To be protected

The Saintess and the Duke left the stunned crowd in the temple. They didn't give the aristocrats time to congratulate them or to say their protests. They just left.

Euphemia boarded the Duke's carriage with his help. She felt like Cinderella who just escaped from the prince in the ball.

The Duke sat on the seat facing her. They looked at each other quietly at first.

He was very alluring. Long black eyelashes, glossy black hair, emerald green eyes, and a handsome nonchalant face. He was wearing a black fur cape, black coat, and black trousers. He was like a prince of the night.

"You said that you know where Sylvia is, Lady Euphemia," he said.

Euphemia nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. I have read of her."

Lucien looked surprised.

Euphemia chose her next words carefully. It would be a disaster to tell someone that he or she was just a character in a webnovel in her world.

"Before being summoned here, I was reading a book that contained some information about Aderlan and its people. It's not complete and the events there are not set in stone but I think it can help us," Euphemia said.

"Help us? What do you mean? I understand that you might be able to help me with your knowledge but are you in trouble of some sort, Lady Euphemia?" The Duke looked confused.

Euphemia chewed on her lip. Should she tell him?

Lucien noticed her anxious expression. "Could you please tell me? I would like to protect my fiancée. Is there some kind of harm that will befall you?"

Euphemia was surprised. "Why would you wish to protect me, Your Grace? I've already imposed on you for letting me stay in your residence. I would not want to bother you more, Your Grace. I can protect myself," Euphemia said.

"You're my fiancée. Isn't that reason enough? I may be a temporary fiancé but I will treat you kindly and you will be under my protection," Lucien said firmly. He was serious in protecting her.

She didn't expect that he would treat her kindly.

Euphemia looked down. She was suddenly getting teary-eyed. She felt embarrassed. She had always been good in concealing her emotions even when she was hurt. But this time, she was touched so why was she crying?

"In what I've read, the Saintess dies after using her powers to save Aderlan," she said softly.

She felt Lucien's hand touch her cheek.

"I won't let that happen to you," he said and gently wiped her tears.

He did not ask for her to stop crying. He simply let her.

"I'm sorry. I'm not usually like this," Euphemia said.

"I'm more surprised that you weren't like that in the temple," Lucien said.

"I think I was . . . murdered," Euphemia said, recalling the drink her ex-fiancé gave her.

Lucien looked alarmed. "By who?"

"My fiancé," Euphemia said.

Lucien didn't know what to say.

"It was an arranged marriage between our families. He wasn't really fond of me. I just didn't expect that he would do that. Maybe he wanted to marry someone else and I was in the way," Euphemia said. Her tears had stopped already. She was not going to cry for that person.

"May I ask why you chose me, Lady Euphemia? You must have read in your book about my reputation. Are you not scared that I will murder you?" Lucien asked.

Euphemia shook her head. "From what I've read, you loved your mother dearly even though she was . . . cruel to you. When your father died, your mother fell into depression. It said that your whole household was already burning when you came back after buying the white flowers your mother requested."

She was right. It was the same thing he told everyone else over and over but no one had believed him and he got tired of defending himself.

"It didn't say that you didn't kill them but I think you wouldn't do that. You were just a young boy. You loved your mother so much and why would you kill her and your servants? It doesn't make sense. The only thing that makes sense is that she . . ." Euphemia trailed off.

". . . burned everyone with her" Lucien finished.

His mother had killed herself and their servants in the fire. Before that happened, she had told Lucien to buy white flowers for her. It was a strange request. He didn't want to leave her while she was still obviously depressed from Father's death but she insisted that he follow her request. She told him not to bring any servants with him also. He bought white lilies for her. As he walked home, he saw the huge black smoke coming from the mansion. He ran but it was too late. The house was fully engulfed by the fire.

"I've chosen you because I think you're a good person. I don't know if the prince is not a good person but he wasn't able to protect the Saintess in the book I've read. I just want to change my fate," Euphemia said. "I don't want to die again, Your Grace."

It was strange. They had just met but it was like talking to someone they've known for a long time.

"As long as you are under my protection, I will not allow you to die, Lady Euphemia," Lucien said.

Euphemia smiled. "Thank you, Your Grace. I will also help you find Sylvia."

Lucien smiled. "I think she will like you."

The carriage stopped. Euphemia looked outside the carriage window. They were in front of a beautiful Victorian mansion.

"Welcome to your new home, Lady Euphemia."