It pained her head, not immense, but enough for her to feel dizzy, as Nilana descended down the stairs. It was almost the time for dinner. The manor lit dimly as it showed no presence of a person at home.
After Ian settled her in her bedroom, the cat gracefully perched itself on her bed, observing as she changed into a comfortable white tunic. As she changed, memories of that dreadful night flooded her mind, causing an immense headache. Exhausted, she succumbed to sleep, the weight of the memories temporarily lifted by her weariness.
She didn't know her little nap would cost her so much time, the half of the afternoon and the entire evening of her went by just sleeping.
She could help... she could do anything at all... just to be useful to Mr Ian...
Yawning and rubbing her eyes, she descended the spiral staircase; her knuckles lightly tapping her forehead in a playful wakefulness ritual. Her fingers gently traced the polished wooden railing for support as she made her way downstairs.
The aged chandelier emitted a soft, dim glow, casting a gentle light across the living space of the manor. Nilana had previously visited Ian's bedroom, situated in the east wing of the manor, before descending to the lower floors.
He wasn't there in the bedroom; she wondered. Where could he be?
Did he leave her again?
Even if he did, the slight disappointment feeling that lingered around her throat didn't settle right. She was in no position to expect her savior to lounge amongst her with no care for his own world and his life other than hers. Stepping into the living room, Nilana scanned the surroundings, hoping to find Aunt Giselle's comforting presence, but there was no one in sight except for her and the elongated shadows that danced across the room.
Picking up an oil lamp from the cupboard beside the divan in the living area. She lit the lamp up and went in the direction of the dining room.
The dining room was pitch black. Only the light of the oil lamp illuminated the surrounding space, which helped her vision to get stable. The dining room led to the kitchen through a small door.
If Aunt Giselle weren't here, she might as well start making dinner, as hunger lingered through her and she also thought about Ian coming back and having supper with her, like they always did for the past 3 weeks.
Her mind pondered through the thoughts, in and out, as she put the oil lamp on the kitchen counter. She turned back to grab the apron but gasped.
Ian's body towered over her, as he was quite a few inches away. Under him she felt like a fragile sheep, and him being the wolf, ready to devour her. Her eyes slowing went up, taking in all the change of clothes, his bluish doublet and white vest. The tightness of his sleeves rolled up his arms. The half moon crescent pendant hanging over his chest. The few of his buttons of the doublets were open. She saw the Adam's apple bobbing up and down his throat.
And then her auburn eyes caught his silver ones.
"What are you planning to do exactly, Dem Mari?" His voice was low and resonant.
"You-" she stammered and stepped back two steps behind, "You!" She pointed out to him in a yell, "Can you not-" Stuttering, she made her posture straight and reached out for the apron hanging on one of the wall hooks behind him.
"Can you not do this? And declare your presence then scare me shitless all the time, mister?!" Her words blabbered out as she took the apron and stepped back.
"No." Ian replied.
Nilana glared at him, her eyes squinted.
"What do you mea-"
"It's fun." He snatched the apron from her hands. "Fun to witness your myriad expressions every time I appear like a phantom behind you."
The last remark creeped onto Nilana's cheek like a quick burn. Her faced turned pink as she protested against him, trying to retrieve the apron back from him.
"Give-" She clawed a hand of hers towards him, trying to catch the apron. But he dodged it every time. "Give it back to me-" His long arms went up, and she stood on her tiptoes.
"Or what?" He said out nonchalantly. His haughty demeanour was long gone. It seemed as if he was enjoying every bit of teasing Nilana.
Nilana stood on her feet again and looked up at him with a frustrated expression on her delicate face.
"Are you still gonna make fun of an ailing soul like mine?"
Ian's playful aura came to a halt. He didn't know she would play the 'sick person' card. It caught him off guard.
"Yes, Aunt Giselle went out for the night to help her nieces with some town festival going on. But shall you not dare persist and think of cooking tonight, Dem Mari." He said in a low hum.
"What-" She took a step back as he stepped past her. "Why won't you let me coo-"
Wrapping the thin ropes of the tiny apron around his waist, Ian stood all tall and might.
"Shut up and go sit at the table."
Right at that moment, four heavy knocks fell onto the main door, which echoed throughout the house.
"Nilanaaa??!" A shout of her name followed after the knock. The female voice that carried the calling of Nilana's name sounded oddly familiar.
"Sir Allister??" she called out, "Nilanaaa??" Her yell grew louder.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
The main door was about to fall off any second if this went on.
Ian left the kitchen just with two strides of his tall legs. Nilana followed behind him, her heart hammering against her chest.
Ian attended the door first. The wooden door creaked open, only for them to see Sylvia in her most probably the prettiest green silk dress looking up at Ian.
"Lady Sylvia?" Nilana muttered, stunned due to her sudden appearance at the manor's door.
Sylvia's eyes went up to Nilana. "Oh, there you are! Haven't you both heard about the night festival?"