"Why did you bring me here?" she asked while repeatedly blinking at him.
Tynan scratched his head for a second before replying, "I just wanted to know how you're doing."
She raised a brow at him.
Know how she's doing? That was why he had unceremoniously pulled her here? Was he serious?
She could tell somewhere that he was lying but didn't mind it.
"Oh..." she played along. "I am doing fine. Thank you for caring,"
After all, it wasn't every day someone cared enough to ask how she was doing. So what was the harm in drenching herself with his lie?
"You were the one who helped me that night in the infirmary, weren't you?" she questioned him, her eyes unwinding at the memory of how he had comforted her.
Tynan wanted to reply when she beat him to it.
"Thank you, Tynan." her voice was so soft that it melted his beating heart.
Melina could feel the butterflies in her stomach grow at the sight of him staring at her like that. The gaze was so piercing that she forgot what she had been planning to say to him again.
Tynan didn't remember helping her. He had only attempted to calm her down which was what he did.
"You don't have to thank me. I just wanted to"
"Oh my! What happened to your hand?!" Melina yelled on seeing his wounded wrist and the deep cut on it.
Unlike yesterday when he had bandaged it, Tynan had removed the wrap that was on it, unveiling the deep wound that he had foolishly inflicted on himself.
He closed his eyes remembering his stupidity. Maybe if he had just been patient and waited till this morning to see her then he wouldn't have had to bear this excruciating pain that he had plagued himself.
Now, how would he explain this?
"It is nothing. Just one of my usual injuries sustained from training." he lied to her face.
"Hmm. Sorry about that," she said and saw him shake his head.
"It's nothing," he assured her but she wasn't convinced.
Life must be hard on him as a servant especially one looking forward to becoming a knight. Melina understood that, having seen him trained in their quarters for years now with the harshness he had to endure.
Her face turned sour at the recollection.
"This palace is not easy on any of us!" she yelled in frustration, thinking of all she had to go through till now.
Because the corridor was lonely, her voice echoed in the place very loudly.
When she realized what she had done, she instantly covered her mouth with her hands in shock, not knowing when she had let out such an outburst.
Tynan didn't stop her nor did he berate her. He only smiled at the way she had expressed herself. Even though what he said wasn't what had caused his injury, her statement wasn't wrong either.
It wasn't easy for both genders, whether man or woman particularly when it was a commoner or servant. You have to strain yourself to the core, something Tynan had faced sometimes so he didn't disagree.
"I should leave now. I have something to do." Melina reminded him when they were only staring at each other for a while.
"Y-yes, you should." he agreed even though he had not gotten the opportunity to ask her the question that was bothering him.
He let her go and when she had disappeared from the corridors, he waited for a while before leaving so their departure wouldn't turn out suspicious.
Melina found Ms Carlos a while later and hastily reported the situation to her concerning the cart issue.
Though Carlos didn't say it, Melina noticed the scornful look the woman gave her before showing to one of the new carts after a severe series of warnings to the careful when riding the cart.
When the girl left with the cart, Carlos couldn't hide her concern anymore.
Not because of the maid but with fear that the girl might end up putting her in trouble if she kept getting involved with these elites especially when the one in question now was the King of Vlamunda.
A King could accuse or discard any woman he had shown interest in earlier without a precise reason and if this maid got into any trouble with him, she as well would be in grave trouble. Might as well be beheaded even along with the culprit.
...
Meanwhile, Leon sat on the throne inside the event room where all the other elites had come to celebrate with him. He was still wearing his crown and majestic dress but this time, he had dropped his staff.
Beside him was Matthew who looked just as majestic but one could still tell who was king when they looked between them.
When he got tired of sitting, he stood up and strode around with the other guests and the guests took the opportunity to congratulate him. Some genuine while the others just to gain his favour.
Either way, Leon still acknowledged their greetings with a warm smile.
"Brother Leon," Alice called as she walked over to her brother who turned to gaze at her.
"Congrats Brother." she chimed as she bowed her head deeply at him.
Leon smiled gracefully at her before replying, "Thank you, dear sister. But you can skip the pleasantries now." he told her to see her beam a smile at him.
Alice took the opportunity to take two steps forward before she wrapped her arms around him, in front of the crowd not caring if they were looking at her.
It had been so long since she felt this sort of calmness and warmth from him or anyone else. Having been pushed all these years to her betrothed, she never actually had the opportunity to be close to him like they used to before and it was only once in a while that they got the chance to discuss heartily.
"That's more like my baby sister." he praised and brought his hand forth to soothe her by caressing her hair tenderly.
Alice found his affection towards her today to be awkward as he didn't always get to display much kindness to her in public like this especially so that he wouldn't make people think he loved her more than her twin sister, Amie.
But then she assumed it to be one of his weird behaviours and laid on his chest.
Leon's face darkened with his sister in his arms at the moment. A tinge of anger flashed on his handsome face and he turned his gaze across the grand hall to lock eyes with Matthew who held a grim expression as he took a sip from the goblet he clasped.
Then finally, he looked over to Julian who stood distant, clueless of the two murderous eyes that were peeking at him.
Alice pulled away from her brother's embrace with a smile. From the far end, she could see Amie and a few others staring at the warm atmosphere she had shared with the king.
"Seems you have someone you intend to please tonight." Leon teased her, his eyes moving to look at her dress that had a bit of her breasts exposed. She intuitively moved her hands to cover the nude part, a blush crept to her face.
"It was Amie's idea-"
"It's alright. I'm not annoyed. I just found it to be unlike you." Though he told her that, Alice caught a glimpse of the displeasure etched on his face and she could tell it was his protective brother's side that surfaced. He didn't want her drawing the attention of these men with no sense of respect.
When the king had left her, Alice went to stand beside her sister who blatantly ignored her like she didn't exist, not even sparing her a glance.
Not soon later, King Albert, the most important guest entered the hall and Leon gave him the honorary attention.
"You look exceptionally pretty today, Princess Alice. I am sure you had most of the men at the village square falling for you." Lady Brena who had managed to walk up to the two sisters started a conversation.
Alice could tell already what Lady Brena was trying to do. She had purposely complimented only her and had left Amie out even though they were wearing the same outfit. The only difference was the colour.
"Thank you, Lady Brena. I could say the same for you and my sister as well. You both look stunning." she discreetly added her sister to the sentence.
"That is right. I can guess that it was Princess Amie who had chosen this dress for you?" Brena asked and when Alice nodded, she smiled at Amie who had chosen to say nothing to this bratty daughter of Lord Samuel.
"Ah, I see. Funny how your twin sister knows exactly what suits you but can't find something that fits her properly," she commented with obvious spite eyeing Amie's dress and this time, Amie snapped.
"What are you talking about? Lady Brena, I hope you can watch the words you choose to speak as not everything that enters that narrow mind of yours is what you should say." Amie tried to suppress her barely contained anger and hatred for the woman.
"Truth hurts, Princess Amie. Of course, I knew you wouldn't accept that you have very poor taste when it comes to dressing despite having one of the best stylists in Vlamunda at your service. So I didn't care and decided to tell you anyway." Her tone came louder this time, attracting the people's attention.
Alice could see the brewing trouble Lady Brena had come to cook up.
She attempted to say something to calm the situation down but didn't know what to say to not offend both of them.