Amara yawned and stretched her arms after just waking from her nap. She glanced at the window of her room, still inside the inn the strange man had brought her to, and was dazzled by the bright light from the outside. The time must have struck past lunch.
It has been two days since that night, and she never once stepped outside her room. Food was delivered, to her surprise, and some staff would fetch her bath water and help her bath inside. She also got a change of clothes and some books to pass the time.
She asked them why she wasn't getting thrown off when she hadn't paid anything. That was how she learned that the unknown man had paid for her stay. The employee said she could stay in the inn for a month, which shocked her.
"Paying for my stay for a month…is he a rich merchant, or perhaps…a noble?" she mumbled to herself. She flung the covers and peeked over the window. After what had happened, she became frightened to show her face to people. What if the nobleman had died, and now, she's wanted?
What will she do? Where will she go if the month passes and the inn finally kicks her out?
She was just an ordinary woman working at a pottery shop. She earned enough money to support herself. The only reason she wanted to earn more was to buy Gerard a gift for his upcoming birthday, so she accepted the job he offered. If only she had known…
Amara shook her head to erase the image of her ex-lover. Her heart swelled in anger, but a tiny part was aching. She had loved the man and imagined a future with him, and yet…
Tok! Tok!
She moved her gaze to the door.
"Miss, your companion wants to have lunch with you."
A voice called out from behind the door. Amara walked over and said, "I don't have a companion."
"Ah, he is the one who came here with you, Miss."
Amara stiffened. She furrowed her brows. Confused as to why the man came back to meet her. She hesitated for a while, even though she knew she was indebted to him.
"He is waiting at the dining hall, Miss." The employee spoke again, silently convincing her to go down.
Amara sighed. She'd feel awful if she turned away the request after she received help from him. Amara wore the cloak and opened the door. She quietly went down. The kind employee escorted her to the table where the man was while she walked with her head bowed, afraid that someone might recognize her.
She spotted him among the crowd. His tall stature and large physique made him conspicuous. Now that her head was clear, she had the chance to observe him properly. Thus, she was pretty surprised by his appearance.
His skin was dark. He had thick eyebrows and sharp eyes that looked at people coldly; his serious and unsmiling face gave off an intimidating aura. His jawline sometimes clenched, and his face darkened as if he was thinking of something he disliked. He had a tall and pointed nose paired with thin, sensual lips.
An image of those lips lingered in Amara's mind. And she shook her head to erase them. Right now, she had no time to fantasize about a man. Her priority was to get back her life or escape.
The dining hall was bustling with customers, and chatter was heard over the tables. Yet none dared to open a conversation with him.
'He looks like a noble,' Amara thought to herself. Even when the man only wore plain clothing, he looked like he belonged to the nobility, which made Amara feel hesitant to go over. She didn't have good memories of noblemen. To her, they were a bunch of beasts devouring the weak and oppressing the poor.
Just like how her mother had suffered at their hands. Wasn't that the reason she had the scar as well?
She pulled the hood down to hide that scar, a bit insecure at the beauty waiting for her.
"You took your time."
The man, whose name was still unknown, spoke as soon as she arrived.
Amara mumbled, "I apologize for taking too long."
Azer gestured the seat to her, which she obediently took and quietly sat. He waved his hand, and the waiter placed all the meals on the table. Amara was overwhelmed by the amount. There was no way only two people could finish them; it would only be a waste. However, she didn't voice her complaint and simply muttered a 'thank you' after the man told her to eat.
"Hey, have you read the headlines in Today's Avendelle?" a customer casually asked. Their table was just behind Amara, so she could hear their conversation.
"Yeah. Tsk, tsk. I knew there was something iffy about that baron. Serves him right." Another replied.
She furrowed her brows, wondering which baron they were talking about. She hadn't read newspapers since she had stayed in the inn, so she was unaware of the current news.
"You can go back to your home now."
Amara lifted her head after hearing the man speak again. As her mind was focused on eavesdropping behind her, his words took quite a while to register in her head.
"I can't go back home. What if the knights are still searching for me?" She responded after. She shook her head firmly and added, her eyes begging, "I was told I can stay here for a month. I will repay the money, so please don't take it back."
Azer stared at Amara. Her purple eyes were begging at him, hidden from the large and worn-out eyeglasses. It even has a crack on one lens. Her plump cheeks were pale, like they hadn't seen the sun for a long time. Azer would have mistaken her for a vampire if she didn't smell like an average human.
His gaze moved down to her lips, and his head was filled by the image of that night. He certainly felt something after his lips grazed hers, which made him unable to sleep properly.
He kept remembering her cowering body and tear-stained face. And it baffled him greatly. How could he think of someone when he already has a mate? Even though his mate was still not found.
"The knights won't bother you anymore. They were too busy apprehending Baron Geiz's people."
Amara's eyes widened. That was the baron whom Gerard sold her off to!
"B-Baron Geiz? W-Why? What did he do?" She asked nervously.
Azer replied, "Human trafficking. He was found guilty of kidnapping kids and selling them for slavery in foreign lands. He also forced women to sleep with him, then sell them off to brothels once he finished using them."
Amara's hand trembled. She quickly hid them behind the table. She could have been one of those women if this person didn't help her! She was scared just imagining it, and she thanked the heavens that she escaped.
"How…how can I repay you for saving me, Mister?" She mumbled after a while of silence.
However, silence also answered her. Amara looked up, and she flinched when their eyes met. He was staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She couldn't hold the intensity of his stare; thus, she quickly lowered her head again, avoiding his gaze.
"Just be a kind neighbor to me," Azer answered after a long time.
Amara looked at him with confusion. "Eh?"