The bedroom was the epitome of grandeur but in the simplest of forms possible. It was large and very spacious. The bed sat, situated between two pillars that extended towards the ceiling. A large circular light screwed on the middle of the ceiling.

My gaze turned to the wide balcony door to the right of the bed, the large glass extending from the ceiling to the floors, cream and mint green curtains shadowing the view outside, behind them.

The bedroom was very grand. Nothing that even I was used to, nothing that like I knew I had ever had the taste to live in. But now I would for the next three months. Well, at least it was warm.

My gaze flickered to the balcony door again and I smiled as I found myself walking towards it. Slowly moving the curtain aside, I watched wonder-struck at the tiny brick homes scattered for miles until the shores end.

A tiny flick and the balcony's door slid open, and slowly but surely, I edged out onto it. The night smelled like sea water. The sounds of the shore — although so far away — in the quiet of the night still reached all the way to the castle.

The night was soothing.

A sweep of chilly breeze smacked me across my face and I shuddered, my grip on the knot of my towel tightening as I felt goose bumps popping around everywhere.

Be best if you got dressed, moron. You just recovered from a cold a few weeks ago.

Groaning because Jiminy was right I turned around and quickly rushed into the room. The balcony door, however, was left open, the long light curtains swaying in the wind behind me.

Moving over to my luggage I quickly fished out a pair of bedclothes and a pair of clothing that seemed suitable to wear to dinner, here in the palace. I wondered who would be entertaining me, the prospect of anyone even doing so seemed nil, considering the owner was in America.

I couldn't help but look around the large room again, on the further northern corner of the room nestled a large flat screen, beside if baskets of what seemed like DVDs. It seemed I knew how to pass my night after dinner here, after all.

A soft sigh left my lips as I picked up the clothes and began to walk towards what seemed like a closet. A small twist of the knob and the door flung open, my eyes widened at the view inside.

The closet already seemed stocked up.

Dresses, jeans, shoes, anything, and everything. All arranged meticulously in order.

Does someone else—oh my god does the owner keep his girlfriends here?

I shuddered with disgust. And jumping away from the door, slammed it close.

Wrinkly old owner-keeping live in girlfriends—I shuddered again.

I hope at least they changed the bedsheets.

"Dinner's ready, miss."

A sweet voice echoed from the other side of the door just as I ran my hairbrush through my hair for the hundredth time.

Brushing my hair for a hundred times was a habit I had acquired from Grandma Primrose, or as we all called her, Grandma Liz.

Primrose Elizabeth.

That hadn't been a name she was born with, on the contrary, that was a name she had given herself, once she went away to England.

Why, was something I had always asked her, growing up. But all she ever told me in return was that it was a long tale. One that she would eventually tell me, one day.

I was still waiting for that day to come.

Putting down the hairbrush, my hair flowing freely down my shoulder, I ran my hand over my dress before walking over to the bedroom's door.

"I'm ready, thank you." I smiled at a bathed and casually dressed Orik, closing the door behind me, I followed the smiling man as we made our way around the brightly lit hallways.

"I apologise but it seems you may have to have dinner alone, tonight." Orik mumbled as I stepped a stair down, my hand gripping the banister, the stairway was a little steep.

"It's all right, I guess. You've had dinner?" I asked tentatively, I suppose I just didn't want to be alone, especially in a castle where a killer ghost and a sad banshee came out to play.

Now at the bottom of the stairs, Orik turned to give me a soft sympathetic smile, "I'm sorry Olivia, I have a date tonight. You need not worry though, Lady Edika only attacks the Q—I mean... the brides."

Q...?

With slowly narrowing eyes I regarded the now frazzled looking Mr. Orik.

"Whatever you say," I muttered blandly, tilting my head so that my hair fell on my right shoulder, just like I liked it to.

Instantly Orik's eyes widened before they met mine, the colour from his face drained faster than I could blink and I felt a chill run up my chest when he took a sudden step forward.

"How did you get that?!" Orik suddenly hissed, his eyes now roaming around the walls of the dining hall.

Huh?

"What!?" I blurted, my mouth ajar I watched as Orik ran his fingers through his hair frustratingly.

"How did you get that!?" Orik hissed again, his eyes now fixed on my neck.

Oh...

Rome's mark ... Think! ...

My chest drumming in my chest I tried my best to give out the most natural sigh possible, "I had a car accident two months ago, when I woke up I had this. A man saved me. That's the last thing I remember."

"So, you don't know your m — the man who saved you?"

I frowned.

He knows something. Deny it.

I shook my head, "Unfortunately no, I don't even know how he looks."

Orik's shoulders visibly dropped and my eyebrows lifted in surprise at this.

"Oh, okay. Well it's healed nicely, it looks so much like a bite, maybe it's just an accident scar after all. I should go then, late for the date," Orik laughed out lamely as he sent an awkward wave my way and turned towards the door.

I waved back at the man before a thought that had been going in my head ever since I had found out that I'd gotten Oakenfield Castle, jumped into my mind, and I almost rushed to stop him, "Mr. Orik!"

Orik stilled before he turned around.

Honestly curious, I took a deep breath and blurted out my question "What's the name of Oakenfield's owner? You know, for project purposes."

Orik seemed to hesitate for a minute, his expressions clearly conflicted. The minute passed, and he finally turned around, hidden defeat jading his eyes.

"Romanov Naight,"

Ro... ma... nov... Roman... Rome.

Everything stood still. Everything. But my heart.
My heart fell of my chest while I just stood there. Frozen.

A wave of something foreign bubbled in my chest, erupting into a bundling mess of fury and dread and confusion.

Standing there frozen, I didn't even think I could breathe anymore.

What were the odds?

What were the odds that the owner of this huge castle was not an old, ancient Romanov but my mysterious, nonhuman, Rome?

Sensing Orik's silent exit out of the grand dining hall, I took a step to my left and dropped down on the chair, taking in a huge gurgle of air through my mouth.

What was happening in my life? Everything... Just seemed so... confusing.

Groaning I leaned forward and dropped my head onto the table, the edge of the cream cold plate touching my suddenly hot and damp forehead.

Somewhere, something dropped.

A gasp ripped out of my throat and I immediately shot up to my feet. Turning towards the dimly lit corner.

My eyes narrowed as I tried to make out if someone was still there.

Seconds passed and when I could still see no one, I sighed before beginning to turn around.

Maybe it was nothi— "AAHH!"
A loud scream left my lips as I stared at the woman only a step away from me, her wild black hair open, bright blue eyes staring back at me, her cheeks flushed.

Suddenly she looked down, and my eyes followed, in her hand was a platter decorated with roasted chicken. It was then when my eyes focused on the uniform she seemed to be wearing.

I let out a loud sigh of relief.

"Oh my God! I thought you were—" I stopped, then looking at the wide eyed alarmed looking girl, I smiled. "—Err well... hello! I'm Olivia! The university student"

A small flicker of amusement ran flickered in the girl's eyes and she almost smiled before turning around, she placed the platter on the table.

Done, she turned back to me.

"Hello. I'm Sophia,"

My smile brightened while I watched the girl sign back at me. It made no difference, even though she was mute, I knew sign language.

Growing up both my mother and father had decided to teach me two languages that weren't English. My father had always thought that It would be a skill of aid if I decided to help in the business. And while dad decided on Mandarin, my ever soft and kind mum picked sign language. I'd always liked mum's better. That skill helped me make a wider circle of friends in elementary school. That, besides the fact that Mandarin was awfully hard to learn.

Enthusiastically I smiled before signing back, "It's nice to meet you! I'm sorry if I scared you there with my screaming, I was just thinking about something and well you just... shocked me, that's all."

The alarmed look rushed back into Sophia's face and she took a rushed step or two forward, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!"

Immediately I shook my hands before me, "No no! It's okay, it happens!"

Sophia smiled and nodded, turning around to leave she gave me a small friendly wave.

I turned towards the heavily set up table before turning towards the already a meter away Sophia.

"Hey, Sophia!"

The girl stopped in her tracks before she turned around, her bright blue eyes wide with innocent curiosity.

"Do you and the staff think you might wanna join me, for dinner? I'm... lonely,"

The girl's eyes widened and putting her hands in a 'wait-wait' gesture, she turned around and rushed away, disappearing somewhere behind a large pillar.

"Erm, okay," I mumbled, almost to myself as I turned around and stepped closer to the chair I was only just occupying minutes ago.

Maybe these staff members will be able to tell me something about Ro-the owner.

"Where is she!?"

Startled, I turned around only to see a large, red haired woman marching her way towards me, three house cleaners rushing behind her, as if to stop her.

"You!" She pointed her long finger at me as she stopped before me, "You can't just invite the help to sit with you at the dining table! That is most inappropriate!"

Despite the fear bubbling in me, I frowned, honestly curious, "Says who?"

"You're a guest! And it isn't done! The help cannot sit on the master's table!"

Beside her Sophia seemed to pull her away.

"Madam, please! She's a guest!"

The woman's bright green eyes blazed as she took a step forward.

"Exactly! Exactly why she cannot ever repeat this mistake again," she exclaimed, flinging her hands up in exhaustion.

I looked down at my feet, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would hurt you people, I was just... lonely... And since you were the only ones I knew were in the castle, I thought you all wouldn't... mind having dinner with me,"

When after a minute no reply came back for my apology, I looked up, confused at the silence.

My eyes met the small group of maids as each clutched their hands to their chest, in front of them the woman seemed to wear a soft look too.

My heartbeat accelerated when the woman took a step forward, if truth were told, I was almost scared.

Her hand found my shoulder and my eyes widened when she squeezed it gently, "Oh, silly Marsha. Well then let's get you into the kitchen then, aye? We'll have dinner there."

Surprised, I looked up at the woman and found her eyes on my neck, her smile brightened, and she squeezed my shoulder again.

"Okay," I mumbled happily, and then grabbed a platter as the others began gathering the platters and bowls too.

Turning around to Marsha, my smile brightened when I found her looking at me with an expression my mum used to wear when she was proud of Elizabeth and me.

"Let's get you fed, girl"

The kitchen was probably the largest room I had seen so far, everything around here looked new. The appliance, the furniture, but the feel still held the rustic originality of the late eighteen hundred.

I had been told by Marsha and the girls that this wasn't the only kitchen in the castle, in fact there seemed be another, on the central tower — which was where Master Romanov's private suite was.

A smile lighting my lips, I dusted off the final crumb off the table and moved towards the dustbin. Dinner had finished half an hour ago and now while Marsha and the girls did some dishes, I had settled for the tidying up.

"You fit right in, Olivia," Rose smiled at me and I grinned back.

"Maybe Marsha will teach me a dish or two next time?" I giggled as we both winked at each other. By the sink, Marsha let out a loud, exited laugh.

"Any day, dear."

A small yawn slipped out of my mouth and I instantly smacked my hand over my mouth. In front of me, Sophia let out a yawn of her own.

We both sent each other a silent grin.

"Sophia, why don't you take Olivia to her room?" Marsha spoke up, I smiled at her gratefully.

"Sure," she signed as she smiled at me brightly and beckoned me to follow her.

Turning around I waved at everyone, winking at Rose before smiling at Marsha. "Goodnight everybody, see you all tomorrow!"

The walk up to the second floor was quiet. Understandably, as old a castle this castle was, it wasn't a surprise that there wasn't a provision for elevators. The spiralling stairway, however, stood strong as we made our way up it, a long, lengthy candelabra however hung from the centre of the roof up in the third floor down to the ground floor. Illuminating the stairway, giving it a very mystical feel.

My bedroom's door came into view and curiosity got the best of me again, shooting Sophia a quick look I edged closer to her before nudging her gently with my shoulder.

Looking amused, she turned to me.

"What?" She mouthed and signed at the same time, our pace slowed considerably into a leisure stroll.

"Is Michael your brother?" I asked, looking at her with an excited grin.

Her expression brightened, and she nodded excitedly, "Yes! My younger brother! Four years younger,"

I nodded my own smile excited, maybe Sophia and I could be friends while I was here.

Eyeing her secretly while we walked closer to my room again, I wondered how hard it must be for her to work here after all that she had been through. Thinking about that my spirits sunk lower, the poor girl had a household to handle after all.

"He's a good kid, you must be very proud of him,"

She nodded, "I am,"

"We're here," she smiled brightly as turning the knob she pushed the door open.

I cringed when I realized I had left the door open.

Stupid.

Taking a step into my room I turned to a warm looking Sophia.

"Can I ask you something?" I mumbled, wondering if I really wanted to ask her about R — him.

"Sure!" she signed, standing there patiently. Her wild black hair flew freely down to her waist.

"Can you tell me... something about this... Romanov Naight?" I asked, my gaze on the floor, my tone low. Sighing, I looked up at her and saw her smile dull a little, however her eyes met mine and she suddenly smiled brightly again.

"Sure," she grinned, "Master is young, twenty-five I suppose. He left when he was ten. Didn't come back until Master Alistair's tragic demise only seven years ago. Until then, he was in America, with his cousin Alexander. He studied in Cambridge, a law honours graduate. And — what else do you want to know?"

Twenty-Five...

The wheels in my brain turned as I thought over the description of Romanov and compared it to Rome.

My eyes snapped up to Sophia's blue ones and I took a step forward, "How does he... look?"

I watched, curious as Sophia hesitated, her fingers entwining together, before untangling and repeating the action all over again.

She sighed, "He's tall, almost six feet. Jet black eyes, straight sharp nose, a firm set jaw, and hair that falls over his cheekbones. Sometimes he even lets it grow to his shoulder. And he has a—"

She stopped. Her eyes widened. Alarmed.

I frowned, "He has a what?"

Sophia looked away, "A scar he never lets fade, near his shoulder, on his back"

How does she know?

"How do you know, that?" I blurted out loud, I stilled when Sophia turned around, her face red.

"Rose and I saw him... making sure the scar would stay," she signed, before looking away.

The mark on my neck tingled and I massaged my neck, trying to get rid of the tingle.

Change the topic.

"There are female clothes in the closet," I quickly signed, my smile back in its place, this seemed to lighten Sophia's mood considerably.

She grinned as she shifted her weight from her left leg to her right, her eyes twinkling brightly, "I'm sorry we forgot to move them out, those belong to Master Romanov's future bride."

My whole world fell blank.

Pulling up a small smile, I smiled at Sophia numbly before mumbling out a small Oh.

Seeming oblivious of my state she smiled brighter before finally signing goodnight and moving away.

Blank headed I turned around, the door shutting close behind me, a tiny flick and the sound of the lock echoed into the airy room.

There was no mistake. There couldn't be any mistake.

Romanov Naight, great grandson of Julius Naightuitem, one of my university's governors, the owner of Oakenfield Castle... was Beasty.

My Beasty.

The same beast who had terrorised my every breathing moment for two months straight, the same beast who had called me, who had kissed me, who had... saved me.

And Beasty — was engaged.

A wave of guilt and shame hit me square against my chest as I thought about all the times I tried to force him to stay, to tell me who he was.

Moving towards the open balcony door, I sunk down onto the white fluffy rugs, the chilly night breeze blowing off some of the heat I felt on my face from the sudden onslaught of embarrassment.

Each time I had pushed him, each time I had demanded answers, not once had I considered that maybe he didn't want to stay, in any way, that maybe —

My mind rushed to the night when he kissed me, and I flinched as the taste of his lips floated back to my senses. I could still taste him on my lips.

I shook my head, ridding myself of those memories.

An act of sympathy. That was what I had been, and then there I was, demanding he answer and ... secretly hoping he would stay.

I looked away.

This wasn't an urban romance, and I wasn't the lead female protagonist. Romanov couldn't stay. My eyes shifted to the closed closet door. Romanov was engaged.

Turning my head towards the bed I sighed as I crawled over and pulled a pillow and blanket down to my spot. Slowly I lay back down on the soft fluffy rugs.

The warm comforter finally snugly around me, I turned around. My eyes watching the twinkling expense of the night sky. The distant sound of waves hitting the shore soothed my mind into calmness.

It was difficult. But I was thankful— for before I knew it... the fatigue of everything that had happened today, won, and I fell into the familiar dark abyss.

~^~
I woke the next morning to the calm caresses of the morning breeze against my face. The rug under me felt like fluffs of cloud. The distant sounds of starting traffic strangely seemed comforting.

Getting up I rubbed at my eyes before opening them, the morning sky looked beautiful.

It hadn't quite hit the light yet and the sky was still dark — and yet it glowed with a beautiful shade of pink-rose.

Dawn.

I smiled, feeling completely at ease. And then last night came tumbling back down.

Romanov...

I shook my head.

"No. No Beasty. No Romanov. I had been selfish until yesterday, but from today, I will do us both a favour. I will forget about the accident. I will forget him. I will forget everything. I will forget the kiss. The man who saved me deserves to live in peace, he clearly doesn't want to hang around my life, and I will not make him."

Getting up I looked at the sky again, the sun had begun to rise.

A new beginning. A new day.

I smiled. Then turning around, walked over to my suitcase.

The mark on my neck tingled but I ignored it. First class was at nine, and I had four hours to get there.

One hour to drive.

Three hours to get out of the castle.

My mind travelled to the bathroom suite and I smiled.

Thirty seconds to get into the bath.

One hour to get out.

A small smile on my lips and my towel in my hand, I moved my way towards the bathroom.

A long shower was in order.