Chapter nine: First Step(2)

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Mona wipes her cheek dry in embarrassment. Why did she have to fall into such a sensitive cuddle? She felt him completely, his dimensions against her body, the métier of his large arms—she felt it. An unintentional embrace that leaves her throat parched, searching for water.

Why does he smell like liquor, lavender and chocolate? Our young maiden is currently misplaced by how benign she feels in that accidental embrace. Coming from a man whose aura daunts her, Mona is confused about her womanly instincts.

Slowly, she becomes aware of his outstretched hand.

Mona holds the edge of the counter as she sits on the floor, unsure if she should hold his hand. It looks like a kind gesture; she shouldn't refuse him, right? She swallows the lump in her throat.

Instead of using the counter for support, she takes his hand and tries to lift herself.

He places one hand on her shoulder to support her further, Mona casts her face downward. She looks at his hand that grips her shoulders and senses the gentleness of his palm. What are the odds that a man who has danced in the war front would have such lax and tender hands? It surprises her to the spine as she stands on her two feet.

"You should seat."

His voice is as deep and clear as ocean waters, it reverberates in the murky room and Mona catches the consequence on her skin—it is known as goose bumps. She quickly detaches herself from him, in fear that her skin will give her away.

"I can manage." Her voice comes out as a whisper, but it is her trying to find her vocals once again.

"I'm sorry." He says.

Mona is shocked.

"What I said wasn't right." It's none of my business if you have pending affairs with other men.

Mona sighs.

She is about to see him in a new light and apologize herself, but here he goes again. Getting everything mixed up.

"Your personal life is your business." He says.

"Solaith fierce..."

Mona intends to correct him.

"You don't have to explain."

Mona gives up; she exhales and stares at the interior of the house again.

"Sure, you can do whatever you want too." Mona began. Your personal life or space is none of my business. "This marriage is for alliance..."

Alliance? He stops her, a scoff follows thereafter.

"I'm on an undertaking to find the felon that hides in your family, where exactly does the odor of this so called alliance ail from?"

Mona raises her eyes to the ceiling, in search for an answer. Another sensitive topic that she hoped she won't ever have to answer.

"If I knew something about it..."

Will you tell me? He asks, he heads over to the table and pours himself another swing of liquor. It is about the third time he's stopping her halfway before she can finish her sentence.

Do you even know what would happen to your family if a traitor was found? He turns to Mona and she bites her lips—a habit she observes for every time she is in a tight and ugly situation.

"Thus, there is no way possible that you will willingly tell what you know." He says.

"You are right." Mona says.

"If a traitor is found, every one, innocent or caught with crime by the law will face the law." A woman like me may be sold to a brothel, dignity and poise will be severed in all manner, my brothers will be bound to slavery their whole lives till they die.

"That is the justice you want."

He scorns her and Mona sees it.

"I also have a sister." I do not know whether she is dead or living. Maybe she has been sold to a brothel too, and there is me, I was bound to that life of servitude, bondage, captivity that you speak of. "But I fought for freedom; I thought I would lose though."

"I thought my limbs would give out the next day each time I was compelled to labor by hands that claimed my family. And after, I was sent out into the wilderness, thirsted for days, nothing like shelter or sustenance."

I saw that it was over for me, but I made it out.

"Alive, and stronger."

You think I care about what happens to you or your family? His voice is rasp, it holds a sting of pain and ire, but more importantly it opens Mona's eyes clearly to the reality of the pressing matter.

"I don't care what you wish to do." This is not a marriage of convenience; I don't care about what you want or how you want it. The men of United Lands may fall at your feet in praise, but listen; I am not one of them.

"If you cannot live with these interiors then go ahead, join the stables, the animals may give you company." There are more things imminent than these stupid things you inquire for. How about you ask your grandfather where he buried my parents?

Mona places her hand on her cheek and sniffles. "Tears overflow from her eyes when she witnesses every word spoken from the man of victory." It stings her heart, and she wonders how profound it must have stung his. She tries to hide it from him; the last thing she wants is for him to think that she's showing pretense care.

The slithering from her eyes have become so uncontrollable that she spun out of the house and heads for her carriage.

Lia is outside waiting for her, the moment she sees Mona, she knows the dialogue has gone wrong. Her attendant doesn't wait a moment to open the door and get the carriage moving.

"Hey, hey, hey." Lia says, embracing Mona in her arms as the carriage began to move.

"I can't do this." Mona says with her face full of tears.

"Mona, you do not have a choice." Lia pleads as she falls into tears herself.

"He still hates me, Lia." He looked at me again in that same way as he did fourteen years ago. How can I marry him knowing that he loathes me and my entire family!

It can't be done! Mona says wiping her tears and wetting it all over again.

What do you mean? Lia says, her heart breaking into pieces.

Since they day she began to take care of Mona, she has never seen her so disheartened like this before. This is a point where she wishes she wasn't just a scullery maid to the Aurora household, but someone with power. Enough power to turn the tides of the waves!

"I will speak to grandfather." Mona says.

Mona, it will not change! You know what he is capable of doing. Even your father has to do what he says.

My whole family is going to suffer for his mistake and I should just sit back? This is not done! He thinks he's the owner of our life, he thinks he can do and undo when he feels like it? I will prove him wrong today, even if I have to tear down that house. I will!

Mona says as her hands curl into a fist.

"I won't let him ruin my life." She falls into tears again when she thinks about it.

On one hand, the fate of her family depends on this marriage and on the other, everyone's life may not be saved even with the marriage and they may all fall into ruins.

"He is going to destroy us, Lia." That Man of victory is going to end us; I saw it in his eyes. Mona says.

She remembers the glare in his eyes. It is the same one since fourteen years ago. After Berkha saw that Solaith hurt Mona, he charges at him with a wooden weapon and leaves him with a bloody head, but Solaith doesn't stop looking at her.

"May I repeat again that it is Berkha who charges against Solaith and successfully scars him with a weapon, but Solaith doesn't stop gazing at Mona." She is scared to the curb because she has witnessed that gaze again.

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