"It had been more than two hours. Go and check on her." Dion placed the pocket watch back in his pocket and asked his aide to go look for her. But when the door was opened, he noticed Abi returning from that small house. But his eyes went deep when he noticed she was coming alone with her shoulders slumped and her face covered with tears.
She was so adamant that she would not leave without her mother. That her mother needed them. But now... His eyes flickered as a strange thought pressed him. She had told him that her mother was sick.
She knocked on the door she reached closer and he opened the door for her but she did not enter. She stood there lost in her thoughts. Ready to knock again when he held her hands, shocking her.
She struggled hard and tried to push him away. He noticed that her face was covered with tears and her face looked ashen. The cheap makeup had been washed and collected at certain parts of her face. She looked no less than a ghost. Or a witch, an ugly and malnourished one. He could snap her wrist just by some force.
"Abigail. Look at me. I will not harm you. You do not need to fight with me." for a second, he felt pity and did not shout at her for scratching his hands. For struggling as if she was in danger. The girl seems to be lost.
Abigail raised her head and looked at him. And suddenly she burst into screams and sobs. She cried hard as if she was going to die straddling the staff and Dion.
They were standing in the middle of nowhere and a local girl was crying looking at them. It could lead to a strong misunderstanding and fight.
"Abigaile.. Your mother. Is she okay?" He already had a hunch but he still waited for her patiently, surprising his staff. They were expecting him to close the door and order them to start the carriage. After all, their master was known for his impatience and quick reflexes. He never developed the habit of waiting for someone or giving them another chance.
But tonight, he had done both for this girl. Just who was she? Suddenly everyone was curious about the identity of this mysterious girl. But the girl in question did not notice anything strange. She kept crying her lungs out.
"My mother left me. She is cold and… and not breathing. But perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps, she is just sleeping." she shook her head hard and wiped the tears off her eyes. Yes, perhaps it was all a confusion. She held his hands and looked at him with a pleading gaze. "Will you come with me? Will you help me in taking care of my mother?" her voice pricked him and at that moment, his heart clenched.
His heart wanted to do anything to make the girl stop crying. But when Dion listened to his heart? His brain was better. And like always, his brain thought of a plan.
"I will send my men to bring you to your mother and then I will take her to the best physician of the empire." he offered with a soft and assuring smile as he reluctantly patted her dirty hands. His bile rose, but he gulped it again and concentrated on her assured face. She was not the fighting girl he had met in the carriage for the first time.
But she looked more like a lost child in the woods. The one who wanted to be saved and he would be that savior.
"But in exchange, you have to marry me." gasps! The staff looked at him as if he had lost all his brains. Did the ruffian in the bar hit him that hard? He was asking for a marriage from a guttersnipe? A woman he was not comfortable holding hands with. Did he not make love to them and refuse to marry all the time? What has changed now?
But Dion did not turn to look at his staff. His eyes held Abil in a cage. She seemed startled too by the sudden request. Her mind started to clear, which was bad. He had to make sure that she accepted his offer.
"I will need a noble identity for your mother if I want to take her to a good physician. You are taking too much time, Abigail. Perhaps your mother did not have that much time." he pressed with a sigh and she trembled.
"I. You will save my mother if I marry you?" she repeated foolishly but he nodded with a patient and kind smile on his face.
He was the epitome of kindness in this moment.
"Legit wife. You will not sell me to others," she warned. He was impressed with how she was able to negotiate that point even when she was feeling so low and nodded readily. He had never planned to sell her. He was going to keep winning.
"I will treasure you like a wife should be. Shall I send my staff to help your mother then." she closed her eyes, suddenly feeling very exhausted, and nodded. If things did not go better, she could always refuse later. It was not like he could force her to marry him. Why did he want to marry him anyway?
But this could be the chance her mother wanted. If there is a small chance that her mother could be saved. She was going to take it. So, when she opened her eyes, they looked at him clearly and with determination.
"Yes, please send your staff to bring my mother. Save her and I will be your wife."