Eighteen

During the time of daylight, the next morning, in Phanes room which was built even more lavish than any other with a fine taste of woods and walls that were covered in paintings, the blue fire crackled in the fireplace. Phanes had got back to his room late after Silla had long gone to sleep. He seldom got sleep because of his insomnia and instead stayed up the entire night. He spent majority of the night staring up at the sky through his rooms balcony. His hand reached for the lace of the black robe that he wore right now, pulling it free that fell to his feet.

Walking towards the bath that was built like a pool inside the room with pillars and candles burning around the room, he stepped inside the bath until he was completely immersed in the water by falling back slowly. He then got out with his body leaning back and his hands pushing his hair back that clenched the muscles on his back.

Water dripped down from every inch of

his body. The droplets of water fell from the ends of his hair to fall on his neck and, sliding on his back where his body was inked with black markings. The marking started from the sides of his shoulders that moved down to his waist, where his body tapered into the water he was in. They were tattoos, intricate and detailed like ancient art from China.

Phane's features looked stronger with the touch of water on his skin and hair as it darkened his eyebrows and his eyes looked almost glowing because of the less lit light in the room. He was still in there when the man who had shown the lady her way to the maid  entered the room Phanes was in.

"Your excellency." the man bowed his head without looking at the man who was bathing with his back facing towards him, "I have got breakfast set up in dining halls near the garden-"

"Cancel it." ordered Phanes, his eyes

staring at the long grilled windows that

were opaque and dull white in colour that indicated the age of this room and castle. The curtains around the windows blocking the light. The short man had a look of surprise on his face but he didn't question the man with the sudden change of venue as it was Phanes who had ordered him to set up the table, "V'e v'ill be having breakfast in my room."

"Yes, your excellency." the man bowed his head.

"Did you assign z'e maids to tend her?" asked Phanes, moving to one side of the water fountain that was built at the sides of the pool.

"I had Nigeal assign three new maids to tend to the lady b-but.." he trailed not knowing how to say it.

"V'hat is it?" Phanes snapped not liking to be left hanging.

The servant wrung his hands together, "There has been some trouble in helping the lady as she is not letting anyone touch her. She is not changing her clothes into what you have sent."

Phanes' lips pulled up and he laughed hearing this. He didn't think it would be easy which was why he was going to enjoy having Silla next to him. Reaching the fountain, the water fell on him and he helped himself while the man stood nervous of what the green eyed man had in his mind. Once Phanes stepped out of the bath with his full glory, the servant continued to bow his head and keep his eyes on the floor to not shred his little self-esteem that was still there after seeing the man step out like a devil from a hot steam-filled pool.

A maid who was waiting at the side walked to the Phanes to wipe his wet body with a towel in her hand. The maid made sure to dry every part of the his body except for his hair as she couldn't reach her hands up there. When she was done, she brought a fresh robe for him to wear.

In the same quarters where Phanes

room was, not far away was the room where Silla refused to get ready.

"Milady, please step into the bath so that we can dress you," one of the maids tried requesting the lady they were assigned to wash and dress but the person was stubborn enough to not move from where she sat right now.

"Breakfast is going to be in less than an hour-"

"Tell him that I won't be joining him. That I am not feeling well." Said Silla looking at the wall, "You can go dress him."

The maids looked at each other, the lady was being difficult. Silla was angry at Phanes for keeping her here against her will but that wasn't why she was refusing. More than rage she felt laziness, she truly didn't feel like getting up nor having strangers bath her nakedness.

Yet there was something very dangerous with the way he spoke to her even though he had tried to be polite. She couldn't get her mind off what had happened with her family nor what he said about them. Silla had met Phanes Von Kaiserreich during the time of the Grand Ball. He had trapped her against the wall as if taunting and teasing her before letting her go which was only for a very short duration only to capture her again. She was no fool to believe his words of lies.

And most of all she didn't want the maids touching her or seeing her. "What's that?" she asked looking at the two maids who carried boxes in their hands. "Your clothes and jewels to wear now, lady." Answered the one in the front. The maid looked her in the eye without batting an eyelash, "His excellency said he ordered the dresses from the far East and hopes you will like it," seeing the girl's stubbornness since yesterday, the head maid had to bite her tongue.

Apart from the clothes that were already present in the room, he had sent a dress for her to wear and join him for breakfast. Both the dress and jewelry supplied the in the room were out of this world- like nothing she had seen before. But just like her nightgown they were frilly, overtly feminine, and looked expensive. She wonder what the new clothes inside the box he gave her would look like. He must have lost his mind if he thought she would agree, thought Silla to herself.

"His excellency won't be pleased that we weren't able to help," said another maid.

She heard one of the maids whisper to another. "This isn't going to end well, is it?"

"Ssh." another shushed so that the lady wouldn't hear it.

"He's going to have all our heads off," the maid continued to complain before

looking at the lady. Had the girl not met the man and not know what he was capable of?!

Silla's hand clutched the side of the bed where she had been sitting on the edge. She didn't understand why she was placed in such a compromising position. She knew to the maids she appeared to be unreasonable, but she was unable to accept the fact that she was held here against her will. At the same time, the maid who was named Nigael arrived at the room to see the maids who stood in front of the aristocrats guest who had not even started to change her clothes.

"Lady," Nigael bowed her head and dismissed the maids who were in the room to step outside, "His excellency has arranged to have breakfast with you in his room and he expects you to be there. I hope you won't cause any trouble for yourse-"the door was promptly shut in her shocked face. Nothing they said could possibly change her mind.

"Lady Silla! Lady Silla!" Another maid knocked on the door which was closed from inside, "Please open the door so that we can get you ready," the maid tried to get the door open but the lady inside was not having it. Silla stared at the door whilst she sat on the bed, unwilling to move and open the door which she had locked. She was supposed to join Phanes for breakfast and instead of letting the maids in to get her ready, she sat there with her nightclothes, delaying the dreaded time to spend with him. Instead she wore the same frilly silken nightgown that she had changed into before she went to bed.

But by now the maids were panicking. The door continued to knock, "Lady

Silla, we request you to please open it. He expects you in the next ten minutes. He's going to be very angry at us."

Silla was still in her nightgown laying on the bed when the locked door flew open without a knock that had her turn around to see Phanes arrive at the door. "V'hat's taking so long to get ready?"

The maids froze in their places behind the door that was previously locked. They had spend too much time trying to get in and didn't complete the task assigned to them. The sight of the aristocrat who had come here had Silla gulping, his body carrying a shadow on one side as his shoes clicked against the floor.

Phanes gave a look at the head maid who quickly gave him a bow, "She locked us out of the room, your excellency."

"Did you think I v'as going to have my

breakfast once z'e sun v'ould set down?" he asked with an underlying tone of sarcasm in it. The maids didn't answer and stood quietly. Not daring to look up or move an inch. She was surprised that he disciplined the maids and not her who was clearly at fault.

He then spoke, "Now... Someone hasn't been behaving, dearie." Phanes dark liquid green eyes shifted from the maids to look at the woman who he had been looking forward to seeing since he had left her room last night. Her raven hair was left open to cascade down her shoulders and back like rays of the night sky. Her eyes looked bright blue and not dilated which meant she had been awake for some time now.

"Looks like you slept v'ell. Good," he tilted his head to the side, his eyes staring down at her, "Leave us." Silla's eyes widened at the green eyed man's demands. She looked at the maids alarmed as they started to leave the room. "V'ait," he stopped them to say, "Close z'e doors behind you."

Silla could feel her legs slightly

shaking beneath the long nightgown that she wore. She was barely clothed with just the thin silk covering her. With the maids in front of her, she had felt covered but now that they were gone, she felt as if she were naked in front of him.

Contrary to her appearance, Phanes was dressed from head to toe and his hair combed back to not hinder his devil-like gaze and smile that she had come to know in a short span of time. But right now, he wasn't smiling at her. His eyes continued to look at her closely that made her uncomfortable and he enjoyed her response. Like a feral animal playing with its prey by its paws that would draw out its claws at any time.

"You know since you've been struggling v'ith z'e maids I v'ill just bathe and dress you myself. How lucky you are for me to take time out of my day just for you darling."

"I-I am capable of dressing myself." Silla spoke, her words coming out to be nervous when Phanes took a step forward.

"Nobody said you aren't," his eyes drank in her appearance, the way her bare feet were placed next to each other and were clenching the ground. The skin on her neck raising goosebumps all around even though the room wasn't cold. He took his steps forward and Silla's lower back hit the bedpost.

"However, you haven't eaten yet. You've been under serious stress over z'e last few days, you're still underweight, and look sickly." He slowly leaned forward his thumb rubbing her under eye, "Your dark circles only started to fade, dearest."

"It's not that bad."

"Oh? V'hen you first arrived here all z'e maids started talking after seeing how thin and frail you v'ere." After commenting he turned around to open the grand doors to the bathroom. On the inside was a large circular tub; large enough to fit several people but only for the use of her. Water came from a fountain attached to the wall and it spouted water much like a natural hot spring would. Light steam surround the area but not hot enough to be considered a sauna. Her eye caught the sight of rose petals that slightly covered the water and candles that lit up the room despite there already being a large window with a view of the city.

Coming up behind her his breathe tickled her ear, "eep," she screeched. She fought the urge to jump away and grasp her ear. She stood there frozen in place as she proceeded what'd just happened. He was incredibly fast, but the scariest part was that she didn't hear a single fucking footstep from him. She sounded like an elephant and he was quieter than a mouse. It made her realize that back when he first captured her, when his footsteps circled the place she was hiding, he meant for her to hear him. The entire time he was just teasing her, at that time he wasn't even using half of his abilities.

He was pressed up against her and she felt his fingers tug slowly on the silk bow that held the back of her nightgown together. It wasn't but a second later that all the soft cloth pooled at her ankles.

She was completely bare.

Silla hadn't been supplied with any underwear and all she had was the small gown that was now gone. Instead the only thing that remotely covered her was her long raven locks, though they only covered her shoulders and breasts. She quickly wrapped her arms around her body in an attempt to hide her body, and spoke. "Don't look."

"As you v'ish, darling."

He picked her up gently and led her to the bathing area, where he slowly dipped her into the warm water. Thankfully now that Silla was submerged in the water, he wouldn't be able to see as much due to the petals and soap bubbles. Though that didn't stop him from taking out various bottles of shampoo and body oils to wash her with.

Silla's cheeks turned red from anger and embarrassment. What was this crazy man doing? Silla turned her head to the side, her eyes staring at the painting on the wall, "I thought your time was scarce."

"My time is scarce for only things z'at are pointless and are of no use to me. But you, my dear, have all my time," Silla thought this was nothing but a curse that had fallen upon her. She was filled with shame that a man was washing her all alone in a room.

But most of all she was ashamed of her body, the light bruises it held. She could feel his eyes looking at them.

The man behind her wet her hair and opened a glass bejeweled bottle full of what she could imagine was shampoo. His long hands massaged her hair and scalp and then her body. It was slow and sensual, yet didn't make her as uncomfortable as she thought it would.

Warm locks of raven hair hung in her face as she tried in desperation to keep her hair out of her face, which was being wild now that it was wet. She felt Phanes watching her, amusement in his smiling features, clearly enjoying her discomfort. Bastard. Silla didn't know what came over him when he suddenly, gently grabbed hold of her flailing hair from behind, before bringing the rest of the strands together, cool, soft fingers combing through her hair slowly. Silla stiffened up, before tentatively allowing herself to relax a little, begrudgingly admitting to herself that she found his gentle touches quite soothing.

This man had been more kind than psychotic in these last few minutes than he had ever been in the few hours she met him. The thought sobered Silla up, inhibiting her descent into complete relaxation as she composed yourself, ready to speak when she felt her hair being tugged. After a bewildered second she realized that the blond man was in fact braiding

her hair.

She suddenly felt grateful for the sound of the running fountain for it masked up the awkward silence she would've otherwise had to endure. Once he was done, she looked at her braided hair

and noticed a black ribbon tied neatly into a flowery bow at the end of the braid. It was the same ribbon that was tied around Phanes white dress shirt's collar just a moment ago. Who knew

he had such a nimble pair of hands?

Not knowing what to say, she muttered a quick 'thanks' before looking away from his unflinching stare.

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"Z'ose bruises on your neck."

"What about them?" She leaned back in the tub to look at him. The way he was staring at her neck, made her uncomfortable.

"Z'ey are hand prints."

This stunned her, she had though that they had faded enough to be indistinguishable. The bruises were much better compared to how they had looked a week ago, they were now yellow and no longer a deep purple. Originally her neck had looked like someone rung it like a rag.

"No their not."

"Do not lie to me, darling. You are frail and thin. Your body was marked v'ith scrapes and bruises." The marks awakened a dark and selfish desire in him. It arose this insatiable need to lock her up where no one could ever see her. Somewhere soft and safe where only he could have her and where only he could see her. Locking his most precious treasure in a castle safe from everything and anyone.

"Someone abused you."

For the first time, she

saw him as he is no tricks, no glamor, no hidden agenda. This time there was no smile to hide the hard look in his eyes. " I v'ill never let you suffer like z'at ever again." A long silence endured as he tended to her. They both knew but they didn't speak about it. It was a silent acknowledgment and she knew that he would question her again about it eventually, but not right now.

Silla was washed and cleaned as she had never been before. Her hair was brushed and pulled to be tied, and thankfully she was allowed to wash her private areas by herself. She was adorned with the softest, most soothing fragrances and treated like a queen would be. A long white fluffy towel covered her wet body when she was done and the green eyed man who once had his back turned when she got out, came closer once again to drape a warm blanket around her bare shoulders.

As she sat on the bed Phanes placed the box the maids gave her on her lap. She hadn't opened it yet to see what was inside but the servants had already told her that it was a dress and jewels. The box itself was wrapped nicely and displayed with intricate designs; held together with a satin bow. Phanes patiently stood in front of her gauging her reaction before speaking, "Open it, my sweet."

Pulling the bow and lifting the lid, she wasn't surprised to see the dress nor jewelry inside. Though she did have to admit it looked beautiful. "V'hy don't you look surprised?" He asked to her fondly, a bit suspicious at her bland reaction.

"The maids already told me what was inside."

"Hmm."

Putting on her undergarments Silla was once again attended to by the man next to her. With the lack of smile on his lips, Silla felt dread mix in her blood, "Turn around," he commanded and he wasn't budging so he wasn't going to let her go. Silla couldn't get a word out of her lips.

"Raise your arms v'hile I am still patient," he offered a smile as if he hadn't intimidated her by his words.

"Good girl," he said when she did, and Silla glared into his green eyes as she held back her tongue. As he had said, he did dress her, she was adorned with layers of clothes on her body. She wasn't used to this attention and it had turned her body rigid. He kneeled to put her shoes on her feet and then he nimbly clasped the earrings to her earlobes, the diamonds he placed on her neck glittering in the light and completing the look. He was very gentle and patient when it came to dressing her. The dress itself was more comfortable than she had predicted it would be, seeing as it was delicately laced and womanly. She almost looked like a sheltered doll.

Looking at herself in front of the mirror, the green eyed man behind her put his hands on her shoulders. "You look perfect darling. He lovingly placed a chaste kiss to her cheek.

Phanes was no good man, and he

knew it, even accepted it. In the morning, when it came to her being late, he had taken the opportunity to kick the servants out of the room so that he could admire the girl all by himself. To Silla, it looked like he had been busy getting her dressed, hoping he wouldn't be looking at her womanly curves. But Phanes had seen the deep curve of her body with that sheer nightgown that tried to cover her bottom and the two blooming mounds on her soft chest. Her breasts were ample and bountiful, her chest was so perfect. Her delicate body felt amazing under his hands. She was so voluptuous in all the right places even as malnourished as she was and he could only imagine what she would look like plump. The green eyed man had to bite his lip to keep from diving straight into her private flowers. He had wanted to pull and touch her without any restraint over her clothes, but she looked like an animal that was ready to sprint out of the room. Silla was soft, as a woman should be, as he preferred. She was made for him.

When she was ready, he intertwined their hands and Silla was lead to the aristocrats room which she realized wasn't too far away from the room she was given. He pushed open the door and when the door closed behind her, Silla couldn't handle the nervous pressure in the air. When Silla felt him take a step back along with letting go of her hand, she finally released her breath to turn around and see him walk towards the table. The table was set with a black cloth spread on it with a candle burning brightly at the centre with a flower centerpiece, and plates laid down along with fork, spoons and knife. Food was placed in a trolley next to the table.

Phanes pulled out her chair, waiting for her to take a seat.

"Is it normal for an aristocrat to do this?" she asked him, as she looked at him to have his eyes staring at hers.

"V'hat do you z'ink?" one side of his lips pulled up to a smile, "Sit," he ordered, and she made her way to the table and sat down gingerly.

Mouth watering after not eating for several days she felt absolutely starved. The soft love seat she sat in next to him only allowed for him to reach and have full control over what was served to them. As his side was where the trolley of food was. While she was supplied only water, the man next to her elegantly drank wine out of his glass. "V'ant some?" He put the wine glass to her lips and she gulped a few sips down as she unenthusiastically accepted. It was sweet and delicious, almost like grape juice.

Soon he moved his hands from her lap to her thigh at the hem of her waist, lightly tracing her clothed skin with his thumb, "V'ould you like to share some prawns v'ith me Sil?" He asked softly in a sweet tone. This man was so rotten.

"Sure," she grumpily replied shifting in her spot grabbing the diamonds on her neck watching them reflect off the candle light as she moved them around like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"V'hat v'ould you like to eat first? Z'ere's sizzling crabs or spiced lamb v'hich has been roasted in z'e fire." he said to her in a charming tone, but Silla was in no mood to be charmed by her captive.

"Are you going to serve tonight?" asked Silla, a certain challenge in her eyes.

Phanes smiled, his eyes holding amusement, "V'hat is z'e point of being an aristocrat if you cannot make use of z'e available resources around you," and as if on cue, a maid stepped inside the room, bowing her head before she started to walk towards the table and served them dinner.

When the lid to the food was opened, Silla's anger dissipated and all she wanted to do was eat right now. Being angry and not touching the food would be her loss. And if she did plan to run

away, she would need the energy to do it. Silla looked around the room, her eyes taking in to realize that this was how Phanes bedroom looked like- made of lavish things.

And while Silla was ogling at the room, Phanes who sat in front of her drank in her appearance. Her eyelashes were long, fluttering every once in a while as they blinked before continuing to look at whatever it could find. Her lips and cheeks a delicate pink in color. Although he had the opportunity to look at her naked body when he was bathing her, he didn't. And now he wondered if her flower buds were the same color as her cheeks.

Feeling the man move once again Phanes brought her attention back at the table where her sweet expression turned back to a guarded one. She was met with a spoon pointed towards her, filled with some of the soup they had been given as an appetizer. "Open your mouth my sweet flower," he commanded as he tried to spoon feed her like one would a child. Seeing her immediate denial he sighed.

It was then she felt a hand on her thigh, hitching her heart and her eyes locked itself with Phanes', "I insist," his words were calm, a smile on his lips and Silla's hand which were on the table moved discreetly to push his hand away from her lap, but his hand squeezed on her thigh that only widened her eyes, "Yes?"

Obediently doing as she was told, she felt the warm spoon make its way onto her tongue. The green eyed man continuously and periodically fed her, the prawns and broth that was first served on the table. Giving her a much larger portion than himself. He seemingly enjoyed feeding her, saying, "You still need to put on a little bit more v'eight, you need to regain your health. Here, have my share too." He gently pushed another spoonful of soup to her. If he kept this up, it would be difficult for her to ever get home. She'd get fat.

She doubted she would ever be able to leave if he kept this up; the lifestyle she had been leading. Eat, sleep, and repeat. Compared to when all she had was instant noodles every other day. Although it felt like a dream, it came with a price. Her freedom.

"... I-I am tired. I think it would be best for me to continue to eat in my own room, then rest." It was a small white lie, to try and shed the humiliation she felt.

"Don't lie to me, Silla. I v'ill not

tolerate any lies or secrets." he said to her, his body moving closer to her again and she had to hold her breath.

"From now on v'e v'ill have all our meals together."

"I don't want to have to look at you every day," muttered Silla under her breath.

"If your feet hurt from v'alking from your room to mine v'e can have you shift here," this overbearing man...it seemed that she would have to play this game on his terms else she would end up as a worn- out pawn. He definitely had heard her snide comment, with his impeccable senses and all.

"No, thank you."

"That's v'hat I thought. Feel comfortable to change your room. Although we will most likely be sharing the same bed when you come to my manor," when he picked up his fork and knife, Silla did the same.

Eating crab would need breaking its outer shell before she could eat the meat inside it which would make things messy on her plate. And eating lamb would mean clean eating. In reasonable conditions, Silla would have picked to eat the lamb as she wasn't at home. But right now she felt like she was cornered and she was in the mood to rebel.

She picked up the fork and knife, she moved the knife around in her hand. bringing the crab in the middle of her plate, all the while feeling Phanes eyes on her. Holding her knife tight, she started to beat the crab that was on the table that made loud cluttering sound. One hit after another that had the crab move all over the plate as the room filled with her action.

The servant who was outside heard the sound and opened the door to bow his head before he was dismissed immediately with a small wave of Phanes hand.

Green eyes narrowed, "V'hat do you z'ink you are doing?"

"Making myself comfortable," she

answered, and Phanes lips twitched. Who knew cornering her would bring this side of her, which he was enjoying. He found her far more entertaining than any other person he had ever met. Which made sense as he had spent most of his time in the upper ring. Silla was from a completely different world. She had a vastly different mindset than all the people there. He was from a very important and influential family, every woman and man would have acted respectfully towards him ever since he was born. They would've licked the bottom of his shoes if he asked them to.

"You have a very peculiar way of making yourself comfortable."

Ignoring him, she quietly pushed the crab aside before cutting the softer meat that was on her plate.

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to be continued...