kisss

Justin arrived at the training area and bowed before Agustus, saying, "My lord, you summoned me."

While practicing with a soldier, Agustus with a bandaged eye threw his sword away, placed it on the soldier's neck, and asked, "Did you keep an eye on her?"

Justin replied, "Yes, my lord. I left Eliana near that girl. She'll get close to her and tell us everything."

Agustus asked, "Do you trust her?"

Justin confidently said, "I could place my life in her hands with my eyes closed. I trust her that much."

Agustus warned, "Remember, if she betrays your trust, you'll pay the price."

Justin assured without hesitation.

Agustus instructed Justin to find out how the girl reached inside the empire and who killed the 20 soldiers.

Justin was confused, but Agustus stated, "No one, not even a flying bird, can harm her. Humans are capable of much."

Agustus explained the girl must have brought someone here or someone entered without her, but they can't escape him.

Justin left the scene as instructed.

Agustus shifted his gaze to Arya's room through a large window and recalled her story that had haunted him for years.

Hearing the tale, Eliana grew restless and asked, "Are you saying a whirlpool from the river suddenly brought you here, into this century?"

Arya nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes as she confessed she hadn't told anyone because they would think she's crazy.

Eliana assured her that she believes her and explained that every person in the palace is loyal to King Agustus and will do anything for him.

Arya held Eliana's hand and expressed her concern about how people might react.

Eliana reassured her and mentioned she wouldn't tell Justin. She remembered Agustus' advice not to reveal secrets.

Arya said, "You're very kind, you know."

Eliana replied, "And you more so."

Arya hesitated but then asked for Eliana's help to retrieve her bag from the whirlpool's path and find a way back to her world.

Eliana got anxious, telling Arya that it's not possible and that she should wait for the right time to act.

Arya realized the pressure and said she'd see what she could do. She understood that everyone's attention was on her now.

Suddenly, a knocking sound was heard at the door. Eliana signaled Arya to stay quiet. She went to the door, opened it, and found a soldier standing outside holding a large tray.

Soldier: "Lord Agustus has sent clothes for Mi Lady."

Eliana: "Just leave them inside."

The soldier got scared upon hearing Eliana and said, "Lord Agustus has threatened that no one can enter this room, or their head will roll. Take it, please."

Arya, inside the room, overheard the conversation and felt that Agustus was being tyrannical. She moved closer to the door in anger, but Eliana gestured her to stay back. Eliana took the tray and quickly pulled Arya inside with her.

The soldier disappeared quickly.

Eliana told Arya, "What are you doing? He's the king. He's not an ordinary person. You can't talk to him that way."

Arya replied, "Why not? He's your king, not mine. Tell him not to give me orders."

Eliana said, "Alright, fine. But you need to bathe and change. Come."

Arya responded, "Bathing and changing? What do you mean? I have hands, I can do it myself."

Eliana led Arya away, saying, "But it doesn't work like that here."

Arya retorted, "Oh, come on! Why don't you take a bath and put on clothes? My hands are capable. This isn't an issue."

Eliana, taking Arya along, said, "But things are different here."

Arya attempted to protest further, but Eliana continued without stopping.

After a while, Eliana turned Arya to face her and said jokingly, "Look at how lovely you're looking, more beautiful than any princess."

Arya responded with frustration, "Beautiful my foot! What is this? I can't even breathe properly in this dress. And this huge old-fashioned gown! Do you realize how foolish I look right now? This gown is so big that if I walk around this castle, I'll sweep the floor! How huge is this?"

Eliana burst into laughter at Arya's comment. Suddenly, a stern voice came from behind, "And who told you that you can roam around this castle without my permission?"

Eliana looked at the person behind her and lowered her head before leaving the room. Arya's eyes widened upon seeing Agustus, and she stared back at him.

Arya told him, "Someone should have taught you that when you enter someone's room, you should knock first."

Agustus looked at Arya's eyes carefully, stepped closer, and said, "You have the courage and pride that no one else possesses to look into my eyes and speak without fear. Now, tell me, what were you saying?"

Arya observed his intense green eyes and said with frustration, "I was saying that I'm not your toy. Nobody else can see me except you. And you... You have no right to decide things for me."

Agustus held her face in his hands, his smile not changing, and remarked, "True, you're not my toy, but no one can see you without my permission. And you... you also don't have the right to look at anyone other than me, do you understand, girl?"

Arya removed his hands from her face and replied firmly, "My name is Arya. And who do you think you are, deciding things for my life? I'm not your slave. Understand that. So keep your tyranny to yourself. I'm not afraid of you."

Arya tried to push him, but Agustus held her and pulled her closer, causing her to stumble and fall onto the bed. He moved a step closer before Arya could resist, and she stumbled on his dress, causing her to fall onto the bed with Agustus on top of her. Agustus was so close that his lips were only inches away from Arya's.

Arya looked at him, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, and said, "What, no one taught you that you should respect a lady's personal space, unlike the soldier you're imitating?"

Agustus' face broke into a wicked smile. "Here, you have as much courage and pride as you want, to look directly into my eyes without fear and say anything you like. So tell me, what were you saying?"

Arya glanced at his mocking smile, her face redder than before. Something was happening between them.

Agustus glanced at her red face and lifted her chin, saying, "The same words you were saying to the soldier, say them to me face to face."

Arya withdrew her hand from his grip with a smirk and retorted, "Why didn't the soldier tell you what I said to him?"

Agustus replied, "He didn't convey it the way you did."

Arya took two steps back and quipped, "What does that mean? I said it with my head down and legs up, just as I said it to the soldier, unlike how you heard it."

A faint, sly smile appeared on Agustus's face, as he said, "You have the audacity and pride unlike anyone else to look into my eyes and speak your mind without fear. So now, tell me, what were you saying?"

Arya looked at him, her anger showing, and said, "I said, I'm not your toy that no one can see except you. I haven't given you the right to decide things for me."

Hearing Arya's words, Agustus grabbed her face with his hand and said, "You may not be my toy, but no one can see you without my permission, and you... you don't even have the right to look at anyone else besides me, understand, girl?" He said it without any emotion.

Arya's face turned red with anger as she exclaimed, "My name is Arya, and who do you think you are to have authority over my life? I'm not your slave, understand? So keep your tyranny to yourself. I'm not afraid of you."

Saying this, Arya tried to push him away forcefully with both her hands, but she couldn't budge him due to his strong grip. Instead, Agustus moved a step forward and caught her off balance, causing her foot to catch in her dress. As she fell backward, Agustus advanced and grabbed her, causing her foot to get stuck in his attire. Agustus was now beneath and Arya above him, her eyes wide with astonishment, while Agustus's face showed no emotion. Agustus's lips met Arya's lips, and his gaze was locked onto her eyes.