It takes over a week before we see the shore of Orttenburg. It means that finally, I can go up the deck to help the other wind magicians. Theo, Klevon, and most of the people are on the deck as well. It will just take an hour or so before we’ll be successfully anchored to the Orttenburg port. For the past few days, all I did is stay beside Theo. I manage his needs—food, clothes, cleaning up—and once, he even asks me to rub his back while taking a bath. Rather than a personal guard, I feel I am becoming his personal maid instead. Thankfully though, as he promised, he didn’t touch me. He didn’t make any move to pursue me. At least, my heart can relax for a while. “Nice dress,” Elroy praises as he looks me over. “I need to stay beside the King while meeting the Orttenburg royalty.” “Good luck then. I heard the Orttenburg siblings are very prim and proper,” Nadif adds. Then Ami whispers, “The eldest son is rumored to be very handsome. And he is someone as accomplished as King Theo.”

One entrance going to the library is through a bridge that connects it to the castle. It looks like a kid at heart designed it. The roof is made of an open book, and the edges are the spine of the book. There is also a waiting area outside which are just stone benches that are made to look like stacks of books. It is so amazing that I almost forgot the reason why I am here at two in the morning. I am thirty minutes late though because Theo is being such a workaholic that after the party, he still worked on some documents, before hitting the bed. I push open the door and enter. It is undoubtedly the most massive library I have ever set foot into. Unlike Pitchford and Durian’s library, the wall, ceiling, and bookshelves are all painted white. From the outside, it seems like there are only four floors, but looking down, I am actually on the tenth floor, with the basement still way, way down. There are stairs all around, tables and chairs, private areas, and a dizzying amount of books. E

“What are you doing here?!” I hear Theo hisses. I wake up at his voice. I am crouching in the corner as I rub my eyes and open them. I feel like I have only slept for an hour. The embers on the fireplace have dwindled and I only see shadows. Theo is still in front of the fireplace, but he is with another person. “My ability allows me to enter any barrier created by magic,” a woman’s voice answers. “Princess Kissa! You will be my concubine but you should not do this while we are still within Orttenburg castle!” “My King, it doesn’t matter. Seth and my other siblings know of my passions. And I have desired you ever since I caught a glance of you the last time you visited.” “But–” “I can’t wait any longer, King Theo. I want a taste of you.” I blink and see her sitting over Theo. She is pushing at his chest, while she is completely naked, her chest pronounced and her nipples taut. “Don’t you understand how lucky I feel when they agreed to my proposition to become your concubine? I

“Come here,” I hear Theo says. I jump from his voice. “What is it?” I ask, shifting my attention to him. I’ve been doing nothing for the past hour. Without books, I am so bored that I almost fall asleep. So, I shift my attention to him. He has now transferred from his work table to the carpet in front of the fireplace. There is no fire on it though. I stand up and approach him. “Is there anything you need?” “Sit here,” he orders, patting the seat next to him. I swallow nervously. Every time he is ordering me to come close to him, I know what will follow. “I order you to sit,” he repeats when I didn’t move. Without another choice, I sit next to him. I sigh. There are still another five days of stay here. There are still a lot of meetings and knowledge sharing about governance. And I want to go home. At least in Pitchford, Theo will be busy with his concubines which means I can get away from him from time to time. I am also not required to be in the same room as him. Suddenly, T

After making me physically attractive, with all those painful brushing, ornaments, and beautification, I am ushered into a garden. Something that I didn’t expect because it was already seven in the evening. I am about to comment about the bad planning when I am ushered into a small hut instead. Entering the threshold, the door opens up to a round table with two chairs surrounded by vines and flowers. On the ceiling hangs a small chandelier that is connected to a wooden roof. I look around. The walls, ceilings, and floor are all covered in grass, vines, and flowers. It seems like we are in a garden instead of a wooden house. Seth is sitting in the center, and as I approach him, he stands up to meet me. I raise my brow at him. It’s only me who is forced to wear something seductive. He, on the other hand, is wearing his normal open chest robes giving me a glimpse of his muscular chest and torso. There is also an embroidered green sash that’s tied around his waist and placed over one sho