The door was slammed, and I rushed back to the dining room, hearing Killian’s steps behind my back. He reached the room faster than I expected and I didn’t even have time to put my shoes back on, so I hid them behind my back.
“Heard everything?” He smirked as he walked back in.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I lied without blinking and heard him snort at that.
“I can see you holding your shoes in your hands in the reflection in the window,” he informed me plainly and went back to his seat.
“So?” I dropped them to the ground since there was no point hiding them anymore, and put them on quickly, “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“Are you always like this, Sage?” He asked me, locking his eyes with mine. I froze under his icy gaze. There was something… mesmerizing in it.
“Like what?” I arched my brow, getting back to my seat as elegantly as I could.
“Never mind,” he took a sip of his wine and I did the same.
“So, who were these people?” I decided to ask because listening to both of us chewing in this empty house seemed way more awkward than talking to him.
“I have no idea,” he responded curtly and continued cutting his steak.
“It didn’t sound like you don’t know them,” I scoffed, and he looked at me with a smirk on his face.
“I thought you weren’t listening,” he caught me in his web.
“I… wasn’t listening on purpose.” Keeping a straight face now was a challenge, but I think I managed just fine, “But in this house of yours even if a pin drops, everyone would know.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he admitted, and I was glad to get out of this easily.
“So, who were those people?” I decided to repeat my question as I took another bite of my meat, which was probably prepared in heaven. It was too good and I was fighting the urge to close my eyes and moan.
“There are no ones. Don’t concern yourself with that,” he cut me off on the subject, “You have bigger problems now, Sage, don’t you think?”
I looked at him, remembering how just a few hours ago he was taking Dad away.
“What will happen to my father now?” I asked.
“It’s classified information,” he averted my gaze and I put my knife and fork down.
“Can you tell me at least anything?” I felt how it was getting harder for me to breathe, my chest was getting up and down and I couldn’t get it under control.
“Not really, Sage,” he said matter-of-factly. As if it was a stupid and meaningless question and not my dad’s destiny.
“I am starting to think that dropping titles was a bad idea,” the words slipped off my tongue and the anger added to it, “We are no one to each other, after all. And could hardly be called friends to call each other by our names.”
“Very well, lady Satorr,” he gulped his wine again.
“See?” I snorted, “Much better, Sir Winter.”
“Your Grace,” he said and I looked at him questioningly.
“Pardon?” I fidgeted with my napkin.
“If you want to use titles, you should call me Your Grace,” he stated plainly and only then looked at me.
“But you are not a duke,” I reminded him, but then the information I had just received started to sink in slowly, “There are just four dukes in the kingdom….” My last words were barely a whisper.
The country had five dukedoms and four marquisates. Each of them wearing a gem name corresponding to their power. My father was the duke of the Emerald Duchy because of his Earth Element. The other three were Ruby, Obsidian and Nephrite. There were no others because it was a tradition to have just four dukes. They were staples of the kingdom. So, why was Winter naming himself His Grace? This could only happen when the position of a duke became vacant…
The realisation hit me so hard that I stood up. He held my feiry accusing gaze calmly and I wanted to tell him so much! I hate him so much!
They already gave my father’s title away... And to him of all the people. This was why he commanded so easily around my house. It belonged to him now! My lands were his lands! Everything I had – he took from me. And yes, I didn’t know the details, but it still hurt like hell.
This also explained perfectly why he was looking after me today.
Guilty conscience. There couldn't be any other explanation.
“Congratulations,” I forced myself to say because it was a polite thing to do, considering my situation, “Excuse me.”
I tried to get out of the table as fast as I could.
“You need to eat more,” Killian said, and I didn’t even look at him before I left the room.
“I think I am full…”
I practically ran to my room and closed the door behind me. After thinking a little bit more, I placed a chair at the entrance for protection. Not that I thought that Winter would try to visit me at night… But it was the first time I was alone in a completely new environment in this life. Even when I entered the Academy, I shared a room with two of my friends. It was a comfortable transition with next to zero stress. As a daughter of a duke, I was always treated well everywhere. But I guessed that was over now.
My whole life changed in one day. I didn’t know whom I could trust and what I should be doing next. I knew that I would be fighting for my father’s innocence though. Once I proved it, everything would get back to normal. Everything would be fine.
But now here I was. In my enemy’s house and at his mercy.
I had to admit that he could have left me on a street or got me to a village instead like I expected him to. Then again, what if that was a part of an elaborate plan to keep me close and watch me?
I opened the window to get some fresh air and was surprised at how cold it was outside. The grass and tree branches were frosted, gleaming in the moonlight and I admired the scenery for some time. Just why was it so cold recently? It wasn’t the season yet.
My train of thought was broken when something moved on a branch right next to me and I let out a little scream. Two eyes gleamed in the darkness and I wanted to close the window quickly when the creature took a few steps in my direction. And… it was the cutest thing ever! It had red fur and a cute face with pointy ears and a thick soft tail. If I wasn’t mistaken, it was a marten and I have never seen one before in this world.
But there was something odd about this one. He looked at me and his eyes were glowing as if he had magic in him. Which wasn’t possible. Animals did not possess magic.
I blinked and stopped seeing the glow at once. Now it seemed like all that was just a product of my imagination. I was too tired, after all.
The little ferret looked at me curiously and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. There was a bowl with fruit on my table. And I wasn’t sure if he ate something like that. I took a grape and tried to give it to him, stretching my hand out of the window frame. The marten suddenly looked excited with his ears going up and he eagerly got closer to me. I felt his whiskers tickling my skin as he sniffed the berry. But the he licked the skin of my palm instead, startling me.
“I am not the food,” I giggled for the first time today, “The big red thing is the food. Now, be a good little marten and eat it.”
But he only licked me again and this time a small bolt of electricity went from me to him. Or vice versa. I wasn’t even sure anymore. The little guy leaned his head into my palm, making me drop the berry. He clearly did not want it and I decided not to insist. The cuddles were so much better.
“Aww,” I smiled as he quickly got over my hand to my shoulder and his bushy tail tickled my face. At this moment I was glad that he looked clean. I wasn’t a Disney princess who sand and talked to animals, so I wasn’t used to their closeness.
“You are a cute little things, aren’t you?” I teased him and he purred in my ear. Somehow, I felt safe next to him. It was nice to have company on a night like this.
“Should I name you?” I asked and he purred his approval into my ear again, “All right. Let me think… How about Martin?”
It were probably my hallucinations after a long day but the ferret shook his head. However, I took it as a sign and moved on.
“Marty? No.
“Mickey?” No.
“Rudy?” I was picking the names from the top of my head but the little marten did not approve any.
“What is the problem?” I rolled my eyes, stroking his soft fur, “Why don’t you like any of the names?”
He purred again and I had no idea what it meant. But then a revelation hit me.
“Wait,” I looked at the little animal, “Are you by any chance a girl?”
The marten finally looked pleased and I stroked its soft fur.
“You know,” I mumbled, “Let’s make it personal. I am an Earth mage and I like everything green. So, how about Fern?”
This time I was awarded with a lick on my cheek and then the little creature jumped off me and landed straight onto the bed in the room. She nestled between the soft cushions and closed her eyes, preparing to sleep. I decided not to waste time too and chose to lie down right next to my new friend. The events of the day were scrolling fast before my eyes and I did not notice how the darkness consumed me…
When the sun rays of the morning kissed my cheeks and lashes, I opened my eyes and noticed that my little friend was already gone. Oh, well…
Not wasting any time, I cleaned my face and teeth the best I could. I had no clothes to change into, so wearing the same dress twice I had to do for today.
It was very early, and I decided to explore the garden a bit more. It looked even sadder than I remembered it after my ride with Winter last night. Most of the plants were dried out and I was touching some to revive them with my Earth element. I didn’t get far when an icy cold voice stopped me.
“What do you think you are doing?”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Do you know what a marten looks like? They are extremely cute. I will be adding a few pics of Fern to my IG account as well as Dreame Slayers group (join it if you haven't already.)
P.S. I need help with the name of this chapter. Any suggestions?
I will be updating the last bonus chapter of Her Demon Alpha mater tomorrow and another chapter of The Emerald Seer will be published on Saturday. The daily updates for this book will start in March.
Aksara