Evaline.
I wouldn't ever have thought my name could sound like that coming out of those lips I was staring at in that moment. He froze as he stared directly into my eyes. My stomach twisted with a feeling I wasn't familiar with. There wasn't anything I wasn't used to when it came to Rael. His eyes looked tired—he looked like he hadn't slept in days. It wasn't as excessive as Lord Caelvorn's eyes, but there was still a hint of weariness in them.
I tore my gaze away from him and didn't bother looking at him as I spoke. "You've been gone." My voice was soft, almost a whisper.
He took a deep breath and sat beside me, leaving some room in between us. Of course, he still acted like the gentleman he was. I waited, but no response came from him, and all I wanted to do was face him again and see what expression he wore. I looked at my feet and waited.
"Are you mad, perhaps?" His voice sounded unsure. Unsure of what I would answer.
"Mad?" I scoffed. I wasn't sure if I was mad. If I kept getting thoughts about Lisa and how much I felt this... feeling, I wouldn't say I was mad. Then again, I didn't know myself.
He took my hand in his—his strong, firm hands—and squeezed them gently. "Please don't talk to me like that. You know I hate it."
He looked into my eyes once again. I had no choice but to tell him what I was really thinking.
"I'm not sure myself. I'm not sure I feel mad. This feeling is something I haven't felt before, but I'm sure it's just curiosity."
He let go of my hands in confusion. "Gosh, you're still an innocent little lady," he smiled.
"Why do you say that?"
His face brightened up and he let out a shy smirk. "I was just thinking you were feeling something that made me feel like you actually thought about me in..."
He coughed and looked away with flustered cheeks. He continued, "...that kind of way," he said as he finally looked at me.
"Are you ill?"
He opened his mouth only to burst out laughing. "No, no! It's just hot in here, that's all." He continued laughing, leaving me feeling stupid for not knowing what he meant.
"See? You really don't know what I'm talking about, right?" he said, wiping the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
"To be honest, I never know what you're thinking or what's happening in your life," I answered.
He looked at me seriously now—no more laughing. "Because I'm afraid that once you enter my life, I won't hold myself back from ever letting you walk out of it."
He looked at me to see if at least I understood that part, but of course I just sat there with a blank expression.
He turned red once again and shook his head, looking at the garden. "I let that slip. Sorry, you don't understand yet."
There he went again, leaving it like that without trying to explain to me what that even meant. I grabbed his arm and turned him to look at me, making him cover his mouth for no reason. I looked deep into his eyes, trying to somehow read his thoughts.
"Then if I don't understand, how will I know what you're talking about?" I took his hand to uncover his mouth. "Tell me then—why do I feel like a stranger to you?"
This time, I took his hand in mine.
"Don't talk like that either. And I can't tell you just yet," he looked at me pleading.
"Then if you can't tell me that, tell me about you and Lisa."
He picked up a small flower and placed it gently in my hair before going on with the secrets.
"It's complicated. I myself don't know what to do about the situation," he continued. "You're still too young to know what happened between us. But don't worry—she won't take your place in my heart."
He winked, going back to his teasing, making me feel embarrassed to make it such a big deal.
If what he said was true, then what happened underneath the waterfall, and the discussion they had... what was all that? He was probably lying to me. Again.
He grabbed something he was hiding behind him and gently placed it on my lap. It was a small transparent bag. Inside, a heart-shaped pattern was on a piece of cloth covering what seemed like a gift.
"I haven't gotten you these for a long time now, so this is one of my late birthday presents for you," he encouraged me to open it.
Inside the cloth were chocolate-covered strawberries. The same liquid my mouth watered over at the sight of Lord Caelvorn's breakfast. Not only could chocolate be drunk, but also eaten with fruits. My mouth watered with temptation to devour them in an instant, but the same words Rael told me over and over again held me back.
"Be a proper lady," I whispered as I took one and popped it into my mouth. The flavors mixed, making me close my eyes in pleasure.
"You like it?" He leaned in closer, and when I opened my eyes, he was there, looking hesitant.
"I don't forgive you that easily. You still have things you haven't told me, so—"
He shoved a strawberry into my mouth, silencing me.
"Alright, alright. Now let it go."
I nodded, thankful he remembered me even if he wasn't here.
"Did you go to town?" The closest village from the manor was about two hours away on horseback. Although it was the closest town, it was one of the cruelest ones. From Rael's stories, he told me the village despised the Eboncrest house. Because of the incident, ever since they saw young Lord Caelvorn, they immediately judged him because of what he did.
I hadn't heard what the Lord actually did to be so despised by everyone—even his own family. All the villagers knew what he looked like, and there were even posters wanting to kill him.
"Yeah, that's where I was these past two days."
I continued eating my delicious strawberries.
"Are there still posters of the Lord?" I asked as I handed him a strawberry.
"Yeah, it seems like it's only gotten worse. They're now offering a huge sum just to return the Lord to the village—to, well, kill him."
I gasped, my strawberries now forgotten.
"The kingdom was the one behind the new rule—or shall I say, the King of the Realm of Caelmere, King Hadrian Caelmere," he said.
"Even the King despises him? Really?!"
He nodded with concern on his face.
"Everyone hates him to the point they want him to disappear—except only the ones that work for him, of course, like us."
I looked at the beautiful manor. From the outside, you would think it's huge and beautiful, with only some imperfections like the English ivy that grew on some sides of the manor. Once you went in, those thoughts would go away instantly, just by looking at how cold and lonely the halls are.
"Do they know he's hidden away in his manor? And something they hate is that he's even alive?"
He nodded once again.
"You haven't been told this, but there are about more than six people a week that try to assassinate him. Thanks to the guards, we are able to keep them from actually doing so."
Now it all made sense. That night I stood right under his bedroom window—the only reason he threw a book was for self-defense. At least it was just a book and not something much worse. When I went into his room, I noticed a lot of objects that he could've used as a weapon.
"Does anyone get to his bedroom?" I asked, a bit scared, not wanting anyone with the only mission to kill the same person I was given the job to take care of.
"Likely. But they never get to do harm to the Lord. He's much stronger than them anyway."
That was believable, but still, anyone could hurt me. I wasn't strong, nor was I smart enough to get myself out of trouble.
Later as everyone settled on the dinning table someone called for me."Pass me the salt, miss," a middle-aged man said as he gestured to the salt. I quickly passed him the salt, avoiding eye contact with Lisa. She had been staring at me the whole time since I sat next to Rael. Her pretty blonde hair was slicked back in a cleaner and neater bun than mine. Her green eyes followed my every move. Even with a simple glance at Rael, she glared at me—her attitude a whole different person than I had ever seen.
I squirmed in my seat under her intense gaze and avoided her. The small dining room went silent as Orin stood up to announce something.
"My dear companions, I have something to suggest."
Whatever he was about to suggest was never good, from my experience.
"Lord Caelvorn and this manor are not progressing, and the money we have added up will not last any longer. It has been at least three years with the same problem. Thanks to our dearest Evaline-"
I paused and looked to see everyone staring at me with a proud look. A look that was rarely seen from other servants, meant directly at me. Whatever Orin was about to say, I knew deep down it wouldn't be any good for me.
"She was able to feed the Lord—something we have struggled to do. And seeing this big change, it has brought our hopes up to change the Lord and this manor for good. We are really running out of time, and with this pressure we have toward the manor, we have no choice but to rush. As we saw, although Evaline was able to feed him something, the cause was her ending up with many, many bruises."
They all nodded, and now their looks changed into pitiful ones. Of course, this was what was going to happen—they were all going to change on me. But Orin continued.
"Evaline, we have no choice but to make you go back to caring for him immediately."
He kept talking even when I wanted him to shut up.
"So starting tomorrow, and even on weekends, you will not stop caring for him—whatever happens. No more rest days. No more other duties. You will care and fix him every second."
My jaw dropped. What got to my brain from what I heard was that I will not stop caring for him even for a second. Was he out of his mind?! Even if I got beaten up again, he wouldn't say anything, and I would continue like nothing happened.
Rael looked at me and rubbed my shoulder. Like it would fix anything. I sat there avoiding everyone's eyes and just nodded.
"Her bruises aren't even healed," Miriam insisted.
"There's no other choice."
With that, supper was finished.