unexpected alliance.

Lucinda stared at the man sitting gracefully opposite her. The garden was filled with sun light and the scent of the sweet aroma of flowers.

He had accepted the invitation faster than she expected. Now that she studied him well without the mask. He had an undeniable appeal, the man sitting before her physique was a perfect blend of slender elegance and defined muscles, and his style effortlessly combines sophistication with rugged allure.

His slightly hooded gaze roamed over her as she assessed him. He held a knowing smirk on his lip, and a glint in his gaze.

"You came faster than I anticipated" she voiced her thoughts.

"Who am i to make a lady like yourself wait too long". His tone was playful and had a teasing edge to it. Lucinda gave a little snort at his remark.

"I have to admit you do have a way with your words"

"I try" his chuckle was low and deep, sounding too sensual for the light atmosphere in the garden. But it was somewhat a facade as beneath the veil of the bright sunny surrounding, the tension was brewing, both presence like dark predators fighting for dominance, their words was too good of a mask it could almost fool anybody, but not the men that stood by their sides.

Though to a foreign party their meeting might hold a subtle unknown crackle in the air, Connor and Frederick knew very well the two monsters that held a calm exterior.

"Seeming the urgency you had in coming after receiving my invite, should i assume you know little to nothing about me?" Her words were probing.

"The verminous wretch, Malevolence witch and the woman of loath" he said elating an interested gaze from her. " Their words not mine. But nothing to fret about lady Lucinda, I'm not prone to reading into rumors. I rather like to find out the truth myself". He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well if it's your curiosity that brought you here, then i should clarify now that they aren't wrong".

"Bold you assume that," his words were casual. "But my intentions are quite simple".

"And they are?" This man sitting across from her, crossed legged was unreadable, his walls up and impenetrable, his gaze expressive but deceiving, but if there was one thing she knew, it was that she sensed no malicious intent from him. That skill was honned from being surrounded by people with malicious intent while growing up, it was almost second nature to her now.

But yet, she still couldn't read this dark brooding man before her, his gaze sharp and lips paused and oddly too relax around her, as if she wasn't a threat. Almost every man and woman she's crossed regarded her as one, purely because she could see through them.

"My presence here is exactly for the reason of the ball"

"And that is?" She inquired. His gaze shifted to her body guard beside her. Lord Silas was once curious about the first man to dance with her at the ball, but the few moment Silas sat with Lucinda he studied the man beside her, his build, hair color and demur, and Silas suspicions was confirmed; that it was her guard she danced with first that night.

Probably the first dance she had was all they expected knowing well the intention and view the socialites men held about her at the ball. Him going to dance with her was considered daring as there was more than a slight chance the men there weren't interested, they all held their selfish intentions at heart.

He brought his gaze back to Lucinda and gave a smile perceived as harmless "The innocent intent of your son. The ball was to find a husband for you wasn't it? And i came to fulfill that role" The way he said it was like he brought an obvious solution to all of her problems.

The declaration of his attempt not only elicit narrowed gaze from Lucinda and Connor but Frederick was also curious at what his master was playing at. Was this really their goal of being here today?

"Quite bold of you to assume i want a husband."

He slowly threaded his fingers together in interest, his gaze becoming more lively.

"Humor me Lady Lucinda. What is it that that you want?". She pursed her lips studying him.

At her extended silence he continued. "Believe me when i say i mean no harm. As you must know along with every other person in the empire. The news of your ex fiancee and his wife taking your son in their custody a few days from now has spread round like wide fire. And eventually it reached me and got me curious," his well polished shoes were swaying side by side "I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but it no new law that a Lady; no matter her standing cannot hold the custody of their child if their former partner is intent in taking the child in his care; that is without a partner of her own to fight for against it." It was easy to connect the dot of what he was trying to relay. She simply had no chance in keeping Theodore without a partner of her own. She knew fully well she couldn't fight this battle alone, her role was disposable and she had no favour in the sight of the law. It made her rage thinking of it, her usual calm exterior threatened to crack, her gloved hands clenched tight, her knuckles threatened to turn as white as the silk fabric. A wisp of emotion— worry, filtered through the crack and Silas assessing gaze quickly made note of it.

"Noting your determined demur, i see you have no intentions of giving up" he noted with his usual all knowing smile.

"I see no reason for you to aid me in my endeavor" she cut to the chase. Not beating around the bush.

Silas tilted his head in thought, his hand coming to rest under his chin.

"I didn't think i needed a noble cause,". She narrowed her gaze at him. " I'm sorry Lady Lucinda, but if you are expecting a chivalrous reason for my actions, you'll be disappointed I don't work that way. I only get involved in things i see potential".

Potential?

"Like i said before, my intentions aren't complex." Silas locked his cool gaze on Lucinda" I come to offer you something quite simple," his lips tilted up into a mischievous grin " You, Lady Lucinda are free to use me as you see fit".

Lucinda didn't know whether to call this man ignorant or too confident. She'll go with both.

With her gaze showing the disbelief of the whole situation she asked "And may i know the man offering himself". Was she going to take him seriously?

"Ah, i was wondering when you would ask" his face brightened up in glee. Silas could feel Fredrick skeptic gaze on him "It depends what you want to call me; some call me an abomination , a monster, manipulator, murderer," he talked lightly as if he was discussing about the weather and not vile names unusual to be trained on a human. "And my personal favorite," his smile spread uncomfortably wider "... the Devil".

It took a few moment for Lucinda to process his words. She blinked up at him in sheer disbelief.

"I-i would like to know your given name" in the first time in the conversation, her voice cracked in uncertainty. The air had definable gone chiller, the aura radiating from him turned overwhelmingly dark, suffocating and poisonous.

"Well then," he tilted his head, his grin turned sinister " i go by the name Lord Silas. Lord Silas Quilvet".

Connor stiffened beside Lucinda,his eyes going wide.