“I’m your fiancée. Aria Marcellus.”

Aria looked up at him, hoping to catch a reaction from him, but he didn’t say anything. Not even a movement from him. He just stared back at her, as if what she said had no effect on him.

Aria coughed slightly at the awkward silence.

“I didn’t follow you, nor did anybody make me…we simply met by accident the first time, and again tonight.” 

“…”

“Really, it’s true. The first time I visited the imperial palace was the day we met in the white rose garden. My father told us you were sick in bed, and that’s why we couldn’t meet formally.” 

Aria felt her cheeks turning hot. “I-I would like to apologize for that day. I didn’t mean to disturb you, and also…s-slap you.”

“No.”

“Huh?” Aria looked at him again.

“You didn’t disturb me.” 

Aria studied his face again, and again it was devoid of any expression. Does that mean he forgave her? Aria sighed in relief, and any thought of her family turning into ruin was erased immediately. Aria was glad she revealed herself, and maybe he’ll become for friendly with her…

“And what you did that night, was nothing.”

“T-thank you, your highness.” Aria said happily, “Although our engagement is yet to be announced, m-my parents wanted us to meet prior to marriage. And even if meeting like this was not something that was anticipated, I-I hope we can get a long, and get to know each other better...”

Aria blushed slightly at her words, but still managed to make eye contact with him. His eyes looked like diamonds against in the moonlight, and yet, they were so eerie that it sent shivers down her spine. Her hot cheeks soon turned cold.

“My fiancée…” he whispered under his breath. 

“Your highness?” 

Aria could feel the burning sensation on her ankles slowly disappearing, and she could finally get up now. Aria brushed off the dirt on her dress, and suddenly paused when she saw his large hand in her view. 

***

“Y-Your highness…” 

Lucien grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. 

Fiancée…

He almost laughed when she claimed to be his fiancée. And then almost laughed again when he realized she had mistaken him for his older brother, Julian Augustus, the actual crown prince. 

And yet…his grip on her waist tightened. He did not want to let her go. 

“You shouldn’t reveal yourself so openly.” He whispered in a low voice. He could feel Aria’s body froze in an instant, and that made him want to laugh again. “If I was a bad gentleman…who knows what I could have done to you with that information.” 

“B-But you didn’t.” Aria said immediately, almost in a hurry to deny that. Lucien grinned and moved closer. Aria seemed to notice his changed behavior, and immediately tried to twist her way out of his grasp.

“Y-you’re my fiancé, so you wouldn’t do anything to me…right?” Aria hesitantly asked him and tried to laugh off her nervousness. Lucien stared at her bare neck, and to her shoulders. The sight of her pale skin, and trembling body made him want to tease her more. But he should stop now. Anymore, and he might end up leaving a regretful mark on her.

“I can’t promise you anything…but let me warn you…”

Lucien let her go. 

“You wouldn’t be alive right now if you were really my fiancée.” He warned her, and slowly swept a piece of her platinum blond hair off her face. “It’s too bad…really.” 

Aria’s eyes widen, as Lucien’s hands left her cold again. It was a different feeling than before. Unlike feeling like he was teasing her; it was a definitely threat. He gently put the strand of hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek. 

A little longer. Just little more…

Lucien suddenly pulled her face towards him, as she struggled to get away from him. Even he was surprised by his sudden aggression. He wanted to hurt her. In the most painful way as possible. 

The sight of Aria struggling under him was satisfying. The way her platinum hair sway in the air as she thrust her face back and forth sent a strange sensation through his body. He wanted…to see more. More of her…like this.

Lucien slowly inserted the tip of his thumb in her mouth…and pushed…

“Y-Your highness!” Aria screamed, “Please stop teasing me!” 

Lucien paused. 

She thinks I’m teasing her?

“Even if we are to be engaged, there is a time and place for s-such things!” she said again, in a pleading voice, “P-Please let me go. I need to go home, your highness...”

Lucien sighed heavily. 

She’s so unsatisfying… 

***

Aria finally made it onto the carriage and rode back to the meeting spot she planned to meet up with Lizzy, and they both rode back to the Marcellus estate. It was still dark out, so they both managed to snuck back in, and Aria was finally in her warm bed. 

Aria rubbed her lips continuously, the spot where his thumb reach was still burning hot. If she had not plead with him to let her go, he would have continued to tease her until she cried. Even if he was the crown prince, he should at least know some manners. And some patience. 

Aria pulled her covers over her head.

But still…how could he do something so intimate like that…?

Her cheeks flushed red at the thought of him again. She kept reminding herself that he was her betrothed, and to stop worrying about what happened…but somehow she could not stop herself. 

She hoped to see him again.

***

*Spurrt

Blood flowed endlessly from the tangled-up body as Lucien pulled his fist out of its chest. The sight of bloodied bodies was a normal occurrence during his nights. However, tonight these bodies belonged to his knights. 

After catching sight of Aria at the holy temple where Lucien was conducting his business, he lost control of two knights. The knights mistakenly let out their aura and spooked her. Not only that, after leaving the temple, they immediately chased after the maid and Aria, and made of mess of things. 

Fortunately, Bradley was able to subdue one knight before he killed the poor maid. And the other knight hid himself after Lucien caught up to Aria. He must have realized Lucien was familiar with the lady, and held back; however, that was not enough for Lucien.

A mistake like this must be dealt with.

Lucien threw the lifeless body to the ground and wiped his bloodied hand on his black jacket. 

“I’m still not satisfied…” Lucien said under his breath. 

Bradley who was a few steps away from him stepped forward, “If you need bodies, there’s the…”

“No.” Lucien interrupted and bent down to grab his fallen sword that was covered in blood. “It’ll be enough for today. Anymore than this, and I might do something regretful.”

Bradley simply nodded, “Yes, your highness.”

Lucien paused, and called out to Bradley before he left.

“Someone confirmed my older brother is unwell. Can you look into that and see if the disappearances of holy priests is in connection to that?” Lucien put his sword back onto his side, and slightly frown. “And find me more information about this lady, Aria Marcellus.” 

“Yes, your highness.”

“That lady is the daughter of my mother’s enemy, and the one who tried to kill me before I was even born. I need all and any details relating to her life...”

Lucien faintly smiled, “And also find me the details of her engagement to my brother.”

After assigning his tasks to Bradley, Lucien went back to his temporary palace, the Violet Palace located at the very end of the imperial palace. It was a palace gifted by his mother, so it was not extravagant as the Red Rose Palace, but still as beautiful and comfortable. Once he completes his military assignment in the North, he will gain further recognition and be gifted a better palace by the emperor. Lucien has been working endlessly to gain any favors from the emperor, but it was hard. It was not until news broke out about the diabolicals gathering up in the North that allowed Lucien to display his newly acquired powers.

The emperor was so stunned at the news that he ordered Lucien to visit him and be tested by the holy priests for holy powers. Fortunately, his holy powers were determined to be real and powerful that the emperor immediately assigned him to lead the fight against the diabolicals in the North.

“Everything is so unsatisfying…” Lucien sighed and dipped his body into hot bath. Hot water overflowed, and splashed about as Lucien settled in. “Agh…” Lucien’s body twitched. His muscles clenched and tightened as he tried to relax; however, the unhealed wounds on his back stung as the hot water reached them. He closed his eyes and forced the pain to subside mentally. 

Eventually he relaxed, and his breathing became normal.

Lucien leaned his head back, as bits of his red hair stuck to his face, and a few dangled over the ridge of the bathtub. Because of his open wounds, he hated his baths, but today he had to wash off all the blood on his body.

And get rid of the most unsatisfying thing he had to deal with tonight.

“Aria…”