To be honest, even though I wasn't mentally prepared for it, I had expected to die tonight.

I kept imagining myself on that gruesome scene narrated in the novel through the heroine's point of view. There I was, lifeless and bathing in blood, along with my murderer who's out of his wits.

"So," The grand duke rested his chin on the back of his hand. "You had a bad dream about tonight, that is why you decided to hide yourself here?"

I never would've imagined that I'd be here sitting in the corner of a desolate room with the grand duke as my company. While everyone else was enjoying themselves in the banquet, we were confined in our little world on that chilly night.

My face reddened in shame. "Don't laugh."

"I won't." Alistair held back a smile. He then patted my head a few times, as if comforting me. "There, there. You must have been so afraid, Isabelle."

I stared daggers at him. He's definitely teasing me!

Well, it's not like I can tell him the truth. What am I supposed to say? That there's some random prick being controlled by black magic and he's out here to kill me? He'd only think I'm spouting nonsense.

"By the way, why did you come find me?" I raised my brow. "Don't tell me you searched for me just to close a loose button in your shirt, Your Grace?"

"On the contrary, I wanted you to unbutton it for me." Alistair snickered. "I give you permission to undress me, Isabelle. Though you have to take responsibility with what happens afterwards."

I hissed. There he goes again with his dirty jokes.

I kept a poker face. "I refuse, Your Grace."

"What a shame." He gave me a little smile. "On a serious note, I heard from your friends that you were nowhere to be found. They were worried."

"Oh, my." I smiled sentimentally. "Were they?"

"Yes. They were worried that you might be causing trouble somewhere. One of them was especially convinced that you're up to no good again."

"To think that I was touched for a second... It must be Rumi, that cold-hearted bitch." I rolled my eyes.

Once again, a smile plastered his face. Even in the darkness with only minimal light from the moon, I could see the grand duke's impressive features.

His thick and silver eyelashes, his eyes that shimmered like gold, even his healthy lips that spoke nothing but dirty jokes... I see all of them.

And it was so tempting, like the forbidden fruit.

Come to think of it, what did he say earlier?

"The only time I want you to cry would be out of pleasure in bed or out of joy while walking down the aisle." Alistair whispered to me. "It is not yet time for that, so please save your tears until then."

Good thing it's dark so he didn't notice me blush.

"I may be getting ahead of myself, but I'll say it so you won't have false hope." I buried my face on my knees. "I won't ever marry you, Your Grace."

Silence conquered us. The only thing that could be heard was the wind rushing in from the window. When I took a peek on him, I caught him staring at me. A smile dawned on his face amidst the dark.

"I have yet to make an actual proposal, so I'm afraid your rejection is void." Alistair argued.

I sighed. "No, even if you actually propose to me, my answer won't change, Your Grace. I refuse."

His smile widened. "Then I refuse your refusal."

"This darn..." My veins almost popped. "Are you kidding me? Didn't your parents teach you that you shouldn't be joking about marriage?!"

"They taught me to follow my heart." He leaned his face towards me. "And my heart follows you."

The lack of distance between our faces had me holding my breath. At that moment, his smile had already faded, as if to emphasize that he was, in fact, earnest about every single thing he told me.

How could I make this man dislike me?

"You seem interested on me more than I thought." I pointed out. "What if I punch you right now?"

Alistair laughed. "It would be my pleasure."

"What if I spit on your face?" I asked again.

"Then I would store your spit in a pendant and carry it with me at all times." Alistair smirked. "It would be my good luck charm in the battlefield."

"Oh, christ." I hissed. "Forget it. What a simp."

At that point, I kept glaring at him whenever our gazes met, but the grand duke simply responded with a smile. A few minutes later, he stood up and faced me, who was still slumped on the floor.

"They say that a man who ends the night of a banquet without a single dance will face misfortunes in life." He said out of the blue.

I gave him a disbelieving look. "Who said that?"

"I made it up just now." Alistair shrugged then offered me a hand. "Anyway, taking that into account... Would you like to dance with me?"

My face distorted. "To be honest, no."

"Haha, is that so?" He gracefully stooped in front of me. "Let me change the question, then. Would you be so kind to dance with me, Isabelle?"

"I'm not really kind, so no." I crossed my arms.

He pouted. "Dance with me. That's an order."

I burst into laughter. Did he just pout?

I mean, he did ask me twice politely and I kept saying no... but did he seriously pout? Alistair Kirsten de Averill, who only ever smiles like a merchant and smirks like the devil incarnate?

"You always order me around, Your Grace."

"Because you never listen to me." Alistair shook his head. "So I always have to resort to my status."

I scratched my head. "I don't know how to dance."

"Then just stand on top of my feet." The grand duke proposed. "I shall dance for the two of us."

Who the heck dances like that? Well, I kinda like the idea of standing on top of his feet and letting him carry my weight the whole time. Just to see him suffer for a bit, no?

"There's no music, though. How are we going to dance?" I reasoned while gesturing around.

"Then I shall hum a tune for us to dance." Alistair insisted. "All you need to do is to hold onto me."

His words gave me butterflies. Geez, this guy...

Once again, he extended his hand. "So, would you please grant the wish of this lovesick man, hm?"

Since I don't have the heart to deny his entreaty, I gave in and acceded by taking his hand. Alistair helped me as I placed both of my feet on top of his.

I lifted my gaze to him, expecting him to at least flinch, but he didn't show any sign of discomfort.

"Doesn't it hurt?" I shyly queried, suddenly feeling conscious. I'm sure his feet hurt by carrying me.

"You underestimate me. I am the shield of this empire. This much is nothing." Alistair smiled reassuringly. "Though I think we'd both reel if I move now. May I hold you properly in the waist?"

I lowered my gaze. "Go ahead."

"Place your hands on my shoulders as well."

I did as he told me to. I held onto his shoulders, while Alistair gently put his hands on my waist.

He cleared his throat. "Let us dance, then."

When he tried to take the first sideward step, my grip on his shoulders tightened since I was afraid I'd lose balance. Both of us laughed at his attempt.

"This is so funny." I said, cackling. "How are we supposed to dance like this, Your Grace?"

"Now that we're trying to do so, it does seem too difficult." He agreed, chuckling. "Shall we stop?"

"No. Finish what you started." I said bluntly.

He grinned. "You have no mercy."

The more he tried to move, the more his feet got accustomed to my weight. A few moments later, Alistair could take some steps even with me on top of his feet. With that, he began humming too.

Surprisingly, his voice sounded good.

The way he crooned to my ear made my head feel light. He smoothly took steps here and there, as if I weighed like feathers. He was right. All I had to do was hold onto him. He danced and sang for us.

"Your Grace, even your singing is good." I couldn't help but compliment him. "Geez, is there anything you're not good at?"

"Hmm. Seducing you?" Alistair murmured. "It doesn't work every time I try to make advances."

I grinned mischievously. It's actually working, but there's no way I'm gonna tell him that, of course.

"Seriously, why are you here dancing with a lowly maid when there are many ladies in the banquet?" I stated rather regretfully.

"In my defense, I did try to look at other women." The side of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "However, despite the fancy dresses frolicking around me, my eyes kept searching for a maid uniform."

"So you have a maid fetish." I commented, making him laugh. "Shall I call you master from now on?"

"While I like the sound of it, it might cause you trouble as a maid who belongs to the emperor." The grand duke smiled. "When it's just the two of us, perhaps you can... For instance, while in bed?"

"Your Grace," I faked a smile. "In your dreams."

"I figured you'd say that." He chuckled.

Alistair continued dancing while carrying all my weight. The gentle breeze from the window touched our skin, making us yearning for each other's body heat. He pulled me closer to him.

"Say, Your Grace..." I trailed hesitantly. "Have you seen the daughter of Count Marchetti earlier?"

He seemed clueless. "Who?"

"The pink-haired beauty who bewitched the entire banquet hall earlier." I described with a dry laugh.

The grand duke thought for a moment, then his face brightened in recognition. "Ah, that girl."

I stared at his chest, afraid to look at him.

"What of her?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Well," I cleared my throat. "Isn't she pretty?"

Alistair raised a brow, seemingly confused by my question. "Well, she stands out without a doubt, though she's not exactly my type of woman."

I subconsciously squeezed his shoulders. Did I hear that right? She's not his type? But she's the heroine... isn't she supposed to be his ideal girl?

"What's your type of woman, then?" I asked him.

"Perhaps someone who wrestles with a thug on the ground and swings a knife at a grand duke?" He looked at me in the corner of his eye. "Also, someone with blonde hair and blue eyes, hm?"

My heart raced at his answer. He's messing with me again. Always so sweet, always so frivolous, that I can't tell if he's telling the truth or not.

Our eyes stayed in each other as we basked in the moonlight escaping through the window. His silver hair danced along with the wind, partially hiding his eyes, though I can still catch a glimpse of their golden glimmer in between the strands.

Alistair showed me a suggestive smile. "Is it just me, or this atmosphere seems good, Isabelle?"

"It's just you."

"Shall we kiss?" He's not giving up, huh?

"No."

He smiled. "What a shame."

I glanced over him. "I'm surprised. Aren't you going to order me to kiss you, Your Grace?"

Alistair looked me in the eye before lowering his gaze on my mouth. "Isabelle, I only claim willing lips. A kiss without consent tastes like poison."

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