Parisa blanked for a long moment. During that moment, lord Alexei pulled his forehead away from the window and looked up, his grey eyes meeting Parisa's. A red circle was already appearing in the center of his forehead. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words could find their way out.
- What just happened?
- It would appear you've injured the esteemed guest once more.
The voice responded. Even it sounded dumbfounded by the turn of events.
- I'm still dreaming, right?
She asked it, sincerely hoping that she was. Her luck couldn't be this bad.
- No, you're not.
It was a laugh that pulled her out of her blank state and away from her internal conversation.
The young lord Benjamin stood on Parisa's left side, the window separating him and lord Alexei. His laughter echoed through the snowy trees of the estate.
"I-I am so sorry, my lord." Parisa stumbled out as she looked towards lord Alexei, her face heating. He was still looking at her, his face a mask of emotion. It had been the same a week ago when she'd run into him while rushing through the halls. She had no idea what was going through that head of his. Beside her, Benjamin continued to laugh and Parisa shot a dirty glare his way. "You're not helping things, my lord."
"Parisa, how good to see you." Benjamin said, wiping a tear from his eye. He smiled up at her before looking to lord Alexei. "I was not expecting to introduce you to our guest like this. Tell me," he said, a smirk curling his lips. "Do you have a personal vendetta against lord Alexei?"
So he'd known of her unfortunate encounter with lord Alexei. Of course he did. She was sure his sister had talked about it over whatever fancy dinner they'd had that night.
- Does that mean he know?
She wondered, the pain in the soles of her feet suddenly become more prominent. She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from asking. Whether or not Benjamin knew about her punishment would change nothing. No one could undo the past and learning about it now would not alter her situation.
Parisa looked between the two young lords. Alexei was now gently touching the red mark at the center of his forehead. Her heart dropped to her stomach. If the baroness discovered this, she could only guess what would happen. Perhaps it would be her palms next, so she could no longer open things and risk harming the lord.
"No!" she said. "Of course I don't." Parisa leaned out her window, extending a hand as she had done the other day in the hallway. When lord Alexei lifted his eyes to hers, she flinched and pulled her hand back.
- What are you thinking?
"It seems I just have unfortunate luck." she said, looking away. Parisa sat on the windowsill, leaving her legs and feet from view of the two young lords. Silence stretched between them for a long moment.
"I haven't seen you around lately." Benjamin said, breaking the silence. "Kuro has become restless without your visits. I do hope you'll see him in the stables soon."
Parisa's chest tightened, and she frowned. "I'm not sure when I'll be able to visit him again, my lord. But I'll try to make it out when I can." she said. Benjamin narrowed his gaze at her, and Parisa found herself shrinking under it. Thankfully, he didn't keep it for long, his cheerful demeanor returning in full blast. Beside him, Alexei was leaning with his back against the wall. Her window was fully open now.
Benjamin's gaze slid to the learning materials she'd brought to the window with her. His brows drew together. "Your parents taught you the eastern language but not the common one?" he asked. That caught lord Alexei's attention.
"Yes, that's right." Parisa looked to the side. "It was an…interesting childhood, to say the least."
"[Do you speak it?]"
Parisa whips her head up, eyes focusing on lord Alexei who'd just spoken in Korean. He's watching her expectantly. She opens her mouth but quickly closes it. She'd yet to attempt to speak in Korean. Of course, she'd done it in her dreams when she was still Su-ho, but this was entirely different.
"[I do.]" she said, meeting lord Alexei's eyes. He seemed as if he'd been ready to say something else, but Benjamin pushed him to the side.
"[That's amazing! Even I struggle with speaking the eastern tongue well. You spoke it without any hesitation.]" Benjamin tries to speak in Korean, as well, but his words are more jagged and hesitant than what she or Alexei's had been.
A knock at her door pulls Parisa's attention from the two lords.
"My lady, are you awake?" Cordelia's voice comes through. Parisa glances back at Benjamin and Alexei.
"Uh, yes. One moment, Cordelia." she said. "I think I'll need to be going." Parisa said as she turned her attention out the window. Benjamin nods as if in understanding, but continues the conversation anyway.
"Have you read the book I recommend yet?"
At the change in topic, Parisa lit up, the maid beyond her door forgotten. She smiled, the expression taking both men by surprise.
"I have, my lord!" she said, her eyes seeming to sparkle at the topic. "It's quite thrilling. Much better than Armelia's adventures. I'm almost done with it. Do you have any other recommendations?"
Benjamin easily matched her cheerfulness. "I do. I'll have some sent to your room." he said, his eyes slipping past her and into the darkened space. "It seems as if you could use some adventures."
"[Do you ride?]" Alexei asked, the question drawing both her's and Benjamin's attention. He stands with his arms crossed.
"Do-do I ride?" she asked, and then realized he'd spoken in the eastern language. "[As in, horses?]"
Alexei nodded.
"[No.]"
"My lady, your breakfast will get cold."
Parisa frowns. "I need to go. I hope you will stay warm, my lords." she said, reaching out and grabbing the window latch. Alexei was faster and her hand came in contact with the back of his. She sucked in a breath and pulled her hand back as he helped her to close the window. "Thank you, my lord." she said, unable to meet his eyes. Out of her periphery, she could have sworn she saw him smile.
Her bedroom door began to open, and Parisa turned. She jumped down from the windowsill, forgetting about the injuries on the soles of her feet. Her legs crumpled beneath her as Cordelia entered. The maid almost lost her hold on the tray entirely.
Parisa looked back and found the two lords looking in through her window, no doubt curious why she'd dropped as if stepping into a hole. She covered her bandaged feet with her nightgown. Benjamin didn't seem to notice, but Alexei followed her movement. Thankfully, she didn't think he'd seen anything.
Xavier was immediately behind Cordelia, and the knight helped her to stand. As he did, she waved the two lords off, hoping they got the message. The last thing she needed was to be seen with either of them.
- Surely, they can't punish me if they were the ones beneath my window, right?
She wondered, and she smiled and tried her best to reassure Xavier and Cordelia.