Sienna led her son to the dimly lit corner of their rustic house, where the golden glow of a single flickering candle danced on the walls, casting mysterious shadows that seemed to mirror the anxiety in her heart.
Lemiel stayed out of the door, watching them with prying eyes.
"Listen, Davi," she began. "You must stay indoors and wait for my return. I just need a minute to talk to our visitor."
In the young boy's eyes, there was an undeniable mixture of confusion and curiosity.
He had overheard the conversation between Sienna and Lemiel, and the cryptic exchange had stirred questions that now lingered in his young mind. While Davian possessed intelligence beyond his years, there were still nuances of the adult world that eluded him.
But regardless of being confused by their visitor's intention, the boy did not trust Lemiel simply because of his mother's reaction.
"He won't hurt me," Sienna reassured her son, her voice carrying the weight of her feigned conviction. "As he said, he's an...old friend of mine."
She found it a struggle to call Lemiel an 'old friend' as she would never categorize him as such. Saying the word was like a bitter pill to swallow.
"Besides, you know I can protect myself, right?"
Sienna smiled, and this somehow eased Davian's worry.
"I'll wait for you then. Be quick," he replied with an air of detached maturity that he often displayed. But in the depths of his eyes, there lay an unspoken affection for his mother.
She chuckled at the boy's demand.
Sienna patted her son's head before heading out of their modest home. Her smile, though genuine, faded when she saw Lemiel staring at her outside the house.
They went meters away from the house, just far enough for Davian not to hear their conversation.
Standing before the tall, imposing figure of Lemiel who appeared brooding and devilish, Sienna felt an overpowering urge to take a step back.
His presence had a scorching intensity that engulfed her. She couldn't deny the sense of dread that welled up within her, but she summoned her inner strength and met his gaze, determined to confront the fiery blaze of his eyes.
Lemiel broke the silence.
"You cannot deny it. The boy has the eyes of a Von Amstel. He is my son."
His voice was firm and full of conviction as if nothing could convince him otherwise.
"You better not deny it, Lucienna. I don't appreciate anyone lying to me."
She bit her tongue and sucked in her breath. She figured out she couldn't hide it now. There was no way Lemiel would accept any excuses, and his piercing eyes told her he wouldn't tolerate lies.
"Yes," she admitted, her breath caught in her throat.
All these years of hiding, she had always feared that one day everything she had would be taken from her in the blink of an eye. And now that her life with her son was being threatened by Lemiel, the fear that haunted her every night had resurfaced. She was scared that Lemiel would take Davian from her and the idea of being helpless to stop it filled her with dread.
"He is your son, yes, but I was the one who raised him, so don't you ever think of taking him from me. I won't allow you to use my child in your filthy schemes-"
"I think we have a little misuse of words here," he interrupted. "Use?" His brow furrowed at the word. "And filthy schemes?"
His lips twitched in mischief. "Princess Lucienna, why do you believe that I am here to take my son for selfish reasons? I am here to take my heir to give him the life he deserves, which obviously," he glanced at the shabby surroundings, "you cannot offer."
The mere thought of Lemiel taking her child sent nerve-wracking chills racing through Sienna's body. A sensation of tightening, twisting dread coiled in her stomach. Leaving her son in the hands of this dangerous man was the last thing she intended to do.
"You will take your heir to give him the life he deserves?" She echoed the words, revolted by the sound of them. "Duke Lemiel, I don't think the world you have is something my son deserves."
Lemiel clearly knew what she implied.
"This is a messy world we live in, princess. Bloodshed and chaos can happen anywhere, which is why the safest place for the child is somewhere his safety is guaranteed. As a duke wielding substantial power, I believe I can provide that very security."
"If you would leave us be and allow us to continue our life here," Sienna countered, her voice unwavering, "the kind of security you speak of might not even be necessary. We have managed to endure for six long years on our own, as you can see."
The biting cold persisted in its relentless assault, creeping under her skin, but she fought against the urge to tremble. It wasn't the right time to look like a freezing duck.
"You fail to comprehend." Lemiel's voice was colder than the wayward wind blowing toward Sienna's face.
"After your staged demise, your clan fell into a period of decline. It was only last year that it managed to regain its footing under the leadership of your uncle, Ambrose."
The mention of her relative's name was enough for Sienna to turn frozen.
"What intrigued me," he continued, his gaze narrowing slightly, "is his recent pursuit of searching for you discreetly, firmly believing that you're still alive somewhere."
"I don't know what your clan is hiding, or whatever your secret is, but it seems that my son's safety will be compromised if he remains in your care."
Sienna found herself at a loss for words. Six years ago, she had run away from two things: Lemiel and her own clan.
Now, she faced an agonizing choice between surrendering her son to Lemiel or risking his life at the hands of her clan.
"I am a duke in need of an heir. With my son by my side, I assure you no harm shall befall him. He is my own flesh and blood. Do you truly think I would bring harm to him?"
However, Sienna couldn't find solace in Lemiel's words. She knew nothing good about him, and who could say if all of this was merely a web of deceit spun to take hold of her and Davian for his personal interests?