"I suppose our dinner is concluded. I must bid you all goodnight and take my leave," declared Adrain, rosing from his chair.
Lord Dekter and Danish rose from their seats, astonished by the duke's abrupt departure.
"Duke, jeopardizing our longstanding friendship over a mere orphan seems excessive."
Adrain who was already nearing the door, now facing Lord Dekter once more, "I am not the one who elevated a mere orphan to the forefront of our business discussion." The atmosphere crackled with tension, akin to two powerful entities preparing for a showdown.
"We are friends." Danish couldn't fathom why Adrian, for whom money was paramount, would abruptly abandon such a lucrative opportunity.
"Mr. Dekter, we were friends. I hate to waste my time on matters which could bring me loss." Adrian's gaze was boring into Danish with a venomous intensity.
"Is our friendship worth so little to you? Why would you not let me have Sirin?"
Adrian's anger even flared further at Danish's words, 'Let you have Sirin?'
He opted to deliver a final message before exiting the room.
"For the sake of our old friendship, I attempted to save you, your father and your empire from ruin."
"I will bring her here in this very mansion. I will even drag her down even if i have to."
Danish's declaration reverberated through the room, his words laden with an unmistakable sense of defiance.
Lord Dekter, looked at his son's with pride. He smirked, after all man from Dekter should be able to get it what ever they desire.
Without a single word, Adrian left and move forward towards in his car. As he sat in his car, his thoughts swirling as he contemplated the events of the evening.
The man he had seen smiling at Sirin, undoubtedly a member of Armageddon royalty. His attire and aura spoke of luxury. He had heard all too well the ruthlessness of Armageddon, once their sights were set on someone, they would stopped at nothing, even if it meant turning everything into ashes.
Adrian had to stop Dekter family to go after Sirin. If Danish and his father were to bring any harm to Sirin, their business prospects would be doomed, anyhow.
They would loose their power meddling with someone whose eyes are set on Sirin's. And no one would like to be associated with a ruined family. He hoped that Danish and his father would heed his warning.
He even despised the fact that Sirin had unwittingly become the catalyst for the dissolution of his friendship with Danish and the potential partnership with the Dekter family.
One troubling thought occupied Adrian's mind: if Danish had become so consumed and blinded by his desire for Sirin that he had lost sight of what truly mattered, what about his other friends?
After reaching the palace, he opted for a walk instead of going to his bed chamber, hoping to clear his mind of the troubling thoughts surrounding Sirin.
He made his way towards the dock, a serene spot he had created for moments of solitude, where he could indulge in fishing and swimming, seeking solace in the calming rhythm of the water.
As Adrian walked further, he observed Sirin walking towards his way, he couldn't help but notice the intensity of her contemplation.
Lost in her own thoughts, she walked with a determined stride, her gaze fixed on a distant point as if she were searching for answers in the far-off horizon.
A smirk tugged at Adrian's lips as he found irony in the situation—'a girl who inadvertently disrupted others peace of mind now consumed by her own inner musings.'
Adrian stood still, hands clasped behind his back, silently observing Sirin's carefree movements. She moved with a sense of freedom, unaware of his presence, lost in her own world.
In a moment of distraction, Sirin collided with Adrian's chest, a soft "ouch" escaping her lips.
Startled, she looked up, only to find herself locked in an unexpected moment of intimacy with Adrian.
The tranquil forest surrounded them, the gentle flow of the river nearby, as Adrian stood tall over her, Sirin, with her chin lifted, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange.
Adrian remained rooted in place, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with Sirin. When she softly questioned
"Why hadn't you moved away yet."
His brows furrowed slightly in response. "And why should I do that? Shouldn't you be the one who should be startled and take a step back? Isn't what usually a women do?"
Despite his assertive tone, Sirin held her ground, engaging in a silent contest of wills with him. They locked eyes in a silent battle, each waiting for the other to break the gaze.
With a mischievous smile, Sirin playfully remarked, "Duke, I've heard you're the most gentlemanly gentleman in all of Wismar."
His playful demeanor shifted as he challenged her further, "And what if i am not?"
Undeterred, Sirin maintained eye contact with a playful glint in her eyes, her smile taking on a mischievous edge. "That is only reserved for Juli to see, my duke," she replied coyly.
Adrian couldn't stop grinning at her response, his expression softened slightly, stepping back with a playful gesture. "After you, my lady," giving her way to proceed.
Sirin held a flash of victorious smile as she gracefully moved away.
Seeing her walking away, he called out her name "Sirin."
She paused in her steps, turning to look back at Adrian while wore a soft, tender smile on her lips, her eyes shining bright in the dark. In that moment, it was as if a scene from a timeless romance, replayed in Adrian's mind, like they had lived through before. Adrian couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu.
There was something about that flash out of nowhere played in front his eyes, like memories trying to push hard to come out. "Who are you, Sirin?" he wondered aloud.
But right that moment, he momentarily pushed aside his thoughts and conveyed a message to Sirin. "After sundown, curfew starts for you in the forest. I hope I won't see you out alone after dark."
Sirin's smile faded from her face, replaced by disappointment. "Why, Duke?"
"If you were to faint here alone, what do you think would happen?" Memories of Sirin's previous fainting spell, where she had attempted to undress herself in front of him in a half-conscious state, flashed through Adrian's mind.
He continued, his voice is now even more assertive, "You are not permitted to wander alone."
"I will follow everything you say," I replied, bowing respectfully like a lady. "However, be prepared to embark on a journey of love." With that, I bid farewell to the Duke.
Two days had already had passed, Sirin received another set of dress, a new clothing from the Duke's side. Crafted from a delicate fabric with a soft sheen, it exuded an air of effortless grace.
The one-piece dress boasted a modest yet stylish design, featuring a high neckline and long sleeves that provided coverage while still allowing for movement.
The fabric flowed gently over her figure, accentuating her slender frame. A subtle floral pattern adorned the fabric, adding a touch of femininity to the ensemble.
Overall, the dress was both practical and chic, perfectly suited for warm weather while maintaining a sense of sophistication. Sirin's face lit up with joy as she received the new work clothes.
Sirin adorned herself in the dress thoughtfully provided by the Duke as she made her way to his office, her steps infused with a sense of happiness.
Diligently, she attended to her tasks under the Duke's instructions, stealing glances at the clock intermittently.
"Miss Syrvoski, do you have any significant engagements scheduled for today?"
With a radiant smile as she mentioned a "very important appointment."
The Duke wondered, if it was something to do with that Armageddonian.
As the clock struck 4 pm, signaling the end of Sirin's duties, her smile widened.
She lingered in the Duke's office, her gaze was fixed on Adrian. He was engrossed in his work until he felt Sirin's gaze upon him.
Looking up, he met her bright smile and the intensity of her gaze. Noticing that she had not yet departed, he set down his pen beside the documents and leaned back in his chair, interlocking his fingers.
"Do you wish to say something?"
"Yes, Duke, it is time for love lessons," I declared with a smile.
Adrian realized that the smile on Sirin's face he saw before was for this matter and not for the man from Armageddon.
"What do I need to do?" with calm attitude he asked Sirin.
"Every day after 4 pm is our time," I explained. "And I wish for you to take it seriously. If you listen to me carefully, I will tell you about my childhood today."
Adrian furrowed his brow. "Why do I need to know about your childhood?"
"Patience is the key, Duke," I teased him,i knew he was curious to know about me, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.
"Let's start, Miss Syrvoski," Adrian began, ready to dive into the lessons.
However, I had a different idea to conduct our lessons.
"Here, you mean?" I questioned, glancing around the dull confines of the office.
"We must go to a place surrounded by beautiful scenery. Your work chamber is boring," I declared boldly, catching Adrian off guard.
Adrian was taken aback by Sirin's candid remark, studying her with curious eyes. "Where do you propose we go, then?" he asked, considering her suggestion for a moment.
I immediately proposed the place, The Rose garden.
However, the thought of visiting the Rose Garden for love lessons made him hesitant. If they were seen there, rumors would undoubtedly spread throughout the palace, potentially reaching even her mother and grandmother. Swiftly devising an alternative plan, he instructed Sirin to prepare the car.
"Miss Syrvoski, you drive. Our destination awaits us," Adrian decided, aiming to preserve their privacy. He rose from his seat, heading towards his waistcoat which hung behind his work table in the corner.
"Duke," I interjected firmly, "it's past 4 now, and I am not your employee but your girlfriend now. So call me Sirin."
'Girlfriend?' Adrian, who had just put on his waistcoat, turned to see Sirin with a look of confusion on his face.
He begrudgingly prepared to accompany Sirin for her "love lesson," a task he deemed a complete waste of his time. However, he knew he had to endure it until he uncovered her true identity.
I held the door of the car open for the Duke to enter, following the usual protocol for a driver. However, Adrian surprised me by opening the door for himself, the one next to the driver's seat. It is not easy to understand him.
He was impeccably dressed as always, a bright excitement lit up her face. Finally, I would take the first step towards bringing Duke and Juli closer together.
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