More than a month passed since the end of the Hunt. The frigid snowstorms and the thickening pile of white finally started to dwindle.
Adrian was relaxing on his bed. His head was on Isabella's laps while Isabella was feeding him peeled fruits.
"Tsk." Adrian suddenly clicked his tongue, scaring his maid.
'What have I done? What annoyed young master?' She asked herself.
But a few moments later-
*Knock. Knock.*
The sound of the main door knocking entered their ears. Isabella looked at Adrian's closed eyes, awaiting his orders.
"Go." Adrian gave the signal.
Isabella nodded before gently putting her young master's head on his soft pillow before leaving for the door.
Isabella rushed to the door. She wanted her young master's head on her thighs as soon as possible.
*Click*
She opened the door. No sooner had she done the deed than she felt a push. It was Mia.
Mia grasped both of Isabella's shoulder with her trembling hands. Tears were streaming down her eyes- adding more to the already dried tear stains on her cheeks.
After Adrian got his 'new toy' a year ago, Mia's visit frequency decreased from once a week or two, to once a month or two. But every time she visited, there was a look of happiness and excitement on her face- not sorrow.
"Where… *sniff* where is young master?" Mia asked.
Isabella did not say anything and pointed at Adrian's bedroom. Mia nodded before letting go of Isabella's shoulder and rushed to her owner's room.
Adrian was still lying on his bed, relaxing when Mia barged in.
"Young-" Mia stopped herself when she saw Adrian resting. *Sniff*
"What happened?" Adrian asked, not bothering to open his eyes.
"Young master, *sniff* it's urgent. Please come with me." Mia began to wipe the tears off her cheeks.
Adrian finally open his eyes and looked into the brown eyes of Mia. Mia felt her soul being sucked into his abyssal eyes, but she did not resist. She could not anyway.
The soul sucking stare finally ended. Adrian casually got up from his bed and smiled. "Let's go."
Beside the Everwarm lake, inside the Celestea House.
Adrian was walking while Mia was following two steps behind him. They finally reached their destination, Evelyn's study.
Evelyn was walking to and fro, from one side of the room to another. Her eyes were frowned while her forehead was creased. Her left hand was clasping her right behind the back. His arrival made her stop in her tracks and look at him.
"You are here." She walked to the small tea table and sat at one side, gesturing him sit opposite hers.
Adrian did not stand on ceremony and sat down.
Evelyn gave Mia a look before turning back to Adrian. Mia nodded and left. She had been working as the princess's maid for years; words were not needed to speak.
"Stella." Evelyn sighed. "She-"
"She had yet to return, right?"
"Yes." She had already gotten used to him knowing everything. "She went to the palace for 'logistic purposed' but she never returned. It has been a week since she left the Academy." She sighed.
"Even if she's dead, why do you care? She had already out lived her purpose." Adrian said casually as he shrugged.
"I… I don't know." She heaved yet another sigh. "A part of me is thinking that she deserves it while another part is worrying for her. After all, she took care of me for years." She clasped both of her hands together on the table; her eyes were fixed on them.
Adrian got up from his chair and circled around the table, moving behind her. He wrapped his right arm around her and gave her a warm hug from behind.
She gasped. His warm action surprised her. She was expecting him to fondle her boobs like he always did, no matter her mood. A warm action like this genuinely was against her expectations.
Adrian tucked her blond and smooth hair behind her left ear and moved his mouth close to it.
"Stella." He whispered. "Was a betrayer- a traitor. And she rejoining you doesn't change that fact."
His charming voice and hot breath was overwhelming for her sensitive ear; her face flushed.
"You have Mia." He continued. "And now, you have me. You don't need a traitor by your side anymore."
"But-"
"No buts." The hug tightened. His right cheek touched her exposed neck, sending shivers down her spine. "She took care of you? So what? If I had not intervened, you wouldn't even have known what hit you after you lost the succession."
His comment made her eyes almost pop out. Yes, he was right. Due to his competency, she had taken his help for granted. If not for him, she would have still been in the dark. Forget making other marquesses join her, she might have lost her own supporters.
"Say after me." He whispered right into her ear, reddening her face even further.
"Stella is a bitch."
"Stella is a bitch." She said monotonously, as if she did not care at all.
"Even if she is dead-"
"Even if she is dead-"
"She deserved it."
"She deserved it."
"Good." Adrian moved his mouth down to the side of her neck and kissed it, sucking her skin hard.
"Aaaah!" She arched her back, gasping. What's wrong with him today? In those 'alone and close' times with him, he never gave her a kiss.
After a few seconds, he finally broke the kiss, along with the hug. Evelyn quickly turned back. His charming smile came into her view. Blood almost burst out from her cheeks as she just as quickly looked away from him.
"See, you are not worried anymore." His voice entered her ears yet again, but it was not a whisper anymore.
She slowly looked back at him, keeping her composure barely in check.
"Thank you." She said with a meek voice before looking away again.
"I don't work for 'thank you's. You have to pay the price." Before she could put together what he meant-
"Aaahmm…" a surprised moan escaped her lips. He was behind her yet again. Both of his hands were now on her boobs, fondling and kneading them.
But she did not retort. It would be futile anyway. And strangely, she was used to being his plaything.
"Your loyal maid is sad." His mouth sneaked to her ear, whispering. "Don't you think we should 'console' her as well?"
"Wha… what do you-" He pressed her mounds hard. "Aaaaah!"
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