I looked in the vanity mirror and stared at my reflection. I gingerly touched the pendant of the necklace that I was wearing. I bit my lower lip. It was Maximus' necklace.

For some reason, I couldn't throw it away. Maybe, I only kept it to use it as a replacement of my Royal chastity necklace that has been missing for a year now.

According to my mamma, she gave that necklace to me when I was still 5 years old. Aria, Amelia and I started wearing our own Royal chastity necklace at the same age while Aris and Antonius have their Royal Chevalier crest necklace that were given to them during their 7th birthdays.

Since I've been wearing mine for so long, it became my habit to touch it whenever I was tensed or something. It became a part of me. I knew very well how important it was, so I've been protecting it with all my might that's why when I lost it, I felt like I lost a part of me too.

I heaved a sigh and then hid it underneath my top so that Maximus wouldn't notice it. The chain of it was the same as my Royal chastity necklace. As long as he wouldn't have the chance to see the pendant, he wouldn't surely think that it was his.

I would never let him know that I kept his necklace instead of throwing it away.

Then, I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Sita came in.

"Are you ready, Your Royal Highness?"

"Yes. Let's go." She nodded her head and then started pushing my wheelchair out of the room. I looked at the time on my phone and it was still 7 am.

"What about Maximus, Your Royal Highness? It's his duty to guard you wherever you go."

"Don't think about him, Sita. I told him to have his break today so he's surely still sleeping at this hour. Besides, De Falco farm is a safe place. I don't really need him to follow me around."

"Okay, Your Royal Highness. Whatever you say." She continued pushing my wheelchair until we exited the manor. My grandparents already went out of the house around 6 am because they have an important meeting with some important people in the business world.

We followed the cemented trail towards the lake and after about 5 minutes, we arrived at our destination. The sun has already started rising above the horizon. I suddenly had the urge to paint.

I decided to come here to see the beautiful view as the sun rises but now, that motivation to paint suddenly surged within me.

"Sita, can you please get me my artist paint set? I want to paint right now." She looked hesitant as she looked around. No one was there aside from us. I knew what was on her mind judging by the look on her face.

"But—"

"—Don't worry about me, Sita. I will be fine. I'll wait for you here." I interrupted her with an authoritative tone. She couldn't do anything other than to nod her head and then went back to the manor.

I continued watching the beautiful view. The color of the sunrise was reflecting in the water and it looked so amazing. The sun was slowly peeking out of the mountain and the view was spectacular. Nothing beats a mountain and body of water together in one place. The fresh air was an added bonus.

I turned on my phone to snap a picture of the view before me when I suddenly heard a sound in the water. Just when I pressed the capture button, someone suddenly emerged out of the water at the same time. Because of that, that person became a photobomber of the shot that I wanted to take.

I looked at the picture and to my surprise, the image was so beautiful and candid. It looked like I really intended to snap a photo of that person with that beautiful view behind him. My eyebrows creased when I noticed that the man looked familiar.

I shifted my attention to the water and my lips fell open when I saw a Greek god, Maximus rather, wearing only his trunks. He just came out of the water while gazing at me with a naughty smile on his face.

I involuntarily gulped inaudibly as my heart began beating wildly. I was at lost for words when I stared at him and noticed that he was walking in a slow motion.

"Good morning, mi hermosa. I didn't expect you to take a picture of me without my knowledge." Hearing his voice broke the magic spell.

"I wasn't taking a picture of you! You were a photobomber! You ruined the scenic picture that I intended to take!" I hissed irritably and he laughed heartily. This was my first time seeing him laugh like this and I must admit, he became more attractive and fuller of life.

I mentally shook off that thought of my head.

"Really?"

"Yes! I didn't even know that you're here too!" I answered defensively and averted my gaze. Looking at his muscular body was giving me weird sensations in my body.

"Is that so?" His voice suddenly became husky. I noticed from the corner of my eyes that he started coming closer to me. I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest because of how hard it was beating.

I wanted to run away but I couldn't because of my current condition. I mean, how would I do that when I couldn't even walk?

"Don't come near me!" I tried to be stern, but he just chuckled and didn't even faze.

"Why, mi hermosa? Are you afraid of me?" My jaw clenched. This guy is really getting on my nerves.

"Why would I be afraid of you? Are you planning to do something bad to me?" I asked and then turned my head to meet his gaze bravely. He looked taken a back for a second before he chuckled amusedly once again.

"Yes, I am planning something but not that bad though." He uttered huskily as he caressed my cheek gently with his hand. I almost gasped upon feeling the warmth of his palm. Even though his hand was wet, I could still feel his warmth and it somehow gave me weird feelings inside.

"What do you want from me? Stop this game already because it's not funny. Why did you even come back here in Costavia anyway?" I finally gathered enough strength to ask him that question.

"Isn't it obvious?" My forehead wrinkled.

"What do you mean? Are you—" Before I could finish what I wanted to say, he suddenly held onto my wheelchair, trapping me between his arms in the process. He then leaned over and then captured my lips with a hot kiss. My eyes widened and I couldn't even react right away.

Just like the first time we kissed, I felt like I got enchanted by him. I've never thought that a kiss could affect me like this, and it was almost unbelievable. What's with his kisses that I couldn't resist him?!

I wanted to push him away, but my body was betraying me. I've never been like this. I knew myself to be a tough woman but when it comes to Maximus' advances, I always become weak which scares me the most.

To my horror, my lips moved and was about to return his kisses when I heard someone gasp. Miraculously, I finally got my rational thoughts back and automatically pushed Maximus away. I then turned my head to look who it was. I bit my lower lip when I saw Sita. She looked so shock while looking at me and Maximus alternately.

"I-I'm sorry for disturbing you, Your Royal Highness, Mr. Vázquez. Here is your painting set, Your Royal Highness." She didn't wait for my answer and hurriedly left us there. I looked at Maximus and saw that amused look on his face while following Sita with his gaze.

I wanted to explain to Sita about what she just saw us doing but how? I closed my eyes for about three seconds and then took a deep breath. I was frustrated with myself.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed that the sun has already risen and the view that I wanted to paint a while ago was gone. I glared at Maximus.

"This is your fault!" He looked at me confusedly.

"Me? What did I do?" He sounded so clueless. I huffed.

"Whatever. Get out of my way!" I was about to start maneuvering my wheelchair out of there, but he stopped me by holding onto my wheelchair tightly, preventing me from getting away.

"Maximus! What the heck do you think you're doing?!"

"Let's swim." He answered as if he didn't hear what I've just said.

"What? Are you crazy?! I don't want to swim!" He just chuckled and to my horror, he suddenly scooped me up onto his arms and then carried me towards the water.

"Maximus! Let go of me! I said, I don't want to swim! Are you even listening to me?!" I squealed as I held onto him tightly.

I was just wearing a fuchsia sleeveless shirt and white shorts. I didn't have any plans of taking a dip in the water because it would be too difficult for me to move around without anyone helping me. I just intended to watch the scenic view and paint.

"Don't worry, mi hermosa. I won't let you drown." Before I could answer, we were already in the water with him still holding me onto his arms. I gasped for air as the water engulfed my body and I unconsciously held onto Maximus' neck tightly as if my life was depended on it. I even buried my face on the crook of his neck, afraid that he'd let go of me.

"How's the water? It's nice and warm, right?" He whispered huskily in my ear.

"Damn you! I don't know how to swim!" I said angrily and he just chuckled. I knew how to swim but ever since that day, my capability to swim disappeared. I bit my lower lip when I felt that familiar feeling. The nausea attack was overwhelming.

"M-Maximus...take me out of the water, please." I managed to say as my body began trembling.

"Shhh. You're safe. I'm here for you." He tightened his arms around my body.

"Let's get out of here." I continued begging as my eyes watered. Memories of what happened that day replayed in my head and I felt like I was suffocating.

"Shhh. Look at me." He commanded but I shook my head. My face was still buried against his neck.

"Mi hermosa, trust me. You're safe. I won't let something bad happen to you." His voice held promise and it was soothing in my ears. For some reason, it helped me fight my panic attack. It was still there but at least, I managed not to let it dominate me this time.

"Come on, look at me." I slowly drew my head away from his neck and our gazes met. My lips parted when I saw how he looked at me.

"I like you, Athena. My feelings for you this past one year haven't changed at all. I knew that you were out of my reach and I thought, I would never have the chance to be this close to you, but I was wrong. Now that fate let us meet again, I will never let this opportunity go to waste." The beating of my heart became even wilder. I wanted to avert my gaze from his, but I didn't have the strength to do so. I bit my lower lip.

"Don't do that." He sounded like he was having a hard time as his eyes darkened with obvious desire. I gulped inaudibly.

"I am not doing anything." I uttered in an almost inaudible tone.

"Don't bite that lip because I feel like you're seducing me. I can't take it." My eyes widened.

"I am not! You're so full of yourself!" I was about to untangle my arms from him when I remembered that we were in the water. "Let's go back to the lakeside already!" I finally managed to breath normally and looked at the other way. Even though my heart was beating rapidly, I managed to calm down a little bit.

"I won't take you out of here without me hearing your answer."

"What answer do you want to say?" I asked irritably.

"Your answer to my confession to you just now. It has been a year since the first time I've told you about my feelings for you and you haven't said anything until now. I want you to be mine, Athena." The way he uttered my name gave me strange feelings inside.

Even though my heart was thumping like crazy, I fought it as I met his gaze.

"Stop playing around with me, Maximus. We don't even know each other that much. How can you say that you really like me?"

"Do you really need a long period of time for you to know if you have feelings for someone?" He countered.

"Of course!" I answered and held my chin high. "I don't believe that you really like me, Maximus. If you're only doing this just because of my status as a member of the Royal family, stop it. I've had enough of people like that."

He became serious. "Then give me time to prove myself to you. Let me show you that I'm not like that." I shook my head.

"You don't have to do that. I don't have feelings for you and—" Whatever I wanted to say was cut short because his lips sealed my lips for another passionate kiss. He didn't even give me time to think rationally as he expertly conquered all of me with that hot kiss.

I was so lost and immediately forgot everything just like that. I didn't know that a kiss could make me forget about everything as my lips moved on their own, kissing him with equal fervor.

I didn't know how long we were kissing like there's no tomorrow but when we finally pulled away from that delicious kiss to breath for air, our eyes met. His eyes shone triumphantly, and I wanted to smack myself because I let him kiss me again.

"You can deny all you want, mi hermosa, but I can tell that we feel the same way."

"You're wrong." He grinned from ear to ear.

"Deny all you want. I won't stop you, but I already know the truth."

"You're really so persistent and full of yourself, do you?"

He chuckled. "Yes, I am, and you will see how persistent I really am soon." He planted another soft kiss on my lips once again and then finally carried me back to the lakeside. I could feel my cheeks blushing hardly. This man is really something. He's the opposite of Warren.

Warren was the reserved, serious and silent type of a person while Maximus was straightforward and says and does whatever he wants. He's persistent and full of himself but for some reason, I couldn't push him away even if I wanted to.