Chapter 4

It’s been a week since Thomas proposed to me. Well, calling that a proposal is hilarious. He’s not the type of man who would prepare an extravagant proposal for his future wife, knowing that we are just in a set-up situation.  Not that I’m expecting him to have something for me, anyways…

“Miss, you barely touch your food. Are you okay?” A young maid asked me. I was having my breakfast alone at this wide and empty table. It’s always like this. I haven’t seen Thomas’s shadows since he gave me the ring, so with Caleb. They are always so busy.

“Huh? Y-Yeah, I’m o-okay. Do you think Thomas will come home tonight?”

The girl blushed at the mention of my husband’s name. “I d-don’t know, miss. Perhaps you want to call his office?” she suggested. 

My eyes bulged out and I immediately shook my hands in front of her. “No, no, no worries. I’m good.”

“You’re his wife, miss. I think Your Highness Thomas would understand if you needed something from him.”

“I don’t need anything. Thank you.”

She nodded and smiled a little. “Alright, miss. Just tell me if you need something.”

“Thank you.”

She went away from my sight and proceeded to do her task. Everyone in this mansion is so nice. I feel like a princess. The feeling is foreign for me. 

Every day, I went to the library and read books by Jane Austen. I was too immersed in the book that I would fall asleep. Someone will wake me up for dinner. Then, I sleep in my cold room. Alone.

I even overheard some of the maids talking behind me. They thought I felt lonely, and they felt sorry for me. I didn’t mind it, though.

 It’s better that Thomas isn’t here. When he’s around, the mansion felt so gloomy. Everyone is scared of him, like me.

His presence screams power and dominance. One wrong move and your life is at stake. “Hello, Cina. Can I help with the dishes?”

“Oh, dear Moon Goddess! Why would you do that, miss?” Cina muttered in a shocked voice, as if she just heard something that could kill her. She continues, “You’re going to get me killed. Don’t touch the dishes! If Your Highness Thomas knows about this, I don’t know what to do…”

My eyebrows squinted because of her reaction. “Huh? No, I’m okay. This task is just simple, Cina. I’ve been doing this in our house. It’s not heav – “

“No, miss,” she exerted with a voice of finality, “this is different here. You are Your Highness Thomas’s future wife. Once you’re married, you will lead all the household here. You can just tell me what you want us to do. You need not to do it yourself!”

She shook her head at me. I laughed and said, “But Cina. This is just a simple task – “

“No, miss. Please spare my life.” I sighed heavily and nodded. It’s no use convincing her. She was firm with her decision.

I was so bored in the house. It’s making me sick. I got tired with my daily routine even though I enjoyed reading alone in the library. I couldn’t talk with anyone because they were too busy. I cannot contact my friends because I’m basically locked out here.

One morning, I woke up with Thomas at my side. My heart escalated at the sight of him. I thought I was just daydreaming. Though I admit that his presence makes me squirm in my seat, I couldn’t help but think about him. Every. Single. Night.

And I hate myself for thinking about him. Why would I think about him? He’s cruelled and he’s the reason why I’m stuck in this mansion.

Thomas was tying the knots of his tie in front of me. I just woke up, and it’s the first thing I see. He wasn’t speaking, and only stared at me while he did that thing with his tie.

I sat on the edge of my bed and grabbed my pair of slippers. Then, I walked towards him and helped him fix his tie because he seems to be distracted. He keeps on tying the knot wrong.

The silence between us is defeaning. The only sound I could hear right now was the rapid beating of my heart while I tie the knot of his tie. He looks like a Greek God in front of me, looking down – his eyebrows scrunching, as if he was wondering why I am doing this.

In fact, yes, why the hell am I doing this?

I hate him so much, yet my actions towards him are the complete opposite. “Cina told me you were bored in the house.” Alas, he spoke. If he didn’t, I would definitely do so to stop hearing my own heartbeat.

I nodded as my response.

“You could swim.”

“I don’t know how to swim.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

His jaw clenched. “You don’t want me to teach you how to swim?”

I nodded again as my reply. He smirked devilishly. “Why? Are you scared of me?”

Again, I nodded. His eyes darken. “Don’t you have a mouth? Talk.”

“Yes, I’m scared of you, Thomas,” is my response to him. He was taken aback by my straightforward reply. He likes that, right? Then I’m giving what he wants. Thomas’s eyes slipped and nodded. “Good. You should be.”

Another eerie silence between us. Miraculously, my hands weren’t shaking while I tied the knots of his tie. It was like a defense mechanism. I spoke again. “I have a favor to a-ask.” I said after tying the knots of his tie perfectly.

“Is this why you’re helping my tie, huh?”

I ignored what he said. “Can I go out… of the mansion?”

He smirked again, this time, without humor. “No.”

I didn’t hide my disappointment. My eyelids dropped and my mouth formed into a pout. “Why?”

“It’s dangerous for you,” he heaved a deep sigh and looked at me in the eyes. Why does it matter to you? I desperately want to ask him about that, but I have no courage to do that. After all, he only cares about his own interests.

“Margareth,” the way his tongue pronounced my name made my stomach recoil, and I try my hardest to hide it, “I have many enemies, and everyone already knows that I value you. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Do you really value me? I sighed and nodded. “So, it’s a no?”

“Yes, you could get killed.”

“Beta Caleb can go with me, if you think it’s too dangerous.”

His eyes slit at the mention of Caleb’s name. “I don’t trust anyone when it comes to your safety. When you go out, you have to be with me.”

“But you’re not always around!” There, I finally said it. I wanted to tell him. Am I really his wife? He wasn’t taking good care of me. He’s always so busy that he forgets he has me in this mansion. Not that I care about him, it’s just that… it’s so lonely sometimes to be here…

His jaw clenched again, and he grabs my wrist in an aggressive way. “I didn’t know you wanted me so much to be here.”

“What?! You’re delusional!”

“Just tell me, Margs… if you want me around, I’ll get my work done in our house.” Oh Gosh, the way he called me a nickname. Margs. It was the first time he called me that. I felt my heart melt in a second, and it shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t be affected by that.

And why would he want to work here?

“No. I don’t really care where you are. I just felt lonely! Please, please, just let me go out of the mansion.”

Thomas sighed and put his hands on his pocket. “Fine. I’ll have you in one of my business endeavors.”

My eyes shimmered because of that. “When will it be?”

His eyes darkened and he said, “Just wait.”

I nodded like a good girl.

“If you’re bored in the house, you could have Caleb to accompany you.”

That’s what he said while he slides his Rolex on his wrist. I just nodded and went straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth. That night, Thomas went home early at six. The maids where shocked about his sudden arrival.

“Prepare something special for dinner.” He announced to Cina, and everyone went busy afterwards. He was removing his leather jacket. I was behind him when he asked one of the maids, “Where’s my wife?”

“She’s behind you, Y-Your Highness…” the maid replied and bow down her head. I was taken aback when he looked at me. His eyes bore into my soul, and it was like a magnet of my system because I couldn’t help but to stare back.

“H-Hi..” I said nervously. Damn. I hope he didn’t notice that. “You’re here…” I spoke.

“Yes. I told Cina to prepare something special for dinner. Do you have something in mind?”

“A-Anything. I’m good with anything.”

He licked his lower lip and nodded. Then, he stepped forward towards me, and I gasped when he touched my arms. “Sorry if I was too busy the past few days that I didn’t think of you.”

Oh Gosh.

Please, no. Not this side of him. I prefer the cruel, domineering, and intimidating Thomas to being like this – sweet and thoughtful.

“It’s o-okay.”

“It’s not. Come here.” He caressed my cheek using the back of his hand and looked at me with soulful eyes. His eyes were the only thing that was soft, and the rest of him was hard. 

I hate to admit it, but he has more eyelashes than me. His fan-like eyelashes make his eyes expressive.

“Act like you care about me too.” He whispered in my ears.

All of the delusional things that was running in my head immediately vanished. Yes, of course. It was a slap from reality. We were only doing this for acting. I have to do my role, too.