**Welcome to vol 2 from "IRENE'S SECRET"
novel **
Enjoy ♥️
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The carriages set off in the morning after being repaired.
Irene sat in her seat inside the carriage, but she avoided looking at his face the entire way because of the memory of the previous night that still lingered in her mind.
The road stretched on for a long time until the sun tilted toward the horizon, and when the sky began to glow with shades of orange and gold, the convoy finally reached the south. The castle stood tall in the distance, surrounded by lofty trees and vast gardens. As the carriages approached the outer gate, they came to a gentle stop in the front garden. The servants stood there in perfect order, aligned in neat rows, like a carefully painted scene prepared for welcoming guests.
Lucas stepped down first, then extended his hand for Irene to descend. As soon as her feet touched the ground, an elderly man dressed in an elegant formal uniform approached, his face marked with respectful dignity. He bowed slightly and said in a calm, reverent voice:
— Welcome, young master. We are delighted to see you after such a long time… How have you been?
Lucas gave a small smile and replied that he was fine. The man then shifted his gaze to Irene, bowing even lower with added respect:
— I'm glad to hear that. And this young lady is your wife? Welcome, my lady. I am the head servant of this castle, and it is my honor to meet you in person.
I know this comes late, but congratulations to you both on your marriage.
Irene returned his bow with measured steps and a faint smile, then replied softly:
— Thank you.
They walked together toward the castle, led by the head servant who kept a calculated distance ahead of them. The place felt remarkably quiet, and there were far fewer servants inside compared to what Irene was used to in the north. Yet the interior was enchanting; illuminated walls, intricate carvings, and luxurious curtains cascading down the windows.
She couldn't stop her words from slipping out, and she murmured without realizing:
— I'm certain Queen Elizabeth herself decorated this castle…
Lucas confirmed calmly as he walked beside her:
— Yes, she did. She takes interest in such things.
Irene flushed with embarrassment when she realized she had spoken aloud, lowering her head immediately. But Lucas, who had been watching her, suddenly turned to her and said:
— You may sleep in a separate room while we're here.
She halted for a moment and looked at him in surprise:
— And why do you say this so suddenly?
He gave a slight smile and answered:
— The main bed here isn't large enough… you wouldn't be able to rest comfortably.
Her brows furrowed in confusion:
— What do you mean?
He replied casually, as if speaking of something ordinary:
— Last night you were clinging to the edge of the bed. No one can sleep like that all night.
Her face burned with shame; she hadn't expected him to notice such a detail. It wasn't a bad suggestion—after all, sharing a room meant nothing between them—but she quickly realized that sleeping separately might arouse suspicion among the servants and spark whispers she didn't want. So she raised her head and answered with feigned firmness:
— I don't know what you're talking about. That's not true… I'm fine, and I don't want to sleep in a separate room.
Lucas smirked faintly, with a touch of mockery, then said:
— Do as you wish.
He continued on as if her response hadn't mattered.
That evening, Irene sat with Lucas for the first time at the dining table, just the two of them. The atmosphere was silent, broken only by the faint clink of cutlery against porcelain. Lucas broke the silence, saying:
— I'll be gone for three days to the nearby town. I have much work there…
Irene looked at him quietly.
He continued:
— But I want you to remain in the castle during that time. Do you understand?
Irene asked:
— Why!?
He answered:
— Until I find someone suitable to accompany you, should you wish to go out. Even though this place is touristic, people here are not very friendly with foreigners outside of Valerian.
She didn't respond, busying herself with her plate instead. A heavy weight pressed against her chest at his words, as if she were being bound once more. Lucas noticed her silence, then glanced at her food and saw that it was barely touched. Raising an eyebrow, he asked:
— What's this? Didn't you like the food here either?
She replied softly, avoiding his gaze:
— No, this amount is enough for me.
He chuckled lightly, tinged with sarcasm, and said:
— Even birds eat more than you.
Her features stiffened in annoyance at his remark, but she said nothing. She finished her meal in silence, and the next day, as promised, Lucas left for the neighboring town.
---
The days crawled by slowly in the castle, but Irene hardly noticed as she buried herself in books. Much of the information was repetitive, yet she delved deeper into the readings until she came across a worn, ancient volume. Its pages were yellowed, edges frayed, carrying the scent of time itself.
Between its pages, she discovered something strange: an old map of the southern lands she had been searching for, labeled "The Forbidden Lands." The book warned against approaching them, describing them as dangerous places from which none returned. Yet within it, she found an astonishing account of an adventurer and historian named Edward Verlen. This man had led a great expedition with a band of men, entering those mysterious lands.
They discovered that another people lived at the fringes of the south beings with a unique appearance, unlike the northerners in every way. They didn't even speak the same language. These people barred outsiders from approaching their territory, treating strangers with suspicion and hostility. Irene lingered long over this description; the place the book pointed to was very near her current residence, yet every person she had met here spoke her language without exception.
Her curiosity deepened. She turned the pages. Verlen recorded that they had been among the lucky few to escape alive after being held for several days by the inhabitants. By fortune, the region's leader released them. Verlen understood that those people were warning them against entering those lands again.
That was all the record revealed about the place. Irene searched for more, but found nothing except the silence history had left behind. She wondered: how could an entire people vanish so suddenly? And why did no one speak of them anymore? The more she read, the more Amelia de Rouvil's writings became clearer in her mind and at the same time, more obscure. At last, Irene resolved to go there herself, to uncover the truth of what had happened, rather than relying solely on what was written in that old book.
---
Lucas returned after three days as promised. Entering the room with steady steps, he was met by Irene, who rose and said:
— You're back ! Welcome. How are you?
He looked at her with a grave expression and spoke in a voice devoid of warmth:
— I'm fine. I came to tell you that tomorrow, you will accompany me to the mayor's house.
Irene quickly lifted her head, unable to hide her surprise:
— But… Didn't you say before that I would only hinder your work? How can you suddenly ask me to go with you?
His brows drew together sharply, his tone hardening with anger:
— I'm not the one asking you! The mayor himself extended the invitation once he learned of your presence here. So yes… you've already become an inconvenience.
His words cut her deeply, but she steadied herself and replied coldly:
— If it troubles you so much… why didn't you simply refuse the invitation?
He stepped closer, his voice sharpening:
— Because there's no valid reason to refuse an official invitation. And I don't like mixing my feelings with my work. Prepare yourself for tomorrow, and stop this meaningless chatter.
He turned on his heel and left the room without giving her a chance to respond. The door shut behind him, and Irene pressed her hand to her aching head, as though trying to hold back the pounding storm of pain his mercurial temper had unleashed.