Marivella jumps off the horse, and with long steps, she enters the house while calling out her parents. It was strangely quiet.

She knew that they would meet her sooner in the entrance once they would have heard announcing her arrival, or hearing horse's footsteps approaching their home.

Now, she wondered whether they went somewhere, together with her brothers as no one answering. But why they left the door unlocked? Marivella thought it was strange.

"Mama? Papa?" She called out over again but still, there is no sign of movements in the entire house.

Madison joins her side and whispered, "there are several footprints of the horses, let us be careful," she warns Marivella.

She nodded, began scrutinized her surroundings, and lifted her guard up. Madison's sharpness impressed her a lot for being well-trained, and respond promptly to any situation. In a situation like this, she could trust her judgment.

She trailed down the hallway toward her father's study room. Before she grabs the k.n.o.b, she takes a glance at Carlene whose following her behind. Slowly, she turned it to open the door.

Madison instantly runs and stood in front of her, s.h.i.+elding her against the man seated comfortably at the long couch.

"You seem to overreact toward me," with a dark glare, the man remarked irritatingly. "Instead of showing respect, you looked upon me as a dangerous man?"

Madison lifted her chin and bravely reacted to the man. "Does not mean that you claimed yourself as the Prince of Korea, now you earned the right to enter a house whose owner wasn't home. Can't you wait outside for the house owner to come back? Instead, in my point of view, you claimed to be a very important person. Unless you knew already where are they now. Am I correct, your highness?"

"I could see that filthy mouth you have there, lady," he said angrily.

"And I am surprised that you are fluent in French, your highness," sarcastically, she returned.

The prince laughs mockingly. "I could hire all the scholars to teach me every language I desired to learn."

Madison's gaze sharpened, and the prince caught her glaring at him.

"It happens that you were standing in my kingdom. I already p.r.i.c.k your eyes and cut your tongue, so then, that mouth of yours would be silence! And so, mind your place, maid!" he sneers. He cannot believe that someone would talk back at him, to a respectable prince like him, this woman dares to open her mouth.

"She's not a maid." Marivella corrected. Wearing a calm presence, but her tone is firm.

The Prince stares at her for a long moment. After then, his gaze softens and his voice lowering a bit. "Then, if you have a plan to bring her along to Korea, discipline her att.i.tude, and ensure to control her mouth."

Marivella glanced at Madison, which her eyes pleading. She could sense that Marivella thinking to ask her if she could accompany her to go to Korea. However, that cannot be.

How she could explain this to her?

Besides, they made a plan of hiding Marivella, away from this stranger prince. She cannot ascertain but sense a vague feeling about him. She could not trust him fully even he was showing a soft side toward Marivella. He's treating her oppositely, it is acceptable, but she won't allow anyone to separate her parents, even her grandmother; d.u.c.h.ess Genevieve Williams.

"What did you do to them?" she questioned him afterward.

"Who are you talking about?" the Prince twitches his forehead, sharp glares flashes at Madison.

"Marivella's family."

"You truly are disrespectful!" the prince violently sat up from the couch. "You dare to accuse me?" Astounded, this woman treating him poorly like looking down on him.

Anyway, Madison would not act haughtily toward him if she never saw the prince's right wrist. He is wearing a modern Swiss watch which what she had known, in this century there is no wrist.w.a.tch yet.

Does it mean he is from the future?

Could be possible that this man also traveling time like them? He does suspicious.

And what is his purpose? Is he aiming for Marivella? Why?

Are the questions playing inside her head while she wrestles gazes against the prince... She tried to foresee his past or anything about him, but she can't see anything.

It was the prince who first withdrew his gaze to look at Marivella.

"Pack up your things. We're leaving tonight," he announced that shocked both Marivella and Madison.

"What are you talking about, prince Yoo Joon?"

"Your family has already boarded my s.h.i.+p. You are the only one left here, and so, I am waiting for your return to pick you up."

"What did you do to them?"

"Don't worry, they were excited to go back to Korea."

"That sounded like a lie," she mumbles inside his head.

She promises that she will bring Marivella back tonight to take place the plan. Now what she can do? Everyone must know that there is a change in their plans.

Madison wonders if how many soldiers the prince brought here. She suspected that they were hiding in the woods.

Could she lost them if ever she will bring Marivella to escape?

She has to decide, quick. She would never allow this man to take Marivella away, and then her parents will separate.

Madison had time to talk Marivella when she headed to her bedroom upstairs. Confirming that no soldiers followed them, she locked the door.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Carlene..."

"If you change your mind, I'll help you escape from here."

"No. My family would be in danger. I cannot allow that to happen."

"Marivella..."

Why she has to suffer like this? Even to the life that does not exist anymore, she has to get through a tragedy.

"Listen, tonight, we will rescue you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll notify Captain Carlisle and together, we will take you and your family."

"No. I won't let your life be in danger!"

"I am fine. But you and Carlisle should be together," she pursues to convince her.

"Carlene, as you could see, his family is also against in our relations.h.i.+p. There is no peace for my family and running away is not a solution."

"But-" 

"Marivella? We're leaving now."

Knocks on the door interrupted their conversation which Madison opens it rudely.

The prince followed them upstairs; he does not follow old days' etiquette, huh? This only confirms that he is also not from these times. The Prince meet her glares, then s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Marivella.

"I've made a decision, I won't allow her to come with you."

He declares which he uses the Korean language. Madison grins, which the prince saw it.

"I don't like your mocking smile." Prince Yoo Joon sneers at Madison. "Tell me, you do speak our language, is it?" 

But Madison only pushes her left brow upward and showed her playful smile. Do you like playing games? Then be it. But Madison keeps the thoughts inside her head. If this man is from the future, then let play.

Responding using the Korean language, she pouted.

"So what?"