Your Excellency

'Tell me about yourself' in Sebastian's version meant that he furrowed his brows deeper for a while, struggle visible on his face as if Shalei was asking him to cut one of his limbs off and not only to put his ass down to the nearest available surface.

Then, under Shalei's insistent stare, Sebastian finally relented with a little twitch on his eyelids and sat down rigidly on the chair opposite her. Shalei had no idea whether to laugh or cry. Sebastian sat in such a pristine position that his back remained ramrod straight and hands clasped atop of his lap. He put on a poker face that gave off the impression of someone waiting for the death verdict.

Seriously, was he always like this? Or was it Shalei who made him unable to loosen up? If that's the case, she almost felt flattered. She was unaware that she had this kind of effect on people.

The urge to tease the man returned. "I'm serious, Seth. No need to act so formal around me. How old are you? Twenty-something? Oh, look at me. I have forgotten to introduce myself." She grimaced. "Well, I know that you know it already but there's nothing wrong with a proper introduction if we're going to be stuck together for a while, isn't there? My name is Shalei Larous."

Sebastian blinked slowly. His eyelashes were so thick and long, Shalei let out a woeful sigh. How unfair.

Silence stretched between them and just when Shalei thought that she wasn't going to get an answer, Sebastian said, "I am Sebastian Silverstairs, the leader of—" He swallowed down whatever he was going to say. "...This humble one will be turning 27 this year."

"Twenty seven!" Shalei cooed. "You're a whole ten years older than me, Seth. Not bad!"

Shock rippled through his face from the slight of his pupils and Shalei was almost proud of herself that she noticed it. Her mouth curled upward. Somehow, the food tasted a tad better. Or it could be the effect of having the world's most gorgeous man by your side as you ate shitty food. "Continue." She ordered. "Tell me about yourself."

Sebastian furrowed his brow deeper.

Shalei feared that the lines were going to be etched into his gorgeous forehead if he kept going like this. Thus she decided to cut him some slack. "Okay, first thing first, why are you doing…this, Seth?" She gestured between them meaningfully. Great, this was a good conversation starter. Not too intruding to be classified as rude, but clear enough to get her meaning across. Shalei patted her back inwardly. "Money? Because someone ordered you to?"

"No." The man denied firmly, which was kind of a surprise. "No one ordered me to." A dark look flickered in his eyes before he added, "Someone has to do this. This humble one is just doing what I am supposed to." His gaze was clear, blue eyes impossibly brilliant that Shalei had to tear her eyes away lest she got lost in them.

Well, that was the longest he had ever said in one saying. Shalei swallowed her food as she registered his words. Weird, quite weird. But she guessed she could accept it. Sebastian's excuse sounded too righteous for a kidnapper but moral ethics couldn't be forced into anyone, right? "Fine…" She nodded slowly and put the spoon down.

The food was adequate enough to pad her stomach but not enough to make her full. Guess she had to start working on this one to improve her living condition in the next few days. And why was it so hot anyway? Shalei thought that it was because there was a literal hot specimen close to her but she hadn't been imagining it.

The weather — and she hadn't even stepped out of the house, for God's sake — was extremely humid and dry. Sweat beaded on top of her nose and she used the hem of her sleeves to dab it away. Her long hair didn't help either. She felt like she was enveloped in a large, sweltering blanket, one that made her sticky all over. If this was often the case, she supposed that she had to thank whoever gave the idea of bathing her while she was unconscious. She didn't want to wake up being all sweaty and disgusting either.

"There's a bathroom down the hallway." Sebastian suddenly said. "Do you…"

"Yes." Shalei nodded almost spontaneously. Her shoulders sagged in relief. "God, yes, I would appreciate a bath very much. Thank you."

Sebastian pressed his lips together and oh, Shalei started to understand that this was how he looked when he was starting to get upset. As she expected, his next sentence was, "Thank yous are unnecessary. This humble one is wholeheartedly willing to serve you to your heart's content."

Shalei felt heat creeping up her cheeks and she blamed it on the weather. W—What was he saying? Serve her? That was too much even for a hostage, wasn't it? The reverential way Sebastian treated her, his grace and politeness, it truly made Shalei feel like she was some kind of Princess instead! She definitely didn't start thinking about 'different' ways she could order Sebastian to serve her. Curse her indecent mind. More importantly, how could someone be allowed to sound perfectly earnest all the while giving off very sexy and mature vibes?

Shalei straightened her back and harrumphed, throwing her eyes out of the window to prevent Sebastian from knowing how much his words affected her. "I don't need anyone to serve me. Just a decent roof over my head and edible food is more than enough." There, she complained about the food. Sheesh, talk about subtlety. Shalei cleared her throat. "Well, you may lead the way. Or just tell me where to go."

Just as she was saying that, a knock resounded through the door, revealing the middle aged woman who was delivering food a few moments ago. Shalei was awed at her punctuality, but then the realization dawned on her in the next second; there might be a listening device somewhere in the room. Well, what was she expecting anyway? She was no one but a hostage.

"This is Meagan, she will serve you. Feel free to order her if you need help." Sebastian introduced her monotonically.

Shalei had just wanted to protest that she was a legitimate adult — thank you very much — who was capable of bathing alone and not a three years old who would make a mess without anyone to supervise her when the woman, Meagan, lifted her head for the first time to look at her.

Her honey brown eyes sparkled with muted astonishment and wonder so bright that it made the words die down in Shalei's throat. She bent into a full ninety degree bow, the same one as Sebastian earlier, if not even deeper. "Your Excellency, it's this lowly one's utmost honor to be given the opportunity to serve you."

Shalei almost tripped on her gown. "Your… Excellency?"