Entering the Prince's office, their friendly exge slowly shifted into a more serious note.

  Lu stayed until a deal was strud his role was defined, but before he could leave, the Prince pulled out a small box.

  "This is?"

  "A gift from the King, His Majesty. He wanted you to have it," the Prinswered.

  Lu took the box and ope. Inside, led within a velvet cushion, was a broocrusted with rubies.

  "A symbol of His Majesty's favor," the Prince said. "He is granting you the territory alongside the Marindale's Coast and the rights to collect the tariffs and taxes from the ports including the trade ing in and out of the harbor," he expined, handing him an official letter with a seal, "And a title."

  Earl of Marindale.

  "Thank you, Yhness, for the opportunity." Lu closed the box with a soft click. A reward, but one ed in trouble. The Emperor hadn't just given him nd ─ he'd handed him a burden. The fancy title was little more than a disguise.

  Marindale was a coastal territory, famous fh rates of crime and piracy. Corruption ran deep, with officials turning a blio the underworld, allowing pirates and thieves to roam freely. The stant u and endless battles with criminals made it more trouble than it was worth fighting for.

  It would require a lot of manpower, work and funds to get it under trol. Lu had the funds, but not the manpower and time to waste on fixing someone else's mess.

  But, oher hand, it was a ce for him to get his hands on the docks and the port. If he could turn Mario an attractive pot just for merts, but for the nobles and oo visit, he would be able to earn a fortune.

  He thahe Prince again a his office, leaving the pace grounds as quickly as possible.

  One day. It had taken her only one day to break her vows and oaths and one day to piece them back together.

  Lu's mouth stretched into a cold smile. 'Is it the that she is after, or is it the head wearing it?'

  The blood beh her nails, the handkerchief knotted around her neck, the gloved hands, the prireatment ─ all of it stirred a murderous i deep within him.

  He couldn't front her about her ulterior motives, but he could sure as hell punish her for not living up to her oaths and promises, and for not trusting him with her worries and s.

  It was his right, as a man she pledged her heart to. His right, as a lover whose trust was broken, and his right, as a partner who had been cast aside, a alone in the dark.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  Shortly after e's departure, an arson i erupted in the royal garden.

  Screams of panic, shouts of distress, and the sound of people running with bucket after bucket of water echoed in the night.

  It started with an explosion, which caused the garden to go abze. It didn't spread far, the fire was quickly extinguished and the damage was minor, but the panic didn't cease.

  Everyone was on their feet, guards were called and the whole pace was searched.

  With so many guests visiting the ball today, the list of suspects was overwhelming. Nobles, merts, fn dignitaries; eae a potential culprit.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  Current time...

  Lu entered his carriage, whistling a happy tune. She didn't like the Pri seemed. Good, good, that was very, very, good. He couldn't help but feel happy about it.

  She just pretended. Excellent.

  'What the hell am I even thinking?'

  He ughed, feeling silly.

  'Is she afraid I'll retaliate? Is that why she's trying to smooth things over with me; patch up the damage before it spirals out of trol?'

  Maybe she ying the Prihe way she ying him. Maybe they also had a secret thing together, something only the two of them knew about.

  "Why are you ughing?" Jax groaned, waking up from his nap at the opposite seat, his voice ced with annoyance, "I was having a great dream, where a beautiful goddess blessed me with her touch, and then you had to wake me up," he pined, "What is so important that you had t me away from the diviy in my dreams?"

  Lu was grinning, and his grin was making Jax's face pale.

  "You are scary when you smile like that, brother. I don't like it, not o." Jax sat up straight, "You only smile like that when someone is going to get hurt, and I would rather not know who that is, so, if you'll excuse me, I have a divine goddess waiting for me in my dreams," he turned away, closing his eyes.

  Lu's smile didn't fade, "I need a favor."

  "No."

  "But I haven't told you what I need yet."

  "No."

  "How will you know-"

  "I'm not doing it, and that's final."

  "Are you sure about that?"

  "Very."

  "Don't you want to take revenge on Lady Rochefort? I thought you wanted her dead."

  "I'm still not doing it."

  "Are you afraid? Are you a scaredy-cat, Jax?"

  "Pfffttt," Jax spat out, "I defeated a whole flotile of pirates all by myself, and you're asking if I'm afraid of some little dy? Who do you think I am?"

  "So, you'll do it then."

  "Of course I'll do it." Jax huffed, moving his hands as if accepting the challenge.

  "It's simple, really. Send a chest filled with whips, ropes and shackles before her estate," Lu said, his grin stretg further, "And then, add a note saying: 'My beloved, I 't wait for our enter.'"

  "Huh? That's it?" Jax's face fell, "That's me. Why don't we just send her a box filled with spiders and shat would scare the shit out of her."

  "Send both, and see whie she responds to more," Lu chuckled, his voice sounding ominous, "Every single ripple in her expressions will be reported bae."

  "Okay." Jax yawned and leaned his head against the cushion, closing his eyes, "Why 't you do it yourself? Just buy a whip and shackle and tie her up yourself."

  "I'm just helping you out with your revenge, Jax," said Lu, throwing the small box with the brooch toward him, "You mentiohat someone nobles gave you a hard time in the past. Use that title to py around a bit, and see how much of a differe makes. I bet it will be eaining."

  Jax opehe box and examihe brooch carefully, "An Earl?" his eyes widened, "I'll be an Earl?! Hell yeah! Wait till I show them, those snotty brats. I'll show them, alright! Earl Jax the Great!" he excimed, ughing and kissing the brooch happily, "Earl Jax the Great is bad here to stay!"

  He then threw himself at Lu’s feet like a devoted disciple, sniffing dramatically, “Boss… this is too much. I don’t deserve this honor."

  "I'm vely your Boss now, huh?" Lu smiled, nudging Jax away with his boot.

  Jax was like a little brother to him, and although they weren't reted by blood, they were bound together by their friendship. He wasn't the most elegant or refined gentleman, but he had a big heart.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  The carriage stopped before a vil, and Jax jumped outside, still ughing and kissing his newly assigitle.

  Lu followed behind.

  It would take Jax five days to reach Rochefort's territory. e should be staying in one of the family vils close to the capital, which meant that they would be taking the same route.

  It didn't take long for his subordio report back. The defehe duke set up around her was imperable, and not even Lu's es could get him access to her, much less the informatiarding her health or the state of her recovery.

  That woman knew her oppos well; after all, knowing your enemies was also a part of her curriculum.

  The question was, who were her allies?

  She couldn't possibly depend on her father alone, could she? She made an enemy out of every single bachelor in the capital, yet somehow mao stay safe.

  Lu rubbed the bridge of his nose, recalling moments he had shared with her.

  "Old goats triple my age."

  "Old farts who haven't seen their prime in decades."

  "Old coots with a taste for the young and fresh."

  Her parties were attended by the he iial families and the wealthiest merts and businessmen. Her balls were famous, and her invitations were highly coveted.

  Of course, she had supporters and sponsors. Ohat cared little about one's reputation, and more about their influence. Profits mattered more than morality and honor, and es could wash away the dirtiest of crimes and sins.

  Rochefort's duchy had been flourishing, and it erfect pce to i, especially if the profits were guaranteed, and the returns were high.

  e wasn't just an object. She was a valuable tool, and the key to many doors, which was why she could get away with being an arrogant and shameless little hussy.

  She could be dissing the young masters in publid buy their parents'permission in private. She would tio i in them and they would tio cover for her, all for the sake of a share in the profits.

  Lu sighed. Just because he spent the st five years expanding his influence didn't mean she didn't do the same.

  She squeezed all the bes she could out of Rochefort's name, and made the most of her father's "doting" to establish her owwork, her own es, and her own support.

  It was all an assumption, but the subtle clues he was getting from his sources pointed him in the right dire.

  'You are doing it again. You are putting her on a pedestal. Stop glorifyihat is not how you win.'

  Lu shook his head, dropping on his bed face down. Seeing her after such a long time was harder than he imagined.

  She looked so cute all dolled up like a por doll. The effort she put into her appearance must have taken hours to prepare. And all he wao do at that moment was to ruin it. He wao rub her cheek and smear her rouge all over his own face.

  His fiwitched, recalling the way he loosehe corset, tinuing down the line, untying the ribbons until the dress slipped off her body.

  He buried his fato his pillow, muffling a groan.

  He didn't e here to fall in love with her all ain, he came here to crush her, aroy her, and make her suffer.

  This time, it would be his turn to hold the reins, and make her cry and scream his his time, he would be the oo toy with her. The one who would make her beg for his merbsp;

  His heart pounded in his chest as he got off the bed, taking out the handkerchief from his pocket.

  He needed a cold bath.

  A really, really, really cold one.

  And this thing, this little scrap of fabrieeded a thought scrubbing, and a thh wash too.

  He would make sure it was .

  So it would carry nothing but his st.

  His, and his alone.

  ╔═══ Author's note ════╗

  Woah, I'm genuinely shocked by the number of views each chapter was able to accumute in a single day. ?? I didn't expect such a high retention rate. Thank you so much fiving this story a ce! ??????

  ╚═════════════════╝