Two strong guards took the old man by the arms and took him outside. He did not resist, he was looking with empty eyes at the girl who had rejected him as if it was the last time he'd seen her.

Marina threw herself into Juno's arms, soaking her blouse with tears. The lady gave her a hug to comfort her.

«Don't cry. I won't let Flitz hurt you.» – Her fierce gaze turned to Ken. Her strategic plan had failed... The "master" returned too quickly... He had his hair shaved off, it serves him right, but the thing below was obviously still in order. The sly slave must have made a deal with the old man, he told him Marina's location. How did he dare to sell out her friend? On the other hand, it was he who allowed to save her... He called her with the sound transmitter. What is going on in his bald head? And what will happen next...

Kyon looked affectionately at Marina who was weeping, apparently from the relief. When he used to hide behind the bushes, she told different things about Flitz, including good things, but now she is afraid of him like the rabbit fears the wolf. Was it because of her changeable female nature? Far from it... It was about the old man. He was the reason the girl became quiet and withdrawn. Flitz was a tyrant, denying her any will.

Then Kyon had an excellent idea which could solve the complicated situation to Marina's advantage.

The guy approached Juno and ordered in her ear to give him the diamond token with the coat of arms, a symbol of the 1st rank of the Stones.

Juno unwillingly took the valuable s.h.i.+ny thing out of the ring and handed it over to the "master," never breaking their embrace with whimpering Marina. Juno was much younger than her, and yet it was she who was comforting Marina like an older sister. Then she darted a thoughtful look at the back of her sworn enemy receding into the distance.

The rejected old man hung his head down and walked where his feet took him. He sank into the depths of hopelessness. He understood that he wasn't destined to get Juno's friend back. Desperate people can do something rash like try and take Marina by force. It's just... He'd find only his death there. The guardians are elite, the barrier is impenetrable. He can't get inside.

Kyon didn't want to see Flitz die because of a foolish act or suffer from depression as Marina would cry and grieve for him. So he decided to do it his way.

He came close enough to the old man and spoke in the direction of his back bent in worry:

«Mr. Flitz, you can't return Marina by force and influence. Lady Juno will never let her friend go against her will. But if you manage to convince your beloved that she is dear to you, that you are ready to perceive her as a woman, listen to her, give her attention and care for her, then everything can change. She won't be afraid of you and then she won't need Juno's protection. You will see her every single day. But you need to get some work done on yourself and I will gladly help you with that. So, how about this?»

Before he started talking, the old man did not want to listen to anything. His heart was filled with pain... Severe pain… Even if it was less piercing than before. He understood perfectly well that there was no chance to get Marina back, and then the guy started talking like that. He turned irritably towards the young man.

«You... What are you talking about? How do you know what I need to make that fool of a woman feel comfortable with me? Actually, I do not need the advice of a slave... Get out of my sight.»

Kyon took a thing out of his pocket and handed it to Flitz.

«I came here to give you advice not as a slave, but as Marina's friend.»

Flitz gasped, put the thing close to his nose and breathed in deeply. As he exhaled, his breath trembled. That time, he looked at the guy seriously.

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«Once I bought this handkerchief for her... Did you steal it from Marina?»

Kyon hurriedly shook his head.

«No, she gave it to me herself. You know, our friends.h.i.+p got off to a good start. During the last weeks, we talked a lot, she often told me about you. She shared with me what she was scared of and what made her happy, what she hated in you and what she loved... From what I heard, I concluded that you are dear to her and scare the h.e.l.l out of her at the same time. And now I want to help you change things so that she is not afraid of you anymore.» – the boy was well aware that changing the character of the grumpy old man was, in principle, an impossible task. But love is a powerful thing. Besides, his goal was not to change the character of Flitz, but to change his approach to Marina. He wanted him to stop taking her as his maid.

At first, Flitz frowned incredulously and then he started thinking. His heart was beating faster because the boy had given him hope to be reunited with the woman he loved. On the other hand, a cute young slave wanted to give him advice about Marina... That's pure nonsense. But if he was really her friend... He couldn't make his mind if he should send the guy to h.e.l.l or listen to him.

«How can it help me if I can't even talk to her?» – Flitz asked skeptically.

Kyon lifted up the corners of his mouth into a sly smile.

«You see, I'm Marina's friend and any friend of Marina's immediately becomes a friend of lady Juno, even if it's not that evident. In fact, Marina trusts me so much that lady Juno has started trusting me.» – With those words, he pulled out the diamond token.

The old man took the iridescent token of the Stones with disbelief. There could be no error... It belongs to Juno! There is a formation proving the ident.i.ty inside! It's impossible to fake. He couldn't believe that the lady who had always despised sc.u.m like slaves gave him such a valuable thing all of a sudden! There could be several options. Either the guy had stolen it, which was absolutely impossible or he was telling the truth. In that case, it became clear why he was still alive and why he'd become the servant! The order to castrate him was a bit out of place... Or it wasn't. Well, perhaps her order makes some sense!

«It's impossible…» – Flitz couldn't believe his eyes. – «The wicked girl couldn't have given the token to a servant… No…»

Kyon scratched his nose in embarra.s.sment.

«As soon as you left, Marina begged Juno to allow you to come and visit her... I don't know what's going on in her head.»

Flitz almost dropped the token. His heart, recently broken, pounded with hope again.

«Marina… You are…»

«Lady Juno was forced to agree. Her pride did not allow her to run after you and take her words back, so she sent me with this token to make you believe my words. I suggest you visit Marina tomorrow, take a walk around the park. But if you are cruel to her as before, they will drive you away for good.»

Flitz hesitated to make the important decision then he nodded reluctantly and returned the token to the boy. He didn't want to listen to the boy's words, but he didn't see any other way out.

«I am ready... Tell me what scares her in me, and what pleases? What exactly did she say about me?»

Kyon rubbed his hands and the consultation began. If anyone found out that a servant was advising Flitz himself, they'd fall about laughing.

Their conversation lasted a quarter of an hour. The old man's eyes grew wider and wider with each pa.s.sing minute. They were about to pop out by the end of their talk. In fact, the guy wanted him to stop taking the girl as a maid and begin to treat her as someone higher up the hierarchy. It was impossible for him... In his eyes, the blonde girl was a stupid baby who knew nothing of life, and then all of a sudden she was not... He should take her as his wife, as his queen, a G.o.ddess even and so on. He couldn't even think about insulting her as if he had his head cut off for that. He had to give her little gifts, show signs of affection, be ready to apologize if he'd been rude or said something that might have scared his woman.

In short, he had to completely change himself.

«That's insane! I'll tell you what, sucker what it is, all women say one thing and want another. Marina is just the same. You've heard enough of her nonsense and now you think you are the smartest person here. Listen to me…»

Kyon dared to interrupt Flitz.

«Sir, you have only one chance. Either you become the one who Marina wants you to be and you get access to the mansion or you will never see her again.»

He cut off Flitz's words. No matter how he looked at it the servant was right. He couldn't lose his only hope.

The old man chuckled and said matter-of-factly, stroking his beard:

«Tell that mischievous girl that tomorrow I will be there at lunch. And prepare Marina for my visit, I don't want her to be scared again... She is so tense. Oh well, you know.»

«I'll do that.» – Kyon smiled graciously. He could easily be a link between the old man in love and the woman who he owed more than life. She often told him that she wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Flitz, so let her talk, let her sort things out.

Soon they said goodbye, and Kyon headed to the mansion. With each step he took, his face grew colder. He was thinking about how to punish Juno. She did the unforgivable thing, violated the sacred place - the man's b.a.l.l.s.

After the conversation with Flitz, Kyon went to the mansion. On his way, he made a call and ordered Juno to wait for him at the training area.

He went up to the second floor to call on Marina. She wasn't yet over the recent breakdown, her trembling fingers brus.h.i.+ng away the tears. Kyon comforted her with kind words and care, but he quickly found out that the reason she was crying wasn't only the recent events. There was something else.

«Marina... You need to meet Flitz face to face and sort it all out. Don't avoid your inner demons, face them and overcome them. It will make you stronger. Running away will get you nothing. I suggest you do it tomorrow afternoon. I've convinced Flitz that he can easily lose you if he does one wrong gesture or says one bad word or gives a wrong order. Don't be afraid of him. Calm down and just say what you think about him. Get rid of all the pain that has been in your heart for so long. I can see how much you care for him. He won't rude to you again or I will kick him out of the mansion and won't let him anywhere near you.»

The boy's words impressed Marina. She calmed down and thought hard about something then she nodded decisively.

«Let him come. I was not ready for his visit today, I was confused... I was scared that he'd take me by force and make me do those dirty things again... But lady Juno saved me and not without your help. In fact, I had been thinking for a long time how to tell the master... I mean Flitz… that don't want to be his maid anymore and it kind of just happened. It must be a good thing. I'd like him to treat me in a different way but Flitz will not change... I am only a maid for him.» – She concluded wistfully.

«Time will tell.» – Kyon said quietly and hugged the young woman to comfort her.

Marina felt peaceful in his strong arms. Even if the guy was only 14 and she was 20, it seemed like they were of the same age. Why is he so good? It feels so safe next to him...

On that warm-hearted note, Kyon left her room.

On the way to the training area, he ordered Synergy to accelerate his hair growth. In about three days, they will be as long as before.

In the meantime, he had to face an important issue: how to avoid future risks due to Juno's abnormal ability to get around his orders. He could and even had to beat her up but it didn't work for her. It was time to think of something else. He guessed he'd have to push her b.u.t.tons and at the same time try not to cross the line. Nothing else worked for her. She can't go unpunished for her attempt on his t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es.