"Hmm….hm….hmm…." Alexios hummed as he walked along a dark hallway. "Man, it's a bit colder today," he mumbled out loud as he rubbed his arms, feeling a little chilly. His shoulder-length golden hair fell onto his fur overcoat, draping over his black shirt. Yet, he still shivered, feeling the bone-chilling cold penetrate through his clothes."Damn!" he cursed out loud, glaring at his surroundings. The hallways were made out of dark black stone that absorbed the little sunlight it got. Torches were lit high in the ceiling; their heat froze before it could reach him. 'How much time has it been?' Alexios wondered inwardly, 'A year, perhaps?'It has been almost a year since he moved here. 'No! No, no, no! I didn't move here; I was forced to move!'….Right! It has been a year since Alexios was forced to move here. He came from a prestigious duke clan, with his father being the Duke himself. But unfortunately, Alexios was the fourth son of the Duke. He didn't have the chance to claim the title for himself. SIGHAlexis sighed to himself, 'And my old man tried to send me away… by marrying me off!'And his older brother—'Hey! He's no brother of mine! That bastard hated me!'…..fine, the heir to the dukedom then suggested he be married off to a countess's clan, a powerful clan that resides on the edges of the empire. Far from the capital, guarding the snowy mountains.And that's how Alexios ended up here, stranded, all alone in a foreign place, with people so cold, colder than the snow on the mountain peaks—'Hey! Why the fuck are you making me look like a miserable wimp!? I am happy here! And my wife, the future countess, loves me a lot!'Alexios's lips then curled into a wide grin while his golden eyes glinted as he mumbled inwardly, 'And I like the current countess too…'….GrossAnyways, as Alexios was walking down the hallway, turning to his right and left every now and then, he realised something, "Fuck! I'm lost!"His face twisted in annoyance as his eyes glared at the walls of the castle, "Fuck! Whoever built this place, I swear I'll fucking kill you!" GRITHe gritted his teeth as he tried to make sense of where he was, "Who the fuck builds a castle like a maze!? It's like my hundredth time getting lost in these halls! What am I, a fucking child?"He then continued walking, all while cursing the people who designed this place, but no matter what he did and which turn he took, he couldn't figure out where he was until."Young master, Alexios." A voice came from behind, startling Alexios. His body jerked in reaction, jumping forward as he turned around to see a woman in a maid's uniform.The woman appeared to be in her 30s; her black hair was neatly tied into a professional bun while her hazel eyes stared at him. Her skin was smooth and without blemishes, its colour almost as pale as snow."Ah, Helena! It's you!" Alexios exclaimed in relief, looking at the maid who had put a blank expression on her face; he pouted a little as he complained in a low voice, "You startled me there!"But the maid didn't reply immediately while her expression remained the same before she questioned, "What were you doing here, Young Master?""Mm?" Alexios mumbled, his pout disappearing, replaced by a faint blush on his cheeks, "You see, I wanted to take a stroll and was walking along the hallways when I was—""---Lost!" The maid cut him off and finished his words, while her expression changed for the first time. Her eyes glinted in amusement while her lips curled ever so slightly, twitching as she suppressed her urge to smile.But she reverted to her blank expression a moment later and looked at Alexios, whose shoulders dropped in slight embarrassment."The young miss and the mistress are waiting for you for breakfast, young master." She informed. "Really!?" he exclaimed, almost instantly, his expression brightening. He walked over to Helena, his golden eyes almost flickering like twin suns. "Then, will my guiding angel please show me the way to the dining room?" BADUMPHelena's heart thumped in reaction; her pale skin began to turn red while her hazel eyes trembled. She immediately snapped around, turning her back to him, "F-Follow me," she stuttered, placing her hand on her raging heart. Alexios smirked behind her, 'Girl, you're too young to tease me!' He mumbled inwardly.Soon the two moved; Helena guided Alexios through the intricate hallways while Alexios followed like a duck. And as they walked, Alexios suddenly asked, "Helena, do you have anyone you like?" The maid halted in her steps, snapping her head towards him, her eyes staring into his. "Why do you ask, young master?"But Alexios didn't answer; instead, a sly smirk bloomed on his face as he replied, "So you do like someone." Her face turned red once more as she turned around, avoiding looking at him, "I-I do—"She was about to refuse, but words got stuck in her mouth when she felt two arms wrapping around her waist from behind. "Who is it, my maid?" Alexios whispered in her ear, his voice smooth, almost dreamy. SHIVERAn electric jolt passed through her spine. She bit her lip, trying to calm herself down while her ample chest heaved up and down."I-I…" She tried to refuse, but no words came from her mouth. The smirk on Alexios's face widened while he grazed his nose against her ear, "Is it someone in the castle?" He whispered. He lifted one of his hands from her waist while the other hand moved up, sliding against her dress. "Ahhh~" a low moan escaped Helena's lips as she tried desperately not to but failed. Alexios's hand moved up further, lingering just below her bosom. "Is it someone I know?" BADUMP BADUMP BADUMPHer heart was now pounding against her chest while her entire face turned beet red. "Y-Young…." She wanted to warn Alexios that someone might see them, but her mind wasn't focused; it only cared about the hand resting just below her boob, its fingers grazing her chest. She wanted it; she tried to suppress it, but no. She wanted it; she wanted Alexios to caress her!Alexios's eyes glinted as he watched her reaction; his smirk widened into a grin as he moved his hand once more. Helena felt a wave of pleasure assault her body as Alexios's hand slid up her breast, his palm cupping it, "....Or is it me?" BADUMPHelena bit her lips hard, her eyes turned cloudy while her legs felt weak. CHUCKLEAlexios chuckled at her as he turned her around, his hand still on her chest. "Tell me, my dear Helena," he whispered once more, raising her chin up, causing her to look at him with dreamy eyes. He leaned in closer, his lips grazing against hers as he asked, "Do you like me?" Helena gazed at Alexios, his golden hair, his cocky smirk, and his two golden eyes that shone brightly like the sun; she was captivated. She didn't answer him, but closed her eyes instead, waiting for him to kiss her, waiting for them to connect with each other, butThe kiss never came; instead, she felt his hands leave her body. Helena's eyes snapped open, her expression contorted into a frown as she looked around, searching for Alexios, but he was nowhere in front of her. Just then, she heard his voice from behind saying, "What are you doing over there, my dear maid?" He asked with a big toothy grin plastered on his face, "Let's go!" A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes as she tilted her head, not knowing what had happened until realisation dawned upon her. Her eyes turned red with anger as she gritted her teeth, glaring at him. HMPHShe snorted at him, stomping her feet before she strode past him, her pace faster than before, "Bully!" CHUCKLEAlexios chuckled at her, his eyes gleamed as he mumbled, "Cute." sick bastard!'Hey, shut the fuck up!'He then followed her, but this time he kept silent and followed a little behind. Soon, they reached their destination. Helena was standing in front of a large black door, etched with intricate designs of flowers and plants found in the region. Alexios looked at Helena; her face was still red and her eyes were glaring at him as she ground her teeth. A smile bloomed on his face as he watched his maid; he walked towards her but halted a few steps from her, "My dear maid, I still have to cross twenty." Helena frowned at his words, not understanding what he meant, but her eyes soon widened as she finally understood. She then turned towards him, who was now opening the black door.CLICKThe door opened with a loud creak while Alexios opened his arms wide with a grin on his face as he declared,"My beautiful wife, I have come!"