Aylin, Rhea, and Andromeda currently sat in the garden, where she and Rhea had shown Andromeda the dresses they bought while eating the sweets and cookies that the seller had bought over to the mansion while they were both out.
Aylin didn't think that the man would bring it, considering how frightened he was when Rhea ordered him to bring the cookies and cakes over every day.
Guess he didn't want to get on Rhea's bad side or maybe, it was because of the money.
Two hours had passed since they got back and it was almost an hour since they had been in the garden and Aylin was enjoying every minute of it.
"Did he tell you what spell he wanted to use it for?" Andromeda asked as she took a sip of her tea.
Rhea had told her that the dressmaker had collected her blood as payment, saying that he wanted to use it for a spell.
"Yeah, A protection spell," Rhea answered, placing a cookie in her mouth.
"I see," Andromeda simply replied and Aylin wondered why they were indifferent to this, I mean... Giving your blood as payment?
Real weird.
The trio continued to discuss different things until a maid came over.
The maid greeted Andromeda and Rhea with a small bow before turning to Aylin.
"Milady, The Duke asked you to come to his study," She informed and Aylin stared at her, eyebrows raised.
"What? The Duke asks for me?"
"Yes, Milady. Please follow me," She stepped to the side and motioned for Aylin to follow her.
"Uhh... Why is he asking for me?" Aylin questioned, curious as to why the Duke called for her.
The maid shook her head, "I don't know Milady, he only asked me to take you to his study."
"Seriously Aylin? Why would he tell a maid the reason he called for you?" Rhea cut in, shaking her head. "You are funny."
"I–"
Andromeda turned to her, "Why don't you go first and see why he's called for you hmm?" She said, smiling at Aylin.
Aylin stared at her for some time before nodding.
Aside from being weary of the Duke, Aylin was curious as to why he had called her. Besides that, if she went, Andromeda would truly think she was doing what she asked, and Andromeda would keep looking for a way for her to return home. With that thought in mind, Aylin stood up and followed the maid into the mansion.
They strode through the large space of the living room towards the stairs and just when they reached it, another maid's voice got to them, making them halt their steps
"Andrea!" she called, causing the maid who was in front of Aylin to turn to her.
"Ellen? What happened?" Andrea asked as soon as Ellen got to them.
"Lady Aylin." She hastily bowed to Aylin who acknowledged her greeting with a nod, before turning to her friend. "Have you cleaned up the pantry?" Ellen questioned.
"No, I haven't. Why?"
"Because Sir Gustavo has started going around the house, inspecting all our chores!"
"What?!" Andrea's eyes stretched wide.
"Yes! So you better go and start cleaning it now!"
"Yes, of course. Thank you for informing me," Andrea thanked and Ellen hurriedly nodded.
"You're welcome! I have to go." Ellen said, bowed to Aylin, and hurried off to wherever she came from.
Andrea turned to Aylin, "Uhm... Milady—"
"You can go, just tell me how to get to his study." She told Andrea whose face lit up in gratitude when she heard Aylin's words.
"Thank you, Milady! You just have to climb up the stairs to that hallway—" She pointed to the hallway on the right side— "after that, take a turn and walk down the corridor. The last door on the left side is his study. Do you understand Milady?" She asked and Aylin nodded, flashing a smile.
"I understand, you can go." She told her but Andrea didn't move. "Come on, go!"
"Alright, Thank you Lady Aylin!" Andrea said with one last bow before leaving.
Aylin stared at her retreating figure for some seconds and sighed before climbing up the stairs and along the hallway and the corridor.
Aylin took a deep breath before knocking on the same double doors she stood in three days ago, but instead of a response, she was met with silence. She knocked again, harder this time, but received no response.
Frowning, Aylin stared at the door.
Was he not in there? If he wasn't, then why did he call for her and ask her to come to his study?
Seriously? What the hell was wrong with him?
Aylin groaned before reaching for the doorknob.
She simply wanted to check if the door was locked or not, and if it wasn't, she would know—
"You're here." A voice said from behind Aylin, cutting through her thought; making her jump.
"Oh, my God!" Aylin placed her palm on her chest and whirled around, coming face to face with none other than—
The Duke.
Of course, it was him.
"What the hell?! Stop doing that!"
Kian stared at her, "Stop doing what?"
"T–that!"
He tilted his head, "What?"
Seriously?
Aylin huffed, "Stop sneaking up on me!"
"I didn't sneak up on you," He said, a blank expression on his face and Aylin rolled her eyes.
"Of course, you didn't—"
Her words caught in her throat as soon as she saw the thing—no, not a thing. The white and huge furry animal standing beside the duke.
Aylin's finger shot up and pointed towards the animal, "What is that? Is that a cat?" she questioned, her voice wavering.
Kian raised his eyebrows and his gaze followed her line of sight before landing on the cat beside him, and back to her, an amused smile gracing his lips as he stared at her stunned expression
"Yes, He's Lexus, my familiar." He replied.
Aylin who was hung up on the word 'Familiar' didn't give much thought to the name. "Familiar? What's a familiar and how's a cat so big?!"
Kian stared at her as she continued staring at the cat with a shocked and weary expression and he couldn't stop himself from continuing to smile.
"You don't know anything do you?" He said instead of answering her question and Aylin's gaze flitted over to him.
"How would I? I'm from another world, remember? And over there, there are no white witches, black witches, shapeshifters or—"
"A familiar is an attendant spirit often in animal or demon form," He told her, stopping her from rambling.
"Attendant spirit?" She raised her brows.
"Do you also want me to explain that?"
"Yes?"
"An attendant spirit serves as a help in controlling and wielding magical energy, and sometimes, it simply serves the master it owes a duty. Are we good now?" He asked, cocking his head to the side.
"Yes, I guess... But how is he so big?" She inquired, still appalled by the fact that a cat could be that big. It was so tall that it almost reached Kian's waist. Her gaze went to the cat who was also staring at her, albeit intently like he was studying her.
"I don't think I need to answer that, do I?" He said and walked towards her, the cat not moving from where it stood but still staring at her.
Why was he walking towards her?
"I guess not," Aylin said as she took a step back, only to be stopped by the door behind her.
Kian approached her until he was only a foot away, causing her to look up at him, completely forgetting about the cat's probing gaze. His masculine scent enveloped her and her gaze immediately locked on those entrancing crimson-red orbs. She stared at them for a few moments before shifting her gaze from his eyes to his perfectly straight nose and red full lips. She was so focused on his face that she didn't notice his body shifting or his hand reaching for the doorknob.
"You're staring," He spoke, and her eyes immediately went back to his.
His hands found the doorknob.
"Your face is the only thing In my line of sight, if not it, what else do you want me to stare at?" She defended and he tilted his head.
"It's interesting how you seem to like staring at my face, and that too making it very much obvious." He smiled before turning the doorknob and pushing the door open.
Aylin who wanted to reply to his words felt the door open behind her and she glanced at it before turning her head back to him to see him raising his eyebrows at her, making her stare at him questioningly.
"Go in," He said and Aylin's eyes widened
in realization.
"Sorry," She murmured, hurriedly stepping into the room.
He entered the study room, this time with his cat close behind. The enormous and furry animal sat completely relaxed on the floor beside the table, while Kian sat in his chair and motioned for her to take a seat.
Aylin sat down, her gaze momentarily flitting towards the cat who now rested on his paws, his eyes closed.
It looked so peaceful and so gorgeous.
Seriously? Even the animals were gorgeous.
"I know you must be wondering why I called you here," He started and Aylin's attention was now fully on him, nodding at his words.
Yes, she wanted to know why he called her here, especially since she supposed it was something important.
"I wanted to let you know that Grandma told me about how she was assisting you in your search for a black witch to help you return home, but she not only told me, she also asked me to assist you. That means I'll be the one to help you find a way to return home from now on." He finished, and Aylin looked at him, processing what he had just said.
Andromeda had told him to help her? But why? That she would need to ask later.
When she could finally get her thoughts together, she nodded and smiled at him.
"Thank you," were the two words she could utter.
"Why are you thanking me?" He asked and Aylin frowned.
"Because you're helping me."
He leaned back, "There's no need to thank me, I've also been investigating the black witches, it's not as if I'm doing it exclusively for you."
"Directly or indirectly, you're helping and I'm not only thanking you for this, but I'm also thanking you for saving me yesterday, so… Thank you." Aylin had forgotten to thank him yesterday for saving her because she was disoriented.
"Hmm."
Aylin smiled tightly at his response before returning her attention to the large cat on the floor. She tilted her head, unsure whether it was asleep or just resting.
It reminded her of Ralph, her adorable white cat. Ralph was Aylin's only close companion, the only one to whom she confided her feelings, her worries, and her fears. She remembered how he would yawn when he was tired, skip happily when she got home from work, or when she wanted to feed him and snuggle on her lap.
Oh, how she missed him.
A sharp knock from the door pulled Aylin out of her reverie and she turned to the door in time for her to hear Gustavo's ringing voice from the other side of the door,
"Your Grace! I brought your drink."
"Come In," The Duke replied, and once again, Aylin was surprised by his voice; deep and smooth, yet gentle at the same time.
Gustavo entered the study room holding a tray and Aylin's gaze immediately fell onto it as she noticed two glasses of red liquid sitting on top of the tray.
He sure liked to drink wine, didn't he?
Gustavo bowed to Aylin in greeting with a smile before walking towards the table.
As Gustavo was placing the cups on the table, Aylin turned to the duke, "I will take my leave now, Rhea and Her Grace must be waiting for me," She told him and he nodded, allowing her to leave.
After Aylin left, Kian felt Gustavo's gaze on him and he turned to the butler, his eyebrows raised in question "What is it?"
Gustavo glanced over at the large cat who was still seated on its feet and he gave Kian a small bow. "Lady Rhea and Lady Aylin went to Ditas today to get new dresses for tomorrow's lunch at the palace."
"And?" Kian queried.
"And I heard Lady Rhea telling Her Grace that she gave her blood as payment for the dresses they bought," he replied and Kian arched his eyebrow.
"Is that all?" He asked and Gustavo nodded in affirmation.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Then find out what that crooked hybrid wants to use her blood for," he ordered, taking a sip of his drink and Gustavo made a short bow in response.