Sylvia looked at Lith with anticipation.

Lith smiled and answered, "About the carp against the current does it really matter?"

"Hm?"

"I mean does one need to have a reason to do something?" Lith questioned. "Let's say there was just curiosity at first and the carp went against the current. Then, it found it fun or maybe it found out there was something beyond the currents or maybe it just was a fool and began going against it. However, does all of it really matter?"

Sylvia did not understand what Lith was saying. Not even in the slightest. She was confident her comprehension skills were good, but she still could not understand anything.

Watching her confused gaze, Lith's expression softened further. He was close to teaching her something important, and breaking through her heart's shackles.

It would be difficult, but it was close.

Lith once again wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. This time, it went much smoothly as Sylvia was used to it and liked it.

As she placed her head on his shoulder, Lith gently ran his fingers through her hair and said, "One doesn't need to have a reason to do every single thing in their life. A newborn doesn't need a reason to crawl or walk. It happens naturally as it grows and the environment around it changes. Similarly, there are certain times and certain things in life that just happen. You could call it fate if you want."

"There are certain fates and destinies attached to a being the moment they are born. The simplest is their death being fated. Whatever has taken Life, will eventually be assimilated into Death. This is the most common fate of everybody. However, it can be overcomed. This way, it could be the carp's fate too to go against the current or maybe it was just its destiny to become an azure dragon."

"What I'm trying to say is"

Lith made Sylvia get up from his shoulder and held her face. He stared into her gray eyes and said, "You don't need a reason for everything. How you dictate your life is totally up to you. You could do random things that are meaningless or you could do a thousand virtuous deeds, there really doesn't need to be a reason."

Sylvia's dull eyes had a glint of amusement flicker in them. Her flat look seemed to have eased up and her body relaxed.

Lith could feel this clearly.

He rubbed Sylvia's lower lip with his thumb and gazed at her. She gazed back at him, her head totally blank.

Not letting this opportunity go, Lith softly sealed Sylvia's lips with his own, slightly surprising her.

She did not know what to do and stood there like a statue.

Lith's rosy taste was felt on her lips, the same rosy scent made her body relax further, and the gentleness of his made her lips slightly part.

Taking in this opportunity, Lith went in for a deep kiss and passionately coiled his tongue around hers, tasting her mildly sweet saliva.

He broke the kiss after a few seconds and pulling her in his embrace and hugging her from behind, said while gluing his face with hers, "Like I said, you don't need a reason for anything. If your heart wants it, you go do it. I had no plans for kissing you, but while talking, I felt it was the right thing to do.

"It could be wrong on my part for doing it, but I don't regret it. My actions may not be appropriate and may not have achieved their desired effect, but that's okay. In life, not everything needs to be done to achieve something."

Sylvia's heart was finally stirred. Lith's words hit her deep and made her silent.

'I'

'I don't need a reason to live?'

Sylvia questioned herself.

'I can live without a reason? I can roam without a reason?'

'I can do anything without a reason?'

Questions that had never occurred to her started popping one by one.

At first, her heart was in turmoil as a lot of negative emotions took over her. But with Lith providing his warmth and being there for her, these emotions were slowly being replaced by something else.

'Right I can end my life anytime I want but I can only live once'

'Even if it is despair or pain or this warmth I can only feel it when I'm alive'

'I don't need a reason to end myself, and I also don't need a reason to live too. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.'

'Does that mean'

A cold glint flashed in Sylvia's eyes.

She pulled herself away from Lith and looked at him.

Lith could feel her gaze being cold and wondered what was up.

"If I don't need a reason for anything, then does that mean I can go hunt that Witch anytime I want?"

Lith nodded his head. "Yes, that's right. You can do whatever you want. However, you need to know, there's consequences to your actions."

"Hm?"

Lith smiled. "When the carp tried to go against the current, it faced severe backlash from the water. It also faced the scrutiny of its peers. It had to bear with this consequence and endure the pain. Following your heart and doing whatever you want requires you to be prepared for anything that might come to you. If you're ready for that, you can do anything you want."

Sylvia sighed. Things were not as simple as it seemed.

"Will I be killed if I kill that Witch?"

Lith shook his head. "You will be punished for defying orders, but certainly won't be killed. In any case, neither me nor my family actually cares about this. You have the freedom to do whatever your heart desires. However, as your Master, I do wish the best things for you, and would advise you that now isn't the right time yet."

Sylvia nodded her head. "I understand."

The calmness within her was restored. She was finding answers to the many questions in her heart, all thanks to Lith.

Lith pulled her back in his embrace and wrapping his arms around her waist and gazing at the river with fishes leaping, asked, "By the way, did you enjoy the date?"

"Mhm" Sylvia hummed softly. With just this, Lith could feel that she was genuinely happy with it.

Smiling, he then asked, "And what about the kiss?"

A slight rosy tinge surfaced her face. Yet she still hummed, "Mhm enjoyed"

Lith chuckled internally. It was not easy to sway her heart, but he was making some progress at last.

"Want to kiss again?"

""

Sylvia did not respond, but the rosy glow on her face gave it away.

Lith made her lean back on him and bending his neck, kissed her again. It was just a light peck.

Sylvia's face was flushed, but she heaved in relief as she thought it was over.

But it wasn't!

Lith gave her another peck then another and another

Lith stopped only when he couldn't make out a difference between her face and a tomato.

Going back to hugging her from behind and letting her sink into her new reality, Lith said, "If you want to go on another date, you don't need to be shy. Just ask. Though, with how cute you are, if you don't ask me out for a date in a year, I'll have to forcefully drag you into one."

The corner of Sylvia's lips subconsciously flared up. She did not know why, but she was feeling a weird sensation which was making her tingly?

She did not know. She couldn't figure it out.

Lith then chuckled evilly and slithering his hands on her abdomen, then squishing her love handles, said, "If I drag you, the next time, it'll be more than just a kiss. Do you know what I'll do to you?"

Sylvia's heart sank. The Prince was planning to defile her body? Was he just like every other perverted man out there?

To Sylvia's dismay, Lith placed his chin on her head and chuckled evilly again. Squishing her love handles again, he replied to his own question, "Hehe~ I'll torture you with the worst kind of torture out theretickling torture!"

''

Sylvia's chaotic thoughts abruptly came to a halt.

'What?'

She was dumbfounded.

"After that, I'll torture you by making you eat loads of sweets, giving you a sugar crash. Hm, hm, what a genius idea yours truly possesses."

Like a madman, Lith continued to spout nonsense.

"Maybe I'll also have you follow me around and ask you to make me tea. And whenever you serve me tea, I can scold you for it being either too hot or too cold or simply the right temperature."

'What is this'

Sylvia was really confused. Nothing made sense!

Lith tightened his grasp on her, hugging her firmly. "Maybe I could also tie you up to a chair and kiss you till you gasp for breath. How does it sound?"

'Your Highness'

Sylvia's apathetic face turned into that of a worrisome look, coupled with a hint of embarrassment, and amusement.

She had such mixed emotions that she didn't know what to say or do.

"Hm-mhm-hmm-hmm-mhmm~!" Lith hummed a melody and swayed side to side while gluing his face with Sylvia's.

Bombarded with so many new things, Sylvia was at an utter loss.

'This feeling'

'It's much different from Zen's'

Zen was Sylvia's summoner puppy. The affection that she felt from that little Labrador was the first ever 'warm' feeling she had.

Lith also gave her the same 'warm' feeling, but it was entirely different. It did not resemble the one she had with her pup in the slightest.

'It is so confusing'

'but I don't hate it.'

With that, Sylvia lay forcefully hugged by Lith and continued to watch the fishes. Her mind may be blank, but her heart was beating fast, as if trying to send waves of warmth everywhere in her body.