Eveloria and Gavriel strolled along the garden's path in a tranquil silence. The flowers, in full bloom, cast a gentle, sunlit blue hue. Amidst the beauty, Eveloria's attention was captivated by a fluttering butterfly, while Gavriel's gaze rested on her, his expression inscrutable. As they walked, he couldn't help but think, 'Despite her simple attire, her beauty, especially her eyes, remains enchanting.'
Breaking the silence, Eveloria let out a soft sigh, addressing Gavriel, "Lord Gavriel, I must ask you to desist from such intense scrutiny." Pausing briefly, she turned to him, her focus solely on him.
Gavriel's gaze met hers, his expression devoid of emotion before he replied, "Lady Eveloria, my apologies. Your allure makes it a challenge to avert my eyes." His words carried a sincerity that resonated deeply.
Eveloria acknowledged him with a slight nod and redirected her gaze forward. Her cheeks tinged with a subtle blush as she pondered his compliment. Unaccustomed to flattery and unfamiliar with social interactions, she grappled with the novelty of his words. However, she chose to shift her attention back to their destination, determined to not dwell on the newfound attention.
Upon reaching the gazebo, they settled into their respective chairs around the table. Marlene approached gracefully, bearing a tray of tea which she placed gently before them, gracing them with a warm smile. With their tea tended to, she executed a graceful bow, then departed.
As Gavriel savored the first sip of his tea, a satisfied exhale escaped his lips, accompanied by a soft murmur, "This tea is amazing."
After indulging in another sip, he leaned in, hands resting on the table's surface, and turned his attention to Eveloria.
Eagerly, he inquired, "Lady Eveloria, is there a particular interest you hold?" His posture radiated anticipation for her response.
A brief silence enveloped them, culminating in Eveloria lifting her gaze to meet his. Beneath the morning sun, her amber eyes gleamed as she finally spoke, "I aspire to explore, to travel." Gavriel's expression registered surprise, quickly reconstituting his demeanor after a brief pause. "Why desire to depart this place?" he questioned, intrigued by her declaration.
Her countenance faltered, shadows crossing her features as she admitted, "There's nothing for me here." Her tone held an air of detachment, almost as though her words bore no weight.
Amid them, a prolonged hush prevailed, both lost in introspection. Nature's orchestra played solo, wind dancing through trees and distant birds composing a melody. Sunlight enveloped them, creating a cocoon of warmth and tranquility.
His gaze caught the play of light upon her amber irises, a glint that sparkled beneath the sun's caress. A flutter stirred in his chest, captivated by such a mesmerizing vision. A tender smile graced his lips momentarily before he averted his eyes, concealing his reaction.
Eveloria's attention turned to Gavriel, detecting a faint rosy hue on his cheeks as he looked elsewhere. His demeanor perplexed her.
Curious about his actions, she questioned, 'What could be wrong with him?' She lifted her teacup, savoring its contents with a deliberate slowness.
Continuing to sip her tea, she contemplated Gavriel's demeanor over the course of the day, replaying his earlier compliment in her mind.
'He finds me beautiful? How absurd.' She mused, dismissing such thoughts with a gentle shake of her head.
***
Briana seized one of her mother's maids and ushered her into her room, shutting the door behind them. She compelled the maid onto the floor and fixed her gaze on her, her eyes narrowing. "You've been shadowing my mother, haven't you?" Briana inquired sharply. The maid vigorously nodded in response.
"Then you must be privy to all her actions and reasons," Briana persisted, leaning in and staring intently at the maid.
The woman remained silent, trembling with fear, her eyes wide in panic. "Tell me, what does my mother know about Lord Gavriel? Why did she select him for Eveloria?" Briana grasped the maid's collar, pushing her against the wall.
Drawing close, she confronted the maid face-to-face, who quivered with dread. "Share with me, or face the consequences..." Briana's voice trailed off with a menacing edge as she unveiled a small dagger. The maid couldn't suppress a whimper.
Brandishing the dagger threateningly at the maid's throat, Briana warned, "Disclose the truth, or your life will end today." Her tone was cold, and the maid shivered even more violently. "Now, tell me!" Briana shouted, pressing the blade harder against the maid's neck.
"I... I truly don't know, my lady," the maid stammered between gasps. "Please! I'm clueless!" Tears streamed down the maid's face as she pleaded. In frustration, Briana growled and raised her hand, about to strike, but just then, Ambrose burst into the room, breathless and alarmed. "Briana, what in the world are you doing?" he exclaimed, hurrying into the room.
Briana shot him a glare and withdrew the dagger, causing the maid to slump to the floor, sobbing softly.
"Have you lost your sanity?" Ambrose yelled, his brows furrowed as the maid took the opportunity to flee.
"Yes, my sanity is gone, and it's all our mother's doing!" Briana yelled, her anger evident as she flung the dagger at the wall. It clattered upon impact, and then she began pacing within the room.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Ambrose questioned, his expression puzzled.
"Mother was the one who picked Lord Gavriel for Eveloria, not Father," Briana responded darkly, her pacing halted as she turned to face him, her expression grave. Ambrose stared at her, perplexed for a moment, until realization dawned on him.
"Are you absolutely certain that Mother chose Lord Gavriel as Eveloria's suitor?" Ambrose repeated incredulously.
"Yes, I am certain. I need to ensure that Eveloria doesn't marry him, and if they do, I'll dismantle their marriage," Briana declared firmly, turning to exit her room.
Just before leaving, Ambrose caught her arm. "You should reconsider; this won't end well for you," he cautioned, concern evident in his eyes. Briana rolled her eyes but nodded nonetheless. "Fine, I'll restrain myself," she sighed and pivoted, leaving her room.
Ambrose let out a sigh, muttering to himself, "She's definitely going to do something foolish," shaking his head in disbelief.
***
On that evening, Ambrose and Eveloria engaged in yet another spirited sparring session. The air resonated with the rhythmic clash of wooden swords. Ambrose skillfully evaded and countered each of Eveloria's attacks, his movements fluid and precise. As he deftly maneuvered around her, Eveloria felt her muscles tense as his wooden blade met hers in controlled combat.
"To be frank, I initially thought your proposal to spar nightly was merely a jest. Given my lack of skill, I believed you'd have no interest in repeating this exercise," Eveloria admitted.
"Clearly, I was mistaken," she added with a wry smile.
Ambrose responded, "I'm not one for jests, and while you have had your struggles, your improvement has been noteworthy."
Eveloria let out a dry chuckle, retorting, "Is that so?"
With determination, Eveloria swung her wooden sword at Ambrose, who deftly blocked the attack and retaliated with his own swing. The two continued to exchange moves, each trying to outmaneuver the other. During the fourth exchange, Ambrose's wooden blade connected with Eveloria's left shoulder, eliciting a wince of pain. Collapsing to the ground, Eveloria clutched her wound. Without hesitation, Ambrose rushed to her side, assisting her as she sat up against a nearby tree.
"Let's call it a day," Ambrose suggested calmly, helping Eveloria find her balance. Closing her eyes, Eveloria took deep breaths, her adrenaline subsiding and her energy returning.
While observing her, Ambrose posed a question, "Do you hold affections for him?"
Eveloria slowly opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the ground. In her groggy state from the injury, she hesitated before responding, "Him? Who are you referring to?"
Ambrose's gaze met hers as he clarified, "Lord Gavriel. Do you have feelings for him?"