After the emotional event at the sea, Alessandra spent the next week in seclusion. She isolated herself from the outside world, immersing herself in her thoughts and emotions, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

All day long, Alessandra stayed in her room, locked away. She read her father's letter over and over again, reliving each word and accusation towards the king. Her mind and heart were filled with bitterness, anger, and sadness.

During her seclusion, Alessandra couldn't allow herself to connect with anyone, not even with Rainn or Lady Price. She felt disconnected from those around her and wasn't ready to share her emotions and thoughts with anyone else.

Lady Price and Rein's attempts to pull Alessandra out of her room only annoyed her. While they tried to show care and support, Alessandra wasn't ready to open up and share her emotions with anyone else.

Every time Lady Price or Rainn knocked on her door and offered to come out or talk, Alessandra saw it as a violation of her personal boundaries. She needed time and space to cope with her overwhelming emotions and find answers on her own.

Despite Lady Price and Rein's good intentions, their attempts to get the Duchess out of her room only increased her irritation and desire to preserve her seclusion. She knew she had the right to her personal space and time to heal her wounds, and her decision was final and unwavering.

Alex. Week later.

Having read the letter from her father again, I hid it in the drawer, deciding to put it aside for a while. The next morning, after the evening at the sea, I felt an irresistible need to go to Savoyar immediately. I strongly demanded to be taken home, but it only resulted in an argument with Sebastian. Slamming the door loudly after his firm refusal, I burst into tears on the bed. I even removed the protective barrier and allowed Sebastian and Rainn to read the letter, but the prince remained adamant.

After his refusal, I lost control and fell into hysteria, screaming at Sebastian and even throwing objects at him until he approached me and subdued me. Since they kept me as a captive and didn't allow me to return home, I decided to go on a strike. I tried to be stubborn and refused to eat, but after an angry Sebastian burst into my room, threatening to personally feed me, I had to eat everything that Lady Price brought. The only thing I managed to insist on with the prince was my categorical refusal to leave the room.

Two days later, they returned the letter to me after a thorough examination. Rainn confirmed that it was genuine, and they had carefully checked it.

For more than a week, I've been waging a war with both my inner demons and my well-wishers.

Exiting the bath, combing my wet hair, I didn't expect to see Sebastian in my room. He stood by the doors, arms crossed over his chest.

"How did you get in? I locked the door," I tried not to show my embarrassment as I moved to the table and put down the brush.

He smirked, "Princess, this castle can be opened by anyone, even Lady Price. We have training at sunrise tomorrow," he stated, scanning me with his gaze.

I froze, feeling a bit flustered. I stood before Sebastian completely naked, with only a towel barely covering my hips.

"You can't be serious. I'm not going anywhere, Sebastian. I don't care about your plans," I said as I laid back down and pulled the blanket up to my chin. Feeling confident that no matter what, I won't leave my room.

At that moment, however, he did something unexpected. Sebastian confidently circled my bed, pulled the blanket off me, and with a swift motion, he threw me over his shoulder like a sack.

"What are you doing?!" I protested, trying to wriggle free, but his grip was like iron.

"We have training. I warned you," he said, holding me while his other hand picked up my uniform and weapons from the floor. Without slowing down, he walked past the astonished Lady Price and Rainn in the living room.

Unperturbed and without hesitation, Sebastian marched towards the sea, while I desperately squirmed and shouted at his back.

"If you don't stop yelling, I'll cover your mouth," he menacingly growled, slapping my behind in the process.

Stifling my anger, I erupted with a series of compliments aimed at him, but he remained unfazed and kept his steady pace, all the way to the water. I was all wet from the splash when he suddenly waded into the sea up to his waist and swiftly tossed me into the water.

"Are you completely insane? What the hell...!?" I hissed, spitting water. After standing up, I moved closer to Sebastian and attempted to point a finger at him.

He caught my hand and, without saying a word, pulled me close to him, so close that our lips almost touched. At that moment, I felt his warmth and heavy breath on my wet skin.

"No need to provoke me in such a state, princess. My self-control has its limits," he said in a husky, low voice, and he moved away, not lowering his gaze from my eyes, as if afraid to let it drift lower.

The anger was raging inside me, and I wanted to pour it all out on Sebastian, but the meaning of his words soon reached my mind. I lowered my gaze and took a deep breath as I submerged myself back into the water, hiding myself up to my chin.

Apparently, while I was venting my anger on Sebastian, his eyes were treated to quite an intriguing sight. My nightshirt had become completely soaked and transparent, and as I stood up from the water, it clung to my body, making it clear that there was nothing underneath. Well, it allowed my breasts, stomach, and everything below to be clearly seen.

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Oh, the chaos, and there I was, rushing at Sebastian in such a state. He noticed my embarrassment, smiled, and headed towards the shore.

"A beautiful view, princess," he said, spreading his arms, sweeping his gaze across the sea and then pausing on me, implying that the view of the sea wasn't what he had in mind. "But that's not why we're here," he grinned and stepped out of the water.

"Your uniform and weapons," he pointed to my belongings lying on the sand. "Five minutes, or else I'll come into the water, and we'll find something else for you to do."

His words stirred mixed feelings in me: embarrassment and anticipation. Being close to a man in such an ambiguous situation was both thrilling and intriguing. Despite the shock and embarrassment, I felt a spark of interest. The proximity to the prince, even in such an unusual and awkward moment, gave me a sense of unpredictability and excitement.

Sebastian went towards a cliff and turned his back, pretending to examine the bushes, thus giving me the opportunity to come out and get dressed.

Wrapping myself in my uniform and drying my hair with a spell, I picked up my swords and approached Sebastian.

"I don't want the training," I declared with a firm tone.

He turned around slowly, looked me over, and frowned. "What do you want then, princess?" he asked with anger in his voice. "To sit in your room for another two weeks and then end up in Christoph's hands? Maybe I should just take you there right now and hand you over, so he won't have to wait for his live bait?" There was tension and anger in the man's voice.

"So you plan to fulfill your mission as a guardian by locking yourself in your room and crying?" he continued, circling around me like a predator ready to attack. Ice and fury reflected in his eyes.

I raised my hands and covered my face with them. The wave of anger I felt was replaced by an overwhelming exhaustion as Sebastian reminded me of the situation I was in. "I... I can't, Sebastian. Just leave me alone," I whispered, feeling weakness enveloping me.

"Damn it, Alex!" Sebastian roared, grabbing me by the wrists and pulling me towards him, crashing his lips onto mine as if trying to silence my pain and desperation. My thoughts became tangled as our lips touched, and I felt both doubt and passion. I allowed the prince to deepen the kiss, not resisting. It was a kiss filled with challenge, a mix of anger, fear, and desire.

As Sebastian's caresses grew more insistent, a thought that had long occupied my mind surfaced: "I don't want this anymore." Pushing away from Sebastian, who didn't expect such a reaction, I slapped him across the face without hesitation.

"Don't you dare," I hissed, trying to catch my breath. "Never again, do you hear me? NEVER AGAIN, dare to touch me!" I practically shouted those last words.

I myself didn't understand what had come over me. All the emotions I had suppressed since the ritual, his escape, the mysterious postcards, and the strange kisses, suddenly exploded in my mind. I wouldn't allow myself to be played with anymore.

I felt a surge of rage, not just simple anger, but pure fury. The reserve of magical power began to fill, and I could feel my eyes starting to glow, warning of an impending attack.

Sebastian appeared calm, but there was a flicker of surprise and wariness in his eyes.

Slowly, I raised my hand, and a vortex of energy began to swirl around it.

"You know what I just realized, Sebastian?" I spoke, elongating my words softly. "You are not much better than Christoph. Yes, you didn't kill my parents, but just like him, you want to use me. Your and Rainn's postcards, the ritual, all these manipulations with attraction. What are your real intentions?" A powerful wave of magic started to gather in my palm. My fingers sparked, enveloped in magical flames.

Sebastian remained silent, attentively observing every movement I made, with a grim expression. After my question, he slowly drew out his weapon and prepared for defense.

I tilted my head to the side, playing with the power in my palms, increasing and decreasing the flames.

"Don't you have anything to say, Sebastian?" I continued to watch him, expecting any reaction to my words, but not a single muscle twitched on the prince's face. He had no intention of responding.

Summoning all my determination, I directed a magical attack straight at Sebastian. A powerful surge of energy burst from my palm, forming a fiery beam that rushed toward him.

In response to the threat, the prince immediately assumed a defensive posture, swirling the flow of magical energy, he conjured up fiery shields. Sebastian quickly assessed the forces, preparing for the impending battle. The fire of determination ignited in his eyes, and he turned sideways to the beam, ready to block the attack. Now, he stood not as the heir prince but as a combat mage.

As the beam reached Sebastian, it met resistance and crashed against the protective shields. Forces clashed, and the entire landscape trembled from the magical confrontation.

Sebastian firmly resisted the attack, holding his defenses steadfastly. He exerted his power to maintain the impregnability of his barriers, seeking to soften and absorb the waves of energy coming at him.

I hurled clusters of energy at Sebastian one after another, unleashing all my rage. When he noticed that my strength was dwindling, Sebastian lowered his shield and cast a spell of fiery vines on me. I was bound, unable to move.

"Your anger and hostility directed at me won't lead to success," Sebastian said calmly and confidently, looking at me. "I'm not your enemy, Alex." He removed the restraints that immobilized me and turned his back, inviting me to walk towards the house. "I think that's enough for today. No one from the locals has come running to the sounds yet."

I felt utterly perplexed. He was just impenetrable. Once again, I found myself empty-handed. Why was it only with him that I felt like an unreasonable child constantly testing the patience of a wise adult?

I followed Sebastian, and when we entered the house, lunch was already set on the table. Lady Price and Rainn seemed excited and came out of the living room to greet us. While Lady Price scolded Sebastian for the morning incident, I quietly slipped into my room to freshen up and change for lunch.

Surprisingly, lunch went by peacefully. Lady Price was passionately sharing something, Rainn pretended to be attentively listening, and Sebastian and I were mere observers. At least, my appetite was excellent after the magical duel.

Everything could have ended peacefully if not for Lady Price's last remark, "Alex, dear, your birthday is in two weeks. We should already order dresses. Better yet, several of them, as you can't go to the de Forest palace without a worthy wardrobe. Don't you agree, Sebastian?"

I looked at her with slight astonishment. Of course, I had no objections to ordering dresses, but going to the de Forest castle was certainly not part of my plans.

"I will take care of it, Nena, don't worry. By the appointed day, my fiancee will have everything she needs," Sebastian calmly and unwaveringly replied, sipping his mint tea.

I glanced at Rainn, but he only shrugged, indicating that he was hearing about it for the first time too.

Well, I had a feeling that these two weeks would hold a few more surprises for me.