Every emotion of uncertainty turned cold within Delilah's body when Andrea's arrival at the mansion was announced. Since dawn, she had been unable to stop thinking about what she ought to do. For starters, she did not dare send a pretentious personal letter to Neil expressing apologies or anything of the sort.
With what right could she take such a liberty?
It was unnecessary to seek a Bathory's forgiveness in her current condition.
Andrea's visit was more than she deserved, yet she hurried through the hallways as fast as her bare feet allowed. At that moment, the chaos in her chest erupted. She felt remorse for betraying her benefactors and was prepared to face the consequences. If there were even a minimal chance of receiving compassion, she would be willing to serve Bathory for a lifetime. She ran only to eclipse those benevolent green eyes that always shone with tranquility.
Her agitated breathing perfectly revealed her insecurities. Seeing her thus, the younger Bathory felt a slight sense of conceit; his expectations had been exceeded. He smiled at her gently, receiving her as if this encounter were just one more among many.
—You have regained your skin's natural tone.
The blonde raised his hand and softly brushed the girl's face, as if trying to reach something deeper than her simple appearance. He hoped she would not drift further away than she already had, for the newly created gaps weighed heavily on his chest.
From a distance, Cain observed the scene as an involuntary spectator. Seeing Delilah caught under Andrea's natural charm felt inexplicably moving to him... and at the same time, it provoked a dark, almost violent impulse to destroy something so perfect with a single cold gaze.
—Cain, it is not right to eavesdrop on the conversations of others —a severe voice said behind him—, even if it concerns that woman. After all, the one she speaks with is a Bathory.
Lucrecia had arrived at the precise moment. Cain silently thanked that firm voice for forcing him to look away.
—Come with me —she ordered calmly.
The Count's son obeyed without protest. Before leaving, he tried to look once more toward where Delilah and Andrea were talking, but he managed to restrain his anxiety and continued walking down the hallway. He was unaware that the young Bathory had noticed his presence and watched him disappear between the walls of the second floor.
Although Lucrecia asked no questions about Delilah or what he was doing there, Cain knew that sooner or later he would have to face her. When that moment came, the beauty of the Reines house was surprisingly tolerant of something that clearly displeased her. Compared to him, Lucrecia had much greater self-control, even considering her strong temperament.
Meanwhile, the two most promising candidates for the title of Marquis disappeared from Andrea Bathory's field of vision. Only then did he recall his first encounter with Cain during the party organized by Neil. To his older brother, the possibility that the daughter of the Reines house and the former heir of Count Salieri would end up together was quite high.
Neil had placed them on a carefully designed stage, a board where everyone had to follow the routes drawn on his map. The title of Marquis was nothing more than a decoy within that political game. However, something had occurred that even he had not fully foreseen. The refined Cain Salieri had set his sights on Delilah. That was an unexpected variable that, sooner or later, would demand Neil's direct intervention.
Andrea sighed softly before looking back at the girl in front of him.
—We will not be able to see each other until after the party at the royal palace —he said with a slight bow of his head—. Forgive me for leaving you alone.
—Please, do not apologize.
Delilah's eyes widened slightly and her breath caught for an instant. A faint sigh escaped her lips, unable to hide the sudden calm those words provoked in her. Andrea, for his part, felt a brief pang of shame. He was fully aware of the responsibility he held within his older brother's cold strategic games.
—Before I go, there is something I must inform you.
Delilah did not expect the encounter to end so soon, but she understood perfectly that she was in no position to express her desires. Her smile softened, and for the first time since she had arrived, she showed a more open attitude.
—A new girl will join the kitchen staff —Andrea continued—, she is an acquaintance of the Marquise. My brother knows you are close to the service ladies and wishes for you to help her adjust.
For a request from Neil, it was a surprisingly simple task. Delilah accepted without much thought. Andrea sighed once more. There were so many things he wished to ask her, but he did not dare. He did not want to hear from that girl's lips the evident confirmation of her happiness.
Perhaps it was better this way. Perhaps it was better that she could be natural.
—Then I shall take my leave.
The blonde gave an elegant bow, ready to depart, but in that instant, something impulsive woke within Delilah's body. A completely irrational impulse. Before she realized it, her fingers had gripped the sleeve of the younger Bathory's white shirt. The contact was warm. Andrea's skin reacted with a slight shiver.
—I have no right to say this... —she murmured with difficulty—, but I am truly sorry. I know I have offended Neil.
Her small fingers clung to the fabric with a mix of nervousness and guilt. The young man's green eyes seemed to shine with an almost solar intensity. That dazzling light made Delilah immediately withdraw her hand when he looked down at where she was holding him. Only then did she understand her imprudence. She wanted to apologize immediately, but her words were stopped by the soft touch of Andrea's hand, holding her before she could step back.
—The utility of people hangs by a very fragile thread when it comes to my older brother —he said serenely—. But Delilah is still valuable.
His words were intended to be reassuring. However, to her, they were devastating.
—He would also like to see you smile.
Finally, Andrea turned and left the Zehren mansion. At that very moment, the anxieties in Delilah's heart began to grow uncontrollably, as if she had just understood her true position in the world. A tiny place on a plane where Neil Bathory was practically a god.
The noble prince with green eyes disappeared into the cold evening winds, just as the sky began to slowly darken. And yet, the warmth of his presence would never vanish as long as the garden continued to hold that very personal bond with him.
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