LOGINMichaela’s POV
I chose to stay in my human form.
I still had to honour my mother’s wish to hide my true identity as the beast lord.
I balled my hands into fists when the man was a few feet away from me, and squared up my chin.
“You miserable excuse for a human.” I spat and took the man aback. “Is this how you treat ordinary people? You look down on them and talk to them like they are trash?”
The man glared at me, before his eyes went wide, and he looked like he was about to have an outburst.
“Who do you think you are?! How can a lowlife like you talk to me this way? You’re so dirty! Your very presence is stinking up
this whole castle!”
He spat out his words like an insult, expecting me to cower.
But I knew his kind. Men like this were all talk when they had to deal with someone they thought was weaker than them.
How dare someone under my command treat ordinary commoners with such insolence.. But I was going to teach him a lesson. To never again look down on anyone.
“You asked for it.” I spat and as though taking my words as a challenge, he came forward and raised his hand to strike me.
I grabbed his neck before he could hit me, and watched his eyes grow wide with actual fear when I called forth a great gust of wind that lifted him off the ground.
“Ehh!!” He cried out when he was several feet above the ground and just as he was about to flick his hand and try to save himself, I pushed at the wind and tossed him across the courtyard.
He fell like he weighed nothing and landed with a hard, painful thud.
I heard him moan with pain as he tried to stir.
At that moment, the sorcerer stepped out of the castle and quickly rushed to stand between us.
He took one look at me and then turned to the servant who tried to attack me.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” The sorcerer roared and the man coughed again, holding his chest with pain.
“That freak!” The servant shrieked. “Imagine a common maid stepping on the dignified ground of this castle and having the audacity of attacking me with dark magic!”
“What?” The sorcerer spat, took one look at me and shook his head apologetically.
“I’m sorry, he clearly has no sense of what is pure magic and what is tainted. I’ll fix this immediately.”
He said and I just nodded.
Then he turned to his subordinate and shook his head.
“You’ve always been impulsive, but today you’ve done too much.” The sorcerer spat and turned to the other servants who walked out into the courtyard just then.
“But look at her! She’s tainting these castle grounds with her presence!”
“Enough!” The sorcerer roared and motioned for the other servants. “Take him away to the dungeons! That should give him enough time to reflect on his poor decisions!”
“What?! No! Let me go!” The young man cried, sending out weak flames of fire as he struggled against the servants who dragged him away. One of the servants dragging him struck him with a metal gong that weakened the senses, and he fell limp against them. Then they began to drag him away again.
Then the sorcerer walked toward me with an apologetic smile.
“I’m really sorry about him. These youngsters clearly don’t know their playmates anymore.”
I smiled.
“It’s okay. I was just more pissed to realise that this is probably the way he looks down on ordinary maidens. It’s good that he has been set as an example.” I said calmly and then shrugged. “But that’s not why I’m here, right?”
The sorcerer smiled.
“Yes. We have much to discuss.” He replied and started to reach into his pocket.
I watched as he brought a blue amulet with a jaded red stone at the center. Then he handed it to me.
“For me?” I asked as I slowly received it.
“Just a small token. The green stone is a protective stone. Consider it my way of rewarding you for all your years of safeguarding the world… and my family.”
I studied the stone and smiled up at him.
“Thank you so much. It’s been a great joy to do the things I've done these past years.”
The sorcerer nodded calmly and then gestured for me to go in with him.
“Come on then.” He said and led me into the castle.
When he walked in, he stopped at the center of the throne room and looked at me with a much more serious expression than he had earlier.
“You know…” he began softly, “a long time ago, I served under your father.”
I looked at him with surprise.
“I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. You were still really young. But I did and one time I was fortunate enough to even save his life.”
“You-“
The sorcerer nodded calmly.
“It was a little conspiracy against him, I got wind of it and managed to warn him. We became good friends after that and I did my best to look out for him… and your family.”
“That’s a story I never knew. I guess it’s why my mother has always asked me to keep my identity a secret. Not just so I could live an ordinary life, but also to watch over your household in peace.”
Simon the sorcerer nodded solemnly.
“And speaking of your mother… did she tell you why you had to come here today?”
I shrugged. “Some parts of it. I’m sure you will tell me the rest?”
“I will.” He replied and looked at me with much more seriousness. “I’m afraid I must ask you for something really grave and I hope you will agree to it.”
“If it’s in my power,” I said softly.
“Then I must earnestly implore you to marry my grandson.”
I was stunned.
“I-“ I began, already ready to refuse. I thought I was just here for a blind date. Not to be asked to be married.
But I saw the plea in the sorcerer’s aged eyes and instantly hesitated.
“Please, Beast Queen . It doesn’t have to be a lifetime thing. Three years is enough. I believe that will give my grandson enough time to stand on his two feet. To be stronger. That will also ensure the safety of my household. Please.”
I let out a deep sigh at how desperate he seemed.
How could I tell him no when he implored me this way?
“Just three years?” I asked, trying to be firm.
“Just three years. I promise. After that, you can leave and never look back.”
I slowly began to nod.
Three years wasn’t so much. In fact, it was the little I could do after just discovering what Simon did for my father all those years ago.
“Fine.” I finally said and watched Simon’s eyes light up. “I’ll marry your grandson.”
MICHAELA's POV"What are you saying?" Noah asked angrily, as I walked away from the dining table to go pack the little belongings I had here.I stopped in front of him and gazed at him firmly."I'm saying that our marriage is over. Isn't that what you've wanted for the longest time?" I asked and turned to look at his mother. "It's what you've all wanted."Then I started to walk away again, but Noah blocked my path and looked like he was ready to throw a fit."What makes you think you can talk to me like I'm easily disposable? I took you into this home, clothed you, fed you! Now, you're trying to walk away like you have some kind of dignity. You should be begging me for a second chance."I scoffed at his words."And what makes you think I want a second chance with you?" I asked, folding my hands. "You've done nothing but mock me and make me a laughing stock around here. I'm even lucky that I get to leave with any dignity. Excuse me."Saying that, I side stepped him, and went to pack my
MICHEALA's povNoah's mother sneered at me as I joined them for dinner, shortly after leaving the infirmary."Why is she joining us?" She asked her son, who simply sneered as he drew out Sasha's chair for her to sit down.Then he sat on the chair between Sasha and I."It's dinner. Let's just eat in peace, okay?" Noah replied and began serving some food on his plate.I quietly ignored the woman and began serving my food as well. But Noah's mother refused to be ignored."If I were you, I'd let her eat in the servant's quarters. What do we need to put up with her presence at the family table?"I slowly turned to look at her, and caught her cold look before she reached for her glass of wine."You've done nothing but look down on me since you met me." I said calmly, despite how irritated I was with her behavior. But the clock was ticking, and soon enough, I wouldn't have to put up with her behavior. “Look down on you?” The woman gasped, mock shock written all over her face. “Now why would
Michaela's povI groaned in discomfort when I finally became conscious.I slowly opened my eyes and turned around, only to find myself in a strange room. But judging from the smell of sterile liquid and the clean white sheets draped over me, I could tell I was in the castle infirmary.Someone must have brought me here after the party.The party!I could barely remember anything that happened after that Beast appeared. But I did remember that Noah had run to save Sasha. And even now, I was still alone in this infirmary room. As I tried to recall what had happened to the beast, I heard mutterings coming from the bed beside mine. I couldn't see who it was, because both beds were demarcated by a long curtain.But I listened in to see who it was. Perhaps other members of the party that might have gotten injured?"I need to go see how Michaela is doing as well." I widened my eyes when I heard Noah's voice. But who was he talking to? "She wasn't in such good shape when I brought her in."
MICHAELA's POVThe guests cheered and laughed, while my cheeks burned in mortification."you know what I think?" One of Noah's friends called out, a mischievous smile on his face. "I think Sasha would make my boy Noah here a very happy man if she actually kissed him!"My lips slowly parted in surprise and instantly turned to look at Noah when everyone started clapping encouragingly.He was actually smiling! And so was Sasha."Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The guest cheered, as both Sasha and Noah stood side-by-side, as though actually contemplating kissing each other.They definitely did seem like they had lustful desires they wanted to act on.The laughter around me faded as I watched both of them. Watched Noah.Was he actually going to stop this nonsense or was actually enjoying all of it? He actually looked shy being put on the spot like that. But he didn't move away from Sasha. And then, Sasha actually turned to him, and lifted her hand to touch his face. I completely snapped when Noah see
MICHAELA's POV"Sasha." I murmured as Noah walked past me and headed straight for the woman who was smiling from ear-to-ear.When Noah got to her, he wrapped his arms around her, lifted her off the ground and spun her around. It was such a romantic scene and it left me completely stunned."Sasa! I can't believe you’re actually here!" Noah said happily when he dropped her on the ground again. He cupped her cheeks in his hands while she looked up at him with so much obvious affection."I took the earliest dragon carriage to this place. I couldn't wait another moment to see you." The Sasha woman replied with so much joy and excitement.Neither of them even considered the fact that I was standing close. They barely spared me a glance and just continued to gush over each other."It's been so long since I saw you, oh my goodness!" Noah said and pulled her in for another hug. As he did, the young woman stood on her tip toes and kissed Noah's cheek several times.And Noah did nothing to stop
MICHAELA's POVSimon and I were still speaking when his grandson walked in on us.The young man took one look at me and immediately sneered."I can't believe you let her in here, grandfather. She looks so out of place." He spat out the words then chuckled coldly. "But what more can one expect from a simple maid."I narrowed my gaze at him.I wanted to show him the power that 'a simple maid' could possess. But I'd already agreed to Simon's request to marry him.So instead of attacking him, I wordlessly walked toward him, grabbed him by his wrist, and began murmuring the spell that would bind us as partners for the next three years."Hey, what do you think-" The young man's words were instantly cut short when blue flames erupted out of nowhere and circled around us, without actually causing heat nor burning us.I could see the fear in the grandson's eyes as I rounded up the spell, but he didn't dare pull away. If anything, he drew close to me as though trying to save himself."What the







