Damned by Him

Thank you so much,@Jennifer_Goliah for the gift.

******

The room fell into an unusual silence after Christophine’s last words.

Rosaline slowly turned her head to look at her, a puzzled smile tugging at her lips despite the sadness lingering in her eyes.

"...Since when did you start supporting Xandros?" she asked quietly.

The question made Christophine freeze for the briefest of moments.

A mistake.

She had spoken too naturally, like someone who knew the man Rosaline called her husband.

She clicked her tongue inwardly before waving a careless hand through the air, dismissing the implication altogether.

"Support him?" she scoffed dramatically. "Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not supporting that man."

She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the couch with exaggerated indignation.

"I’m simply surprised."

"That gloomy fellow doesn’t look like someone who would sneak around with another woman."

She wrinkled her nose in obvious disdain before suddenly sitting upright.

"But if he truly made you cry..."

A dangerous glint flashed through her golden eyes.

"I’ll tear the Duke apart." She started making Rosaline blink.

Christophine was already getting to her feet, rolling up the sleeves of Lily’s dress as though she were preparing for street fight.

"I’ll drag him here by his collar."

"I’ll make him kneel before you."

"I’ll even make him apologize until his throat goes dry."

"And if that isn’t enough—"

She clenched her fist dramatically.

"I’ll hit him."

Rosaline stared at her for a heartbeat before an unexpected laugh escaped her lips.

The laughter came softly at first.

Then it grew louder until she had to cover her mouth.

Seeing her laugh only encouraged Christophine even more.

"What?" she demanded. "Do you think I can’t do it?"

Rosaline shook her head repeatedly, laughter still dancing in her voice.

"No..."

She struggled to catch her breath.

"There’s no need to confront him."

"I believe you."

She looked at Christophine with a warmth that made the latter pause.

"I know you’re on my side."

Christophine blinked before clearing her throat awkwardly.

"Well..."

"Obviously."

She reached toward the porcelain plate beside her, picked up a biscuit, and without warning stuffed it straight into Rosaline’s mouth.

"There."

She dusted her hands together with satisfaction.

"Eat."

Rosaline’s eyes widened in surprise before she instinctively bit into the biscuit.

The buttery sweetness melted across her tongue.

She chewed thoughtfully before smiling.

"...It’s nice."

"It is." Christophine answered proudly, as though she had baked it herself.

Rosaline continued nibbling on the biscuit while Christophine moved to sit beside her on the couch.

As the cheerful silence settled between them once again, Rosaline found herself stealing another glance at the woman beside her.

She was...

Different.

Every movement, expression, word.

This Lily laughed more.

Teased more.

Spoke whatever came into her mind without restraint.

Nothing like the gentle maid who would usually panic over the smallest scratch on Rosaline’s hand or cry alongside her whenever she was upset.

She missed that Lily.

She truly did.

Yet...

Looking at the woman beside her now, Rosaline couldn’t bring herself to dislike the change.

She was strange.

Far too bold.

A little overbearing.

But somehow...

Interesting.

The thought made a small smile return to her face.

Perhaps people really could change after suffering a blow to the head.

Christophine noticed the smile and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Rosaline replied, shaking her head.

"I was just thinking."

"Thinking too much is bad for you."

Christophine stood abruptly.

"I’ll get you something to drink."

Rosaline looked up.

"Lily, you don’t have to—"

But before she could finish speaking, Christophine had already reached the door.

"I’ll be back."

The door closed behind her before Rosaline could protest.

Left alone, Rosaline released a slow breath and leaned back against the couch.

"...She really has changed."

She shook her head helplessly, though a faint smile still lingered on her lips.

Outside the room, Christophine strode confidently down the corridor, her footsteps echoing across the polished floor.

She rounded a corner and immediately spotted the butler speaking quietly with several maids.

Without slowing her pace, she stopped before him and spoke in a voice that carried effortless authority.

"You."

The butler looked up.

"Bring a glass of water and a jug of juice to my room."

The command rang through the corridor.

Silence followed.

The butler stared.

So did every maid standing nearby, Not one of them moved.

They simply looked at the maid before them as though she had suddenly become someone else.

One of the younger maids recovered first.

"L-Lily..."

she ventured cautiously.

"...Are you sure you’re feeling alright?"

"Did you perhaps hit your head harder than we thought?" Christophine slowly turned her head.

Her golden eyes settled upon the maid.

The look alone was enough to send a chill racing down the young woman’s spine.

She immediately lowered her gaze.

Christophine shifted her attention back to the butler.

"Did you not hear what I said?"

The butler opened his mouth to answer—

"That will be enough."

A calm voice interrupted.

Kiel stepped into the corridor, his white robes flowing gently behind him as he approached.

With a slight motion of his hand, he signaled for the butler to remain where he was.

Christophine’s expression darkened.

"I said," she repeated coldly, "send the drinks to my room immediately."

The butler instinctively looked toward Kiel instead.

Receiving another subtle wave from him, he remained perfectly still.

Christophine narrowed her eyes before slowly turning toward the man responsible.

"What are you doing here?"

"And why are you interfering with my business?"

Her voice rose sharply.

The maids exchanged uneasy glances before wisely scattering in different directions, as Kiel waved the butler off also.

Within moments, only the two of them remained in the corridor.

Kiel regarded her calmly, though a faint crease had appeared between his brows.

"It seems you’ve forgotten something."

Christophine folded her arms.

"Oh?"

"You’re occupying the body of a maid."

His grey eyes swept over Lily’s figure.

"A maid has no authority to command the butler."

For a moment...

Christophine simply stared at him.

Then realization slowly dawned across her face.

"...Right."

She muttered under her breath with obvious annoyance.

"I truly despise this body."

With an irritated click of her tongue, she brushed past him and continued down the corridor.

Kiel watched her leave before falling into step beside her.

"Where are you going?"

She didn’t even look at him.

"None of your business."

"You aren’t planning to wander around the mansion causing trouble, are you?"

This time she stopped.

Slowly, she turned to face him.

A wicked grin spread across her lips.

"That..." She tilted her head, "...is exactly what I’m going to do."

Before Kiel could stop her, she spun around and marched briskly down the corridor.

For a heartbeat he simply watched her disappear around the corner.

Then he rubbed a hand across his forehead and hurried after her.

"Damn it."

Christophine walked without any destination in mind.

The irritation that had driven her out of the corridor had long since faded, yet she continued wandering through the mansion as though she were trying to outrun her own thoughts. She passed servants who immediately lowered their heads at the sight of her, though none dared stop her after witnessing the scene she had caused earlier.

The evening had begun to settle over the estate.

The sky above the mountains glowed with fading shades of amber and crimson, while a cool breeze drifted through the gardens, stirring the hedges and carrying with it the scent of pine.

Eventually, her steps slowed.

Not far ahead, she spotted a familiar figure standing alone upon one of the stone terraces overlooking the mountains.

Xandros.

His hands rested lightly upon the carved stone railing as he stared into the distance. The wind tugged gently at the loose strands of his tied-back hair, yet he remained perfectly still, as though the breathtaking scenery before him had failed to capture his attention.

Christophine planted one hand against her waist.

"So this is where you’ve been hiding."

Without waiting for permission, she walked toward him.

Her footsteps echoed softly across the stone floor.

Xandros heard her approach long before she reached him, but he didn’t turn around.

Only when she stopped beside him did he speak.

"You’ve finished causing trouble already?"

Christophine let out an exaggerated gasp.

"My."

She placed a hand dramatically over her chest.

"Is that how you greet your guests?"

Xandros finally turned his head toward her.

"I don’t remember inviting you."

"That hurts."

She sighed theatrically.

"After everything we’ve been through together."

Before Xandros could reply, another pair of footsteps echoed from behind.

Kiel appeared from the corridor, breathing out a quiet sigh the moment he found the two of them together.

"So this is where you ran off to."

He rubbed a hand across his forehead before muttering beneath his breath,

"Damn it..."

"I knew following you would only lead me to another headache."

Christophine glanced at him over her shoulder and smiled brightly.

"You’re welcome."

Kiel ignored her entirely.

Instead, he looked toward Xandros with an expression that clearly said I tried.

Xandros paid neither of them any mind.

His gaze remained fixed upon Christophine.

"Where is Rosaline?"

Christophine blinked but instead of answering, she folded her arms across her chest and looked around the quiet terrace.

"...Shouldn’t I be the one asking questions?"

She glanced between the two men.

"What exactly are you doing standing out here in the middle of the evening?"

Neither of them answered.

The silence lingered.

Xandros simply continued watching her.

Waiting.

Patiently... Though he wasn’t patient...so he definitely was brewing.

Christophine clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"...You’re insufferable."

She finally relented with an exaggerated sigh.

"She’s in my room."

Only then did Xandros’ expression ease slightly.

He pushed himself away from the railing, intending to leave.

"...Tell me something."

Christophine’s voice stopped him.

He paused without turning around.

She looked at his back for a long moment before speaking again.

"If you were only going to break her heart..." Her voice had lost its usual mocking tone.

"...why didn’t you at least allow me to use it for something meaningful?"