‘Your highness, don’t look at me like that.’ Edmund moved backwards in the direction of the carpenter.

He took the device and put the finger of the carpenter on it, making the light glow.

‘See, he likes you; how could he not? Your kindness provided him with employment and reduced taxes, but what about Ethan there? He is young and had the opportunity to learn this craft and now, with more work, he still don’t look at the duchess with favor, which is interesting.’ Edmund looks at the carpenter and to Ethan.

Ariadne gave Eliza her fan while moving towards Edmund, clenching her fist and glaring angrily at him.

‘I’m going to spend time here and teach Leah the runes, making Ethan jealous, sounds like he doesn’t like you because of me, so the opposite could be.’ Ariadne's hand on Edmund's throat cut his words short.

‘Why do you keep forcing me to do this to you, peasant? Are you out of your mind? Right now, apologize to Leah and Ehan.’ She tightened the hold she had on his throat.

‘Your highness, you are going to kill him.’ Eliza approached her and spoke.

He was released by Ariadne, who left a handprint on his throat. Everyone was stunned. Edmund turned to look at Ethan and Leah, who were still kneeling on the ground.

‘As you can see, Ethan, she stood up for both your and Leah's honor. Do you still believe that she doesn’t care about people? She may be a Chatzi, but is a noble still a noble?’ Edmund rubbed his neck.

He was grinning as he walked by Ariadne. The situation left everyone speechless. As everyone was stunned by everything, Edmund took Ethan’s hand, again pressing against the device, and the crystal lit it up. He turned around to face Ariadne and, a moment before, felt another drop fill her heart.

‘It is amazing how quickly hearts can change.’ Edmund gave Ariadne a friendly smile.

Leah stood up and slapped Edmund on the back of the head. But she felt like she was hitting a wall of bricks, as she had put a lot of force into it.

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‘You stupid teacher! Ouch!’ In pain, she grabbed her hand.

‘I apologize for the hand, Leah; I just don’t like being looked at, and it was good to know more about Ariadne’s power." Edmund scratches the back of his head.

‘Peasant, You are just strange.’ Ariadne left the room.

Edmund helped Leah and Ethan get up and bow to them. Eliza grabbed his collar and dragged him away, following Ariadne out of the workshop.

‘Leah, I will be back to teach you more.’ Edmund Screamed.

The four people in the room, who were now by themselves, exchanged confused glances with one another. The blacksmith and the carpenter began to chuckle at the situation as Leah looked at Ethan and started to laugh. Ariadne was quiet in the front, gazing out at the town and waving at some onlookers. She had a smile on her face as she walked toward the mansion.

'Wait, your highness, I’m going to call the carriage; he is close to where we got out first.’ Eliza ran back.

Edmund moved closer to the duchess, staying by her side as he rubberized his neck. She looked around, and she noticed that nobody was close to them. She gave the young man a furious look in her eyes.

‘Why do you keep forcing me to treat you like this, peasant? I lack self-control, and that is how you mock me? Is this a test?’ She yelled at him.

‘I want people to appear favorable to you, you just talk to the leaders but everyone needs to use the devices in the long run, it was just a good opportunity and like, this is fun and natural.’ While gazing at her, Edmund leaned against a nearby wall.

‘You can’t keep doing this; I don’t want to use the slave seal, but you have given me no other option.’ She takes a deep breath, looking at the sky.

‘Ok, that was my fault, but let us be honest, you sure like to choke people.’ He chuckles while looking at her.

‘Kneel!!!’ She said it in a cold, angry voice.

Before Edmund realized he was on his knees, he was staring at her angry face with his mouth shut. Ariadne approached him and remained by his side for some time until the carriage arrived. Eliza opened the door and saw Edmund on his knees, completely motionless.

‘Your highness, why is he like that?’ Eliza looked confused.

‘He has a lot to learn, so perhaps spending a day in this position will be beneficial for him. He needs to think before he speaks or acts.’ She walked into the carriage and shut the door.

‘Are you really going to let him be like this until night? Is not even close to the Afternoon.’ Eliza spoke, looking at Edmund through the window.

‘You can talk and you can move when the night comes, peasant; learn from this; I can’t have you by my side with this behavior; let’s go.’ Ariadne cast an angry look at the young man on his knees.

‘Wait, don’t leave me like this; I am sorry.’ Edmund yelled.

As the night came, the guards at the mansion noticed a young man with white hair approaching them, but his body was covered in drawings, and he had whiskers on his cheeks. The two just chuckled as Edmund passed them, but to their surprise, he smiled back at them, as if he, too, found the situation amusing. As he passed, they noticed that there was something written on his back.

‘All hail the duchess.’ One of the guards whispered.

Ariadne was looking through the window and saw Edmund pass, walking with all of his body covered in drawings. She wanted to see him because, after she left him, as the day passed, she felt more drops fill her heart. The duchess was surprised to see Edmund looking at her and waving with his two arms while smiling.

‘Such an idiot.’ She whispered while wavering at him shyly.