Severing the ties.

Nyx stared at Max's dark brown eyes emotionlessly.

"The person I have chosen is not just capable but loyal to me." Nyx said staring at Max's eyes. She released a bit of her 'intent' focussing on Max.

Max, shut up and felt his heart tightening under Nyx's gaze.

'What is this fear?' Max thought.

Nyx has changed, yes, but this drastic change in Nyx is puzzling Max.

The aura of dominance Nyx exudes and the much violent 'murderous intent' is not something a child should have.

He, himself along with Kira and Rodney raised Nyx.

To be honest with himself, before meeting the Blood's Nyx never had any personality of herself. She only did nothing but eat, sleep, study and repeat.

The three learned many things about Nyx in the past few months than the past 13 years.

There were many things that they learned, that they never saw Nyx doing before or taught her before.

These days when they interact with Nyx they feel like they are interacting with an adult, someone their age or older?

If the person in front of him is someone he didn't look after 24/7, then he would have believed that 'this person' in front of them is not their lady Nyx but an imposter who took her place and replaced her.

"His name is Julian Mathew Grace."

"Loyal? Yeah, right. There's no one in this world who is loyal to me than him." Nyx said giving out a chuckle before continuing.

"A 'Grace' never breaks their promise. Julian Grace made a 'Blood Oath' to serve me."

The three of them, Rodney, Max and Kira were shocked to learn that the 'SHADOW' took a 'Blood Oath' to serve Nyx.

There are two families in the 23 Sacred Noble families and clans that are very unique.

One of the family is the Grace family.

The members of the Grace family never break their promises.

A 'Grace' would rather die than break a promise that has been made.

Even the branch members of the family aren't an exception to this 'Rule of Grace'.

And the other one is the Aurier family.

The members of the Aurier family never lies.

But that doesn't mean they always speak the whole truth though.

Though no lies, they speak half-truths.

They speak in layers of layers, of half-truths hiding the whole truth, that it's hard to tell the truth, that one is seeking is the truth they are after or not.

It's hard to speak to an Aurier, one can never know, that are they telling you the truth you want to hear or the truth they want you to hear when one speaks to an Aurier.

The 'Blood Oath' is actually a sacred vow.

Only these two families practice this sacred vow.

"So, yes, that is the reason I asked the maids to clean up the room. About how capable he is? You can assess him if you want as the head of the security to see how capable he is. My friends, the Blood siblings were the one who trained him. So that's it, and lastly about how I decided on something like this without discussing with any of you? I'm the 'master' of the Prince Household and my guardian is Cassandra Prince. Why should I discuss this with you than my guardian Cassandra?" Nyx said getting up from the chair.

She turned away from the three of them, then started walking out of the dining hall.

But just before she left the dining hall she spoke up loud enough for the three of them to hear.

"To the three of you, listen well. I've wasted enough time, but now no more. What I do is none of your business, so do not question me. That is the last warning I will give you three.

With this, Nyx severed all past ties with them that she held dear.

From now on they are nothing but her subordinates or servants.

"Yes, that's how everything should be." Nyx muttered in a soft voice.

The voice sounded full of pain.

Droplets of tears trickled down her cheeks.

No one heard her, no one saw her.

Nyx left the residence to go to the clubhouse to hang out with her friends.

~~~

Arriving at the front of the building of the clubhouse.

Nyx took a deep breath, her mood is quite a s*itty sulking mood ever since she left the residence.

She was about to go inside then, suddenly she felt the presence of someone.

Without turning she said. "You're presence is still too strong Julian."

Julian who was hiding and silently observing Nyx, showed himself in front of Nyx.

"Forgive me, my 'Grace'. I was just-" he was cut off mid-sentence by Nyx.

"It's okay, Julian. Also, you dont have to be so formal with me when I'm alone or with my friends. Though you have improved a bit I see? But you're presence is still too strong, you have to work harder and dont let anyone know of your presence as you are my 'SHADOW' Julian." Nyx said staring at Julian.

"And I'd love to have a companion, I would like to talk to. You are my 'SHADOW' Julian, unlike others you are different. You will spend the rest of your life in my service, providing me company and conversation and protect me from all kinds of danger. I'd like you to be my friend, not my servant, Julian." Nyx said looking at Julian's violet coloured eyes. Such a unique eye colour. Nyx can stare at those unique innocent eyes all day and dont get bored of it.

"I see, I understand, Nyx." Julian was really surprised, hearing Nyx. He was very happy to share a special bond with Nyx other than a bond of a master and servant.

He gave a gentle smile, towards Nyx and nodded his head.

That Smile is only reserved for Nyx, no other has the luxury of getting that smile from Julian.

Nyx was a special existence to him, his 'light', his 'Grace', to him Nyx was everything.

Nyx thought of something looking at Julian.

"Hmm, you need to learn how to get into people head." Nyx said nodding her head and raising her eyebrows.

"Hmm?" Julian was puzzled by what Nyx said.

Nyx looking at the puzzled Julian chuckled lightly.

She raised her hand and tapped the right side of her temple with her index and middle finger a few times then said.

"You need to learn how to get into peoples head, learn what they are thinking, learn their facial expression, body language etc etc. You have to learn what everyone thinks, everyone includes me too, Julian." Nyx said smiling to Julian before she got inside.

She didn't properly explain and kept it quite vague, what she just said to him, it's all for him to figure out what she meant.

After all, he is her 'SHADOW'.

He needs to learn how to read people. Not what they say but also who they are. Interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues, he must learn to see past their masks into the real person. Logic alone won't tell you everything about anybody.

He must learn to surrender to other vital forms of information so that he can learn to read the important non-verbal intuitive cues that people give off.

It will not just be helpful in their work, but also in daily life.

"I need to talk with Aurora, who is in charge of his education and also his training. Psychology will be really beneficial to learn, hmm." Nyx said out loud what she thought off.

Arriving at the clubhouse, she saw everyone at the poker table playing poker.

"Hey!! I'm joining the next hand so finish quickly." Giving off a radiant smile, feeling a bit better from before when she left her residence. Nyx joined her friends to have fun without any worries.