I know it seemed weird, but seeing those two tiny dots made me turn on for some reason. I don't know why. I felt disgusted by myself. Like, how can you get excited just seeing someone's tits?
But then my thoughts pushed back almost instantly.
If girls could get flustered over things like hand veins or an Adam's apple, then maybe this wasn't so strange after all. Just… different.
And honestly, it made me feel a little at peace. That's when Mary's voice fell into my ear, breaking my trance.
"Prince Xander is already waiting for you, my lady. He is so smitten by you." Mary murmured softly beside me, her tone polite, but I could sense the excitement in her voice.
I forced a small smile, though my breath was still shallow and my lungs were burning for more air, "Oh no, that's quite an exaggeration, Mary."
She blinked, as if something hit her, then she quietly nodded and stepped beside me. I glanced from the corner of my eye, not able to digest this sudden change.
What just happened? Why did she get that expression on her face when I said those words?
Before I could think further about her, the butler materialized from the thin air. He then gave a slight bow before he stated, "Lady Irene, his Highness awaits you. If you would follow me."
"Very well," I replied quietly, and started following his lead.
We moved inside, and the warm air turned a little colder, spreading little goosebumps all over my body. Our soft footsteps echo down the corridor. I tried to divert my mind from anything. The luxurious furniture, the outside view, but every time, my mind takes a U-turn to him.
I could still feel Xander's gaze, lingering like a touch that refused to fade.
As we passed a tall window overlooking the gardens, I turned my head to do another trial to divert my mind, and this time it actually worked. Something caught my eye. I slowed down before my brain could register it.
A figure walked alone along a stone path below. It seemed like a woman from all that puffed dress and long braided hair on one side of her shoulder. Her steps were slow, careful steps as if regaining strength.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, catching in her pale hair. She looked smaller than I remembered. More fragile. I narrowed my eyes.
Blonde braided hair. Soft blue dress. That unmistakable, unguarded presence. It was Selene.
My breath got caught in my lungs. She was awake and fine, not completely, but she was walking, which means the poison didn't affect her to a great extent.
She was out of bed, which was a win, and now unescorted. This wasn't some coincidence. This was a great opportunity served on a silver platter right in front of me.
Both Mary and Butler noticed my pause as they also stopped mid-way. "What happened, my lady?" Mary's question made me glance at her and then back at Selene.
The butler too followed my gaze, and understood the thoughts going through my mind, "Lady Mooncrest is recovering. Her physicians have advised light walks," he said simply.
I glanced at him, gave him a small smile, and nodded. He too gave a curt nod in return before resuming the way. Mary and I also started to follow him before throwing another glance at her walking figure.
So she could be approached. Carefully, but yes, and this was what it took before hope flared with a spark in me. Somewhere, confidence and excitement started to take place within me. Maybe I can do it after all. The thought seemed not to be imaginable but a reality.
Now, just need to take care of the beast and get out of his claw to complete my goal.
Making this my motto, I followed the butler, ready to face him. I guess so.
The butler stopped before a tall, dark wooden door.
"This is His Highness's chamber," he announced calmly, then turned toward Mary and me with a polite smile. "The Prince has requested a private audience. If your maid followed me. Some refreshments have been arranged for her."
Mary hesitated.
Her gaze flicked between the door and me, worry briefly breaking through her professional composure.
"My lady..." she started to say, but could not say. I understood her uneasiness, but I needed her off my tail to meet Selene. So, I gave her a small nod, assuring her that everything would be alright.
She searched my face for a moment longer, as if it was not enough to ease the tension stirring in her. We made a small two-second eye contact, like giving a girl a code message, and successfully this time she agreed and then dipped her head into a curtsy.
"Just give me a call in case you would require something, my lady," she stated, before turning to follow the butler down the corridor.
Their footsteps faded as silence rushed in to fill the space.
The door stood in front of me, heavy and closed like a portal. Its carved surface was cool beneath my fingertips as I reached for the handle. I drew in a slow breath, steadying myself.
You got this, Kayla. This is nothing like what you have faced till now. I reminded myself.
This was the moment I pushed down the handle, but before I could enter, the door opened inward at the same moment. A gasp escaped from my mouth as I lost my balance with this sudden movement, and I stepped straight into his room. Into Him.
The collision was soft but sudden enough to knock the air from my lungs. I stumbled forward, hands flying out on instinct to catch myself. They landed against something hard yet warm and soft.
At the same time, a strong pair of hands caught my waist immediately, steadying me as if they had done it a hundred times before.
For a heartbeat, neither of us moved as I had closed my eyes, waiting for the hit to come in reality, but it never came. As I felt no pain, I finally opened my eyes and looked up.
There he stood...impossibly close, dark eyes locked onto mine. Neither surprised nor flustered, but amused. Xander.
His fingers tightened just slightly at my side as he was giving me a reality check. As if he were reminding me exactly where I was standing, and whose cage I got trapped in.
"Well, I did not think that you would be so eager to get close to me," he said in this husky and velvety voice, which sent shivers down to my core.
Yeah, classic me getting into another drama without even trying.