Chapter 42

Marie, whose mind was still caught in the chilling grip of what had just transpired, could feel her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest, each beat echoing with a mixture of fear and embarrassment. The image of Aiden's piercing blue eyes lingered, seared into her memory and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of being completely exposed under his gaze.

Marie finally took a seat in the room, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. She glanced at Lucy, who was still visibly shaken, her face pale and her eyes distant. Marie's own nerves were frayed, and she desperately needed to make sense of what had happened. 

“Lucy…what just happened back there?” Marie asked, her voice unsteady. “I—I froze. It's like… I don't even remember what I was supposed to say. Did I do something wrong?”

Lucy, too, was struggling to regain her composure. She clutched her arms around herself, as if trying to hold her own trembling in check. She wanted to respond, to find the words that might explain the storm of emotions swirling inside her, but she couldn't. 

Her mind was still foggy, replaying the moment when Aiden's gaze was locked onto her, she couldn't escape the memory of Aiden's eyes. The way they had fallen in her, so intense and piercing, had sent a shiver through her that she couldn't quite shake. 

She had felt something in that moment, something powerful and confusing —a pull that both frightened her and intrigued her. It was a feeling she couldn't put into words, a strange magnetism that seemed to draw her towards him.

This wasn't the first time Lucy had felt this way. A similar feeling had gripped her ounce before, when Leo had first caught her eye. She remembered that day vividly: the way Leo's confident attitude and quiet strength had captivated her, making her feel seen in a way she hadn't before. 

But this—what she felt when Aiden looked at her—was different or to say, almost the same but yet, deeper and more unsettling like a current running beneath the surface, impossible to resist.

Lucy shook her head, trying desperately to push the thoughts away. She knew she was being ridiculous; Aiden was not someone she could afford to think about, much less feel anything for. He was powerful, intimidating and completely out of reach. 

The stories about his cruelty, about his cold and calculating nature, were well known. She had no place in his world and even the fleeting idea of being noticed by him was dangerous.

Stop it, Lucy. This isn't real, she told herself firmly, her internal voice trying to snap her back to reality. You're just a maid, and he's… he's Aiden. 

She wagged her head again, trying to dislodge the thoughts like shaking water from her ears but it was of no use. She could still feel his gaze on her, as if he had somehow left a mark that she couldn't wash away. Her chest tightened with every passing second, and she wished more than anything that she could go back to not being noticed at all but that was impossible as she still had a role to play.

Lucy blinked, snapping back to the present for a moment, but Marie barely words barely registered. She glanced at Marie but her eyes were still distant and unfocused. Marie was talking but it was as if Lucy were underwater, the words muted far off. 

“Lucy!” Marie's voice cut through sharply, louder this time, yanking Lucy back to reality. “For heaven's sake, Lucy, snap out of it! I'm also trying to figure out what happened and you were already lost… huh.”

“I—I don't know, it's just the way I felt when he looked at me.” 

“Oh, come on Lucy… how do you feel, can you please explain?” Marie stood up, her hands on either side of her waist.

Lucy kept mute at first and sighed deeply. “I felt a pull like I was drawn to him… I—”

Marie bursted into laughter and ran her fingers through her hair. “We both felt the same thing, Lucy. You were not the only one who felt a pull… I felt drawn to him also, Oh! Aiden, his eyes are so alluring.” she paused and took a deep breath. “We still have to face him, remember and I could not imagine how I can maintain myself before him.” 

Lucy was silent and could only stare, trying to get herself together. The feeling, still evident on her face.

“I…I don't.” Marie finally stammered but could not finish with her words. She looked at Lucy with wide, frightened eyes, unable to mask her lingering shock. “I didn't expect him to look at me like that. I don't even know if he was angry… It felt like he could see right through me. It was like I couldn't move, couldn't breathe.”

She soon thought about it, the stories she heard, the tales of Aiden s, his ruthlessness on the battlefield and his unyielding loyalty to his father's cause. Aiden was known not just for his strength but for the way he could break a person's will without ever raising his voice. He was beautiful, yes, but his beauty was the kind that cut like a blade, sharp and dangerous.

“He didn't even have to say anything, Lucy. Just…just the way he looked at us.” She paused, rubbing her arms as if to ward off an invisible chill. “The stories about him were true. He has no emotion, he didn't show any back there. The stories must be true, aren't they? He's… he's exactly what that say he is. For one time, Isabella was right.”

Lucy nodded slowly, she thought how much of what she heard was exaggerated, spun into legend by those who feared him. But today, she had seen it for herself —Aiden didn't need to shout or make threats. The force of his presence alone was enough to command obedience, to strip away any semblance of courage she might have had.

“He didn't even look angry.” Lucy murmured, still trying to understand her own reaction. “But I couldn't help feeling like I'd done something wrong, just by being there. It's like… he has a way of making you feel small. Even when he's not doing anything.”

“I guess you're right,” Marie said. “And Lucy, he stared at you the most… I don't want to say this, but I think you're in more trouble than I… we just have to be careful.”

“I know, I don't need a reminder.” Lucy stood up and rubbed her face, like trying to unveil a mask.

“Oh, no… they'll be feasting by now… we're supposed to be there before they even started at all.” Marie rumored nervously while Lucy checked the time.

“Oh! This is another problem again… where the jar of wine… let's just get going already.” Lucy hurried and carried a big jar filled with wine and placed it on her head while Marie carried another jar and the two ladies both hurried out of their rooms in an attempt to get to the grand hall.