A Dilemma

Adriana instructed Jessy to stand at the door to keep a lookout before raising a sound barrier that works one way. There are two types of sound barriers, one that blocks sound from leaving and entering, while the other allows entry of sound waves, but no exit. And definitely Adriana meant the latter.

After Jessy left, she turned towards her friend and the fake doctor. She couldn't help but avert her eyes when she saw the concern in Elaine's eyes and the vigilance in Jayden's eyes. It's not like she could say, ' There's no need to think so hard, it was just a prank I pulled on you two because I was bored and wanted to play' could she?

She cleared her throat and tried to calm herself. Once she felt herself calm down, her face turned serious before staring deeply into Jayden's eyes and said, " How should I address you, Doctor Edward or .....?"

Jayden on hearing that felt his heart settle, he almost thought his disguise was seen through, " Duchess, you can simply call me Edward, and of course, I'll keep everything that happened here a secret. Please don't kill me... hnng uhh wahhh ... I-I'm good at keeping secrets I-"

Seeing a grown man crying pitifully made Elaine laugh hysterically. Having a man crying on one side and your friend laughing on the other caused Adriana to have her head ache.

" That's enough Blac- uhh Edward, or should I call you BlackWolf's master Jayden."

" What are you talking about Duchess? I don't understand." Edward retorted.

"Jayden I don't have time to waste, your disguise might be perfect but you forgot one thing, Edward is someone who is too afraid of offending others that he'll never push away someone with disgust flashing in his eyes. You might have thought nobody saw through it. But unfortunately we did. And if you want your disguises to be perfect, it's high time you start treatment your trauma, I mean your aversion to women."

The crying expression on the man's face immediately changed to a guarded expression. He looked carefully at both women's expression and seeing no ill intention, he chose not to fight back but still in a position where he can immediately escape if the situation turns bad.

" Duchess I don't think we've met each other nor does anyone in BlackWolf's know my real name, so how do you know that my name is Jayden?"

'Oops I seem to have mixed up matters. Should I say your future self told me? Ugh my memories are all jumbled up as a side effect of turning back time, so I can't put to use everything I know in my advantage since I'm not sure in what order it will happen. Right! The oath of silence!'

Adriana put on a serious expression and said

"Jayden if you were really Edward, I could let you leave because he is someone who keeps his words even if his life is endangered. A typically naive man who puts others before him. But unfortunately you are not him, not only that, but you are also the leader of an intelligence organization, letting you off is bound to be quite dangerous for me and my family. So, if you want to keep your little life sign an Oath of Silence with your life as collateral, then you may leave."

" I can sign an Oath of Silence but why should I keep my life as collateral? And Duchess how do you know so much about the doctor? I've looked into your circle of contacts, you've never met each other nor do you have any chance of meeting each other. And not just that, but how do you know me. Will you answer me if I sign the oath?"

Elaine who felt left out couldn't help but interrupt, " Hey hey aren't you guys forgetting me, I'm sad. Addy don't tell me the reason you made me flirt around was to find this chameleon. No before that, you tell me is this Edward guy really a real person or one of your identities? And Addy can I stop flirting with random strangers now that you've found him or am I wrong?"

Adriana could guess what was going on in her friend's mind, " Eli don't be silly, you don't really have to flirt with anyone, I just wanted to distract you back then. I didn't think you would take my word so seriously. But seeing you enjoy teasing other, I didn't want to stop you. Well you never took the flirting too far so I didn't think there was any need for me to stop you, as long as you are happy. I'm sorry, I know I'm wrong, but seeing you with a blank face without your usual silliness made me helpless. I couldn't help you with your troubles but only distract you with other matters."

Jayden on seeing the friendship between them felt envy again. The envy he felt when he saw the familial bond earlier was also his true feelings. Ever since he came in contact with the Duchess his disguise seems to be peeling off layer by layer. When his thoughts reached this point he felt an insurmountable amount of fear gushing in. He had unknowingly let his guard down, when he knew he shouldn't. This woman is too scary.

Adriana felt his discomfort so she looked at Jayden with a warm smile intending to calm the young man. But unfortunately for her it only scared the man even further.

'Ahh what got into me to make me come here when all this while I ignored that crazy bastards taunting? I should have not been so desparate to find that witch, I still have two more years left to find her. Ahh someone tell the woman to stop smiling, it's scary.'

"Addy your smile is so wierd, I think you should look into the mirror and try again. Just look at that, you scared the poor boy."

Adriana looked into the mirror and indeed saw that her supposedly gentle smile became wierd when she used it. Forgetting her original purpose she was immersed in correcting her smile to make it seem more natural. 'Hahh... I never knew smiling was so hard, should I smile or not? What a dilemma.'