Luther wanted to provoke the young Marquis and eagerly anticipated a fight, but Simon ignored his provocation and left him dumbfounded.

"........."

"I doubt her Majesty will approve of your behavior, so please behave decently."

Simon will not pay attention to Viscount Monchy's vexation, he will not give him the satisfaction to sate his rage.

"Common leaving just like that? Why are the northern men acting so formal? Just consider how the Duke of Astrid humiliated you."

Simon turns around and clutch the viscount collar. This time, he lost patience and came dangerously close to punching himself.

"Yes, little Marquis, show your rage and don't hide it. Be angry to the person who stole your precious person".

Luther adds fuel to the fire by persuading him to despise the Duke. Simon loosened his collar and scoffed at his claim. The annoying Viscount then followed him as he left the palace.

"Ha ha ha! You are not funny. Common, let's go to the pub to celebrate my sister's succession".

Simon just let the Viscount tagged along with him and he think that he was right. They must drink to drown their sorrows and frustration.

Luther snicker inwardly for he found a chess piece to annoy the Duke of Astrid.

Meanwhile, Sir William whispered an information to Sebastian. Sebastian grins and motions for his elite shadow guard to be dispatched.

William understood the rage of his master for he was never in a disadvantage position in his enter life. Sebastian Astrid is the master puppeteer of Kratoryah. He can influence the outcome of political power in the empire and neighboring kingdoms.

'Those fools vying for her attention and setting me up to be the villain. Hah! Should I set up a web to trap them inside of it?

Sebastian watched the ignorant fools struggling to get a glimpse of his property. His only disadvantage was he met the 'new' Rachel later than that bastard little Marquis. While he was fighting for the war in the east, that lucky bastard monopolizes all her attention. He will not forget how the sneaky pat on her head made him appear to be showing a brotherly devotion. A despicable sleaze who pretended to be her brother.

(excerpt: boi Sebastian calm down 😅)

So, when he thinks back to that day, he wanted to hack him into pieces and feed his despicable body to the monsters.

What disgust him the most was that fool took advantage of her kindness and led him to believe that Rachel would one day, out of sympathy, return his affections. His little precious person is oblivious of the trap that fool had set up for her.

While reflecting, Sebastian saw that Rachel left the banquet with her ladies in waiting. He then went after to see how she was doing because she seems to be exhausted.

Rachel went to the private salon to take a break after leaving the banquet. She wanted to be left alone since she was getting tired of the royal etiquette greetings, being accompanied by her ladies, and constantly being watched.

As her anxiety started to kick in, she told her ladies in waiting to wait outside of the salon. She finally slumps her back and takes off her heels to relax her feet.

The door opens and Sebastian approached her side. When he noticed that she had taken off her shoes, he simply smiled.

"Does it hurt?" He then kneels on the ground and checks her feet.

Rachel shakes her head and begs him to rise on his feet. "My feet are well, Your Majesty, I just need to relax, so please rise."

She could never have imagined Sebastian would do something out of his character.

Sebastian gives her a head pat and scoops her up in his arms as he sits, placing her on his lap, "If you feel uncomfortable, don't force yourself".

She nods at him obediently. Sebastian kissed her hair and whisper, "I prepared a lingerie for you. I want you to wear it later".

Out of embarrassment, Rachel hides her face in his chest. 'Oh no, his slowly showing his kink side but why I feel excited about it?'.

Sebastian playfully sucks her tongue as though he wants to swallow it all. He then licked her lips to end the sensual kiss.

"Don't fall asleep, wait for me". After that, he lets her go from his arms and slaps her behind.

"Ack, Sebastian!". Although Rachel protested, he found her protests to be too seductive.

"Ha ha", he gives her a wink and walks out of the room.

Rachel's heart is thumping so loudly. She at last conceded that her favorite character is hot.

She gently slapped her face to reduce her flushed.

----------∞∞∞--------

Author's note: Sebastian's POV of Simon's unrequited love is funny and partially true. Both are obsessed and use their own methods to trap the flower. LOL