Simon smiled at Millie who was leaning into the room from the open window. Tied to her back in bondage-like ropes was the passed out Seri. He spoke in a calm voice, "Need a hand?"

Millie only glared at him, "Get out of the way."

Simon stepped away from the window with a shrug. Millie's eyes stayed on Simon as she climbed into the room. She paused to look at him as he motioned to the bed. She tossed her head irritably and walked past him. She untied Seri and carefully placed her in the bed.

Simon went over to the nearby couch and sat down on it. He watched Millie as she gently took off Seri's last remaining shoe and pulled the covers over her. Millie gave a gentle smile as she sat on the bed next to Seri.

Simon observed her before speaking up, "I have always wondered just who Seri's shadow was."

Millie turned to look at him. Her once gentle eyes were filled with ferocious hatred. Whenever Seri wasn't around, this was how she looked at others. It was only when she needed to fake it would she seem gentle and docile.

This seemed to entertain Simon as he motioned to the tea set placed in front of him, "Perhaps you should stay for a cup of tea."

Millie stood up and sat on the couch across from him. It was clear she didn't trust Simon. She seemed to be trying to figure him out while he did the same. She picked up and smelled the tea. She took a sip and smirked.

"You really think you could knock me out with such a weak sedative?"

Simon's sadistic grin got larger, "I knew it. So you truly were the one behind those deaths and disappearances."

Millie placed the teacup down, "I see you were investigating me at the same time you were investigating Seri."

He gave a nod, "It's true. I knew that she had a shadow killing off insignificant people, but I could never figure out who it was. You were on my list of suspects, but I didn't believe a fragile girl like you was actually capable of it."

Millie tilted her head with a gentle smile that was not quite a smile, "A fragile girl? It's true that I am not strong like Dante nor you. However, my strength doesn't come from physical attributes, but rather my knowledge of poisons and medicines. Physical strength is meaningless when all I need to do is stick my needle into you and there would be nothing you could do about it."

Simon leaned back in his chair not feeling the least bit threatened, "That may be true, but you would first have to hit me with said needle."

Millie's hands twitched over her sleeves. Under it was several needles ready to be thrown. She raised an eyebrow, "Is that a challenge?"

He chuckled, "I'm not trying to challenge you or anything. I have no interest in provoking you."

Finally, Millie asked the question she had been curious about since she first saw Simon in the Kingdom. "Why haven't you said anything about my presence here? I've tried to break in plenty of times and have been caught by you. Yet, you never tried to catch me nor send people after me."

"Because I want to make a proposal to you."

Millie tilted her head, "A proposal?"

A strange grin appeared on his face, "Yes. I'm not sure you are aware, but Seri has been trying to lead a rebellion to place me as King on the throne."

Millie gave a nod, "I'm aware of this."

"Then you must know that I gave her a deadline to do so. If she doesn't lead a successful rebellion by the time we are married, then she will have to stay here with me as my wife."

Millie frowned in irritation, "And just what is your proposal?"

"I'm getting to that. It's not a lie to say I don't covet the throne. However, I covet Seri as well. I would be happy with either becoming King or staying where I am now and just marrying Seri. However, I worry that Seri may find herself dead if she continues to lead a rebellion. Under no circumstances do I want her dead. So my proposal is this: For you to convince her to stop and marry me instead."

Millie crossed her arms, "Why would I ever convince her to marry you? Sharing her with Dante is awful enough. I would never share her with another person as well."

He chuckled, "Because if you share her with me, Dante will be executed."

Millie grew silent at this. Simon could tell that he had touched on one of her deep dark desires. He continued, "Furthermore, for your help I would take you in as a concubine."

"Haah?!" Millie looked at him in revulsion, "I would rather die than become your concubine."

"Think about it. If you become my concubine than you can spend all the time you'd like with Seri. With Dante out of the picture, you could have Seri all to yourself. Unlike most people, I wouldn't care if my concubine and wife had illicit relations."

Millie felt her determination shake. She clawed the side of the couch as she felt herself get tempted with the offer. She forced herself to speak, "Seri wouldn't do that with me."

"Of course she would. Without Dante, she would seek comfort in her best friend. Grief can change the hearts of anyone. I know that you only care about Seri. You wouldn't care if Dante nor the Imperial Kingdom disappears if it means you could have Seri by your side. Isn't that correct? So why don't you agree?"

"Although it is tempting, I must decline. It's true that I don't care about anyone other than Seri. However, I see how she looks at Dante. I understand she loves him in a way she could never love me. If he dies, she would be destroyed. Although I want to see that look of destruction on her face, I refuse to allow it to happen this way."

Millie stood up with a domineering look in her eyes, "If Seri must look that way, then I will be the one who creates it. Not because Dante dies."

Simon didn't give up, "If you accept my proposal, then both you and I will have what we desire. If you allow her to lead the rebellion and run off with Dante, then you will never attain the thing you desire."

Millie paused, "Why?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Why what?"

Millie stepped closer to him, "Why would you want to take me as a concubine? What could you possibly see in me?"

He chuckled, "I just have a passion for women whose spirits are not easily broken. It makes me want to break them."

Millie tilted her head, "Oh? Is that really it?"

"It is."

She shook her head as she got closer to him, "I don't think so. I think that the reason why you asked me this isn't because of your desire to control Seri. The truth is that you are terrified that Seri will fail and be killed."

The smile disappeared from his face.

Millie smirked as her face was only a few inches away from his, "You are so worried that you are even willing to take in a concubine that will have illicit relations with her. You want her to live no matter what. You know that deep down inside you finally found something you care about and it terrifies you to your core. You try to hide this by acting sadistic and evil, but the truth is you care about her and wish no harm upon her."

Simon answered casually, "You seem to think you know a lot about me."

Millie leaned away and shrugged, "I know it's true. Since it is exactly how I feel, I can recognize it in others."

She walked to Seri's side and bent down to kiss her forehead. Seri giggled in her sleep, but still didn't stir.

"Although I desire to own her, I recognize now that I will never be able to own her heart." She turned back to Simon with a frown, "Can I trust you not to touch her while she's in this state?"

Simon waved her off, "I may enjoy teasing her, but I have never intended on taking advantage of her. I want her to come crawling to me begging for it."

"Then why force her to be your wife?"

Simon was silent for a moment while mulling this over. He pondered to himself before answering, "If she is my wife, I will be able to protect her. I'm not forcing her into anything. If she leads a rebellion, she can go back to Dante. If she doesn't, then she will marry me because of the deal we made. However, I can't force her into anything."

Millie carefully sized him up before determining he was being truthful. Knowing she didn't have any choice, she moved to leave by the window. Before Millie climbed back down, she spoke. "You needn't worry. Seri will NOT fail."

Then without another word, she descended.

Once Millie was on the ground, she looked at the sky with a somber expression. She sighed, "Why didn't I take that deal?"