I walked back to my quarters, thoughts unraveling somewhere while my heart was refusing to slow down from what I had learned today. I had so many questions on my mind and didn't know how I would be able to dissect them.

However, one thing was as clear as crystal.

Lucretius knew me.

That one-night stand that happened between us hadn't been a chance. From the time he approached me in that tavern, the way he said that he was able to identify me as a soldier, there was no way that they were just a coincidence.

He must have known I was his nephew's mate. And yet, he offered me a night I could never forget.

Now, he would go so far as to play with me, test me, or even lure me to wherever it was.

Why? Was he testing my loyalty towards Redmund? Or was he aware that his nephew had been unloyal all this time and consoled me?

My hand tightened on the knob as I reached my door. I felt like, as of this moment, I was being watched by him, and I refused to look anywhere but at the doorknob. Even though using my wolf sense, I couldn't feel any presence in the hallway, but it felt otherwise.

As I pushed the door open, I was greeted by a faint fragrance of herbaceous and a subtle sweetness wafted in the air. Chills ran down my spine because that smell was familiar, and my eyes dropped on the small table by my bed.

My breath hitched seeing a single chrysanthemum. This time, the color was purple. Its petals gleamed from the dawn light, the stem looked like it was freshly cut, and on it, there was a note tied.

I immediately clenched my hands after locking the door. How on earth was he able to get into my quarters and always bestow me with my single flower with a different hidden color meaning?

Chrysanthemum was supposed to elevate my feelings because it was my favorite flower, but this stalker always made me feel like I must start to hate it.

"Lucretius..." His name sounded like a curse upon mentioning it.

Hesitant, my hand untied the ribbon to take the note. I must not be curious and should ignore this, but I couldn't help myself.

He had offered me vengeance. That was the last note. What else would he want from me this time? Was he expecting me to answer him?

'If you wish for vengeance, then come to the place where all secrecy first began. Tonight. Midnight.'

I slowly exhaled, holding the note tightly as if the words were engraved in my heart. It didn't escape me that the penmanship which really similar to Lucretius' recommendation letter.

I couldn't be wrong now. It was him. It was really him.

"Vengeance..." The word echoed in my head like a broken record.

I had already thought about this since morning. I had thought of approaching someone so I could execute it. And the first person that came to my mind was him.

Lucretius Xior Franciosa.

Should I be grateful that he was the one offering it?

Did he also hold some grudge towards his nephew? Was that the reason he was offering me this tempting proposal?

Must I grab this opportunity? I already had in my mind how he would be able to notice me. But it turned out, he was finding ways for me to draw closer to him.

If I had Redmund's uncle to be my ally, it would be favorable to me, and seeking vengeance against my former mate and my best friend would be easy for me.

Especially now that Lucretius asked Marlin to have the best tactical keeper to be his assistant, and choosing me was the best choice. Not only that, he was offering me vengeance.

Who was I to refuse that? I wanted the downfall of those two.

And it looked like fate was helping me to carry out the next mission I wanted to do in this life. If from my past reincarnations, I would accept my defeat from the betrayal I experienced, at this timeline, I was now offered choices to change the outcome from my past mistakes.

And it was Commander Lucretius who became the anomaly that would grant me a better outcome.

I stayed silent, my mind spinning. My heart was telling me that the stalker I was looking for was none other than Lucretius. I had all the evidence that would prove that it was the same person.

The penmanship was the strongest evidence, I must say.

I set the note down, taking a deep breath while not letting the parchment go. My hands were clammy at this moment, and my thoughts were nearly suffocating me.

Should I meet him? Should I confirm that it was really him? What if I get disappointed? No, I shouldn't be. My heart kept whispering his name, that it was really the culprit.

But should I allow myself to step into a lion's den, especially to a man like him who exuded an enigmatic, ruthless, commanding presence? What if my knees weakened the moment I met him? Knowing how well he was able to make me whimper from his touch, I felt like this was really dangerous for me.

But then, the vision of Redmund and Lilith flashed behind my eyes. Their scornful laughter. Their unforgivable betrayal. The aching rejection Redmund inflicted on me left a deep scar on my heart and my wolf.

My hands clenched as my nails were digging into my palm.

The anger and hatred started to blind my whole being.

No. I wouldn't let myself be broken this time. I must take this opportunity and change the outcome of my current timeline.

If Lucretius was truly offering vengeance... then I would hear him out.

I must meet him. I must confirm that this stalker and Lucretius were really the same person. Then, I would see how he would help me to exact my revenge against those people who had hurt me.

Tonight. Midnight.

Just like what was the note written. It was like a dark promise, whispering to me that I mustn't let go of this.

I reread the note and noticed the meaningful message in it. "The place where all secrecy first began..." I murmured, creasing my forehead.

Where could it be? The tavern? Hmm... I don't think that was even possible. The note said that it should be tonight, but the tavern was far from the camp.

I caressed my chin, thinking about it carefully. Eureka! I straightened my back when I knew what this note was trying to mean.

By the time midnight had come, I had made my decision to really meet him without using any cloak to cover myself. I quietly left my quarters and went to the old garden, located at the outskirts of the camp, as stealthily as possible.

I understood what the note said. It meant that it was the old garden where Redmund and I had been secretly seeing each other for the whole year and where, in the end, our mate bond had shattered.

I never wanted to step here ever again, but for the sake of curiosity, I would let myself be here one more time.

My pulse quickened when I saw a familiar, tall figure with short, neat brunette hair, leaning against a fractured column, taking my breath away upon confirming my hunch.

Commander Lucretius... It was really him...

My heart whispered the confirmation. My feet slowed down from walking as his gaze scrutinized me up and down with a hint of amusement, and his upper lip curled into a lopsided smile when I was finally in front of him.

"You came..." he said at last, his voice low, carrying that confidence as if he knew well that I would come to see him. "...Lady Euphyllia."

I pursed my lips into a thin line. The bitterness of his airhead attitude started to piss me off. It was the same in the tavern when I met him.

"So, you are that stalker..." I stared into his hazel eyes, but it felt like I invited myself to the abyss from looking at their beauty under the moonlight. "...who kept sending me chrysanthemums and cryptic notes. Your penmanship... It's the same as your recommendation letter."

I didn't beat around the bush. Why should I? I wanted to spout those words as soon as I saw him.

Lucretius slightly tilted his head, looking beguiled at my conclusion. "Consider me as a poetic admirer of yours, my little soldier." He dramatically inclined his head, his hand resting on his chest.

I gasped upon hearing that endearment. My little soldier... Those words echoed before creasing my forehead.

Poetic admirer? What a good way to sugarcoat being a stalker!

"You are well aware who I am, aren't you? To think that you called me that, it means..."

"Of course, I remember the night I had taken you and made you scream my name from ecstasy," he connected my words with an impish smile.

I looked at him, horrified. Right now, I wanted to run. I knew it! He remembered me!

I lurched back a step, my lips parting in shock. "So you admit it... How did you know me? Don't even lie to me that it's because I am also working here. As far as I know, we barely even cross paths." His smile widened. "You could have only known me because you found out that I was your nephew's mate," I stated earnestly. "For how long did you know?"

"As expected, you are really smart." Lucretius inhaled, clicking his tongue as if he was having fun. "You're looking at me so coldly, and I like how you are giving me that look. So feisty..." His words sent chills down my spine. He sounded like he was having ecstasy at my behavior as his mischief eyes lowered on my lips. "To answer your question, my nephew isn't good at hiding things from me, especially if I, as his uncle, know that a slight change in his behavior would be enough for me to suspect anything."

"So, you had someone follow him and had me investigated?" I concluded, being more cautious with my words.

He was a frightening opponent. One wrong move, and he would suspect anything.

So, this was how frightening he was...

"I am curious as to why my idiotic nephew let his mate, who has beauty and brain, be kept hidden from the world," he remarked, caressing his chin before eyeing me up and down. "If I were him, I would flaunt to the world that I have you as my mate and mark her as mine." His lips stretched out a smile as he gazed at me meaningfully. "Oh, of course. I already branded what I wanted."

A ticklish feeling pinched my insides. This man... He really knew how to sweep a woman off her feet.

And why did my wolf, who was still heartbroken from the rejection, suddenly squirm at his words? We shouldn't feel this way! This man wasn't even our mate!

"Enough of your charades." My fists trembled at my sides. "What do you really want from me? Why go through all this—these notes, these flowers? Even sending the recommendation letter to my senior? To toy with me? To rub salt in my wounds? To prove that I am not really fitted to Redmund?"

Frustration burned me. The pain of the rejection was etched on my chest, and what I really hated right now was being toyed with by someone again.

His gaze intensely pierced me. "No. I want your fire. Your hatred. Your body. Your soul. Your loyalty." He leaned closer, his husky voice shuddered me. "Everything you are, Euphyllia Ivara Ruinart."

I inhaled sharply, looking at him in disbelief. The garden that was used to be blatant because of the crickets had revolved into being too quiet and too suffocating.

What the hell was he saying? Was he in his right mind right now?

"Y-You want me... in exchange for helping me for vengeance?" I parroted, confirming what I just heard.

"Marriage."

"Huh? What?" My lips parted, couldn't believe what he said. "Marriage...? You can't be serious."

Damn it! This man wasn't taking me seriously! If I only knew—

"Think about it." His eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was a hint of sobriety. "You'll have my name, my protection, my power. In return..." he paused, his knuckles brushed along my jaw before tilting my chin up, which made my body shiver. "...I'll have your body, your soul, and your vow that you'll belong to no one but me."

I swallowed hard. A warning bell was ringing in my head, telling me to pull away and slap him from the closeness of our faces. His intoxicating scent was making me feel delirious, and there was no way that I could give in to his enticing touch.

His irresistible offer...

There was no way that I would sell myself to him just because of the vengeance. Was there any other way to exact my revenge? Or was he the only option?

However, the faces of Redmund and Lilith bombarded my mind. With the help of this place, it made me recall their mocking words and laughter, and how they discarded me like I was just nothing to their lives.

Their betrayal... I would never forgive them!

Because of my rage, the hesitation I was feeling was suddenly buried six feet below the ground.

"What if I refuse?" I challenged, thanking myself that I was able to analyze everything.

His grin deepened. He was looking at me confidently and menacingly. "I am one hundred percent certain that you won't." He bent his upper body until his lips grazed my ear. "Because you crave vengeance so badly as much as I crave you. And only I can give you both, my little soldier."

I instinctively closed my eyes, feeling like I was brought back to the inn where he brought me to give me a night of pleasure. My chest rose and fell as I was torn between disquiet and desire, fury and temptation.

Oh, dear Moon Goddess... This man could make my knees weak with just a hoarse whisper...

No wonder I gave in that night. It was hard to refuse him!

I immediately pinched myself to wake up, and took a few steps to distance myself. If I didn't do that, I felt like any moment, I would be melting in his arms without fail.

Meeting his eyes, I composed myself, showing him that his touch wasn't affecting me. "Fine. I'll marry you. But I'll use you, Lucretius. I'll use you until I am satisfied with their downfall."

If he offered me this, I must grab the opportunity. I must let Redmund and Lilith taste their own medicine.

His thumb sensually stroked my lower lip. "Then, we understand each other. Shall we seal our deal with a kiss then? I am dying to taste your sweet lips again."

Before I could even react, Lucretius' lips slammed into mine.