The birthday ball ended soon after the Princess' dance with the outsider, with the King claiming to be tired and no other events to hold. The nobles went home hastily, impatient to cook up stories concerning the events that occurred today. They had heard much and seen much to know that the days of peace for the royal family were eventually coming to an end, and that was enough news to overturn the kingdom. Hell! It was enough to overturn the whole Southern Region. Back at the royal castle, Ely had returned to her chambers, and her father and brother did the same. She was mentally exhausted and, apart from needing a moment of reprieve, she needed to think about some things. The words the Duke spoke replayed in her mind. "I. Want. You!" The words sounded like a declaration of love, but she knew it was not love he was declaring but his will to... to own her. And that was what disturbed her. The Duke was wise to know the consequences of telling her that, but he still did. If so, what did he mean? In the process of settling her thoughts and finding answers, she heard a knock on the door, and without thinking it over, she responded in the affirmative. The knob clicked, and the door opened, a pair of long legs entered her visage, and with a scowl, she raised her head to look at the person. She saw a handsome face towering over her with that annoying smirk plastered on his face. "Hello, Ely." His voice echoed into her ears. "What are you doing in my room, Duke Silveria?" "A greeting would have been appreciated or a "how are you" would have been much better, Princess. Anyway, I thought you would have been done figuring things out by yourself so I came for an answer." He responded and without authorization, he made himself comfortable on the couch. Ely stared at him with her mouth open, and she scoffed. She shifted on the bed to get a good view of this indefatigable man. She never knew he was this stubborn and annoying. 'I should have left the castle that day.' Ely rubbed her forehead. It may look like she wasn't on guard, but she was, and if the Duke dared to try anything funny, he would be in for a world of pain. "So Ely, what is your answer? Are you going to leave with me or..." He tilted his head and stared at her, his black eyes peering into hers. "Stop jesting, Duke. I have tolerated you for too long, but it seems you have taken my silence for weakness. Leave my room, and I will pretend we never had this conversation." Ely stated with a fed-up tone. She walked towards the door and gestured to it, indicating for him to leave. Her face contorted into a scowl. No male had ever entered her room, apart from her family, so she didn't take it kindly that another male had entered, and this male wanted to even own her. Silveria stared at her, amused. "I don't jest, Ely, and I am really interested in you." He responded, further crossing his legs, opposing her earlier intention of wanting him out of her room. Ely's frown deepened considerably, and a subtle hint of killing intent permeated the room. Now, all the ideas and notions she built for this man had come tumbling down, and she was irked beyond reason. "Duke Silveria, a wise man knows when to retreat, and I believe you are wise." Her voice was as cold as ice, and her eyes took on a murderous light, but in all these, Silveria merely smiled and nodded in satisfaction once again. He stood up and walked over to Ely while the latter discreetly held the tip of her dagger. He towered over her and stared into her eyes, and for the first time since she saw him, his expression became serious. "Are you threatening me, Ely? If you are, then forget it. I have battled death to a draw and tore his clothes as evidence, and how do you expect the world to exist without me? I am the devil, for crying out loud." His tone was solemn, and his voice was calm without the playful tone. Too calm for Ely's liking. It sounded like a god's declaration. It was too absolute for her to refute any of his words. She just stood there, dumbstruck. Suddenly, his serious expression vanished, and he smiled once more, much to Ely's relief. "Ely, let me tell you a secret..." He moved closer to her and whispered some words into her ears while his smirk became much more mischievous. Ely's frown worsened during his talks, and she almost stabbed him. "Don't talk about..." Her hands were held in his large ones and raged like a storm. "Let's not talk about it now, Ely." He chuckled and opened the doorknob. "Oh! And I always get what I want, Ely. It may not be now or tomorrow or the near future, but it always falls to my feet.
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