“Are you trying to lower my status?!”

Under the faded wooden mask, a beautiful childlike face appeared, with short neck-length hair, bright emerald-green eyes, and pale skin carrying a soft childish glow that highlighted her innocence and purity.

The man was stunned for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his lips—barely noticeable.

Lia was shocked for a brief second, then quickly rushed to grab her mask, trying to hide her face again.

“Lady Vitalia clearly said I must not remove my mask… just one look at this man and—” she thought, her eyes widening as she spoke to herself.

Flashback:

Lia: “Lady Vitalia, why do I have to wear this mask? Is there something wrong with me…?”

Vitalia: “No, my dear. Look at that beautiful face of yours. If bad men see you, they will try to take advantage of you.”

Lia: “Bad men?”

Lia asked while sitting in Lady Vitalia’s lap, as she gently combed her hair.

Vitalia: “Mm… for example, there is a very bad man who always harms others. He has black hair, blood-red eyes, and a very handsome face. But don’t be fooled by his appearance—he would try to devour a little girl like you.”

Vitalia imitated him playfully, baring her teeth and raising her hands like claws.

Lia laughed loudly at the antics of this “aunt,” who had become like a mother to her.

Vitalia smiled warmly, watching the child who rarely laughed so innocently.

Lia: “Really? He would do that?” she asked in her childish voice.

Vitalia: “Mm… so if you ever meet someone like that, use this necklace to escape to our secret hideout. Just you and me, okay?”

Lia: “Mm… okay.”

Their fingers intertwined, and they made a promise.

End of flashback

Lia tightened her grip around the necklace as she looked at the stranger in front of her.

The mysterious man laughed sarcastically:

“Oh? It seems the Goddess of Life worked very hard to protect you… from whom, I wonder? From me?”

When Lia noticed his gaze on her necklace, she instinctively held it tighter.

Lia: “Who are you, sir, and what do you want?! I’m not tasty at all, so stay away from me!” she puffed her cheeks, glaring at him like a small angry cat.

He laughed deeply.

“Hahahahaha…”

Lia’s heart shook violently hearing his laughter.

Is he mocking me? she thought, frowning even more.

When he saw she was about to explode in anger, he stopped laughing, then stepped closer and suddenly… knelt down to her height.

Lia flinched and stepped back.

Maximus: “My name is Maximus Makison. Nice to meet you, my little swan. Oh, and I don’t eat underdeveloped swans like you… I wait until they mature.”

Fragmented memories flashed in Lia’s mind of someone saying the same words, but she couldn’t see the face.

Why does he call me so familiarly? she thought. It feels like he has known me for hundreds of years… like he has been waiting for me after a long absence.

If she were older, she might have suspected they had met before. But she was only five years old…

Could it be… she met him in a past life?

She shook her head violently at the thought.

Lia: “I don’t know you. All I know is that you want to hurt me… but your actions don’t seem like it.”

Maximus’ eyes flashed with anger.

Maximus: “Hurt you?! It seems they filled your head with unpleasant ideas about me… good. Very good.”

Anyone nearby would have run away upon hearing such words. For them, it was a sign of an impending massacre.

Feeling slightly intimidated by her, he gently patted her head.

“My underdeveloped swan… how could I ever think of hurting you? Haaah…”

Lia acted as if she hadn’t heard the strange nickname and asked hesitantly:

“Then… do you want to be my friend? Or maybe my big brother?” she said hopefully.

His eyes widened slightly. Then he pinched her cheek gently.

“Your friend? Big brother? Are you trying to lower my status, little one?”

“….”

“Let’s say… your partner. I won’t accept anything less.”

He stepped back and stood up.

Lia looked at him in shock, rubbing her cheek.

“Tsk, tsk… such an ugly mask. Let’s change it.”

A strange power surrounded the mask, reshaping it into a white kitsune fox mask, enhancing its quality and appearance.

Even the mask feels familiar…

“Oh my god… what is happening? My mind is in complete chaos,” Lia thought.

“Perfect,” Maximus said, admiring his work.

Without warning, a massive pressure filled the area.

“It seems… it’s time for me to leave.”

His eyes glinted strangely.

“Remember, Lia… my name is Maximus. Call me whenever you need me… even in your heart, alright?”

Lia hesitated, then whispered: “Alright… Maximus.”

He smiled faintly and disappeared.

Before she could process it, his voice echoed in her mind:

“Don’t think showing that cute face will stop your punishment! Goodbye, my phoenix.”

Lia stood frozen, trying to understand his words, until someone shook her violently and brought her back.

Vitalia and several others appeared, alarmed.

“Lia! Are you okay?!”

She explained what happened, carefully omitting the parts about him being “more than a friend” and appearing when called.

Even she didn’t know why she hid it… it wasn’t like her.

But if she knew what was coming, she would have hidden herself in the deepest part of the worlds.

“Listen, little one… never believe that a monster like him has good intentions toward you,” said the Spirit of Fire sharply.

“Stop, you’re scaring her,” said the Water Spirit.

“Lia, from now on you will remain under the emperor’s protection as the fiancée of the second prince. You were supposed to meet him today, but due to what happened, it will be postponed.”

Lia didn’t understand what they were doing—betrothing her to a prince she didn’t even know.

But she only said: “Understood, Your Majesty.”

Vitalia sighed, even though she didn’t agree with such an early marriage. Still, the safest place for her was within the First Kingdom’s palace.

“Very well.”

None of them noticed her thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Why did that man… Maximus… feel so familiar?

Why did it feel like he was trying to remind her of something she had forgotten?

And what was that strange feeling in his eyes… directed only at her?

Most importantly…

What great sin had she committed against him to deserve such a punishment?

Her small mind couldn’t process it all.

So it shut everything down…

And finally, she slipped into unconsciousness, escaping the overwhelming thoughts.