Become My Friend!

Davis could see that his fiancee, Young Mistress Evelynn Cauldon, didn't immediately answer and was currently hesitating on her decision. Else, she might have openly said that she didn't like this engagement or that she would willingly marry him.

'Looks like she is forced too. Uh, but I'm not opposed to this anymore, so it's not 'too' anymore...' Davis inwardly sighed.

"There is no need to decide so soon, Miss Evelynn. I can see some hesitation in your eyes, but the sooner you make your decision, the better it is for your reputation." Davis calmly said.

Evelynn couldn't believe her ears. 

Did this little prince not take a liking to her and decided to let the engagement conclude just like that? Or did he consider her feelings and said that? She couldn't guess which exactly was it, whether the former, latter or else with another motive altogether.

"Then I bid you farewell, Miss Evelynn." 

Davis had no choice but to leave after creating this awkward atmosphere like a coward.

He wanted to escape from further embarrassment as soon as possible as he felt that he would slip up. Just because he had transmigrated wouldn't suddenly make it easier for him to pick up a woman with his words left and right, although his status would.

As a man with no experience, he had no confidence in himself. Hence, for the first meeting, he felt a few words filled with his intentions were enough.

Ellia watched followed him closely while she eyed him with admiration.

She didn't forget the 'experience' she had with him yesterday. It turned her view of the world upside down. She could even get into grave trouble by playing a simple game with him?

'What else has the Prince has in store for me?' She very much looked forward to it and followed him, like a curious cat.

Ellia clearly looked as if she wasn't the one to give up easily, but if this was her fate, to live as a maid till she dies, then she will her life to the fullest as a maid rather than try to break free from it.

Well, at least she felt that it was better than to die early by betraying the Imperial Family.

After the prince left, Evelynn had a complex feeling emerge in her heart.

"Interesting..." She muttered with a wide smile on her face, her lips turning into a sensual curve.

If Davis had seen that, then there was a chance that he would've probably kidnapped her to make her his first wife. 

But of course, she didn't do that on purpose, but it was her natural disposition.

"Young Mistress, the prince is just a little kid for now. So what his highness says will not affect the marriage in the future. Please give up any thoughts of backing out." George Cauldon stated warily and left.

He felt that he had to report this to the Cauldon Family Head as quickly as possible. Such a matter couldn't just be left out like that.

"Miss! Wasn't that your chance?" Maisy muttered over Evelynn's ears.

Evelynn stayed silent.

She felt mildly confused and felt like she couldn't make a decision anymore. She didn't have any lovers or such people in her life.

Since she was engaged to the prince when she was ten-years-old, no one dared to woo her openly either. So she didn't have much experience interacting with the opposite gender other than her relatives.

======

Davis was deep in thought after getting into the carriage.

'Still, what is this feeling? I feel like I just gave her amnesty, pardoned her from her fate with a single sentence of mine. Is this how people at the top of the power hierarchy feel? No wonder they are so hungry for more power and authority. Even I feel like I can get drunk on it.' 

He shook his head sighed.

He felt that he had enough of his first day out in the Imperial Capital. The moment he met Evelynn, he became rather satisfied for the day.

'Or did I enter the Cauldon Emporium subconsciously feeling that I would meet my fiancee?' Davis felt amused at this thought.

In a moment, he ordered the carriage driver to return to the Imperial Castle.

He talked with Renard Nolan for some time about the Imperial Capital's specialties and sceneries till they arrived at the Imperial Castle. After that, he straight away walked into the Study.

After making himself comfortable on the bed, he thought about what he should do next in his free time and decided to develop Ellia's personality. 

After yesterday she was a little sensitive to him and opened up a bit. He felt that perhaps now is a perfect moment to break her shell of enslavement since yesterday's effects were still present.

"So Ellia, what do you think about Miss Evelynn?" Davis asked in a casual tone.

"Me?" Ellia slightly widened her eyes and thought for a second, "I think she is very beautiful and is a perfect match with your highness."

Ellia shook her head and sighed in half-hearted admiration, "Truly a match made in heaven."

Davis glared at her, "Speak your genuine thoughts."

Ellia's expression froze, 'Looks like I was found out...'

"Erm... She looks like an independent and proud woman despite her family circumstances, and I don't think that she will agree to be your concubine." Ellia puffed and replied.

"That's what I thought too..." Davis replied as he assessed Ellia.

It came as a slight shock to him that she even knew about this fiancee of his, or did she garner this much just by observing the two of them? He couldn't fathom.

Perhaps, not only was she talented in cultivation as he heard, but she was also skilled in various departments such as observation.

Suddenly, Davis stood, his face right in front of hers.

Ellia froze, realizing that their heads were too close.

Davis looked into her eyes deeply.

'What? What is this? Is his highness going to do it now?'

*Ba-dump!~* *Ba-dump!~*

Ellia's heartbeat increased like a young maiden's. She could feel his deep gaze, and it felt like her heart was going to explode. She couldn't bear his gaze, so she closed her eyes and waited for it to end.

As a maidservant and half a slave, she knew whose woman she was going to become. Hence, she more or less knew what her future would be like, but she didn't expect it to occur this soon!

She waited and waited for what it felt like a long time, but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes only to see Davis seated on his bed, looking a little disappointed.

'Why is the prince disappointed, was it because I didn't k… kiss him?' Ellia felt she had done something wrong.

"Ellia..." Davis's voice became tranquil.

"Y... Yes?" Ellia became truly nervous.

"Why didn't you push me away?" Davis asked a question, but it sounded insanely stupid to her.

"Push?" Ellia's black pupils shook, "How can I? There's no way I can do that. I am your maid, not your master! In other words, I am your slave!" 

Feeling pent up from his bullying, Ellia let out her angry emotions, thinking what did he even expect from his personal maid, in other words, his unofficial slave?

Davis inwardly smiled. 

Fortunately, it was just as he expected.

Ellia didn't seem to be entirely enslaved and have fear engraved into her. The fact that she could get angry and refute him, the sole prince of an Empire told him numerous things like how she still a child, a child who can't control her emotions, and mainly, how she is still redeemable.

Even if she had been imbued with wrong beliefs, he felt that he could still break it.

There was a moment of silence before Davis broke it.

He opened his mouth, and calmly asked, "Did I buy you?" 

"... No," Ellia thought and answered, still feeling angry.

"Did I ever say that you were my slave?" 

Davis stood up again.

Ellia realized that the prince never did call her that. She became a little confused and moved her small lips, "... No." 

"Did I ever say that you were my maid?" Davis walked towards her.

"... No." Thinking of it, she realized that he never even treated her like that.

"Then why are you degrading yourself?" 

He again stood face to face towards her.

"I…" She couldn't think coherently anymore as her thoughts went into disarray.

Suddenly, she felt small arms envelop her body in an embrace. She didn't know why, but she felt warm and secure in that embrace.

"Become my friend!" Davis suddenly demanded.

Ellia shuddered, feeling something enshrouding her heart.

"I... I can't..." She muttered as her eyes became moist.

"You can call me Davis!"

"No…" Ellia felt like something was stuck in her throat; she tried to get it out. She couldn't say, but something felt like breaking in her head.

"Call me Davis..." 

Davis repeated as he said, he was not giving up after coming this far. A child was in front of him, seeking warmth. He did not have the heart to treat her as his slave.

Ellia felt a rush of complex emotions overwhelm as she screamed, "Davis!" 

It was as if she finally had her inferiority complex break.

Davis smiled as he knew that his plan is working. He didn't realize it before, but going out and interacting with people outside and rather made him aware of how lofty his status and name are in the Loret Empire.

Just calling his name alone is blasphemous to people of lower status, and if Ellia, his personal maid were to call him that, she would feel that she is a lofty person as well, increasing her self-esteem, at least, in theory.

He cheerfully echoed, not letting that feeling in her heart disappear, "Again!"

"Davis!"

"Again!"

"Davis! Davis! Davis!" 

Tears were flowing down Ellia's eyes while she also finally possessed a smile on her face.

'Yes, why am I degrading myself when the person I serve, doesn't even look at me like a servant? Am I looking down on myself? Have I truly given up?' 

'Have I lost something?' No! I have a friend!'

"You, Ellia, have unofficially become my friend." Davis let go of her and happily said with a grin on his face while holding her shoulders. He didn't think that he would be able to change her mentality so soon. Hence, it became a pleasant surprise for him.

'She must be a very strong-minded girl.' He thought.

Besides that, he knew a person's mentality and personality would change extremely depending on the kind of experiences they go through, especially in their childhood and teenage years.

So if he had a chance to change her personality and temperament, he felt that the earlier he did, the better.

"Mhm..." 

Ellia bit her lips and nodded her head. At that moment, a thought sprouted in her head, which made her heart flutter.

At this point, Davis didn't deeply realize that giving an inch can tempt people to take a yard.