed through my teeth, feeling resentful.

What if Estelle noticed us, huh?

Lukas scoffed, "So you really were stalking someone..."

"It's none of your business! And I am not stalking anyone!" I cried out in defense.

He lifted his left brow, seemingly not believing what I just said.

"Then what are you doing?"

"I'm merely observing..." I grumbled.

"Observing... You mean, stalking," Lukas pointed out.

My eyes snapped towards him, "I told you I am not a stalker!"

It's as if he just noticed it and so he stared at the hand which was holding him, humming to himself.

"There's something new with you today," he muttered.

I got aware that he was staring at me again with all seriousness this time. Gone the playful him from earlier. My cheeks felt hot all of a sudden and I had the urge of slapping my hand over his eyes so he could stop doing that.

"What? What's new with me?" I asked in curiosity.

I mean, why did he suddenly change his mood?

Lukas narrowed his eyes and got closer, so close that I was practically rearing my head backward. And it's very uncomfortable, by the way.

"You seem to exude more energy than usual."

"Energy?"

What energy? I'm sorry, what? I am so confused.

Lukas nodded, "It's much stronger today that's why I immediately found you here. It's leaking like crazy," he added.

"What are you saying?" I couldn't help but mutter.

L-leaking? What is leaking? Why must he say things that don't make any sense?

"Hmm..." Lukas then raised one of his hands, had bit the tip of his glove's index finger, and pulled, swiftly removing it off in one fluid motion.

I must say that it certainly looked cool but just a second, please...

Why did he remove his glove? What is he going to do?!