Noah was unceremoniously kicked out of the Imperial Palace by Augustine.

With Su Yaoyao out of sight, Augustine’s face was cold, his eyes filled with a hint of disdain. He spoke slowly, "Your time here is almost up, isn’t it?"

Noah gritted his teeth, his heart filled with anger and resentment. That’s right. He only had seven days left. Then he would have to return to the Sea Clan and be separated from Yaoyao again.

The thought of his impending separation from Su Yaoyao made his heart ache as if it were being squeezed.

Meanwhile, Su Yaoyao reluctantly changed into the black-and-white maid outfit Augustine had specially prepared for her, ready to clean his study to pay off her debt.

But the maid outfit was far too short; the hemline barely reached her hips, making her feel incredibly self-conscious with every step.

She blushed, lightly bit her lower lip, and ’silently cursed Augustine’s wicked taste.’

Su Yaoyao took a cloth and began to wipe the bookshelves.

A short while later, Augustine entered the study as well, ordering that they were not to be disturbed.

He sat quietly to the side, holding a book, but his mind wasn’t on it in the slightest. His gaze kept secretly drifting to Su Yaoyao.

He watched her slender waist, her perfect curves made all the more alluring by the maid outfit. That perfectly placed hemline, in particular, made it impossible for him to look away.

Just as Su Yaoyao turned, she was caught off guard, her eyes meeting Augustine’s intense and heated gaze.

Augustine made no attempt to look away, his eyes openly revealing his desire and possessiveness for her.

Su Yaoyao’s face instantly flushed and her heart began to race. Overcome with shyness, she quickly turned away, feigned composure, and walked over to the window to start wiping it with her cloth.

Seeing this, the corners of Augustine’s mouth lifted into a slight smile. He set down the book—of which he had not turned a single page—and slowly rose. With steady, imposing strides, he walked up behind Su Yaoyao.

Through her reflection in the window, Su Yaoyao saw Augustine’s tall, imposing figure drawing near. Her heart suddenly hammered in her chest as if it would leap out of her throat.

She was so nervous her breathing grew ragged, and her hand movements as she wiped the window became flustered.

"Your Majesty, please don’t disturb my work. I have to properly pay off my debt," Su Yaoyao said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to use her task to mask her inner panic.

Augustine’s lips curled into a wicked smile. "Alright," he whispered.

But while his mouth agreed, his hands had no intention of behaving. He stretched out a long arm, wrapped it around Su Yaoyao’s slender waist, and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

Augustine leaned down slightly, resting his head on Su Yaoyao’s shoulder. His lips brushed against her ear, seemingly by accident, and his warm breath caressed her sensitive skin as he whispered intimately, "What happened between you and Noah last night?"

The matter had been a thorn in his side, nagging at him incessantly. He couldn’t rest easy until he found out the truth.

Augustine’s deep, magnetic voice, mingled with his intimate breaths, sent a tingle through Su Yaoyao. A ticklish sensation spread from the base of her ear throughout her entire body.

"Last night? Wasn’t he with you, sleeping outside?" Su Yaoyao asked, feigning composure as she tried to bluff her way through.

"Then what about the night before last?" Augustine pressed, refusing to let it go. His gaze deepened, as if trying to see right through her.

"The night before last..." Su Yaoyao’s face instantly turned crimson. Her mind couldn’t help but flash back to that sensual dream—the dream of a soul-stealing fox. Then she remembered waking up to see Noah in his eight-tentacled form. The images were too stimulating, leaving her utterly speechless.

Seeing her evasive eyes, Augustine’s suspicion grew. His gaze darkened with a dangerous glint. He gave her earlobe a light bite, his voice low and commanding. "Keep talking."

Su Yaoyao couldn’t help but let out a whimper. ’How am I supposed to talk about something like that?’ "Why are you as bad as Noah? You both keep asking me about that night."

The mere mention of Noah made the anger Augustine had been suppressing flare even hotter. An intense wave of jealousy, like a surging tide, completely engulfed him. He tightened his hold on Su Yaoyao, his hand slowly sliding up under the hem of her skirt.

"Did he touch you here?" Augustine’s voice was hoarse with jealousy.

Su Yaoyao gasped, crying out instinctively, "Your Majesty!"

"Answer me," Augustine said, kissing and nipping at her earlobe with even more force, as if to leave his mark on her.

Tormented by his actions, Su Yaoyao’s legs pressed together instinctively, and her body sagged weakly against the floor-to-ceiling window. Augustine took the opportunity to press his whole body against her from behind, trapping her between himself and the glass.

"Y-Your Majesty, I still have to work," Su Yaoyao said, her voice on the verge of tears. At this point, she was filled with helplessness and panic.

"You can continue," Augustine’s voice held an imperious tone that brooked no argument.

Su Yaoyao bit her lower lip. ’How could I possibly keep working under these circumstances?’

Just as she was at a complete loss, Augustine raised a hand to gently cup her chin. With a bit of force, he turned her face toward him. Then, his lips crashed down on hers like a sudden storm, forcefully stealing her breath.

Augustine’s kiss was fiery and urgent, as if trying to convey all of his jealousy, insecurity, and love for Su Yaoyao through it.

His tongue gently pried apart her teeth and plunged inside, exploring her mouth wantonly, leaving no corner untouched.

The sudden, fierce kiss left Su Yaoyao dizzy, her mind a complete blank.

She instinctively tried to pull away, but Augustine held her fast, giving her no room to escape.

She could only passively endure the stormy kiss. Her breathing grew ragged and chaotic, mingling with Augustine’s to create an intensely intimate rhythm in the quiet study.

Gradually, Su Yaoyao’s body began to soften, her legs growing weak. The cold glass was in front of her, the burning heat of Augustine behind her. This contrast of hot and cold only made her more flustered.

Her hands instinctively gripped Augustine’s arms, as if they were her only anchor in a surging tide.

Augustine sensed Su Yaoyao slowly giving in. His kiss deepened, and his hands began to roam restlessly over her body.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pressing her body firmly against his own.

Amid this intimate contact, Su Yaoyao let out a series of faint moans. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes squeezed shut, her long eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a frightened butterfly.

She wanted to resist, but her body gradually lost all strength under Augustine’s tender assault, leaving her to his mercy.