Sophie was leaping from tree to tree when she saw a familiar carriage in the middle of the forest.
She decided to jump high and landed next to the carriage, which caught the guards off guard.
When the torch was near Sophie, they began to bow, and Sophie just chuckled, melting the hearts of the guards.
"Miss Sophie is here."
Axel dashed out of the big box to see Sophie, and instead of saying anything, he draped the cloak over her shoulder.
Sophie was just looking at her and planned to make herself close because she knew someone was watching her from afar.
Sophie's lips approached Axel's ears, which caught him off guard and said, "There's someone behind me."
"Please hold me until we enter your carriage."
Axel didn't have to prevent himself from looking back, but he sent signals that Hiro had found out too late, and before he could go away, he was already surrounded.
Sophie couldn't help but think that it wasn't too late and that she wasn't late for dinner as the carriage moved.
Then she asked, "Why are you there?"
"Did I interrupt something?"
Sophie looked at Axel, who was beside him with his hand on his face to hide his flushed face.
Axel didn't hear what Sophie said and was just listening to his losing heart.
He felt the same for Rebecca, but they were just young back then.
He also didn't expect himself to be like this towards the girl he had just met a few days ago.
Sophie found it weird but she didn't ask again, but she was curious about what they were doing outside the palace, because if there was, she would choose to leap from tree to tree because she missed doing that, especially now she's free.
"What are you doing in the middle of the forest?"
This time, Axel came to his senses and answered, saying, "I was looking for you."
Sophie was shocked and confused as to why he was doing these actions.
She sighed. "Do you need anything from me?" She crossed her arms in front of her
"Why are you being nice to me?" She added.
Axel just looked at her and said, "You're pretty much in danger right now, so I can't leave you alone in the dark."
Sophie was confused and asked, "Why is that?"
The carriage stopped, and Axel said to her, "As long as you're with me, I can't let you go into the dark by yourself. You can take me with you."
Sophie was taken aback, but Axel came out first and held Sophie's hand to get down.
She was not used to this kind of gesture because some of the men she encountered were meant to find her as a sexual toy that they could pass on because of her rank.
Sophie was following him up to the stairs and was restless.
She was itching to ask him about something, but she stopped her feet and stood still.
"Maybe it was because of the contract, Sophie. Don't get ahead of yourself. "
Sophie looked at Axel, who was heading on his way, and she felt some disturbance inside her body that she couldn't explain, but she kept it in.
The steps Sophie was taking filled the whole palace because of her strong footsteps.
"Looks like you had a bad day, your grace." Flora, who was on Sophie's back following her, said.
Sophie was shocked to not sense a person's presence because of the depth of her thoughts, and she looked at Flora with an apologetic look.
"Could you prepare a nice warm bath for me?" she asked.
Flora giggled as she continued to learn what Sophie was like.
She never expected that Sophie would have a sweet side, because working for Rebecca, Flora knew that it was difficult, and now she was working for the new Luna, she also wanted to be friends with her if she could.
---
Hugo was in Axel's room, and up until now they hadn't been able to talk.
Hugo was well, but he didn't dare think that he was against Sophie at that time.
Hugo bowed, and Axel didn't mind him as he went ahead and sat in his chair.
He looked at Hugo, and Hugo placed a letter on his desk, and he was ready to leave.
Hugo was awkward with Axel, especially when Axel confronted him with the fact that he still loved his father, even though Hugo cherished him.
"Wait! Again?"
Axel was irritated to receive another message from Rebecca; he had no idea what she wanted to happen, and Hugo was still obeying her.
"Why are you accepting this?"
Hugo didn't speak and looked at Axel. Axel knew that Hugo still stands for what is right and doesn't support Sophie at all.
Axel was about to put the paper into the fire, but Hugo stopped him and said, "Can you read it first?"
Axel just looked at Hugo and said, "Looks like you're good."
"Check the narrowest part of the border for me."
Hugo left with a heavy heart as he obeyed the task he was given.
When Axel was left alone, he decided to open the paper and couldn't stop laughing.
He said, while shaking his head. "You really don't think you have lots of time to be patient with me."
Rebecca sent Axel gifts and mostly letters in which she said she wanted him back and gave him things he wanted, but it had no effect on him; Axel just burned them one by one or tore them up in front of him.
Rebecca was persistent, but it didn't change Axel's mind one bit.
Axel sat on a chair, and suddenly he looked at his huge chandelier and the cobweb that surrounded it when he suddenly thought about how close their faces were when she said someone was following her.
Axel's heart was beating loudly, and if it was heard by Sophie why they were close, he was embarrassed, but he paused and skipped a step, and he was already where the man was tied.
Axel kneeled in front of the man as he looked at him coldly and said, "What are you doing behind my wife's back?"
Hiro was taken aback and a smirk flashed in his face, saying, "Is she even worthy of being your wife?"
Axel chuckled, and Hiro chuckled along with him, but in a glimpse of seconds, Axel's fist landed on Hiro's mouth, making him lose a tooth.
Hiro shivered in fear as Axel looked at him again. Axel coldly said, "What did you say?"
"Would you mind repeating it for me?"