Louis was sitting in a dimly lit room, a glass of wine in his hand, his thoughts consumed by the devastating news he had received from the doctor.
His mother's time was rapidly running out, a stark contrast to the optimism of their previous conversation.
Tears welled up in his eyes, slipping down his cheeks silently as he grieved for his impending loss. He felt utterly helpless, not knowing how to face the inevitable.
Meanwhile, Verena had awakened to find herself informed that Louis wished to see her. Following Liliya's instructions, she made her way to the wine room.
Just before entering, she heard a shattering sound, causing her heart to race.
Rushing inside, her eyes widened at the sight of Louis, his hand covered in blood, the remnants of a fallen wine bottle strewn across the floor.
Reacting swiftly, Verena hurried to his side, concern etched on her features. She gently held his hand, feeling her own dress absorb some of the crimson stains.
"You've ruined my favourite dress," Louis remarked with a mix of sadness and frustration, his words a bit slurred from the alcohol.
Verena was taken aback, her mind trying to comprehend his words amidst the chaotic scene. "What?" she asked, her voice soft with confusion.
"You looked so beautiful in this dress," Louis continued, his gaze lingering on her. "I just wanted to keep looking at you, and now it's ruined."
Verena's eyes widened in surprise, his unexpected confession catching her off guard.
She felt her heart skip a beat as she locked eyes with him, his gaze unsteady yet filled with a raw honesty.
As the silence lingered, Verena saw Louis's eyes subtly shift, their focus settling on her lips. Her breath hitched, her own gaze involuntarily lowering to his rosy lips.
Her heart raced as a sudden realisation struck her—he was leaning in, his intent clear.
Uncertainty churned within her as she grappled with the moment. Should she reciprocate? Should she allow this to happen?
But then a surge of determination welled up inside her, and with a swift motion, she turned her face to the side, evading his impending kiss.
In the midst of her decision, Louis's head gently fell onto her shoulder, his body slumping as he succumbed to slumber.
Verena was stunned, her conflicting emotions swirling within her. The truth became clear—he had been inebriated, his actions driven by alcohol rather than genuine intention.
She silently realised that she had made the right choice by not giving in to a fleeting, drunken moment.
Tenderly, she let out a sigh of relief, her focus now on supporting Louis as he slept, her hand resting gently on his back.
Helping him rise to his feet, Verena guided Louis towards the exit, intending to lead him to his room.
She spotted a maid nearby and approached her, requesting directions to Louis's room.
Anna's reaction was one of surprise, and as her eyes locked onto Louis hugging Verena, a hint of jealousy flickered in her gaze.
The maid offered, "I can take Young Master Louis to his room, Young Miss. You needn't worry."
However, Verena's instincts tingled, sensing an ulterior motive behind the maid's words. The realisation that the maid might be trying to exploit the situation to be close to Louis sparked an unexpected surge of jealousy and protectiveness within Verena.
"There is no need for you to do that; I can take my man myself. Tell me where his room is!" She shot the maid a pointed glare and firmly instructed her to inform her of Louis's room.
"I don't mean to make you upset. I offered because I thought you might not find his room. If you are his wife, you should know his room too." The maid complied with Verena's demand and acted as if she had been wronged, but still Verena sensed sarcasm in her words.
"I just came last night, which is why this place is new to me. Are you telling me or not?" Verena demanded impatiently, her tone laced with annoyance. She couldn't understand why the maid was being so defensive, as if Verena was the one in the wrong.
All she wanted was to find Louis's room and make sure no one else got too close to him.
"On the third floor and in room six." Armed with the information, Verena ascended to the third floor as per the maid's instructions.
The search for Room Six proved to be a challenge, and when she eventually located it, frustration coursed through her veins—the room was locked.
The understanding that she had fallen into a trap set by the cunning maid fueled her anger.
Verena pivoted her attention, helping Louis into an available guest room. Gently, she assisted him in lying down, removed his shoes, and observed beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Bewilderment clouded her thoughts—why was he in such a state?
Leaving the room, Verena found herself disoriented and unfamiliar with the layout of the mansion.
Whimpering to herself, she muttered, "How vast has he made this place? He doesn't have a horde of children." The sarcasm dripped from her voice as she wandered, seeking an exit.
Eventually, she arrived at the door she was looking for. She heaved a sigh, her emotions a tangle of confusion and concern.
Approaching the intercom, she discovered it wasn't functioning either, adding to the frustrations of the evening. Her mind raced as she grappled with her actions.
Her hand trembling, she finally placed it against Louis's forehead, a gesture she usually avoided due to her aversion to touch.
Confusion shrouded her—why had she brought him here? She briefly contemplated allowing the maid to take advantage of the situation, but her inexplicable jealousy had overridden reason.
Walking to the bathroom, Verena retrieved two towels, dampening them with cold water. She returned to Louis's side, placing the towels on his forehead.
As she observed him silently, a realisation dawned upon her: he was indeed quite handsome, explaining the admiration Ariana and even the maids harboured for him.
Thoughts drifted to the woman he would eventually love, the one he would have children with. The stark reality of their contractual relationship hit her hard, underscoring the differences between them.
In a world without their arrangement, she might have mistaken him for her actual husband. The truth, though bitter, was one she could not ignore.