Natalya's eyes turned moist as she pleaded in a sincere tone, "Please don't kill my Grandpa, he's not a bad person..."

Davis pursed his lips but didn't reply. Instead, he just caressed her cheek in satisfaction as he became heartened.

He didn't opt to use Misdirection to learn her true thoughts as he wanted to trust her words in all sincerity. At least for the first time, he wanted to try placing his faith in her.

Natalya shed a tear seeing that Davis did not nod his head. She felt sad but couldn't say otherwise as she didn't want to lose him either. She was scared and afraid of her future.

Davis wiped her tear with his thumb. He pulled her over to his chest and embraced her as if he were consoling her. He knew that he made her miserable but if her Agis Stirlander was going to threaten their life, then he felt that he should rather end him.

However, even if he weren't going to kill her grandfather, her grandfather was still going to die in half a year. Even her father was going to die...

Feeling pitiful on behalf of Natalya, he caressed her soft nape and said, "Don't worry. As long as your grandfather doesn't offend us by giving vital information to that Third Prince, I will not lay a hand on him."

Natalya felt her sadness be taken away once she heard him speak, "I'll try my best to convince Grandpa to stop investigating you..."

Davis shook his head, "Don't involve yourself... If you do, you will probably escalate matters..."

He could tell that she was just trying to help him but he knew that if she were to involve herself, things would rather get complicated, perhaps even ugly.

"This... alright... Then what about the Third Prince? That person also knows that I am skilled in Yin Laws..." Natalya stated.

"The Third Prince knows that you're skilled in Yin Laws!?" Davis exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes," Natalya became taken aback at this reaction but couldn't help but nod her head, "The Third Prince was the one who gave my grandpa attributed Spirit Stones to measure which law I am skilled in..."

Davis calmed down after a few seconds. In reality, Natalya should've been instantly taken away by the Third Prince to engage in dual cultivation once her skill in Yin Laws had been discovered.

Yet, the Third Prince didn't make such a move, causing Davis to be incredibly confused.

"Have you ever seen the Third Prince face to face before?" He asked.

"Not even once..." Natalya shook her head, "But I know of his face because I've seen his portrait. It is even kept in Grandpa's room. To Grandpa, the Third Prince is his greatest benefactor..."

Natalya suddenly realized as she turned sad, "Consequently, Grandpa would undoubtedly listen to the words of the Third Prince..."

'Benefactor? Could it be that the Third Prince is a gentleman to be helping commoners? Or is he biding his time, waiting for the Throne to end up in his hands before making a move on Natalya?'

'It makes sense! Is this why Agis Stirlander and Igor Stirlander are killed? Because they refused to give Natalya to the Third Prince?'

'No, no... This still doesn't make sense... If the Third Prince asked for Natalya's hand in marriage, then it should be a great cause for celebration in the Stirlander Family. To Agis Stirlander, marrying his granddaughter to his benefactor, the Third Prince should be the highest honor he could receive and yet...'

Davis kept getting increasingly confused. He couldn't help but ask.

"Natalya, did your grandfather say or display in any form that you are Third Prince's woman?"

Natalya vehemently shook her head! She became aghast thinking that Davis has doubted her integrity.

"Y-You don't believe me? It's the truth... I haven't seen the Third Prince even once..."

"Silly, I'm not talking about that. It is strange that the Third Prince didn't target you despite knowing that you're skilled in Yin Laws. In another perspective, you're a walking treasure trove, hence, it's strange that the Third Prince didn't put a claim on you!"

Davis explained.

He wasn't angry that Natalya misunderstood his intent.

He knew that miscommunication and misunderstanding were part and parcel in relations.h.i.+ps and his intimate relations.h.i.+p just grew to two, hence, it could be said that he was already prepared to face misunderstandings.

To counter misinterpretations and mistrust, he believed that transparent communication is the most effective way...

Uhh... Like now... When they're transparent in both their clothes and intentions.

"..."

'I... I've misunderstood...' Natalya realized that she had made a mistake.

She couldn't help but reply meekly as her eyes narrowed and her lips curved, "I'm sowwy..."

Davis shook his head and smiled, "Silly, no matter what conflict we may have, we should talk it out and understand what had happened before making decisions, okay?"

"On that note, you were right to suspect me of accusing you... You understand?"

Natalya blinked at his question before her lips curved into a smile.

'Yes... Isn't this why I fell in love with this man? Understanding and mature... Furthermore, he was the one who saved me from encountering a tragic fate...'

"So what did your grandfather say?" Davis abruptly asked.

It caused Natalya to come out of her reverie as she thought for a brief moment before answering.

"Grandpa said that I'm free to follow my own will. He also knows about my obsession with you... Alchemist Scythe to be exact. While my little sister tells me that I should forget you since I will never get to see you, grandpa warns me that my obsession is not healthy. Otherwise, he supports me...."

Hearing Natalya's words, Davis became further confused. He couldn't but touch and squeeze his forehead, feeling like his thoughts were all over the place.

'With all that I'm hearing, it means the Third Prince isn't interested in Natalya despite knowing her potential...'

'If the Third Prince doesn't want Natalya, then why would he want the Conferred Queen whose potential should be similar to Natalya's, at least in his perspective.'

'Could it be status? No, Natalya's potential is enough to ignore that...'

'Could it be that the Third Prince isn't interested in a soft woman but mighty women who showcase their valor? Wait...'

"Natalya, does the Third Prince have a wife?"

Natalya instantly shook her head, "The Third Prince doesn't have a wife. It is rumored that he is the most favored candidate of the Throne while the seat beside him is empty."

"Hence, almost every woman in the Capital is currently trying to curry favor with the Third Prince but the Third Prince seems to state that he is in seclusion and publically rejects all advances..."

*Poof~*

It was like a mini-explosion echoed in his brain.

His thoughts were all over the place and he couldn't make sense of what exactly or who exactly the Third Prince is... The Third Prince appeared as an enigma to him.

It almost made him think that the Third Prince might be even a woman in disguise but that didn't make sense as well. That or that fellow had erectile dysfunction.

All this said to him that something had gone enormously wrong, at least at some point and he had greatly misunderstood something, leaving him unable to form a conjecture.

He took a deep breath and stopped investigating, "Leave it..."

Seeing that Davis became unhappy, she became anxious thinking that it was her fault. She pursed her lips and suddenly opened her mouth but Davis interrupted.