Chapter 20
Zachary simply looked at the young boy expressionlessly with a cold stare. With winter to deal with the burden, he had taken upon himself was this young boy of but 12 years. The boy was like him, they were both emotionless and heartless but if there was a difference, he had yet to experience the rest of the world and Zachary had already done so.
"If you know so well, why you would risk it?" Zachary questioned.
"Well even with how ruthless you can be without batting an eye you are perceptive,"
"And you've come to know that… because?"
"If I didn't even have that little amount of understanding, how could I call myself your son?" the boy said as Zachary's face contorted.
"Do not call me that,"
"But it's the truth, if not you who adopted me, who else would I call my "Father"? Azef questioned as he smiled with no emotion.
"Why are you here really?" Zachary questioned as the boy moved to the bed that occupied the top centre of the bedroom.
Azef plopped onto the bed as he swung his legs back and forth. "I heard you brought back a big sister," he asked.
Ah, so that's what it was. His childish curiosity had gotten the best of him. Zachary knew that even though Azef had seen cruelty and had struggled through what a child should never, he was still that, a child.
"Heard? I am quite sure you are too confined to hear of such, the correct words would be, you snuck around and caught a glimpse of a new face," Zachary said revealing what he was aware of.
Azef flushed at the words his father expressed. He did not want to be looked down at as childish, if anything, he wanted Zachary to see his mature self and never regret the fact that he had adopted him despite what he was.
"T-that's not it…!" he said.
"Hmm," Zachary simply replied without adding another word.
"I-I am serious, that's really not it…!" he said trying to get a different reaction.
"Well, whatever it was, do not show up in front of her unless I tell you otherwise, I have not told her about you yet," Zachary stated sternly.
Why that stung, Azef didn't know. Was the big sister afraid of him? But they had not even met, she did not know him well. if she hated him just because of what he was, then she was no different from all the adults that scrutinized and hurt him.
"Is it because of what I am? Does she know?" he asked coldly.
Zachary could not offer any words of comfort to the young boy, if he did and his words did turn out true, then it would hurt him deeper.
"She does not know anything about you or me, but she will soon," Zachary spoke, "And she is not your big sister, she is my wife, a mother figure, don't use the wrong term. Stay out of sight until further notice, Allen will tell you what to do,"
Though Azef was but a child he knew deep down the kind of human being Zachary was. If things did not work as planned or were not in his favour, he would abandon them. He would abandon him. So, he tried to remain in Zachary's favour as much as he could, because a person who could look at anyone with that gaze was a person who could do anything.
"Yes," Azef responded.
"Very well, you may leave now, you've been here for far too long,"
"I'll take my leave, but one more question?" Azef asked as his blue eyes sparkled red. "Do you think she will like me?"
And for once this was something Zachary could answer.
"Yes,"
*
The sun reflected through the window as a knock echoed through the room.
"My Lady are you awake?" a voice called out from behind the oak door as I groaned sitting up. it was pat 9 in the morning and I couldn't help but sit up abruptly.
Was I that uncomfortable that I had slept late and slept in? in this was the marquis's house, I would have already been tormented by the maids as soon as the sun began rising. Another knock echoed through bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Ah, you may come in," I called out.
The few servants that had attended to me yesterday had made their way in. the head maid walked up to the curtains opening them up widely and opening the windows.
"Good morning, my lady," she greeted as I simply nodded shyly.
What did I look like at this moment? I am quite sure my hair was very untamed and I look unpleasant. I cleared y throat as I moved to get off the bed.
"We'll prepare you for your bath now, his highness has requested you have breakfast with him this morning, what should we tell him?"
Breakfast with me? I was most likely going to get indigestion from how slightly uncomfortable it was going to be. And if I was aware of how breakfast usually is, it will not be just the two of us, but the servants as well.
I sighed as I nodded accepting his request.
The maids had begun my prep for the day. I was in a daze almost the entire time form how unrealistic all of this had felt. The beautiful blue dress I was wearing felt so unfamiliar that it was almost as though I was wearing someone else's belonging. A life of luxury I was never always familiar with, was the life I was living now.
Trying to push away the discomfort I was escorted to the dining hall, there Zachary was already seated in all his glory sipping at a cup of coffee.
His midnight-black hair pushed back as his long, thick and dark eyelashes glowed slightly. His lips touched the cup as he sipped at the coffee and I could feel heat soaring through my face as yesterday's memories began burning through my mind. Trying to calm myself down I took a deep breath as I avoided his eyes taking a seat next to him on the right.
"A beautiful morning is it not? Did you sleep well last night?" he questioned with a smile as his deep velvety voice perked my ears.
The things I didn't notice before were starting to become very noticeable and by trying to ignore it, I stimulated myself even more.
My breakfast was placed before me as I said a small thank you, picking up my coffee, Zachary cleared his throat, "I have something I want to discuss regarding our wedding next week,"