THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK

She had never been looking at Adrian since the meal began. She was only interested in delicious food. She wanted to retreat to her room and compare the books she found in the secret room with the book of discovery. She felt that they were one big step closer to their goal.

"Our engagement ball will take place in the ballroom of the palace after the intense insistence of the crown prince in 3 days." His soft voice echoed in her ears. She looked up at Adrian and quickly looked away.

"I understand, Your Highness." She hesitated for a moment and said in a hesitant voice,

"Are you close to the crown prince?" her curious gaze found forced Adrian. Adrian stared in the air as if remembering something.

"In my childhood, I used to go to the palace with my father a lot. Alex is a precious friend of mine, even though we may not meet much because of the intensity of our business nowadays. " He smiled, it was a sincere smile, a sincerely warm smile as if remembering memories with his old friend. Their conversation was interrupted for a short time. She cut the roasted chicken with his knife and watched it fall apart.

Adrian stared at the girl who was totally taking care of her food. Her fearful eyes swarmed into his mind, and he couldn't help wondering what so scared her. He let go of the fork and knife and stared at the girl who especially avoided looking at him. He saw Scarlet's body stretch further.

"Maybe it's none of my business, but I wonder who's scaring you so much. If you want to tell me I listen to you. I know how bad nightmares are. " He hesitated for a short moment. He remembered the increasingly violent nightmares he had seen as a child. Because of them, he could not sleep well for a long time.

Scarlet directed her confused and indecisive gaze at Adrian's request. She now knew that the evil she thought she had locked up was playing tricks on her, actually following her. That sealed box was already open and had poisoned her soul like a parasite by this time. Deeply, she had learned painfully that she knew this but that she had run away and hid in order not to face it, but she didn't want to run away anymore. No matter how strong she was, she was running out. She put down the cutlery and turned to Adrian.

Her body was stiff, her eyes mourned with sadness, and her skin was whiter as if her blood had been drawn. Shee was talking in a whisper, but it felt like she was telling the whole city. Maybe this place was not suitable. Maybe the person she was talking about was the wrong person, but she would not stop herself anymore. She looked at Adrian's sharp handsome face. Confident in him, and it was a feeling she hadn't felt for a long time.

"Telling you will perhaps be something I will regret later. The Reverend Mother always says that secrets are the greatest weakness of humans, but I trust you. I have always been cautious and suspicious until this age because there was no one around me, and I thought loneliness was a blessing for me, actually it wasn't." She was silent for a short moment. She averted her eyes once more from Adrian, who was listening with interest.

" My father was a drunkard and would sell or torture his children. He was not my real father anyway. The slave-dealer who bought me told me. I'm a bastard but a worthy bastard.

He would force us to steal and punish those who do not or bring us worthless goods. He would either lock us up in a cell full of dark rats or hit us with a whip. Then one day, with his eyes shining - I can't get to work much because of my skinny body, and even if I get out, I bring little booty - he came to the cell where he always shut me down. He told me that bastard finally worked and that he was rich thanks to me. I didn't understand what he was saying, but I was so afraid of him that I couldn't make a sound. It was forbidden to cry, laugh, whine, and be afraid. In short, showing my feelings was punished. He would say that our biggest weakness was to stumble upon our emotions. " She closed her eyes and forced her shaking body to stop.

"I saw him in my nightmare. He was taking me to sell to the abbot, and I was tied again by that thick rope. I still remember the cold stones touching my injured feet and the hardness that blew my body. I remember being grateful to the Reverend Mother when she rescued me from that man, but she was only interested in me because I was a hybrid. Since I didn't know what love is, I thought it was enough because I didn't get beaten, but I was wrong. Maybe I was not in physical pain, but I was experiencing the greatest of mental suffering. I was always alone and was not allowed to meet with anyone other than my teachers and the abbess. Until this time, there was only one person who loved me was my instructor Isabel, who came the year before I went on assignments. I remember thinking that she would be cold and solid as the others, but she was never like that. She was always kind and smiling. She brought me sweet things and read books to me every time I completed an education. She said used to say that there is a very different, very lively world outside of this moody mansion. She used to talk about the stars of the newly discovered places and tell about her own adventures. She was stroking my head saying that the excitement, love, and love changed her and that I would one day taste them. I remember how my heart was pounding with that touch and how much I prayed to God so that God wouldn't take her away. Even though I have never experienced love, I remember being surprised when I felt it thanks to it and felt how happy it was, not something terribly mysterious. Even though I spent a very short time with her, she left me feeling treasured. " Her voice softened when she spoke of Isabel. The longing aroused her heart as Isabel's warm brown eyes came in front of her.

"When the Reverend Mother found out about our times, she drove her and punished me with solitary confinement. After that, I started my duties. I was doing everything the Reverend Mother said, avoiding everyone. I only had my duty, and I was conscious that it would always happen I think it will continue like this. " She closed her eyes and rubbed her hand against her aching head. It surprised her that Adrian listened to her without a sound. She opened her burning eyes and stared at Adrian. He was leaning back. He hadn't pulled his sharp eyes off Scarlet not once. He looked angry.

Adrian's anger was growing more and more, he was trying hard not to find that man and kill him. He could not imagine how they hurt a tiny child so much. His hatred for the nun flared even more. He was still staring at Scarlet, who looked calmly at him. He realized she hadn't said anything for a long time. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say.

Scarlet felt uncomfortable for no reason. The piercing eyes hadn't pulled off her, and she couldn't guess what he was thinking. Didn't he care, but he asked. She stood up to avoid the eyes.

"I'm going to my room with your permission. I don't feel well. " She was about to turn away, without waiting for his answer, and the hot big hand holding her icy hand stopped her. She turned around curiously and looked at the two of their hands. Confusion and curiosity forced Adrian to look. He too stood up and was close enough to feel the warmth of his body. His dark eyes hair was messy around his sharp face. His warm sweet breath harmonized with his voice and hit Scarlet.

"Whatever you have experienced, I think you are a very strong woman, Scarlet. Your intelligence and power are your greatest weapon, these are some of the things I admire about you. Maybe I will not be able to relieve the pain you have experienced until this time, I cannot compensate, but from now on, I will do my best to prevent any evil from touching you as long as you are by my side. " His harsh words also caused the short circuit Scarlet. She had not told him that she needed protection, yet she wanted to hug his strong warm body again for saying such good things.

They were still standing close to Adrian, and the heat from his hot hand was affecting her whole body. She stifled her thoughts and quickly withdrew herself.

"You misunderstood me, my lord. I just felt that some things were building up and exploding inside me, and I wanted to put down my defense for a short time and tell someone who would listen. I told me this not for your pity or your protection, but because you were the first person I trusted after a long time, and thank you for listening to me. " She leaned briefly before him and, without letting him speak, quickly headed for the stairs.

Adrian wanted to stop her, but he didn't. Just he watched briefly after her. He took his drink and sat on the big sofa opposite the burning fireplace. He rang the bell and summoned the servants, who had left them alone long ago, to tidy the table. He closed his eyes and gave himself to the crackling sounds of burning wood. When a little girl in pain came to life before his eyes, he opened his eyes and focused his drink on his head. Although she had a job, he also drew her into danger. Still, he would prevent her from getting hurt. Whatever happens.