Keane's eyes gleamed with interest as he considered Elara's invitation. A proper hot bath sounded appealing after days of travel, but he recognized the underlying game she was playing.
"I'll join you shortly," he replied, his words sounding both casual and suggestive.
As he turned toward his assigned room, he caught Sylvi's gaze from where she stood behind Mara. Her gray eyes held a mix of emotions that her expressionless face refused to betray. Perhaps it was because she understood exactly what Elara's invitation meant, or something else, Keane couldn't get a read on her.
Mara on the other end, clearly comprehended, her face falling slightly as she busied herself with unpacking Elara's things, deliberately avoiding looking at either Keane or her mistress.
Keane left them and headed to his room.
Inside his chamber, Keane was quite impressed for a medieval setting, as he found modest but comfortable accommodations. The bed was neatly made, with clean linens, a small writing desk, and a window overlooking the bustling merchant district. With no belongings with him, he took a seat before he summoned his system, checking his status while he had a moment alone.
Nothing had changed since his last check, but he felt a surge of satisfaction seeing his maxed-out stats and sub-skills.
Checking out more of the room, Keane caught his reflection in the mirror and froze. 'What the hell?'
The mirror reflected a stranger, yet Keane knew the face staring back at him was his own. His fingers traced the contours of his jaw which were now smoother than he remembered, the subtle sharpness of his cheekbones less pronounced.
The realization hit him with unexpected force… Where was the defined jawline, the subtle creases at the corners of his eyes, the matured features he'd grown into!?
Instead, a younger version of himself gazed back at him, perhaps twenty years old, with smoother skin and a slightly softer countenance that lacked the weathered confidence of his twenty-six-year-old self.
"What the actual fuck?" he muttered, leaning closer to the polished glass. "I'm twenty again."
He turned his face left, then right, examining the reflection with growing dismay. His twenty-six-year-old self had possessed a certain weathered charm, the subtle lines at the corners of his eyes telling stories of late nights and hard-earned wisdom. This face however, this younger, fresher version, seemed almost naive by comparison.
"A goddamn disaster," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I aged like fine wine, and now I'm back to the cheap stuff." He muttered under his breath.
'This body's a downgrade in charm.' He thought to himself. His older self had a rugged allure, honed by time, but it was all gone now.
While Keane lamented his regression to a younger self, across the hall, Elara was engaged in hushed conversation with a messenger who had arrived moments after they'd settled into their rooms. The news was troubling enough to draw her away from her plans for the evening, her calculating mind already shifting to address whatever crisis demanded her attention.
Mara had noticed the messenger's arrival and the way Elara's demeanor had shifted from the anticipatory energy she'd carried since extending her invitation to Keane. Now she wore the mask of political necessity, all traces of personal desire carefully tucked away behind practiced composure.
"Inform our guest that I've been called to an urgent meeting," Elara instructed Mara quietly, her voice carrying the crisp authority that emerged whenever business took precedence. "Tell him the bath is still prepared, and that I regret the delay."
Mara nodded, though she couldn't help but wonder if this sudden interruption was genuine or merely another layer of Elara's complex maneuvering. Her mistress rarely left anything to chance, and the timing seemed almost too convenient.
As Elara swept from the room with the messenger, Mara found herself alone with Sylvi, who had been arranging their belongings with mechanical precision. The silence between them stretched, filled with unspoken understanding of what Elara's absence may mean.
Mara would appear to be the only one with such thought, though, as Sylvi would exit the room not long after, leaving just her. She became flustered as she thought about being alone in the room with Keane, her mind wondering into different fantasies, when a knock came at the door.
Composing herself as she looked around to make sure nobody saw her in that moment, even though she was the only one in the room. Answering the door, it turned out to be Lina who had brought the water.
After being let into the room, she wasted no time setting everything up before leaving. With everything ready, Mara readied herself to deliver the news.
A few moments later, a knock at the door pulled Keane from his self-assessment. He tore his gaze from the mirror, a little annoyed, perhaps disappointed at this younger reflection that stared back at him.
"Enter," he called, his voice carrying that same confident command despite his youthful appearance. He hadn't locked the door after entering.
Mara stepped inside, her eyes downcast in a practiced gesture of deference. The auburn-haired woman hesitated a little, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her sleeve.
"Lady Elara sends her regrets," she began, her voice soft but clear. "She's been called to an important meeting and won't be able to join you for the bath."
Hearing this, Keane's lips curved into a knowing smile. The timing was suspicious, perhaps a calculated move in whatever game Elara was playing. He'd seen such tactics before, create anticipation, then withdraw, leaving the target wanting more. In fact, it was an old trick that only worked on the inexperienced.
"The bath is still prepared for you," Mara continued, finally raising her eyes to meet his. "She insisted you should enjoy it regardless."
Just that moment, something flickered in Mara's gaze, a mixture of desire and restraint that intrigued Keane. Unlike Sylvi's bold hunger or Elara's calculated interest, Mara's attraction was wrapped in layers of propriety and hesitation.
"And what about Sylvi?" Keane asked.
Mara's lips pressed together momentarily before she gave an answer. "I'm not certain. She left shortly after Lady Elara."
The room fell into a brief silence as Keane considered his options. The promise of a hot bath after days in the wilderness was tempting, regardless of who might or might not join him.
"Lead the way, then," he said, gesturing toward the door with a light smile.