Chapter 16: Who is bound by the contract?

Alexia lay on the bed and suddenly opened her eyes.

She gently massaged her slightly throbbing temples and slowly sat up.

She couldn’t sleep.

She simply couldn’t sleep.

Although she felt a sense of emptiness in her mind, there was no trace of sleepiness.

She tossed and turned in bed for nearly an hour but still couldn’t fall asleep.

Because she couldn’t feel Simon’s presence beside her.

Normally, she didn’t need to rest.

As a Mage, she possessed abilities far beyond ordinary people and could go days without sleep.

But most of the time, she didn’t need to be so harsh on herself.

She needed to feign weakness, pretending to be an ordinary person who couldn’t do anything, so enemies like witches would underestimate her and dare to approach.

Until one day, she could no longer hide her true power.

Back in the palace, when she faced the witch, she had forcibly resisted the mental interference, causing a huge drain on her spirit.

Her strength was never in the realm of the mind, so being able to barely withstand it was already a miracle.

“Someone!”

Alexia called outside.

The palace door opened in response, and a Maid walked in.

“Where is Knight Commander Simon?”

Alexia asked the Maid.

She didn’t believe Simon couldn’t see her poor mental state, especially when she needed him by her side.

Although there were other Blood Knights guarding the Imperial City, none could compare to Simon.

“Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, the Knight Commander should be in his manor at this moment.”

Alexia frowned slightly.

“He hasn’t returned to the Imperial City?”

“Since leaving the Imperial City, the Knight Commander has not returned, and there are currently no urgent matters requiring his attention.”

The Maid replied honestly.

Alexia waved her hand.

“Don’t let anyone disturb my rest until I go out tomorrow or the court assembly is convened.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Maid stood up, retreated, and gently closed the palace door.

Alexia looked around the empty palace and softly chanted a Space Magic Spell.

Unknowingly, she seemed to have grown dependent on Simon.

Without him nearby, she always felt uneasy and could not rest well.

For a moment, she even wondered who was truly bound by the contract.

—

In the living room, Simon, who was talking with Belinda, suddenly sensed a familiar presence.

His expression instantly grew serious, his smile disappearing, but before he could signal Belinda to keep quiet, the door downstairs suddenly opened.

The crisp sound of high heels echoed into the house.

Even Belinda sensed something strange, especially after Simon’s expression changed.

Without waiting for Simon’s instruction, Belinda quickly retreated and hid under the table.

Hearing the sound of high heels coming upstairs, Simon realized there was no better way to hide Belinda.

Because there was only one person who could enter his manor so silently and boldly through the front door—Alexia.

Simon turned to the side, and soon, Alexia appeared in his view.

“Looks like I arrived at just the right time.”

Hearing Alexia’s voice, Simon immediately pretended to be surprised and stood up.

“Alexia, shouldn’t you be resting? Why did you suddenly come here?”

Alexia’s sudden appearance confused Simon.

Though she had come to check his room before, tonight, she shouldn’t have appeared.

Because Alexia clearly needed rest.

Simon thought so too, which was why he considered taking a temporary leave.

And now, since Belinda needed company, he couldn’t just leave her alone.

After all, Alexia valued Belinda greatly, and Simon also had an old father’s mentality toward her.

Even if Alexia hadn’t told him directly why she wanted to keep Belinda, Simon understood.

He intended to cultivate her as a Succession.

“Why did I suddenly come here?”

Alexia glanced at the chaos on the dining table, then at the chair that had been moved back.

“Can’t I say I was hungry and wanted to have a meal?”

When alone with Simon, Alexia always unconsciously relaxed.

Especially when it was just the two of them, she never referred to herself as ‘We’.

“Of course, but I just don’t know what you want to eat tonight, Alexia.”

Simon tidied up the table and headed to the kitchen.

Alexia walked to the other side of the table, sat in the chair Belinda had used before, and pulled it forward.

“I…want to eat a sweet little mouse tonight.”

Alexia smiled, lifted the tablecloth, and looked down.

She saw Belinda hiding under the table.

“Looks like you’re in a good mood! There really is a little mouse under the table, but this posture looks a bit strange.”

Belinda couldn’t help but smile awkwardly at Alexia.

In the palace, she indeed acted dumb.

But after spending the day in the study, and since Simon hadn’t warned her to act otherwise, she forgot to keep up the act before Alexia.

Yet to Alexia, her current state still seemed somewhat silly.

“So, now I want to ask you—what’s her story? I don’t need a Pet that hides under the table.”

Hearing this, Simon crouched down and patted Belinda on the hand.

Belinda paused for a second, then crawled toward Simon in understanding.

Between Simon and Alexia, she clearly preferred the more friendly Simon.

Simon continued.

“She’s emotionally unstable right now and her memories are a bit chaotic, so I want to try a simpler, more controllable method. After all, humans are animals too, and can be tamed.”

Alexia watched as Belinda crawled out from under the table and quickly hid behind Simon, sticking her head out.

“It does seem effective. She’s started to trust you, Simon, but the real issue is still letting her regain clarity.”

Alexia tapped her own head, her tone slightly teasing.

“That’s natural. Alexia, if possible, I’d like to take Belinda back to her room to rest first. It’s already very late.”

Simon replied.

Alexia’s gaze wandered between the two, looking somewhat complex.

The elusive smile on her face added an ominous feeling for both Simon and Belinda.

“Of course, Simon. Even if you didn’t say it, I’d hope you’d take her back first. Some things are best left between us.”

Then she lightly licked her lips, looking at Simon with a hint of seduction.

“And I’m hungry now.”