I made my way to the main building, holding a tray and dressed in a maid's outfit, but my gaze was dead. I had a mission, and that was tear Beatrice's heart to pieces, using the one thing she fancied.
"I have a letter for Young master Caelum. Where is he?" I asked one of them guard on duty. He looked at the letter on the tray and tried to take it from me, but I stepped back. "I was asked to deliver this directly, so I'll appreciate it if you tell me where he was."
The guard looked at me. I didn't sound very... Humble, but it was the best I could do with the anger roaring in my chest.
"He's in his room." He said, and I nodded.
I had no idea where Caelum's room was, but asking the same guard would only make me look suspicious, so I asked a maid in passing. She directed me to it, and then when she was about to leave, I said,
"Can you pass on a message? Young Master Caelum asked for Beatrice. I forgot to tell her, but can you do it for me?" I said with a friendly smile, and she blushed.
"Of course."
There's probably been small talk among the maids concerning Caelum and Beatrice, so the maid likely thought it was 'that' kind of call.
Well, it works out for me.
I got to Caelum's room and knocked.
As soon as the door opened, I saw Caelum dressed in a robe, his chest bare and his hair dripping like he had just come out of the bath.
"Lyssa?" He looked at me, stunned.
I shoved the tray towards him. He looked at it, looked at the letter, and thought I brought something for him when I said,
"It's empty."
"What is...?" He wanted to open the letter when I repeated,
"I said it's empty."
I didn't wait for his permission and walked right into his room, the scent of his bath hitting my nose.
The room was spacious, expensive-looking, and definitely the kind of place that suited my taste. This was what I liked, and this was what I planned to have. But at the moment, I didn't care about the decor. I cared about the man standing there with a bewildered expression.
Caelum closed the door, his eyes following me. He looked down at the tray I had shoved into his hands and then back at me, his brow furrowing in that familiar, icy way.
"What are you doing here, Lyssa? And in that outfit?" He asked, his voice low and cautious.
"I had to blend in somewhere." I shrugged, walking over to his bed and sitting down. I felt his gaze burn into my back. I'm sure if I told him my option of walking around naked since my clothes were ruined by thatg bitcy rabbit, he'd appreciate that I was wearing a maid's costume instead. "And look,' i wiggeled my feet in the air. "I finally got to put on shoes."
Of course, I stole them. The shoes and the outfit I was wearing.
"That still doesn't answer my question," He said, walking closer, and I brushed my hand over my neck, brushing my hair backward, and looked at him.
"Geez, you're as grumpy as ever, can't you cut me some slack?" But the expression on his face was solid. "I had a message to deliver. But since the envelope is empty, I guess I'll just have to deliver it in person."
"You shouldn't be here," he said, stopping a few feet in front of me. He didn't look angry… yet, just deeply uncomfortable by my presence. "I told you to wait in the servant's wing."
"You said you'll come for me once your brother arrives at the capital. He should've arrived by now, so why didnt you?" I questioned, my eyes sliding from him towards the door.
It was almost time.
"My brother refused to speak with anyone and has locked himself in his room since. He even refused to come down for dinner." Wow, I must've broken his spirit. Was I that harsh? "Moreover, if anyone sees you—"
"If anyone sees me, they'll see exactly what I want them to see," I interrupted, looking up at him through my lashes.
I stood up and walked toward him, closing the distance until I could feel the heat radiating off his damp skin. He didn't move away, but he didn't lean in either. He just stood there like a wall of ice, waiting for my next move.
I reached out, my fingers tracing the line of his pale and delicious-looking collarbone, just where the water was still dripping from his hair. I felt him stiffen to my touch, his breath hitching for a fraction of a second.
"Caelum," I whispered, my voice dropping into that sultry tone I knew he hated to like. "Why are you so stiff? Am I really that terrifying?"
"You're a nuisance," he muttered, but his eyes were fixed on mine.
"A nuisance?" I chuckled, my hand moving lower, resting on his bare chest. I could feel his heart thumping—fast, steady, and a betrayer to his calm face. "Is that all I am? After everything we've been through?"
He looked away, trying to maintain his pride, but I wouldn't let him. I grabbed his chin and forced him to look at me.
"Look at me, Caelum. Be honest for once." I leaned in closer, my lips almost brushing his. "What do you think of me? Am I not... tempting?"
He didn't answer. He just stared at me, his grey eyes warring with his self-control. I could see the cracks in the armor he was oh so proud of, the way his pupils dilated as the scent of my body hit his senses.
"You… You're dangerous," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
"Good," I smirked, my fingers tightening on his robe. "I'd hate to be boring."