'Why is he pretending that he doesn't know me??' I wondered. As if to look at me better, the old woman squinted her eyes at me. I flinched. Although she was old, her eyes held a sharpness similar to that of a hawk's in them.

She returned her gaze at Kaname and replied, "She is Lady Hinata, my lord."

I heard a faint 'humph!' making me look to my left. I saw the haughty woman from earlier. Her painted face was a mask of disappointment, her lips were tightly pursed.. A cla.s.sic sign of suppressed anger.

I didn't see Kaname walk towards me, it wasn't until I heard him clear his throat while offering me his hand that I realized he was already standing before me. I took his hand; he gave me a light pull and helped me stand up. Kaname then hooked my arm into his.

We went to my room where, to my surprise, a lavish lunch awaited us. Kaname sat down on the floor and nodded at the food. He grabbed his chopsticks and, without looking at me, said, "Do you intend to stand up there the whole day or are you going to join me for lunch?"

I immediately sat down, not caring where. "Why are you sitting there? You should sit opposite me!" he sounded annoyed.

I crawled on all fours towards the table, a very unladylike gesture. I sat to the spot facing him and started inspecting my nails. I heard a clang then Kaname's exasperated sigh.

"Why did you go to the bell corridor if you are just going to pretend like I don't exist?"

I slowly looked up to meet his eyes. "I didn't have a choice. I was told that I was to have lunch with you."

"My apologies, I didn't know that the woman I saved last night was being forced to have a meal with me, her savior," he said sarcastically.

I didn't miss the emphases he added on the words 'the woman I saved' and 'me her savior.' I almost wanted to roll my eyes at him. "I didn't ask you to save me."

He barked a cutting laugh. "You didn't.. Of course, you didn't. That doesn't mean I'm not the reason why you're here today, clothed comfortably and being attended by servants instead of rotting in that forest right now."

I gritted my teeth, he was right.

"Did you know, Shouta is a very ruthless killer. He doesn't like long fights and would always immediately go for the kill. He also has a temper which he inherited from my younger brother. You were lucky I was there to stop him from wringing your beautiful neck."

My hands subconsciously flew to my neck. That's right, Shouta was about to strangle me when he arrived.

"You remember now?"

I looked away scornfully.

"Hinata, tell me.. Why are you being like this? I have shown you nothing but kindness."

I was surprised by his words. Indeed, Kaname has shown me nothing but kindness, but why does he annoy me so much? I exhaled deeply. "I.. It's because you're too proud."

"What?" he looked astonished. He was not expecting my answer.

"You're too proud," I repeated. "And you come across as arrogant. Yes, you saved me but it was your decision to bring me here. You were the one who instructed Taneyuki-san and Ryuko-san to attend to my needs. You came to my room this morning and staked a claim to my life.. My life! You threatened and told me that it's off with my head were I to decline.. You forced me to become your woman."

"And what is wrong with that? I am the great shogun of this nation, women would kill just to be mine!"

"I am not like those women!"

"Just what is so wrong about being my concubine? All you have to do is be with me and give me an heir. I will fulfill your carnal desires twice, sometimes even thrice, a week. Your every need will be provided by me. I shower my women with gifts lavishly, Hinata. You would want for nothing because I am a good provider."

"Where I come from, women are independent. Even when they go into a union with a man, she still has the freedom to live her life. She can have a job, pay for the bills, vote, and even rule a country. She is her husband's partner, his equal.. And best of all, not his property. The moment they are wed, they make a pact to be faithful and loyal to each other. Having a lover on the side is enough reason to leave the other. Where I come from, we do not share our husbands. Neither do husbands share their wives."

"I have never heard of such nonsense!" Kaname waived his hand in disgust. "And where, pray tell, is this place?"

"The twenty-first century."

"The twenty what?"

"Kaname," I said, not bothering with honorifics. "Do you believe in time travel?"

"No," he answered immediately.

"I do. In fact, I experienced it myself. It's the reason why I'm here. I've come from the future."

"The future?" he repeated.

"Yes!"

"Pfft!" tried as he might, Kaname couldn't stop the laughter from escaping his lips. "Hahahaha! You're very funny! Hahahaha!" tears started forming on the corners of his eyes as he held his stomach.

"Laugh all you want but I'm telling you the truth!" I shouted at him. "I am from the year two thousand seventeen! Buildings standing more than one hundred sixty stories exist! Cars made traveling by horse obsolete; trains, s.h.i.+ps, and airplanes have shortened days of travel into mere hours!"

"Hinata, you don't have to make up stories. While your words have amused me greatly, they do not hold enough power to interest me forever. Drop this nonsense now, will you?"

"What if I have proof to show you? What will you do?" I ignored his words and issued him a challenge instead.

"I said—"

"What if I have proof? What will you do, Kaname?" I insisted.

"You called me by my name again. Do it again and I'll—"

"Don't change the topic, d.a.m.n it!" I cursed, shocking us both.

Kaname slapped his hand on the table, his nostrils flared and his odd eyes shone with anger. "If you have proof then present it to me! I will decide what will happen next only when I see it!" he stood up and straightened his robe. "I have lost my appet.i.te. I will see you in the evening. Make sure to prepare your so-called evidence by then.. Because if you don't, I cannot guarantee that I can remain patient and kind towards you."