7 ADAM ROCINANTE

The night Isla lost her virginity, the castle went silent. It felt like hell broke loose inside everyone's mind.

The second floor of the main palace was emptied. Not only to give them privacy but also because no Cassian had a strong enough heart to listen to the cruelty.

Some gritted their teeth and bit their tongue till it bled, and some cried in their rooms with hatred and resentment.

Ava Cassia was more than their ruler. She was one who kept their world spinning. She was one many would follow blindly if she let them be blind.

Indescribable feelings floated in the air, but the hostility only made Sebastian quiver in joy.

As he strolled down the castle's corridor, he knew he had made this kingdom his enemy at heart. He had become the bane of their existence all at once.

As he walked down the stairs, he suddenly saw him.

Kneeling down in front of the large portrait of Ava Cassia was Adam Rocinante. The light poured down from the stained glass windows, his face dark and shadowed.

He was a knight who was ready to take on any battle. His face was stern, and his expression was grim. There was a subtle burning inside his eyes.

The Cherished Knight of the Princess, Adam Rocinante, was famous for his cold loyalty. While Ava Cassia was famous for being wise, he was her shield and loyal hunt dog. He was both her defender and her weapon.

But seeing him here, now, kneeling in front of her portrait as he took her virginity, was something that stirred interest in Sebastian.

All about Ava Cassia could trigger his interest right now.

Well, that aside, what kind of dynamics did they have? Were both truly lovers like they all said?

Seeing him kneeling here, in front of that portrait, instead of bursting inside her room to try and kill Sebastian away from her, made him think that Adam was actually just the princess’ loyal dog and nothing more.

No man in this world would let his woman fall into someone else's touch without a fight. That, or he actually had an interest in being a cuckold.

"I thought the wounds would make you suffer just a little bit more."

Adam Rocinante slowly raised his face. He tilted his head just a little bit to allow him to stare into the shadow upstairs.

A black-haired man stood in the darkness as he kneeled under the moonlight. The portrait was witness to their silent belligerence.

"The Goddess had blessed me with a capable body. Under her watch, none of the princess' glory would fall, even though the demon's touch had tried to taint it."

That was the man who was rumored to be the princess' lover. The man Sebastian thought had taken her virginity.

Sebastian sensed an irritable feeling growing inside him.

Even though he had proved himself that Adam had not taken the princess' innocence, the fact that the rumors existed meant that their relationship was more than just a princess and her knight.

But why would he care that much?

The princess could keep her pet as long as they didn't cross the line. And under his watch, it would not be possible to cross it.

"The fair lady is asleep. You may come and visit her, loyal knight."

Sebastian descended the stairs and walked past him toward the direction of the main entrance.

It would've been fun to see the man's reaction after seeing his most beloved princess’ state after that night. However, it would be even better to just let him realize the loss he experienced slowly.

And when the time comes, Sebastian would extend his arm to him, letting him know that he never wasted any talent.

One meeting was enough to let him comprehend how valuable Adam Rocinante was. So after he broke him and his princess, he would be there to provide them a way to cope with their desperation.

Power was always the answer, after all.

Sebastian was about to leave when he realized Adam did not move even one inch after he turned his back on him. What did he even imagine going?

A vision of Adam running to Ava Cassia's room, kneeling beside her bed with a face full of tears and maddening anger. Or would it go another way?

Imagining Adam hugging Ava Cassia's body full of the traces he left...

Sebastian frowned.

This was the first time he cared about a woman he had conquered. Or was it because he hadn't conquered anything yet?

"Arrogance."

Sebastian stopped his steps when he heard that word. At the bottom of those stairs, he turned back to the man kneeling in front of the giant portrait of Ava Cassia.

He saw his unwavering stance. Cold and stern.

"Let's see how far it takes you, Sebastian Leodegrance."

Sebastian mocked as he heard it. "And let's see how far barking would take you, little loyal dog."

The moment Sebastian's footsteps disappeared, Adam finally broke his quiet and rigid expression. It took his entire sanity to keep himself together.

Her soft words repeated in his mind, holding him from exploding into anger.

[I will never die as long as my name is still being spoken far and loudly. My dearest knight, the time will come when you must raise your sword. But not today. Not yet. Hold on just a little bit more...]

[The day you and Isla achieve victory will come even without you using the muscle to fight. However, the moment any of you is threatened with death, it will be the day you will shed blood in my name.]