For the rest of the night, Arwin played the part of the doting fiancé perfectly. He never let more than a foot of space grow between us. He brought me expensive wine I didn't want and whispered "sweet nothings" in my ear that made me want to gag. To the crowd, we were the golden couple.
I felt Theodore's eyes on me from across the room, a heavy weight that never lifted. Two of the most powerful men in the North and the East, and I was trapped between them.
I glanced toward the shadows and saw Ishu. She wasn't crying anymore. She smiled at me, but this time, the look was different. I didn't pay it much attention; my hands were already full dealing with the Prince.
Finally, the long night ended, and I departed for our estate. As I sat in the carriage, my head felt heavy from the noise and the pretension. My brother sat across from me, staring into my soul. Argh... why did he even insist on coming?
I was looking out the window when he spoke.
"Iris..."
I shifted my gaze to him. He knew I wasn't in the mood to talk.
"You can rest if you want," he said. "I will wake you when we reach the estate."
Usually, I would have rejected such an offer, but tonight it was too tempting to refuse. I nodded and rested my head against the window. I had just closed my eyes when I felt the weight shift beside me. My head was gently moved away from the cold glass and rested against his shoulder.
I tried to open my eyes to look at him, but he covered them with his hand. "Sleep..." he whispered. I didn't hear the rest; exhaustion finally claimed me.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the carriage, and the sun was already up. Had my brother put me here? For a moment, I had a faint memory of him smiling as he carried me, but I shook it off. It couldn't be. He and Father were like statues. I must have been dreaming.
I had just sat up when my chamber door opened slowly. It was Mia, my maid.
"My Lady, would you like to eat first, or bathe?"
Mia was a good person. She knew I didn't prefer useless talk, yet she chatted anyway to help the time pass. She knew exactly when to speak and when to keep her mouth shut; that was why she was my only maid.
"Bath," I responded shortly.
As I sat in the bathtub, Mia washed my hair with expensive oils that other noblewomen had to wait months to acquire. For me, they were as common as water. I was lost in my thoughts until Mia started her usual rambling.
"Last night, the Young Master brought you in himself," she mentioned.
"The butler almost panicked, thinking you had been injured."
"Why would he think that?" I asked, curious.
"Because the Young Master was carrying you in his arms."
In his arms? What was he thinking? He should have just woken me up. I decided then that I would need to have a word with him.
"So that's why I woke up in my room and not in the carriage?"
"Yes, My Lady. And when I changed your clothes, you didn't even twitch."
It seemed I had been completely out cold. After the bath, she dressed me, and I began my breakfast. A soft knock sounded at the door. Mia answered it, and I recognized the voice of our head butler. He had served House Regulus for years—an old man who still moved with the energy of a youth.
"My Lady," Mia said, turning to me. She knew I didn't like to be bothered while eating.
"Speak," I commanded.
"There is a young lady at the gate. She claims you asked her to meet you. she is holding your handkerchief."
I set my fork down. Ishu was early. "Prepare a room. I would like to talk to her."
The butler nodded and walked away to carry out my orders.