27 The gifted ribbon

Unaware that someone is cursing her the days with Liz passed very peacefully.

In the blink of an eye the hunting competition was just around the corner.

It was a custom that the women gave their chosen winner a embroidered ribbon as a lucky charm.

Therefore, Liz was also pressured by Eleanor's mother to make Ares such a ribbon.

Liz heaved a deep sigh and looked around.

She spotted Lilly with a pink ribbon in her hand, which she pressed firmly against her chest.

Her gaze remained fixed on Ethan and the many women surrounding him.

'Geez why does he have to be such a babe magnet?' Liz thought annoyed and massaged her temples.

Out of nowhere, Leopold appeared behind Lilly.

Leopold is the physical guardian who was recently arranged for Liz respectively princess Eleanor.

Liz had her concerns about him at first, as he did not appear in the novel as far as Liz can remember.

She then convinced herself that he is probably a result of her butterfly effect.

So far he has not done anything suspicious and he does not emit an aura that is too worrying.

But this does not mean that Liz will not continue to watch him carefully.

To Liz's surprise, Leopold seemed to be interested in Lilly, which Liz could use to her advantage to sail her ship.

As they say, when a new alpha appears, the hormones of the previous alpha go crazy.

"Is this ribbon for me?" Leopold asked Lilly with a curious look and a playful smile.

"Ehm… no – I mean yes, if you want to." Lilly stammered with an embarrassed expression on her face.

'Certainly he would never accept my ribbon.' Lilly sighed inwardly with a dejected expression.

Leopold poked her on her forehead and teased her:

"Why do you fair maiden look so distressed when right in front of you your knight in shining armor is waiting for you to wrap your ribbon around his wrist?"

"I am sorry." murmured Lilly meekly and she tied her ribbon around his wrist.

Leopold kissed her palm.

"If it means that I have to win this competition here so that you can smile again, I will do it with pleasure." Leopold promised her a sure victory.

Before he disappeared from her sight, he winked at her.

Lilly felt horrible.

Although she had given her ribbon to Leopold, thus indirectly indicating that she hoped for his victory, the greater part of her consciousness cheered for Ethan.

"You two seem to be very close." Ethan pulled Lilly from her daydreams and her eyes widened.

"It's not like – " she put.

"Whatever." Ethan interrupted her and disappeared without fully hearing her explanation.

Suddenly someone grabbed Liz from behind and before she could react she was lifted.

"How do you manage to look plumper with every encounter with me, my little piglet?" provoked Ares Liz.

Liz struggled with her feet to free herself from Ares grip and countered annoyed:

"How do you manage to become more shameless every time?"

He turned Liz towards him, and both of their foreheads nestled together.

"After all I have to live up to my nickname, Mr. Shameless." Ares justified himself and a smug smile spread to the corner of his mouth.

Against her will, Liz blushed at his explanation.

Not long after, she was able to get herself together again.

Slowly, everything became too much for her and her thigh reached out to give Ares a strong push between his thighs.

Unfortunately for her, Ares realized in time what she was about to do and his two thighs clasped her thigh.

'Ugh this position, if anyone sees us like this, my reputation is finished!' screamed Liz's subconscious out with a red card.

"What are you doing, my little piglet? This is where I keep the treasured so we can have our own piglets later. That is why it must be protected, not destroyed." Ares rebuked Liz with a seductive undertone.

Liz's face could be compared to a tomato after Ares had lectured her.

'Fuck. This guy is getting on my last nerve.' her subconscious mind determined.

"Understood." Liz murmured indistinctly.

Ares two thighs let Liz thigh loose and he freed Liz from his embrace.

"You know, I'm very happy that this Leopold guy is interested on your maid instead of you. Otherwise, I'd have a love rival and I'd have to constantly worry that you might start an affair with him when I'm not around." revealed Ares with relief.

"To have a love rival, you have to be in love with the same person." Liz snorted contemptuously but sheepishly.

Offended, Ares held his hand in front of his chest and gasped for air.

"How can you doubt my love for you, which is so sincere?" he accused her with an unbelieving look.

"Do you need a proof of love from me to convince you?" he continued in a deep voice and bent over to her.

"No, forget it." Liz denied.

'Who knows what this guy means by proof of love.'

"Do you love me?" Ares turned the tables with that question.

Liz stared at him in bewilderment at this question.

She was really not prepared for this.

"Of course, I do." she nervously swindled.

Ares eyed her very suspiciously.

In panic, she handed her ribbon to him to distract him.

"For you." she squeaked.

His facial expression softened.

He knew better that this ribbon was purchased.

Still, he was glad because his Eleanor must have thought of him when she chose it.

This thought alone made him very satisfied.

Unknown to him, Liz had hired a guard to pick out the ribbon for him, so she did not have to waste a thought on him.

…

Somewhere in nowhere

"The crown prince of Mazeldovia will also participate in the hunting of Margonia." reported Madam Wu.

"Excellent. We should prepare a surprise for the royal children I have unfinished business with them regarding the slave trade." said the masked stranger in a cold and menacing voice.