"You two are seriously lacking….look at Twice...he is already way ahead of you two...do you really just wanna play around for the whole day?" Max berated the two black beasts.

"If you two can't perform the breath attack the next time we fight then don't blame me for not showing mercy…." He further said with a stern gaze and commanded Twice to instruct them.

Max then left to see Lithiya before planning to leave the spirit world.

"She is finally looking a bit better…" Andriel said with a smile.

"Yeah…." Max nodded with a smile. Her face appeared to be a bit less paler and her vitality was no longer slipping at the same pace as it did earlier. The improvement was almost negligible but it still gave them hope.

"We need to find some external source to wake her up…." Max muttered as he looked at Lithiya.

"Well, if you can find another Supreme who is willing to share his life force then we can definitely wake her up…" Andriel said as she looked at her.

Max shook his head. He didn't have the strength to kill a Supreme and even less when it came to get that person to willingly surrender his life force. After all, unlike Max who can regenerate his vitality, others can't.

Losing life force was equivalent to death….

Max sighed. He had to continue this process of treatment until he was powerful enough to subdue a supreme himself….

"Don't worry, I will save her even at the cost of my own life…" Andriel said as she put her hands around Max's neck.

"I appreciate your thoughts. But let's find another way...I don't think I can bear this cost…" Max replied with a smile.

"Finally falling in love with me?" Andriel asked with a sweet smile.

"I already can't handle the two I have...I can't afford another one…" Max shook his head.

"How rude? I thought I was the first one….I was the first person to profess my love... how can you exclude me like that…" Andriel said with a playful smile.

"How can I exclude you? It's not like I can kick you out...you can keep trying until I finally fall for you…" Max said as he walked out of the room.

"And how long do you think it will take for you to fall for me?" Andirel asked curiously.

"Another 20 or 30 years, if I can stay alive though.." Max said as he left the spirit world.

Andirel smiled bitterly at Max's response, ''I don't have that much time…"

But then, she regained her determination and snorted as she raised her chest, "It seems, I need to step up my game….I will make you fall for me in the next two year…or die trying..."

…

Max left his room and entered the kitchen for dinner.

"Hmmn? Whose plate is this?'' Max asked as he looked at the plate near the sink which was still full. The person had barely eaten anything.

"It's Young Miss...she isn't feeling well…" the maid working in the kitchen replied.

Max's face contorted in pain, 'How the f*ck am I supposed to eat with this guilty heart!!'

He sighed and then messages Lisa.

«You all are in Elly's room?»

«Lisa: Yes...»

«Take Aria out of the room for a minute, I need to talk with Elly…"

«Lisa: Did something happen?»

«Kind of, anyway I need to talk to you as well...meet me later.. »

«Lisa: Oh...ok…»

Max took in a deep breath. He finally had decided what to do for now...

…

"Knock!"

"Knock!"

Elly looked at the door.

"Who is it?''

"It's me.." Max's voice rang from behind the door.

Elly flinched for a second. But soon, regained her calm and opened the door.

"Shall we have a talk over food? I am hungry…" Max said as he looked at her.

Elly didn't know what to say. It was obvious that she had been found out.

Well, she didn't want anyone to stay hungry because of her…

….

Max brought her to his room and then brought the food from the kitchen.

"I am sorry for earlier, I lost my calm for a second…" Elly said as she looked at him.

"Why are you apologizing? I was the one who asked you to speak your mind..." Max shook his head.

"So what did you want to talk about?'' Elly asked.

"Well, you asked me to accept things and be serious about it. But, sorry I can't do it…"

Elly's dimmed down and she sighed.

"I can't do it right now"

"Hmmn?" Elly looked at him.

"Honestly, I am not in the right mind to take any decision right now. You know that I am into some shady stuff…the bizarre things that you have witnessed…remember?" Max looked at her.

Elly nodded her head.

"That is putting some restraint on me….how about we wait. Give me 10 years and I will give you an answer…"

"10 years? Isn't it too long?" Elly asked as she looked at him. She didn't know why but hearing the 10 years from Max gave her an odd feeling….it was as if he wasn't fully confident of seeing it through….

"Let's be honest, time is necessary...we don't know much about each other….and don't you think it's too early for marriage….normal age for marriage today is around 30...so we should take our time….10 years isn't much..."

"But what if we get married within 10 years, do you have power over that? Can you decided it for yourself?" Elly asked.

"I hate to say it. But if I can't postpone it until 10 years later, then we will have to go through it. But something forced like this won't have any recognition in my eyes. Call me a jerk, but that's how I am. If I can't accept it then I can't…..we would only be partners in name at least until I make a decision...but that is something you have to be willing to accept as well. Because you know what I think but are still willing to go through it...so you can't put the entire blame on me.."

Elly sighed before giving a nod.

"You said that we should try to know each other….So how do you think we should get to know each other…" Elly asked as she looked at him. Max

"Well, I mean we are already friends….so it would slowly happen….wouldn't it?" Max asked as he looked at her.

"Let's date for the next 10 years…I already said you are my boyfriend. It wouldn't be a problem. And I don't mean any physical relationship…don't think that I am trying to seduce you here...I just want to hang out like couples do and trying to develop something positive...because if we are going to wait for 10 years, then shouldn't we try something...because if we don't then, I don't think there is any meaning in waiting for 10 years…"

"True...let's do it then." Max nodded. There was nothing wrong with hanging out for a bit. She had compromised for him, he had to be willing to do so as well. You need to bear the consequence of your actions....he can't say that this engagement had nothing to do with him...he gave the old man the power to use him for family's benefit.....it was still his fault...and now he had to see through it...

"Its a deal then.." Elly sent her hand out.

"Fine, its a deal." Max replied with a smile and shook her hand.