Verena was led to the dining area, where she found Louis seated at the centre of the table, engrossed in reading something on his iPad. As she approached, her eyes caught the screen, and she realised he was reading an article.
A flicker of curiosity crossed her features. She wondered if it was one of the articles she read last night.
As if sensing her presence, Louis looked up from his device, a warm smile gracing his lips.
"Good morning, Verena. I hope you slept well," he greeted, his voice gentle.
Verena nodded in acknowledgment, her expression calm as she took in the scene before her.
His smile, both sweet and sinister, always made her uneasy. She had felt no nerves when she was sentenced to prison; back then, she held onto the hope of eventual freedom, like a bird soaring through the sky. But now, she questioned if her nervousness would serve any purpose. This was the first time she felt a sense of unease in his presence.
Louis signalled for the maid, who promptly poured two glasses of juice before excusing herself, leaving them alone at the table. With a casual grace, Louis began to serve the breakfast, his movements fluid and practised.
"Please, have a seat," he invited, gesturing to the spread before them.
Verena came to her senses and realised she had not taken a seat yet so she settled into her chair with poise.
Her eyes met his for a moment, but the slight smile that sometimes adorned her lips remained absent. There was a certain distance in her gaze, a hesitancy that had rarely been present before.
Louis noticed the change—the unspoken thoughts that seemed to linger between them. "Is everything all right, Verena?" he inquired, his tone gentle. He thought that if he did something wrong, he shouldn't have.
Louis's gaze fixed on her, and he watched as she took a sip of her juice, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass. He gulped the nervousness that lingered inside of him, and he finally heard her say, "Last night, when we talked, I mentioned that I'd tell you something in the morning," she began, her voice steady.
Louis nodded, his eyes attentive, as he set aside his iPad. "Yes, I remember. What is it?"
Verena drew a breath, her gaze meeting his with a mixture of tenacity and vulnerability. "I need to be honest with you, Louis. I've always valued my personal space, and I'm not comfortable with physical touch or... too much closeness."
Her calling him by his name was enough for him to know they were not entirely strangers. She would be his wife in a few days. The weight of her words hung in the air between them, causing a slight furrow to form on Louis' brow.
Louis studied her face, his expression thoughtful as he absorbed her words. "I appreciate your honesty. I want you to know that I respect your boundaries and your comfort." His hands moved upward from the table, but he stopped them and settled them once again on his lap under the table.
He shakes his head, he said. "You don't have to be uncomfortable with me, alright?"
A sense of relief swept over her as she heard his understanding response. "Thank you for understanding," she replied, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
Louis leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. "I'll make sure to be mindful of your preferences, Verena. Our journey together is important, and I want you to feel at ease every step of the way because now you have my back."
He didn't want her to back off her words; whatever she demands, he will give it to her without further odo. Only time will tell what he would do to make physical touch a comfortable experience for Verena.
Verena met his gaze, a flicker of gratitude shining in her eyes.
They eat in silence and Verena kept taking side glances of him and she couldn't help but thought if she would be to caught what she will say to save herself. As predicted, he said something that made her cough.
"You can take a picture of you want." With a smirk, he leaned in to look at her who was now coughing and was trying to hide herself from him.
"W—What do you mean?" Verena wiped her mouth and asked. Her expression were sharp and she was mentally scolding herself for being careless. You can watch as much as you want Verena, but you can't be caught.
"Nevermind. Is there anything you want to say?" He noticed, thought Verena.
"Y—Yes, actually, there is an article that is circulating on the social media—"
He interuppted her and asked. "Which article?" Verena frowned.
Instead of answering, she questioned. "Don't you know?" Louis shook his head, his brows were formed together as he thought if she had read some articles about him being gay or if there was another article published about him dating his step-sister without his notice.
"Article about Ariana. She was rumoured to be taking drugs which I can assure is hundred percent true."
"Oh?" Louis looked nonchalant and he began to eat his breakfast. He took a glance at his watch calmly, he heard her say.
"You aren't shocked? Do you know about it too?" Louis nodded and responded.
"This is not something new she had been in highlight since that incident." Louis informed. Verena understood which incident he was talking about.
He added. "Look Verena I don't care what is happening to her. You also should not care about it. It's better if she gets a little bit taste of what she did to you."
Verena was shocked by his words. Was he pretending to be nice? She thought. But then he had been nice with her since she came here.
"I— You published the article, didn't you?" Verena asked which made him stunned he didn't realize he will be accused of something like this. He bit his lips and wet them before saying.
"Why would I do this?" He interjected shamelessly. Verena laughed at him before remarking.
"You did it. I knew it!" She slapped the table and leaned in towards him before saying. "If you really haven't done this then, find out who asked to published the article."
She paused as if in thought she said to Louis, her voice tinged with concern. "I want to make a request."
"What is it?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Verena hesitated for a moment before she spoke, her words carrying a weight of uncertainty.
"I have a brother. His name is Aaron Bradbury. He was in college at the time I last heard from him, but I wonder where he must be now. I can't find him. I went to his college, but rumors had spread there too, and they informed me he left the school four years ago."
"Do you want me to help you search for him?" Louis looked at her with empathy in his eyes.
Verena nodded impatiently, her worry evident. "I do. If only our mother were alive, he might have gone to her."
"It's okay. I will send a research team to find him. Don't worry, we'll do everything we can to locate your brother."
Louis was gone. He's mind was wrapped around what Verena had told him and he sighed at that order.
While Verena sat in the living room. She replayed their conversation in her mind, grateful for the reassurance he had given her.
"Verena, I have some exciting news! Your teacher is here, and there's a room prepared for your classes. " Liliya's gentle voice reached Verena's ears, prompting her to turn and meet her gaze.
"Oh, that's great, Liliya. Thank you for letting me know. Is it in the living room?" Verena asked, uncertain.
"Well, actually, there's a different room set up. It might be more conducive to your lessons."
Verena hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. While the living room seemed like a convenient choice, a sense of curiosity tugged at her.
She hadn't explored the mansion extensively, and the idea of discovering new spaces intrigued her, even though she was relatively new here.
After a brief pause, Verena nodded in agreement, her curiosity getting the best of her. "Hmm, I see. But I've never been to that part of the mansion before. Is it alright if you show me the way?" She had a knack for learning about her surroundings, and this was a perfect opportunity.
Liliya was more than welcome to show up and even take her there, so she happily nodded. "Of course, Verena. I'd be happy to guide you. It's down this corridor, and I think you'll find it quite interesting."
The mansion had many hallways, and this was one she hadn't crossed paths with before. The anticipation of what lay ahead quickened her steps.
As they rounded a corner, Verena's eyes widened as they entered a space that seemed almost otherworldly. It was the ballroom, an exquisite chamber that exuded an air of grandeur from every corner.
The room was vast, its ceiling stretching upwards in elegant arches adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to capture the very essence of artistry.
Crystal chandeliers hung from above, casting a soft, enchanting glow that danced upon the polished wooden floor below.
Verena couldn't help but stand in awe, her breath momentarily taken away by the sheer beauty that surrounded her.
Along the walls, tall mirrors with ornate golden frames reflected the room's opulence, creating an illusion of infinite space. The colours of the walls were a delicate pastel, providing a gentle backdrop to the room's more lavish elements.
In the centre of the ballroom, an arrangement of plump sofas and plush chairs beckoned, inviting those who entered to indulge in comfort while soaking in the room's magnificence. Verena imagined the room coming to life during grand gatherings, the sound of music and laughter filling the air as people twirled across the polished floor in elegant attire.
As Verena stood there, the allure of the ballroom enveloped her. The view alone was enough to make her want to spend her entire day in its embrace. Yet she knew that this was just one of the many wonders the mansion held.
With a contented smile, she turned to Liliya and said, "This is the beauty of beauties!" She remarked and turned once again. As she entered the hall, she saw a figure sitting on the chair at the round table.
Verena walked over to her teacher, noticing a subtle furrow in the lady's eyebrows as she stood up. With each step, a nervous flutter twisted in Verena's stomach, amplified by the intensity of her teacher's gaze.