Divine Emperor of Death

A second later, three figures clad in black robes instantly appeared as they kneeled before him with one of their knees on the floor.

"Are you all the ones guarding Evelynn?" Davis asked as he cast a glance over them.

"Yes, your highness!" The three echoed in sync, their voices feminine.

The way he called them was arrogant and haughty but they seemed to be unfazed as if this was normal.

He asked, "From when exactly?"

One of them lifted their face and said, "Two months after your highness left..."

Davis nodded, "I see... Then all of you protected Evelynn shortly after the time I left, huh? You all have my thanks..."

"We're honored, your highness!" Echoed the three while putting down their heads again.

Davis frowned, then hesitated a little before asking, "I want to see your faces..."

The three hidden female experts removed their masks at once and lowered their hood.

In front of Davis were three women who he found familiar.

His face turned a little confused, "You all... I... I swear I've seen you all somewhere before..." 

The three women looked at each other and smiled, "We were castle maids in charge of the royal kitchen at that time..." One of them replied.

"Yes..." Davis instantly remembered but he then turned a little embarrassed inwardly for not being able to remember the names of his own people.

"Our empress found our talent to her standards, so she recruited us and gave intense training and resources from time to time."

"That's how we were able to increase our strength in these years..."

Davis nodded, "The fact that you three were at the royal kitchen at that time means that you were all trusted even before being recruited to be hidden protectors."

"Can I know all your names?" He asked politely as he thought of rewarding them with something.

The three women nodded their heads and said there names in sync, "Felt! Tami! Emine!"

Davis was surprised at their enthusiasm. He could see their grateful eyes, glistening with unwavering loyalty.

They didn't seem like cold hidden experts as one would see in stories but were seething with emotions.

He silently checked their souls even without them noticing but couldn't find anything resembling a slave seal or any kind of an anomaly for that matter.

He was somewhat taken back but he still asked, "Don't you three all feel that you're being made to do something unreasonable? Like protecting Evelynn all day while not even getting a break?"

Davis was truly confused. If he were in their position, his first thought would be on how to escape from this servitude.

Felt, a woman with black hair and sharp eyebrows, shook her head, "No, your highness. We three are orphans, brought up in the Maid Quarters. We owe our lives to the Royal Family and will forever be in debt if we don't repay it..."

"Your highness," The woman with curly hair who named herself Tami, spoke, "We chose to be here by our own will, and we are glad to repay the Royal Family."

"Besides, we get to increase our strength too..." The last and the third woman said, her expression a little playful.

Davis pointed at her and said, "Emine, right? Were you the one who called the royal guards at that time?"

Emine froze, but she then hurriedly apologized as she bowed her head.

Davis laughed and shook his head, "Your reaction to that mess of mine was incredibly efficient, in fact, I'm here to reward you three, don't reject."

A lump of spirit stones appeared out of nowhere, amounting to around 600.

"This! Your highness?" Emine gave a screech as she felt the wave of pure energy washing over her face.

Her face flushed as she looked at Davis incredulously. The other two had similar reactions etched on their faces.

Seeing their appearances, Davis chuckled, "Take 200 each, and cultivate to the Body Transformation Stage."

"No... we..." Emine tried to reject while holding back all kinds of emotions, but she got interrupted.

"Don't say no, how are you all going to protect Evelynn without having the same strength as her?" Davis laughed.

The three looked at each other, equally embarrassed and excited, a sense of belonging welling within them.

"Thank you, your highness!" They bowed down sincerely as they got to their knees.

The door beside them suddenly opened, and a face peeked out, giving a blank yet a piercing look.

The ones on the outside all froze, like thieves being caught red-handed, their faces filled with varying expression.

Evelynn looked at the scene with a bewildered look, 'What is happening here?'

She suddenly felt a wave of energy while cultivating, curious, she came out to check, only to see her Davis frolicking with... other women?

No! Taking a glance again, she saw that they were her protectors!

Davis waved his hands, "Alright, take these spirit stones and cultivate! There's no need for you three to protect her anymore! Come back after reaching the Body Transformation Stage!"

The other three didn't say anything, directly leaving after taking the 600 Low-Level Spirit Stones.

The Crown Prince's command was equal to the Emperor's and Empress's command. That's what they were told when they had been assigned to protect Evelynn. 

Davis turned to look at Evelynn after they left. A guilty expression appeared on his face, feeling bad for the events that happened early morning.

Evelynn turned back and went inside, indirectly prompting Davis to follow behind her into their room.

Once Davis stepped into the room, he heard Evelynn speak.

"Felt, Tami, and Emine... The last time I saw their faces was the time when they were introduced to me." She suddenly said and turned back, facing him, "I'm glad that you rewarded them with those spirit stones..."

Davis shook his head with a smile, "It's my pleasure..."

Evelynn stepped closer, "No, I truly feel bad for them, protecting me day and night without expecting a single thing in return."

A complicated expression appearing on her face as she mumbled in a low voice, "Truly, I can't be like them..."

"You don't have to..." Davis echoed, "Stay as you are... the person I love, not them."

Evelynn giggled, a blush appearing on her face.

Davis's expression went faint, "Listen, I'm sorry that I lashed out at you this morning..."

"I don't remember something happening like that..." Evelynn held her chin, a confused look appeared on her face.

Davis was inwardly stunned, 'She's acting as if nothing happened?'

'Ahhh...' He inwardly made a sound of realization.

He smiled and thought he was truly favored by the heavens at least once to have her as his wife.

But what he didn't know was Evelynn didn't really care for much as she only felt that he was being possessive, a feeling that she gradually came to enjoy over time.

He came forward and took her soft white hand into his palms, "I have something for you... No, us..."

A book appeared in her hands, and when she sent her senses into it, she froze.