Perplexed, Maridawn hesitates to answer. It has been too obvious from the very start that her own flesh and blood weren't exactly welcoming, let alone to Dimitri upon his arrival.
After all, serving a lower-rank wolf is degrading for an alpha.
He should have known that crossing the line would only anger her, yet he still dared to do so. Is it because he's still young? Yet, he acts more mature at times and perhaps his years of training made him this way.
No, it's just a concern of his. After I was the one who told him to be true to himself, I guess my words finally bite back at me, she thinks, grimly.
Noticing her discomfort, Dimitri knows that he has gone overboard, butting into someone's business where he shouldn't have. So he gives a forced smile. "Err…if you're not comfortable speaking about it, we can change the—" Dimitri is ready to just leave it be, bracing himself to stand up before Maridawn cuts him.
"I am…an unwanted daughter." Unfamiliar words that feel so foreign for Maridawn even with her own voice that her cheeks turn brilliant pink. It is probably a slip of a tongue or perhaps she intentionally wants him to stay.
"My father hated my existence since my mother's passing. She died giving birth to me. I was told that he loved her deeply and that if fated mates still exist, they were considered the ideal example of it."
Dimitri's expression quickly changes to one that is horrid, apprehensive about the revelation before him.
"But it wasn't your fault, Miss Silverfang! Maternal deaths can happen!"
She just nods, getting used to hearing this a lot. "I know. Even my father is aware of it. I'm aware that this is their way of coping over a special someone's death… someone I never met before." Not to mention that she was weaker than anyone in the pack which gives an impression to her father that she shouldn't be born in the first place.
It is something she wouldn't dare say to Dimitri. After all, she's feeling vulnerable right now and she doesn't want to add more to hurt her pride.
"But to answer your question," she continues. Hoping to end this silly sob conversation because she hasn't been used to talking about these things to anyone…aside from her wet nurse, Anette.
Dimitri waits patiently for her, not a single ounce of impatience or condemnatory in his eyes, and Maridawn wonders how such a young man has such a face of maturity yet at the same time there were instances that he acts upon his age.
This is probably why she opens up to him. Perhaps that may be the case but still, there's doubt. She doesn't know how she easily opens up to an enigmatic man like him.
She sighs, readying herself to speak what really comes to her mind.
"I don't even know anymore. Each time I achieve far greater than my siblings, my father doesn't even pay attention to what I've done. There were times he ever looked me in the eye and that's only for his belligerence towards the smallest mistakes I've made."
It's strange, really. To bring up something that scares her: his impression of her now. She hates how uncertain her future is and even if she comes back, a part of her is wondering when her father is going to acknowledge her as his daughter.
"That's why," she says, a tone higher than she lets on, ignoring her pessimistic thoughts. Clenching her fists as her silver-grayed eyes lit up with a resolve. "I shouldn't be here. I can prove to my father and the rest of the family that I'm a proud alpha of the Silverfang family and by doing so, I'll show them what an ideal alpha should look like."
She pauses a bit before taking a deep breath. "But this foolishness of mistaken ranks or gender or whatever, it's just delaying my goals in life."
Maridawn sighs. She finally turns in his direction and she and Dimitri exchange a short moment, finding it oddly endearing to see a talkative attendant in silence just to hear her worries.
He's an ideal alpha attendant, alright. And according to the gossiping maids, Dimitri scores the highest in terms of controlling his alpha pheromones, communication skills, and well, overall in every category.
Not to mention that he is extremely handsome. Only a blind and foolish person wouldn't see that.
She wonders if the King could top his Adonis face and figure.
"Miss S-Silverfang? Is something wrong?"
Naivety marks on his handsome chiseled face which brims innocence that Maridawn has completely forgotten that Dimitri is younger than her.
Plus, looking at his face helps her forget her worries.
"Ah, it's nothing," she replies as she looks away, embarrassed to ever think such things.
Perhaps she's in need of someone to bed with. She hasn't been sexually active lately due to scandals and her entering the palace.
And if there isn't that stupid rule, this would be the perfect time to get to know Dimitri more…in bed.
Frankly, she is wondering why Dimitri hasn't been ogling at her body, seeing that she's confidently wearing a promiscuous get-up.
So, the gossips are true, after all. He can control his alpha urges.
Wait, she's not an omega, that's for sure.
"Do you want to hear what I think?" Polite as ever, Dimitri asks permission. Perhaps, he still conscientiously follows the code of their alpha attendant training, who knows?
She nods, absent-mindedly. If he is here to belittle her—
"I find you remarkable as the alpha of the Silverfang family."
Her eyes light up, dumbfounded to hear that word from those soft lips. Said lips slowly curve into a smile.
Yet, her eyes continue to glue at him with this proximity level of closeness, you can say that they are….intimate.
No, that was the last thing in her mind now, as she slowly recollects her thoughts.
"Th-That's the first time you called me an alpha."
"Alphas are defined as headstrong with an amount of pride in their line. They excel more than betas and omegas do."
"That's a way to state the obvious, Mr. Greymound," she says as she rolls her eyes. Apparently, that is enough to make Dimitri laugh.
"I mean, Miss Silverfang. Everything I've said describes you. You are strong and far better than any wolves from elite families out there."
He laughs a bit as he pats her shoulder, unaware that her shoulder is bare and his touch ignites a certain heat between them. Ignoring it, he continues.
"Your father, if I dare say this, is the one foolish enough not to see this."
Nobody has dared to call Griffith Silverfang foolish and for the first time since that massage scene, Maridawn smiles.
A warm smile that she rarely shows.
"Thank you, Dimitri."
Dimitri who is supposed to see her beauty for these past few days remains awestruck as his hand slowly removes from her shoulder and places it inside his pocket.
"Anytime, Miss Silverfang." he smirks as his eyes wander away from her gaze.
"Well, aside from checking on me, is there anything else you want from me?" Maridawn asks, raising her brow.
"No, that's all I am here for," he replies, casually as he crumples the letter inside, making it into a ball of paper. "Nothing at all."
"Then I'm going to bed, Dimitri," she says as she lifts her two feet to her mattress before staring at him again. "What? Aren't you leaving? Or are you proposing that you will be staying for the night here?" She tries to hide her smirk, waiting for his reaction.
And she is rewarded with a flabbergasted look, a rare sight, indeed.
"Ah, n-no, Miss Silverfang. As your alpha attendant I wouldn't dare unless you're in a heat." he stands up as he leans to kiss Maridawn's hand. "Good night, Miss Silverfang."
'A rare gentleman, indeed,' she thinks as she rolls her eyes. Finding it amusing that a young man like that still exists in the modern age.
<<<>>>
As soon as Dimitri comes out from Maridawn's room, his flustered face instantly turns pale before forcing a sheepish grin.
"Were you waiting here all this time, Madame Ping?"
Sitting on one of the antique chairs in the hallway, the middle-aged woman sips her herbal tea before placing it back on the coffee table.
"Did you tell her, young master?"
"No."
Before she starts asking, he continues. "If you ask why, I can't give you the right answer at the moment."
Because even he knows the consequence of his actions and he couldn't just hide the results from her forever.
But hiding it is still an oddity that he couldn't grasp from his own actions.
"Then, why won't you request a transfer, young master?"
That catches him off-guard as he swiftly turns to her attention. Madame Ping doesn't joke around and he knows her intention well.
"You won't gain babysitting her, you are top among the newcomers there. Surely, the palace won't look down on you from this request." She stops for a while as she frowns.
"You've grown attached, I see."
"H-huh?"
Her frown deepens as she gets up from the seat. "Young master, do I have to remind you—"
"I know," he cuts her off. "And we won't be discussing it here." He looks around to prove a point. "Now, if you excuse me, I'll be leaving for a while. You need to sleep, Madame Ping. The stress might affect your health."
She doesn't reply as she continues to stare at his retreating form.