Stay with me.

'This man is too commanding and arrogant. He is driving me nuts.'

They finally finished eating, but the awful Duke kept her on his lap while he tried to feed her, only after a long time, did he let her eat on her own.

The servants helped her wear a simple but elegant blue dress that made her look even more alluring. The Duke looked deeply at her as he walked towards her. He was making her feel uncomfortable with his unchanging gaze. It felt as if he were etching himself into her soul with his eyes making sure she would never forget him. A small twinge in her heart warmed her cheeks and made her feel dazed.

'What is going on? Where is the bloodthirsty Duke? Is he acting?' She could no longer bear his gaze and turned her head away.

"Come, give me your hand." He extended his hand and waited for her.

She hesitated for a moment but in the end, she lightly grabbed his hand. He smiled.

'This man is so confusing. I can't refuse him right now; I can't afford it.'

He took her hand gently and softly as if touching a treasure while he guided her outside onto a stone path that led to a large layout of small buildings and a huge construction right in the middle. Surrounding the stone path were several gardens filled with magnificent trees and refreshing plants. Albeit few people are granted permission the enter the premises of the Duke's personal territory, there were some scholars inside some of those buildings speaking intensely within them. When they were greeted with the appearance of the Duke, they politely bowed their heads and resumed their discussions.

Afterward, they passed over a beautifully crafted stone bridge that was leading to the entrance of a great building.

"This place is…" she looked around and was amazed. It was an exquisite place, with hundreds of books on the first floor and hundreds more on the second. There were several doors around leading to more quarters and another set of stairs leading towards the upper floors, but she could feel a powerful enchantment preventing anyone from going further.

"This is the Great Jin Library. I will grant you access to this place." He stole a glance at her as if expecting words of gratitude.

She was shocked. 'What is going on with this man', she couldn't understand him. He changed his mood very quickly. Sometimes he was bossy, arrogant, and cold, or indifferent, then he could be warm and mischievous. 'What does he want? I don't understand him.'

"There will be times when I can't be here accompanying you, if I'm not here, you can enter this place however you want. Come, let me guide you."

He took her around the place, showing her the collections of books not only on magic and artifact design but also in weapons crafting, medicine and literature, strategy and politics and a many of them on the history of the country, there were even more but it would take an eternity to look at them all.

It was an incredible library, and for the first time, she truly appreciated the man before her. She was in awe of the amount of knowledge he has. He was tall and handsome, with the aura of a leader.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What? You don't want access to the library? I thought you would like it."

"It's not that. You don't need to do this if you want to force me to be your wife. You know I have no power. You don't need to act this way."

He looked at her for a few seconds.

"What if I am not acting?"

"What?"

"What if I want you?" His eyes looked at her deeply with complicated emotions radiating from them.

She was stunned. A whirlwind of emotions and thoughts assailed her hard.

"I don't want to be here." She didn't trust the man.

"I know, but I can't let you go."

She clenched her fists and looked down.

"Stay with me." The whisper hit her heart hard. It felt like he was begging. Xueling looked up and saw his eyes. She didn't know why, but it felt like he was asking her to stay with him, willingly.

"I… I don't know." She knew she was too weak right now and it would be dangerous to go outside in her current state. 'This man, I just met him, why is he acting like this?'

"Please." He broke her. The way he asked her added to his handsome looks made her weak on the knees.

"I will think about it, I can't promise," She blushed, and her ears felt hot. She knew they were empty words as she had no intention of staying long. When her core has healed, she will find the opportunity to leave, but it was hard to turn him down when he asked her like that. She knew he was using her, but she was using him too, at least the magic gathering arrangement in his estate.

The Duke smiled brightly as if she had already said yes. He took her hands and was about to kiss her lips again, but she stopped him with her hands on his mouth.

"Stop doing that."

"What?"

"That." She said looking at the shameless man.

"Am I not allowed to kiss you?"

"No"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Why?"

'This man is driving me crazy. Is he an idiot? Why is he asking that?'

"Because… Because we are not lovers."

"I want you."

"Stop! Don't say anymore. I can't do that with just anyone even less with someone I met a day ago."

"…" He looked at her again with a complicated look. "Alright, I will wait for your permission."

"What?" That was not what she wanted.

"Is that ok with you?"

"I… I"

"Alright, let's go." He took her hand not waiting for an answer, he was grinning the whole way.

The rest of the day he guided her, talking about the mysteries surrounding this ancient country. As he spoke about his travels, she became fascinated and without her knowing it, her smile appeared naturally even her eyes were no longer as indifferent as the first time they met.

Unconsciously, she began to open her heart a bit to him. However, the stories of his travels made her hungry to learn more and to go out and see the world for herself. He didn't realize that his words would make her more eager to leave, he was so infatuated with seeing her smile for the first time, that he lost track of time and became talkative waiting for another smile and tender look from her.

He was acting out of character and the servants were in awe. After a long day of walking, he let her sleep in his chambers again as he headed to the study to work. She opened her eyes and sat up as she watched his silhouette go.

"What am I going to do?" She touched her furiously beating chest.