Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

•●Aria's POV●•

Lately, I've noticed something strange happening when I'm with Hayden. There are times when I catch myself staring at her, and other moments when I yearn to be closer to her. Right now, as I sit in my room, my thoughts drift to her once again.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, jolting me from my reverie. "Come in," I called out, surprised to see Ren enter. For some reason, my heart raced, and I felt a flutter of nervousness. Calm yourself, Aria! What's happening to you?!

"Aria-sama, I have something to tell you…" Ren began, and my curiosity piqued. What could it be? I braced myself, my thoughts racing. "What is it, Hayden?" I asked, eager to hear more.

"Well… I've got a disciple. Is it okay if she stays with me? I'll cover her expenses and food…"

A disciple? My mind immediately conjured images of a child. Why did I suddenly feel uneasy? "Where is your disciple?" I asked, my curiosity mingling with apprehension as I watched her open the door.

To my surprise, the person who entered wasn't a child but a strikingly beautiful woman. Is this Hayden's disciple? I couldn't help but admire her as she bowed. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Williams. My name is Eli, and I am Master Hayden's disciple." Even her voice was melodic.

For reasons I couldn't comprehend, my heart felt tight. I forced myself to nod, trying to mask my emotions. "It's nice to meet you too. If it's okay to ask, why did you decide to become Hayden's disciple?" I needed to know if her intentions were genuine. Was she trying to use Hayden for something?

Eli smiled softly, a sincere expression that caught me off guard. "I was saved by Master Hayden, and I owe her my life."

I nodded, trying to process her words. "Mm…"

"About the room for you to sleep, I'll go ask Emily to prepare—" I started, but Eli shook her head.

"There's no need to do that, Lady Williams. I can sleep with Master Hayden in her room." She smiled again, but my heart sank. What did she mean by that?

"Then what about the bed? Where will you sleep?" I pressed, glancing between the two of them.

"I can sleep on the same bed with Master Hayden," Eli replied, her tone casual as if it were the most normal thing in the world. My eyes widened in disbelief. I turned to Hayden, silently pleading for her to refuse.

"Is that alright with you, Hayden?" I asked, my voice tinged with urgency. To my dismay, Hayden nodded. "There's no problem, and I don't want to trouble you too much, Aria-sama."

Trouble me? I felt a surge of frustration boiling beneath the surface, but I forced myself to remain calm. "Okay then, do whatever you want," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

After they left, I jumped onto my bed and hugged my pillow tightly, frustration surging through me. I buried my face in the soft fabric, muffling a shout to keep from disturbing anyone.

That stupid Hayden! How could she have such a beautiful disciple? I pounded my pillow repeatedly until I finally calmed down, panting from the effort.

Why am I feeling so possessive right now? Is it because I've always thought of Hayden as my personal butler? That must be it, right?

Desperate to distract myself and release this pent-up energy, I asked my father to help me find someone to train me in swordsmanship. Little did I know that it would be Hayden who would end up training me...