Chapter 35

The maids had begun to see me differently.

I wasn't wrong when I had spotted a familiar face at the wedding, unfortunately, they had also spotted a familiar face who happened to be walking arm in arm with the heir of Goldiar and the acting Duke while the current was sick and now, newly isolated.

It hadn't occurred to me what people might think if they saw me and Cain walking arm in arm at the wedding because I was shocked it was even happening. With all that happened at the wedding, I didn't get a chance to reflect on the thought of someone having seen us until I came down for breakfast to the sound of whispering following my every step. Voices would hush and the once-friendly or tolerable nods were suddenly replaced by sneers and the occasional underhanded remark.

I hadn't exactly understood what was happening until Naomi, who had been busy giving out orders caught sight of me and immediately rushed me to another room and locked the door firmly behind us. Her strick demeanor diminished to an exhausted old woman as she turned to me with a long sigh.

"Do you have any idea about the drama you've caused", she crossed her arms as she looked up at me.

She looked angry enough for it to be quite serious, but at that moment the only thing that came to mind was Sarah's death and how I had been the cause. My palms began to sweat and I found myself looking for excuses something to cover up my involvement. My hand in her death. I didn't want to die. I wanted to live. I didn't care if I'd be miserable!

"I -I"-

"Why did you prance around a room in the arms of your employer?!"

I double took at her words.

Prance around with my employer? what in the world...?

"I'm not sure I understand?" I frowned at her face that became an increasing pigment shade of red at my obliviousness.

"The wedding!"

"The wedding?... "

And then it hit me.

Dancing in the arms of my employer... Oh, dear.

I felt the blood rush to my head and found myself barely able to balance.

"Oh no..." I grabbed my head as I felt a headache begin.

"Oh no indeed! Do you have any idea what they are saying about you? I only know better because I've known you since you were young, but the others don't know any better and you don't either!"

"Oh god, Naomi... I didn't even think about it much. So much was happening that It didn't hit me that I shouldn't be seen" I suddenly didn't want to leave the storage room she had barged us into.

"This is a right mess and the one who made it should sort it out" she scolded, looking madder than ever.

"You're right I should probably go talk to them," I said in complete uncertainty.

Would they even listen?

"Not you silly girl" she snapped at me, "That boy who meddles his nose in other people's business like a right arse" she huffed angrily.

"You don't mean?" I felt my brows rise in astonishment and a cheeky grin on my lips at the sight of someone cursing out Cain.

"I do. You wouldn't be in this mess had he just let you see your sister in peace".

It was because of reasons like this I had always defended the otherwise bossy Head Maid. She could come off as quite horrid when you first meet her but she had a heart of gold.

"Well, I can't see him explaining the situation" I frowned at the thought.

"What makes you so certain?"

Naomi's question threw me off as I looked up at her with eyes that conveyed skepticism only to turn to wonder as she peculiarly perceived me. Her eyes conveyed that I had a chance of being free of sticky rumors.

"I don't understand?"

"The man who danced around with you at the wedding and the Duke sleeping in his bed are the same people. You should do well to remember that, my dear, since it shows that you can still speak to him. Nobody can stop you except yourself", Naomi had always spoken wisely, words laced with years of experience, but this may be the first time it had ever occurred to me how wise she truly was.

She was right.

Nobody could stop me from turning my relationship around with Cain. nobody could stop me from being his friend except... myself.

I knew why I stopped myself. I wasn't a fool in the matter, but I knew full well that having a better relationship with him would work out better for myself and him.

So I had made a decision.

Cain may be crueler now than he ever was, but If I wanted to survive in this dukedom then I would have to be on good terms with the one who can end me with a single whisper.

"Thank you Naomi" I gasped as I felt shaken at my determination.

"Thank me once you're out of this mess and do it quickly, we have a long morning and all the giddiness is doing no good for it" she snapped.

I smiled at her and left the storage much confidently than I had entered. Unfortunately, taking breakfast up for the acting Duke wasn't at all great for my current image. And although I recalled plenty of memories of the tea scalding my skin I still walked up the stairs with my head held high and a smile of triumph on my lips. It was only when I came face to face with the door that I felt myself falter.

I knew Cain had an obsession with me so I wouldn't be in any trouble yet I still found myself unsure of whether what I was about to do was a good idea. It was only when I recalled the rumors that troubled me that I knocked.

There was a groan.

"Leave it at the table". His sharp cold voice cut through me.

Had he ever spoken so coldly to me before?

I opened the door and walked in, placing the tray on the table near his bed, and instead of leaving like he might've hoped, I waited beside his bed.

His eyes were still shut although he was very awake. The blanket only covered his legs leaving his top off naked. His skin glistened in the morning sun and the lean muscle on his chest was emphasized.

"Cain. I would like to speak with you".

The words that felt like a gamble all of a sudden left my mouth in a nervous hurry and the moment they did Cain, who had once been laying in his bed calmly, had sprung up in shock and turned to look at me with a face that burned in... embarrassed surprise?

"Isabelle!?" he exclaimed.

"Yes?" It seemed he hadn't realized that it was me who had bought his breakfast.

"Usually Naomi brings my breakfast so I didn't expect you" he drew up his blanket and turned his head away from me for a moment. I noticed his ears were red, but more than that I noticed the lack of hostility. "What did you want to speak about?" he cleared his throat and turned to me. He looked a little more relaxed now.

"Please eat first. I don't want to bother you while your hungry", I poured his usual cup of earl grew and passed him a buttered piece of toast.

He took it slowly as if he wasn't too sure he was seeing right or he was still dreaming.