Chapter 9

"Father, you seem tired?" Sarah's voice was as smooth as honey as she spoke and her beauty made her even more captivating. Had she been a commoner with such looks... her future would more likely be miserable, but she was a noble girl and knew nothing of those horrors.

The man in question, the duke, sighed at the question and nodded solemnly.

"I must say my child... I've never felt this fatigued in a long while. It must be a cold" he brushed off with an uncertain smile.

Yeah right a cold...

I didn't need to look at him to know he wasn't drinking tea because his hands could no longer steadily hold a cup. And although Sarah might leave the mansion absolutely clueless, everyone in the mansion already knew that the duke was sick.

Very sick.

And it was not a cold.

A knock sounded on the door and the duke gestured for me to open it. I did as told, keeping my gaze low as the young master walked in.

His blonde hair combed back as a few strands framed his handsome cold face. The air around him seemed so authoritative that one would think he was the duke.

The duke almost choked at the sight of his always-absent son who would never just waltz into a room. Especially one where his fiancé was. And his said fiancé beamed at the sight of him.

"Father", he nodded at the startled man, who gave him a pleased smile when he collected himself, and then to Lady lemone, "Sarah, it's been a while".

"Cain!"

Sarah jumped up and leaned in for a hug that was so effortlessly avoided as the young master sat down that I almost lost my composure.

I'm so glad I'm not Lady Lemone... if I had to spend my whole life with that jerk...

I frowned as I recalled that deal. It hadn't been put into motion yet, but he did say it would be after he became duke so who knows how long that might take...

For a slow moment, I secretly took a glance at the duke. He looked more horrific than yesterday. His eyes were completely blood shot and even though his hands weren't moving they shook furiously. And then there was that unnatural skin colour. It was almost... blue.

No. I laughed the thought off in my head with a gulp. There's no way...

It was at that moment I felt those sharp eyes on me. I willed myself to not look at him.

'A proper maid can compose herself even in the most impossible situations'.

"Get out".

The demand was spoken so low that I had barely caught it. And when I still felt those sharp eyes on me and looked up for a mere moment to find the eyes of everyone in the room on me. The curious eyes of the servants and the duke who gave me a sneer and the look of confusion from Lady Lemone. Finally, those intense eyes that stared straight at me as his lips moved once again.

"I said: get out".

He was speaking to me.

"As you wish", I curtsied and left.

When the door shut behind me, I finally loosened my facial expressions.

What was that?

Why tell me to leave?

I shook my head. I'll never understand him.

I went back to my chores, bumping into Justin on my break.

He looked tired, and kind of stressed. So much he hadn't noticed me until I called out to him.

"Justin", I had wanted to speak to him.

I hadn't even had the chance to relax these last few days and I've had trouble working up the courage to see Justin. I wasn't sure why, but somehow I felt ashamed after remembering that promise. I shouldn't be. I kept a promise to my mother. But to think that the one person who wanted to help me...

He looked my way with a startled jump and gasped in relief.

"Oh it's just you Isabelle", he sighed. I raised a curious brow.

"Who else would it be?" I asked.

He gave me a grin, "anyone but you since you've been disappearing quiet often recently. Truthfully... I thought you were Naomi and since I shouldn't be in the kitchens so often as I have been, I was sure I'd be in trouble", he walked into the storage room which was cramped with food supplies, and I followed along understanding that we were currently hiding.

"Why have you been coming to the kitchen so often?" I asked, barely able to see him in the room that was lit by a small candle.

He gave me an accusing stare and crossed his arms, "why do you think? I thought you might've been hurt or something!" He did seem a bit angry right now, but more than that he seemed hurt.

I looked at him with a guilty face. I hadn't meant to worry him.

"I'm sorry. I guess I've just been so busy lately that I hadn't noticed", I lied.

"Well you look healthy and well from what I've heard the young master doesn't bother you that much anymore" he said with another sigh. I glanced over his leaning body, awkwardly towering over me from the lack of space.

He looked so huge and safe that I wanted to bury my self in him for a moment. That would be a stupid thing to do. A very stupid thing to do. Nobody liked a slave girl. Not like that anyway.

"He has been quiet recently... but on that note I would like to speak to you about something. Maybe somewhere less cramped and with more light?" I chuckled a bit and he also laughed, but he was so close I could almost feel his body vibrating and that made me feel uncomfortable.

"I'd prefer that. Could you check if the path is Naomi free and let me know?"

I left the storage room and looked around for the dark haired plump woman who was nowhere to be seen and let Justin know that the path was clear before we both snuck away from the kitchen with an occasional giggle when our eyes met. He held my arm to guide me with him so we didn't bump into anyone.

Eventually we came to his living quarters. It was the safest place to talk in the morning and afternoon, whereas the kitchens were safer at night.

I slumped on his bed, lying down comfortably for a moment too long. It was just a few seconds longer than I had hoped but my eyes began to feel droopy.

"I thought we came to talk?" Justin spoke up while the sound of him washing something most likely his hands met my ears.

I sat up with a yawn, "I'm sorry, we don't have beds in the kitchen cupboards".

"I wasn't discouraging it", he answered back before he drew a chair and pulled it near the bed. It was like Justin to draw boundaries like this. He would never sit on the bed if I sat on it. He would say it was improper if I invited him.

"Thanks", I wanted to laugh as I said that, but the apprehension of what came next made it but a croak, "I... have something I want to confess to you", I began fiddle nervously with my finger and watched his intrigued eyes travel from my fingers to my face. "Before I begin, just... just promise me you won't get too angry".

He furrowed his brows in worry.

"I can't promise until I've heard it".

"Then promise you won't hurt anyone or yourself", i desperately said.

"Now I'm getting even more worried just what exactly have you been getting up to?" His worry was plainly perceived on his face.

"Please Justin..."

"Fine", he reluctantly agreed with a sigh.

Then I opened my shaky lips and spoke every word of what had commenced a few weeks ago. In its truest and fairest form.