I yfully tugged at his shirt, a mock punishment for his teasing words.


    I''ve always felt a bit detached from my parents, so their passing struck a chord of difort rather than deep sorrow within me.


    "Peoplee and go, but life must go on," was my philosophy. Take my sister, Lily, for instance. She''s been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders for far too long.


    "Chin up, buttercup! The grand ball hosted by the Bravend royalty is just around the corner. Time to slip into something more fitting for an auction-led soiree," Max chimed in, his words pulling me back from my reverie.


    Just then, Helen arrived with two maids, bringing along a dress and a full set of ruby jewelry.


    It dawned on me then how obscenely wealthy the Bravend royals must be, owning countless mines and treating jewels as though they were asmon as des of grass or, perhaps, as plentiful as strands of hair - abundant and taken for granted. "All this?" I questioned, eyeing the bracelets, anklets, tiara, armlets, rings, and nesid out before me.


    The dress was an exotic concoction, adorned with jewels and dangling gems that probably added an extra ten pounds to its weight.


    The only snag? No shoes were to be worn. In this country, a woman''s feet were considered precious, warranting pnquin bearers for even the shortest journeys.


    Max, observing me now dressed, gently covered my face with a veil, "I almost wish I could keep you hidden away."


    Helen chuckled, handing me a mirror and said, "If I were a guy, I''d hate to let you go too."


    Gazing at my reflection, I realized that some people are born with a natural air of nobility. Yet, in this country, such nobility seemed to trample over countless lives. No fairness, no freedom, just the opulence of the aristocracy.


    "Do we even have an invitation?" I suddenly pondered, doubting that the nobility would bother with the likes of the Hilton family.


    Max raised an eyebrow, whispering


    teasingly in my ear, "You think too


    little of your beloved if you


    doubt his


    capability to match you


    Max was bing an enigma to me.


    "When we marry, will you itemize your


    exact alth for me? Just so I k


    what I''m entitled to in case divorce."


    I had be an expert at provoking Max, regardless of how patient he was.


    At my words, Helen and the maids made a quick exit as Max pulled me into his embrace, positioning me across hisp.


    I instinctively covered my rear, "Max, it''ll hurt..."


    My coquettish whining did the trick,


    as he merely tapped lightly, then turned me around to nt a kiss on my forehead, "In my mother''s family, divorce isn''t an option unless you''re prepared to literally take the other''s heart."


    I froze, understanding now why n Hilton had to resort to such barbaric measures...


    "Max, let''s just forget about the wedding. I don''t need your wealth."


    But he yfully spanked me again, "Quit your nonsensical talk."


    I snuggled closer to him, daring to caress his abs, "Is Lily in danger, just like you said?"


    "Yes, surrounded by enemies on all fronts, trusting no one," he confirmed.


    How did my sister endure all this?


    "Does she have someone who loves her? Someone as lucky as me?" I mused.


    Max fell silent as the ne touched down, ushering us into a new realm of unknown dangers and challenges...ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .