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Just as Elias had swindled Adeline, she did the same. When nightfall came, she ate her dinner in a hurry and without him. A new set of maids came in as bright-faced as Jenny, but with the same expertise as Jean. If they knew their Queen was human, they didn\'t show it.

As they bathed her, gingerly and careful, Adeline wondered if Elias had frightened them into respect for her. They lowered their eyes and never raised them, even when humans were inferior to their kind.

"Thank you," Adeline gratefully said after they had dressed her well and combed her hair.

The maids\' hands had trembled in surprise, nearly dropping the brush from their hands. The King called them by their names, but no one in the palace offered them gratitude—except a human girl. 

"Please Princess, you don\'t have to thank me," the maids had said to her.

Adeline wasn\'t bewildered by their courteous behavior. Servants were rarely treated kindly. It was a stupid move by aristocrats, for servants had eyes and ears. Their mouths traveled faster than their hands. They knew the deepest, darkest secrets of the castle—ones that should never get out.

"You\'ve done very well, you\'re excused," Adeline had said to them once they had finished their task.

This second compliment also shook them to their core. They had finally raised their heads, only to reveal wide, unset eyes.

"Please Princess, you\'re too kind," they had whispered with gratitude dripping from their voices.

Adeline knew the people hired in the castle were Half-Bloods. They weren\'t as rare as Pure-Breds, but weren\'t as common as Low-Bloods. She wondered what kind of life these servants had lived to be surprised by compliments.

The maids had excused themselves. They left without turning their backs to her.

Adeline glanced at the time. "Nine at night," she read out loud, knowing Elias\'s schedule was probably coming to an end. He worked late. It was a secret she had learned from the maids.

Adeline didn\'t waste a single second. She crept into bed, draped the blankets over her, and peacefully slept. Her body still hummed with the warmth from the pleasure he gave her. Her body remembered it well. But she was tired and she knew he would try to get more information out of her.

She didn\'t like to be tricked for information. If he was going to touch her, at least do it with good intentions.

- - - - -

Elias couldn\'t help but laugh. His back leaned upon her doors. His arms were folded across him, his face twisted with amusement. She was deep asleep, her steady breathing a taunt to his face, her rising chest mockery to his patience. 

"You humor me, truly." 

Elias crossed the distance to her large bed. She slept on her back, her arms on either side of her head. Defenseless as always. Her wrists were begging to be pinned down, her hair a mass of daffodils beside her. She slept like she was in a meadow and basking under the sunlight.

"This is brighter now," Elias dryly remarked, picking up strands of her hair. No doubt, her eyes were much more vibrant in this palace. 

These days away from the Mardens were doing wonders to Adeline. Her true nature was showing, but she was acting like a brat to him. All these years of suppressed laughter, hidden talent, oppressed intelligence was resurfacing.

Adeline Mae Rose would reclaim her glory. The Kastrem Prodigy they used to call her. The one time she captured his attention once more. It was a tournament. In a mass of bullets and gunpowder, she took her dominance. Her blond hair flew in the wind, her grin wide and powerful, her shoulders squared. 

It was then he knew she was more extraordinary than the rumors portrayed.

But then she had to go home and was severely punished by the Mardens. 

Elias didn\'t find out until it was too late.

"If only you knew, you\'re the reason the Marden lost their fortune." Elias released her hair. 

The day he found out the Mardens beat her was the same thing his forces seized the Marden\'s possession. He left them with nothing but meager ways to live. He still needed them to take care of the young Adeline.

"Hn…" Adeline groaned, turning to her sides. She faced him.

Elias had a grim look on his face. He should\'ve just kidnapped her. He should\'ve brought her to his estate, instead of letting her live with them a while longer. Even after their fortune was robbed, Viscount Marden continued to hurt Adeline. The guts of that man.

It wouldn\'t be long before his guts were spilled on the prison floors.

"Sleep, my sweet. I\'ll deal with your troubles. You need to do nothing but naively smile and enjoy the scent of the flowers in the gardens."

Elias caressed the top of her head. She had endured far too much. He intended to keep her safe and sound, by his side. He didn\'t need a useful wife. He just needed one that loved her—someone he could turn to in the face of his madness and still love him.

Elias turned upon his heels and approached the door. Somewhere along the way, he heard the rustle of her clothes.

"Elias…?" Adeline murmured.

Elias slowly turned around, keeping her on her toes. He saw her sitting up and rubbing her tired eyes. It was moistened with sleep, her lids barely opening and closing. 

"You should\'ve remained asleep, my sweet. That way, I wouldn\'t cash in on your promise," Elias bitterly said. He remained in his spot.

"That\'s because I didn\'t like you coercing information out of me like that." Adeline stifled a yawn. Her hands fell limply by her sides, whilst she tiredly smiled at him.

Elias felt a strange movement in his chest. He wondered if he was beginning to have the same heart problems. He unconsciously rubbed the sore spot that felt like it was being squeezed by something.

"How else am I going to get you to talk, except when you\'re at my disposal?" Elias bitterly said.

"We have mouths for a reason. It\'s to talk and communicate," Adeline tiredly said.

"I ask you questions and you never answer them," Elias pointed out in a low, irritated voice.

"That\'s my fault," Adeline admitted. "Forgive me."

"You also don\'t know how to apologize," Elias scoffed. "You\'re a hypocrite."

"It\'s not my fault your bad influences are rubbing off on me." Adeline rubbed her hands on her arm. It was biting cold, with goosebumps dancing on her skin. She wondered if his icy presence affected the temperature.

"Apologize properly," Elias demanded in a softened voice.

"Will you do the same in the future?" Adeline naively asked.

"You forget your place."

Adeline merely tilted her head. "And what is my place?"

Elias narrowed his eyes. He didn\'t like her defiant tone. She was turning his own words against him, in hopes of making him realize how horrible his statement was. It was a great tactic, had he not briefly studied psychology.

Elias closed the distance between them. He stopped at the foot of the bed, his figure looming over her. Many people didn\'t dare to say it, but the twins did. They always said he was intimidating. 

"Is it by your feet?" Adeline asked. "Kissing the ground you walk upon just because you\'re a King?"

Adeline grabbed his hands, gentle and tender. "Just because I\'m your wife doesn\'t mean I\'m beneath you."

Elias\'s fingers curled around hers. She made him feel strange ways. Her words could\'ve to sound provocative, but she had said it in a reprimanding manner. 

Elias would never admit it, but he was old-fashioned. He was born in an era where wifes served husband\'s first, took care of the husband and child, and went on their hands and knees to clean the floors.

"Treat me well, Elias, and I will treat you even better," Adeline murmured.

Elias didn\'t respond. He felt the tinge of guilt. It was practically impossible for him to feel remorse, for he needed compassion to feel such a thing. Yet, his chest briefly stung.

It was rare, but he admitted he was wrong. Not because he was cuckold by her, but because she always saw him in the best light. She saw the good even in the devil.

An impressive trait that someone like her shouldn\'t have.

"I will forgive a thousand times, but mean it once," Adeline said.

Elias touched the side of her face, cupping it tenderly. Her skin was soft and plump like fresh cream. She stared into his eyes and leaned into his touch, nudging her face upon his hand.

Elias could\'ve sworn his heart moved. Something within him was changing.