(From Demetrius''s Perspective)


    "I don''t understand," she muttered, standing in front of the mirror.


    "What?" I asked while I was looking for a nightgown in the closet.


    "There is a huge mark on my neck... It looks like someone kissed here. It''s like a hickey. But if he did that, I would have known. I don''t remember feeling anything like that," she said, touching the red mark on her neck.


    "He did not do that," I said.


    "... You did?"


    "Yes," I said. "He did make a mark, but it was very little. Still, I could not bear that mark. Another man made that. That''s why I made a bigger one to hide that hideous mark."


    "..."


    "Here is your nightgown. Get changed and sleep," I said, handing her a ck light nightgown.


    "You are crazy. It must have been a very small mark," she mumbled as she put on her nightgown and climbed on the bed.


    "Do you hate it that I made a mark on you?"


    "No, it''s not like that. You make marks on me every day... I just did not expect it this time..."


    I did not expect myself to do it either. But when I noticed the mark, my blood started boiling. Ointments could not remove the hickey immediately. So, I made another one to cover that nasty one.


    "I am sorry I touched you when you were unconscious. I said I won''t, but..."


    "It''s okay. I don''t mind this much," she said. "Now,e on. You said you had food, right? Will you sleep with me, now?"


    I had changed already into my robe and climbed onto the bed. She grinned and hugged me tightly, cing her head on my chest.


    "You know, Dem, I will try to read some books to use my power properly. The amount of power I have right doesn''t seem to be less judging what you said. If I learn how to use it properly, it will help us all."


    "Just don''t push yourself. I don''t want you to get sick because of anything," I said.


    "I won''t. I don''t like to get sick either," she said.


    I massaged her forehead. She fell asleep very quickly. I observed her face for a while. How could I love someone this much? If she was away even for just a while, my heart would feel like it was being squeezed. I never knew it was possible to love someone this much.


    I did not even know if it was possible to love someone in the first ce.


    "Haa, I love you. I love you so much," I mumbled. "It''s impossible for me to live without you. I cannot do that at all. I need you."


    I hugged her tightly as if I did not want to let her go ever. I wanted to hold her close to my chest all the time.


    The next morning, I got up at five in the morning and got ready to go to the training field. She slept very peacefully.


    I told the maids not to wake her up. She needed rest. The team was supposed toe back from Lacuna today, but because of themotion, it would be dyed.


    The King had tried to force himself on my wife. He even made a mark on her. Should I just kill him? It was not impossible.


    I smirked. It did not matter if he did not know it was my wife. How could I let him get away with it so easily?


    After the training, I went back to the bedroom to take a shower. Usually, I woulde back at eight and leave before eight-thirty. I checked on her once more to make sure she did not have a fever. It was an everyday task for me. My wife would have a fever quite frequently, so I would always check if she had a fever when she was sleeping.


    I went to my office before nine. "Good Morning, Your Highness," the beta bowed.


    "Good Morning," I said.


    "I have prepared all the documents that need to be taken care of today," he said.


    "Yes," I said. "Now, get the shadow for me."


    "The shadow?"


    "I am not going to repeat myself," I said. "Tell him to meet me within an hour."


    "Yes, I will do so, Your Highness."


    ***


    "You have important work to do," I said, not looking up from the documents.


    "I always do what Your Highness asks me to do," he said,ing inside through the window. He had a habit to use the window as an entry space. "Have I ever failed Your Highness?"


    His smirk was clear even though his face was almost hidden because of the hooded cloak. He was looking at me with his dull silver eye.


    "Don''t talk too much," I said. "This time, you have to kill a Royal member of Lacuna."


    "Ah, a Royal. Must be fun. Who?" he asked.


    "The King himself," I replied. "I want him dead in a normal way. Do not make it look like a murder. Well, it will be sad if I have to mention every single thing now."


    "Haha, Your Highness can joke rather well. This one-eyed shadow never needs to be told too many things," he grinned, the huge scar across his face slightly visible. "Two days?"


    "Frame someone who doesn''t like the King and is a powerful person," I said.


    "Yes, Your Highness. Your Highness will hear the good news within two days."


    He left through the window again. My darling wife did not need to know about things like that. Some things were better off as a secret.


    The shadow was someone who obeyed no one but me. His family waspletely messed up from within. It was even disgusting to mention his origin. No wonder he turned out so twisted. And I was the same.


    I caught him when he tried to kill my father a long time ago. Though I was six years younger than him, I was rather powerful since I was an Alpha. But I did not imprison him. Rather, I hired him to work for me only. He epted a very little amount of money for what he did. His only condition was I would never stop him from killing.


    He had an obsession to kill constantly. He killed criminals only on my word.


    He was known as the shadow. Only the beta knew he existed other than me. But even he did not know his real name.


    I worked for some hours before returning to the bedroom to check on my wife again. The maids thought my care was excessive. Everyone thought that way. But who cared?


    "Hello, Your Highness," Ruby greeted me as soon as I went in.


    "Dem!" Blue grinned at me, waving her hand.


    Ruby was braiding her hair. Her hair had gotten quite long. Blue did not like long hair too much, but she said she was keeping it that way to get a perfect bun.


    "How are you feeling now?" I asked. "Any difort?"


    "No, I am feeling rather well," she replied. "I have slept for a long time. I woke up just now. Ruby hase to visit me."


    "Have you eaten?"


    "Hmm," she nodded. "Are you done with your work?"


    "For now, yes," I said. "I will finish the restter."


    I handed her the ck irises I brought for her. I had gone to the garden beforeing to the bedroom. She liked ck flowers a lot.


    "Wow, iris! Thanks, darling," she said and I felt my ear burning up.


    "It''s nothing. I will get you a wet towel," I muttered as I quickly turned away.


    "But I don''t need a wet towel now," she said.


    "You do," I said.


    "But…"


    "Yes, Your Highness, you need a wet towel right now," Ruby said.


    "Eh…? I do?"


    "I will get it for you," I said and left for the washroom.


    I rushed to the washroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My ears werepletely red as well as my cheeks. Sometimes, when she called me pet names, I got flushed very easily and it was very hair to cover it up most of the time.


    It turned more dangerous when she did it in front of others. At first, I wanted her to call me those, but she used to get very shy and would call me by my name. But as time passed, she was morefortable with me and started calling me pet names whenever she liked. I liked it, but the problem was I liked it a bit too much.


    "Really… I am so pathetic…," I chuckled. "That said, why does she need a wet towel? I said it to get out of there…"