Chapter 109: Tension.
Thank you so much, @Marijayne32, for the Golden Tickets and Gifts.
*********
Rosaline continued to stare at the butler, clearly unwilling to accept his answer.
"You really don’t know where she is?"
The butler shook his head.
"No, my Lady. I truly do not."
His voice carried enough sincerity to make Rosaline hesitate. "Then why did you look as though you were hiding something?"
"I was not hiding anything, my Lady."
The old butler lowered his voice and glanced once more toward the staircase."I merely thought it would be wiser for you to ask His Grace yourself."
Rosaline narrowed her eyes.
There was something about the way he said it that made her even more suspicious, but the butler’s expression remained respectfully blank.
Finally, she sighed.
"Fine."
She folded her arms loosely.
"If you truly don’t know, then there’s nothing I can do about it."
The butler bowed. "I am sorry, my Lady."
Rosaline gave him a small nod before glancing toward the staircase.
"I should probably go back before he returns."
"That would be advisable." The butler said making her give him a look.
"You sound relieved."
The butler’s lips twitched faintly. "I would never dare, my Lady."
Rosaline smiled despite herself.
"Of course you wouldn’t."
She turned away and began making her way back toward her chamber.
Her steps were still slower than usual, and the weakness in her legs reminded her that the physician had been right. She really wasn’t ready to be wandering around the mansion yet.
Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about Lily.
Why hadn’t she come to see her?
Even if Xandros had reprimanded her, surely Lily would have found some way to sneak into the room.
Unless...
Rosaline slowed.
Had Xandros truly forbidden her from seeing her?
She frowned.
"That man..." She muttered beneath her breath.
"I’ll have to ask him."
By the time she reached her chamber, however, Rosaline had already decided she would ask him later. For now, she simply wanted to get back into bed before he discovered that she had disobeyed him.
She reached for the handle.
Opened the door.
And stopped.
Her entire body went rigid.
Xandros was already inside. He stood near the window with his arms folded across his chest, his expression so still that it would have been impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Except for his eyes.
Those grey eyes were fixed directly upon her.
Rosaline’s heart skipped.
"...You’re back."
Xandros said nothing.
Rosaline slowly stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.
The silence became increasingly uncomfortable.
She offered him a small smile.
"I..."
His gaze remained on her.
Rosaline cleared her throat.
"I really did go to see Lily."
Nothing.
She smiled wider. "I wasn’t wandering around."
"And I didn’t go outside."
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
Rosaline immediately stopped talking.
"...Much."
Xandros’ eyes narrowed.
She quickly added, "I only walked through the corridor."He continued staring at her.
Rosaline shifted uncomfortably.
Why did he have to look at her like that?
It felt as though she had been caught stealing something from the imperial treasury.
"I was only gone for a few minutes."
His expression didn’t change.
Rosaline sighed.
"Fine."
She lifted both hands in surrender.
"I shouldn’t have left the room."
Only then did some of the tension leave his face.
Xandros approached her without saying anything.
Rosaline instinctively took a small step backward.
"Xandros?"
He still didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached for her arm and guided her toward the bed.
His touch was firm but surprisingly gentle.
"Sit."
Rosaline obeyed reluctantly.
The moment she settled onto the mattress, Xandros reached for the blanket and pulled it over her legs.
Then he tucked it around her as though she were a child who had deliberately escaped her nurse.
Rosaline stared at him.
"You don’t have to do that."
He ignored her.
He adjusted the blanket once more before pulling the chair closer and sitting directly in front of her.
Only then did he look at her.
Rosaline blinked.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"You were supposed to be resting." He said seriously.
"I was."
"You were walking around the mansion."
"I was looking for Lily."
"You were supposed to be in bed."
Rosaline pressed her lips together.
There was no point arguing with him, not when he had that expression.
She looked away for a moment before turning back.
"Since you are already here..."
Xandros raised a brow.
Rosaline watched his face carefully.
"Where is Lily?"
The question changed something.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible but Rosaline noticed.
His jaw tightened,the relaxed position of his shoulders disappeared and his gaze hardened.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Rosaline tilted her head. "What?"
Xandros’ eyes remained fixed upon her.
"Why are you so concerned about her?" He suddenly questioned.
Rosaline frowned. "Because she’s Lily."
"And?"
"And she’s my friend and sister and everything."
His expression remained unreadable.
"That doesn’t answer my question."
Rosaline stared at him.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Nothing." He said curtly.
"Then why are you acting strange?"
Xandros leaned back slightly in the chair. "She failed to do what she was supposed to do."
Rosaline’s brows knitted together.
"What was she supposed to do?"
"Watch you." The answer came immediately and Rosaline fell silent.
Xandros continued, his voice calm but edged with unmistakable displeasure.
"You were sick. You were left alone. You wandered onto the rooftop in the middle of the night, wearing wet clothes, and eventually collapsed from exhaustion."
His eyes sharpened.
"And she wasn’t there."
Rosaline’s expression softened slightly. "So you blamed her?"
"I held her responsible."
"That’s different?"
"Not particularly."
Rosaline stared at him in disbelief. "Xandros..."
He didn’t look away as he told her, "She should have been with you."
"But I never told her where I was going."Rosaline queried.
"She should have known."
Rosaline’s mouth opened, then closed again.
For a moment, she had no answer.
Then she remembered something.
She leaned slightly forward.
"But you said she was reprimanded."
"She was."
"How badly?" She asked, Xandros’ expression darkened. "Enough."
Rosaline studied him. "Where is she now?"
He didn’t answer.
"Xandros."
Silence.
"Where is Lily?"
His fingers tapped once against the armrest.
A small movement. But Rosaline recognized it as a sign of irritation.
"She’s being kept away from you."
Rosaline’s eyes widened. "What?"
"Until you recover."
"You forbade her from seeing me?"
"I instructed her to remain in her quarters."
Rosaline stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because the last time you were left without proper supervision, you nearly died."
The words struck her differently than she expected.
The irritation in his voice wasn’t directed entirely at Lily.
There was something else beneath it.
Fear.
Rosaline’s gaze softened. He had been frightened.
Very frightened. Still, that didn’t mean she was going to let him bully Lily. "She must be worried about me." Xandros looked at her. "She is."
"Then let her come."
"No."
Rosaline frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you need to rest."
"I can rest while Lily is here."
"No."
"Xandros."
"No."
She stared at him and he stared back.
Rosaline slowly folded her arms. "You are being unreasonable."
"And you are being stubborn." He returned.
"I’m sick." She said trying to pull the sick card.
"Exactly."
"Then why are you arguing with me?"
"Because you’re already trying to escape your bed."
Rosaline’s lips parted.
He had a point and she hated that he had a point.
She sank back against the pillows with an annoyed sigh.
"Fine."
Xandros watched her.
"But when I’m better, you’re letting Lily come back."
His expression softened by the smallest degree.
"When you’re better, you can do whatever you want." Xandros assured her.
Rosaline narrowed her eyes.
"That’s a promise?"
"Yes."
She studied him for several seconds before finally nodding.
"Fine."
A quiet silence settled between them.
Then Rosaline suddenly looked at him again.
"Wait."
Xandros raised a brow.
"What?"
"You came back to the room before me."
"Yes."
"How?"
He didn’t answer immediately.
Rosaline’s eyes narrowed.
"You knew I left." It wasn’t a question.
Xandros remained silent.
Rosaline stared at him.
"You knew."
A faint amusement appeared in his eyes. "I did."
"How?"
He leaned back comfortably.
"I have my ways." Rosaline frowned. "That’s not an answer."
"It is the only one you’re getting."
She stared at him suspiciously.
Then, despite herself, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"You really are annoying."
"So I’ve been told."
"And arrogant."
"Frequently."
"And controlling."
"Occasionally."
Rosaline blinked.
She hadn’t expected him to agree. Xandros’ lips curved faintly.
"But you’re still sitting here."
Her smile disappeared and She looked away. "Because I’m too weak to escape." She murmured.
A quiet chuckle left him.
And for a brief moment, the tension between them disappeared.
But only for a moment.
Because somewhere beneath Rosaline’s reluctant amusement, one question remained.
And what had really happened between him and that woman?
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
He had promised to tell her but only when she was well.
For now, she supposed she would have to get better.
Yet she couldn’t help wondering if the truth waiting for her would finally heal the wound in her heart...
Or tear it open all over again.