Rayan opened the door and stepped inside the hut. His eyes fell on Aria, and a deep frown marred his forehead instantly.
"Why are you crying?"
His voice held a tinge of concern that he didn't even realize was there. In his moment of worry, he seemed to forget that she didn't understand his language at all.
On the other hand, Aria stared at him with wide eyes, blinking as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Her lips slightly parted in disbelief as she gazed at him silently. He didn't leave...
Suddenly, she took a step forward, eager to walk toward him, but then recalled that he didn't like unnecessary touching. Hesitating, she stepped back.
"Kewie Hon Lan." (Where were you?)
Aria wiped her tears with one hand, hoping he would understand her concern.
Rayan shook his head in reply, indicating that he didn't understand what she was saying. Yet, he sensed a hint of grievance in her tone—as if she were blaming him.
Was it because of him that she was crying? The thought that she might have been scared for him pressed down uncomfortably in his stomach and chest.
"I went outside," he said gently, pointing toward the door.
He had merely wanted to see the surroundings to ascertain where he was.
Aria's shoulders slumped slightly in relaxation, and she turned to retreat back into her room. Once inside, she locked the door and threw herself onto her bed. Soon, new tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt silly for embarrassing herself like this. What was the need to cry just now?
Rayan's heart raced when she dashed into her room so quickly. Was she angry? He raised his foot to follow but then halted just near the room. No! It wouldn't be decent to knock on a lady's door without a good reason. Sighing in frustration, he suddenly thought of something.
---
Inside the room, Aria lacked the courage to step back outside. She stood near the door, raising her hand to open the latch only to lower it again moments later. Just then, a knock sounded on the door, causing her to take a step back in fright. Wide-eyed, she stared at the door as if it were a ghost and glanced around as if searching for a place to hide.
Outside the room, Rayan looked at the still closed door with his lips pressed in a thin line.
With his strength, he could easily force the door open.
If it was someone else, he would have surely done so.
Wrong! If it was someone else, he wouldn't have bothered at all. After all, for most of his whole life, he had been surrounded by soldiers who never had to observe those rules of propriety.
They knew those rules but they never had to care about it. Heaving a sigh, he gathered all his patience and knocked again on the door.
When another knock resonated through the small space, Aria bit her lip. How long could she hide? They lived in the same hut, after all.
Twisting the hem of her dress nervously, Aria finally stepped forward and opened the door. Rayan sighed in relief at the sound from the other side.
As the door opened, he lowered his eyes slightly and presented a plate in his hands. Aria looked at the plate silently, confusion washing over her.
Rayan had been waiting for her to take the plate, but when she didn't move, he raised his head to gauge her reaction. He noticed her swollen, red eyes, and his cold eyes flickered slightly.
"This is for you..." he said, gesturing for her to take the plate. She had cooked for him yesterday and cared for him; today, feeling better, he had gone outside to catch a pheasant and prepare a meal for her.
Aria, however, looked away from the plate and shook her head. "Na Wuya..." (No eat).
Rayan understood that "Wuya" meant eat. The way she shook her head signified refusal, but he was confused as to why.
His frown deepened, but Aria interpreted his expression as disappointment. His face, cold and serious when he didn't smile, made her feel as if she was upsetting him. Desperate to explain, she added,
"Na Howerie" (No animal).
Taking a step forward, Rayan made way for her, allowing her to step outside. He watched as she walked to the stove where some vegetables were laid out. Aria picked one up and held it up to him.
"Li...Wuya..." (I ...eat), she said slowly, hoping he would understand.
Her grandmother used to eat non vegetarian food but Aria could never swallow down the birds and animals she talked to.
"You don't eat animals or birds." Rayan stated rather than asking.
The frown on his forehead remained as he processed this revelation. No wonder she was so delicate.
Rayan walked over to her and picked up the basket of vegetables. When Aria saw him grab the knife and vegetables, her eyes widened, and she held up her hand in alarm.
He halted immediately, his gaze shifting to her outstretched hand. Realizing her fear, Aria quickly retracted her hand and Rayan coughed slightly.
She took the basket from him without making contact and grabbed a second knife. She would prepare her own meal.
Rayan didn't oppose her. He chose to observe how she cooked. His experience lay in preparing meats, and he had never cooked vegetables before. Watching her would not only help him learn but also ensure she didn't end up with disastrous food made by him. He could cook animals but he had never made vegetable soup like she did last night.
As he served the cooked pheasant for himself, he sighed, reflecting on how much effort he had put into this meal. If his soldiers had seen him cooking for someone...they would surely have been shocked.
Despite his meal being ready, Rayan waited for Aria to finish her cooking. When she finally looked up and noticed that his plate remained full, her eyes brightened slightly. Was he waiting for her?
Rayan settled into a nearby wooden chair, gesturing for her to join him. Aria nodded eagerly, and they began to eat together.
An unusual peace enveloped the hut, despite the silence. Aria had never expected to find such tranquility after her grandmother's passing. In that moment, all her worries seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of connection that transcended words