I had the doctor prepare supplements for Lucas according to the highest standards.

"I don't need anything," Lucas said, gripping my wrist tightly. "It's enough that I've survived this long. Don't waste your money on me, Principessa."

This was less than the monthly upkeep on Kevin's suits.

"It's fine," I said, stroking the side of Lucas's neck as I pulled out the new gear I got for him.

"Like it?"

It was a black tactical vest custom-made for an elite bodyguard, equipped with the most advanced protective systems.

There was also a professionally crafted mask, lightweight but indestructible.

I had originally planned to completely unshackle this beast, but the doctor was firmly against it.

"Don't be fooled by his current obedience," he warned me. "If he loses control, he could snap your neck in a second."

So, I had to settle for the most comfortable replacements I could find.

I unlocked his cuffs myself, then I tore off the humiliating mask and threw them both in the trash.

"Were you a punching bag or a deathmatch fighter in the ring?"

Lucas buried his head even lower, his voice muffled. "Both."

"Just as I thought." The doctor handed me the old mask to inspect. "Look at the leather strap at the jaw, it's almost chewed through. It's soaked with dark bloodstains. He must have bitten down on it when the pain was unbearable."

Lucas was silent for a moment. "Those are from last night."

I went completely still.

"In the deathmatch ring?" the doctor pressed.

"No." Lucas shot me a sideways glance, the tips of his ears turning bright red. "In bed."

...

It wasn't until dawn that I dragged my exhausted body back to the Marino family estate.

My parents were long asleep. Kevin was most likely in Eva's room, diligently providing "close protection."

Only the cold crystal chandelier in the foyer was there to welcome me, the true heiress.

"Come with me." I kicked off my heels and looked back at Lucas.

The dim light cut across his strong brow bone, casting shadows over his angular face.

He stood perfectly still, his gaze fixed on a single cufflink on the floor.

I bent down and picked it up. "Kevin's."

I was three when I was taken, and thirteen when I was found. For the ten years since, I had been training Kevin.

I remember when I first returned to the family. I was surprised to find that my parents had long since adopted a younger girl from an orphanage and named her Eva Marino.

She was seventeen now, raised and spoiled like a real "princess."

Eva's reaction to my return was extreme. She couldn't accept the fact that she was merely adopted.

She threw everything she could grab at me, shrieking, "Get out! I'm the daughter of this house! What right do you have to come back and take everything from me? You filthy stray, crawling back from the slums!"

My mother rushed over to hug Eva, cooing softly, "Don't cry, baby. Your sister coming home doesn't mean we love you any less. We love you both the same."

My father stood in front of me with a guilty look. "Your mother spoils Eva, so she can be a bit willful. You're older, so try to be more tolerant of her."

I should have been heartbroken, but at thirteen, after years of surviving on the streets, I had learned how to get by in any environment.

I was long past craving affection. Back then, I understood the value of money far better.

I lowered my eyes, wiped away a tear, and said, "I understand, Father."

Showing weakness has always been the most effective weapon. From then on, the monthly "compensation" I received grew more and more generous.

At the homecoming dinner the family threw for me, my parents gave me a young bodyguard who had been through an elite training camp. That was Kevin.

"You're so withdrawn and insecure," my parents explained. "We chose the best bodyguard for you."

"He's about your age. We hope that with his companionship, you'll be able to open up again."

Back then, Kevin was a quiet, reserved teenager.

This only made Eva cry harder. "Why does only Alessia get one? You said you'd treat us the same! He should be mine!"

She grabbed Kevin and ran out of the estate gates, completely ruining my birthday party and taking my precious gift with her.

My parents were frantic, crying day and night, sending out all the family's underground networks to find them.

And at the time, I was wracked with guilt. "It's all my fault, Mom, Dad. I'm sorry, I'm the reason Eva ran away."

It wasn't until five days later that a dusty and disheveled Eva and Kevin showed up at the front door. "Mom, Dad, I'm so hungry and tired. I'm sorry, I'll never be so willful again."

"I can't leave this family."

My parents rushed forward and hugged Eva tightly, the three of them weeping in each other's arms.

I stood to the side, a complete outsider.

At a later family dinner, my mother, supposedly to punish Eva for her willfulness, publicly announced that Eva would be confined to her room for a week to reflect.

But I knew the truth. They had simply remembered that I still existed.

The punishment worked. For a time, Eva reined in her hostility and stopped openly antagonizing me.

To quell the gossip within the family, Kevin officially swore his allegiance to me, the rightful heiress.

He wore a perfectly tailored bespoke black suit. The corners of his eyes and mouth were always slightly upturned, giving him the air of an elegant and refined bodyguard.

Looking at him, I felt a stir of delight.

But right after he pledged his loyalty to me, the first name to slip from his lips was "Eva."

"I'm here!" Eva came running from the end of the long hallway and jumped into his arms. "Kevin, were you just thinking about me? Do you remember when we ran away together?"

Kevin caught her steadily, a rare tenderness softening his gaze. "I remember. I remember everything about you."

My parents stood to the side. They sighed helplessly and patted my shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

After learning that I was his true master, Kevin was sullen for a long time.

He obeyed me in everything, but he was always half a beat slow in responding to my security commands.

I tried all sorts of ways to placate him, and slowly, he began to warm to me.

But we could never be close. He wouldn't let me inspect his weapon, and he didn't wait up for me to come home like other bodyguards did.

But with Eva, he was always watching, looking for any opportunity to see her, his ears acutely attuned to the sound of her footsteps.

I would just watch their intimacy. It stung to realize that even the one person given specifically to me didn't truly belong to me.

His loyalty would never be entirely mine.

Every time Kevin failed in his duties, my father would deposit a huge sum of "compensation" into my account. They thought that would make me feel better.

But lately, a new need had surfaced. One that was purely physical.

Kevin wouldn't even let me touch the hem of his clothes. Since Lucas was now completely obedient to me, there was no reason to deny myself.

"You're sleeping in my room tonight." I took Lucas's hand and led him toward the master bedroom. "Tomorrow, I'll have some proper suits made for you."

"And him?" Lucas stopped abruptly. "Will he mind?"

I looked back at him. "Who?"

"Kevin." Lucas lowered his head. "Elite bodyguards are very territorial."

"He won't. He thinks the stink of the streets never washed off me."

Lucas seemed to have thought of something. He gripped my wrist in return, his calloused palm searing hot. "Are we... going to do that again tonight?"

"Do what?"

I knew what he meant, but I liked to tease him.

The tips of his ears turned a faint red. "Get a release."

"I want to, but my whole body is sore," I said honestly.

"I have the stamina," he murmured. "You just need to lie back and enjoy it."

"Sounds exhausting. Aren't you tired?" I raised an eyebrow.

"No."

After another night, I happened to leave my room the next morning at the same time as Kevin.

"Alessia?"

He frowned, his critical gaze sweeping over me. "What was all that noise last night? It went on all night. Were you tearing the place down?"

I wasn't angry. I answered pleasantly, "Sorry, I'll be quieter next time."

His expression softened a little. He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Did you have a nightmare? Are you still scared because of the ambush? I thought I heard you crying last night."

That was from pleasure, I thought to myself.

"If you're still scared, tonight I can—"

"Kevin!" Eva's coquettish voice suddenly cut him off.

Kevin's expression instantly changed. He strode over and wrapped a cashmere shawl around her shoulders.

"Why aren't you dressed properly? You'll catch a cold!"

"I left my clothes in your room last night, remember?" she replied.

Kevin stood in front of her and pulled the shawl tighter, then smoothed down her hair.

Only after doing all this did Kevin start to head upstairs to the bathroom.

"Alessia, if you're going for breakfast, grab an extra cup of hot coffee."

"For Eva, to warm her up."

I ignored him and turned to leave.

As I passed Kevin, he suddenly grabbed me.

"What's this?"

His gaze was sharp, fixed on the open collar of my shirt.

The next second, his arms were around my waist, pulling me into his chest. He leaned in close to my neck, his warm breath hitting my earlobe.

His expression shattered into utter disbelief, looking exactly like an abandoned, betrayed dog.

"Alessia," he demanded, "this mark on your collarbone... Who is he?"