Sylas was slightly stunned.
He looked at Mirabel, feeling she was acting a bit strange today.
Her using his real name wasn't the issue—his identity was practically an open secret now.
But why accuse him of "stealing" Gwendolyn?
Right now, he was just trying to survive and live a stable life.
Even if he admired Gwendolyn, it didn't mean he had to "steal" her.
Still, the faintly hostile tone in Mirabel's words bothered him.
This time, he didn't react emotionally.
He knew that with this type of woman, the more he resisted, the worse the outcome would be.
He simply replied calmly, "Your Majesty can rest assured. I am not worthy."
"This isn't about being worthy or not."
Mirabel, however, pressed on, like a student who had caught the teacher's mistake and was eager to claim a reward.
She said, "I heard from Aethelred that you practice dark magic and can charm people.
That you seduced their Empress, their Chancellor, their entire royal family.
You wouldn't try to cause chaos in our Stonewold too, would you?
Let me warn you, my will is strong. I definitely won't be bewitched by you."
Sylas responded flatly with two words: "It's false."
Mirabel refused to believe it: "Huh? You say it's false, so it's false? You need to provide evidence!"
Sylas spread his hands. "I cannot prove it."
He had encountered too many of these traps where he was asked to prove a negative.
A meat bun placed before a starving dog could never prove it wasn't tempting the dog—because the dog wanted to eat it anyway.
He glanced at the book on the desk and finally said helplessly, "If Your Majesty doesn't want to study, just say so.
There's no need to bring up all these irrelevant things.
I am merely the Chancellor's servant, not worth Your Majesty spending so much effort to scrutinize."
"..."
Having her petty schemes seen through, Mirabel flushed bright red.
All that talk about charm magic and Auntie Gwendolyn was just to waste time.
Someone who didn't want to study could always find excuses and topics to drag out the time meant for reading.
To save face, Mirabel could only mutter, "Anyway, Auntie Gwendolyn is virtuous and upright. You can't ruin her."
"Understood. I won't." Sylas was too weary to argue. He simply stood up and began gathering the books.
But Mirabel felt like she had punched cotton—the satisfaction was lacking.
Seeing Sylas's resigned and submissive attitude, a spark of courage suddenly ignited in her.
Without a word, she abruptly grabbed Sylas's wrist, her face flushed crimson as she stared at him.
He was from Lyonesse, a slave of a fallen nation under Aethelred, now relying on Stonewold's protection.
So...
He shouldn't dare to resist, right?
Sylas was picking up the books. Caught off guard by her grab, he didn't understand what was happening.
He asked blankly, "What is it?"
Mirabel pressed her lips tightly together, staring at him nervously.
Sylas swallowed lightly.
He vaguely sensed something.
No... it can't be?
I'm innocent!
I really don't practice charm magic!
Has Mirabel "awakened" after just one month of lessons?
If you didn't look different, I'd think Crystal had possessed you!
Forgetting the books, he quickly pulled his wrist free and said righteously, "Your Majesty, you must not jest.
Our statuses are vastly different. You must care for your reputation."
"..."
Mirabel's courage vanished. She hung her head, looking at the tips of her shoes under the desk, feeling utterly mortified.
It was normal for a young girl experiencing her first crush to develop feelings for a handsome, knowledgeable, and gentle older brother.
But she was the ruler of Stonewold. What she wanted, in theory, she should get.
Even if she couldn't get it herself, Auntie Gwendolyn would indulgently help her obtain it.
Now, shamed by Sylas's words, even the most easy-going Mirabel felt humiliated and angry.
She muttered softly, "Hmph, clearly anyone can have you, yet you pretend to be so aloof here..."
Sylas felt dizzy with anger at her words.
But he had truly reached his limit of tolerance.
Facing such an unreasonable woman, the only thing he could do was flee the scene and hide far away.
The more he spoke, the faster trouble would come.
Suppressing his humiliation, he nodded. "Your Majesty is wise. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
He didn't bother organizing the books and hurriedly left.
Leaving only the disgruntled Mirabel alone in the room.
She looked at the empty study, feeling extremely ashamed.
Had she actually harassed Gwendolyn's servant?!
In common terms, this was almost equivalent to harassing a servant close to one's mother.
Moreover, Sylas had been working diligently for her all these days.
Mirabel truly wished she could slap herself.
But she was also super annoyed.
She was an adult now. Whether she had power or not, she was the ruler of Stonewold.
What are you, Sylas?
How dare you reject my... attentions?
And shouldn't you be actively trying to seduce me?!
You were so... wanton back in Aethelred. How have you turned into an unattainable, lofty flower now?
If you're so aloof, why did you show your pale wrist in front of me?
That was an invitation!
It must be.
What infuriated Mirabel most was her conviction that Sylas must like Auntie Gwendolyn.
This drove her crazy.
An immature mind couldn't stand the thought of a loved one liking someone else, or being liked by others.
She felt a fear of having her most cherished possession snatched away.
Auntie Gwendolyn was her support and pillar, completely and utterly hers.
How could a lowly person like Sylas dare to like her?
All these indescribable emotions made her kick the desk in frustration.
Then, she left resentfully.
When she returned to the palace, her agitated heart held a touch of sweetness.
She had touched Sylas's wrist today.
His wrist was a little cool.
Mirabel's brain began to edit out Sylas's clear rejection.
"He said, 'Your Majesty is wise'—that means he praised me."
"He praised me..."
"This is classic seduction!"
"Hmph, finally found a flaw in his armor."
Mirabel began to convince herself.
She decided to go to the Chancellor's Manor again the next day. To see his attitude again.
Tomorrow, he would definitely dress nicely and act coy and hesitant.
He must!
Thinking this, Mirabel's anger turned to joy, and she couldn't help but hum lightly.
That night, Mirabel tossed and turned.
Finally, morning came, and she rushed eagerly to the Chancellor's Manor.
She then summoned Sylas to see her.
After a long time, Sylas finally appeared at the study door.
He had indeed changed clothes.
But he was dressed meticulously, covered from head to toe, with a thick mask over his face.
Mirabel's anger flared up again.
Seriously? I'm giving you a chance, and you're still pretending?
Do you truly not know what 'Imperial Favor' means?
But she had to admit, the air of a 'taken man' around Sylas now had a fatal attraction for a girl her age.
She began making excuses for him in her heart.
This is just playing hard to get. A petty trick.
"Is Your Majesty here to study today?" Sylas didn't even dare to close the door, sitting just inside the doorway, asking solemnly.
He was prepared to run.
This Empress might not have great capability or the imposing presence of an Isolde, but she was still the ruler of Stonewold.
Being entangled by her wouldn't be easy to escape.
Seeing his guarded posture, Mirabel was furious.
But in that moment, she had a sudden flash of inspiration.
She had never been this clever in her life.
She put on a serious expression and said, "It's like this.
Aethelred has sent word that if we hand you over, Isolde will withdraw her troops.
I came to discuss this matter with you."