"Your face looks very familiar, little girl," the man said after a few moments of observation. "Have we met before?"
The man recognized her!
Annica's heart beat twice as fast as before. Tears dripped from Annica's eyes. The warm liquid mixes with the dirty water that was poured by the five mistresses, masking it before fell from her face.
Annica swallowed hard. Daemond's grip on her chin felt hot, burning her cold skin. She could feel the hairs on her neck stand.
How she wanted to pull her face from his touch, but she held on. If her cover were blown and he found out who she was, she would be dead before she could even do anything. She must lie.
"Answer me, little girl," the general growl.
The man's strong hand slowly slipped onto Annica's neck and gently squeezed. While his piercing green eyes remained locked with the intensity akin to a predator sizing up its prey, leaving Annica felt vulnerable as a mouse cornered by a snake.
Calm yourself, Annica. The girl spoke to herself.
It was impossible for the man to recognize her. The last time they met, she was shrouded in the darkness of the night. And she had changed a lot. She was no longer a child trembling in fear and unable to do anything. She was now a grown woman. And as Diggory often told her, the Annica now was very different from the old Annica.
"I-I work for the Millys family, Sir," Annica finally replied. "Mrs. Ruth sent me here to serve you."
Annica clenched her fists so tightly that she could feel her nails piercing into the palms of her hands.
Indeed. It's impossible for him to recognize her. That monster has killed so many people, destroyed so many families, there's no way that man remember who she was. She's just an ant that once crossed paths with an elephant. It's impossible for him to remember her.
Annica tried to calm herself before continuing.
"How could a lowly slave like me have ever met you, Sir General?"
"Is that so?" the man replied with his cold, flat voice.
Annica could feel his green eyes piercing through her like a sharp arrow, as if searching for lies within her words.
The man's grip tightened around Annica's neck, tilting her head further upwards.
With teary eyes, Annica reached for Daemond's hand, which was now wrapped tight around her neck. Annica almost thought that the man recognized her and was about to squeeze the air out of her throat when Daemond slowly loosened his grip and lowered his gaze.
Daemond's green eyes were now observing Annica's chest, rising and falling rapidly beneath her soaked dress. The thin, white fabric made Annica's pink nipples clearly visible.
"Hm... Perhaps you're right...."
Daemond lowered his face even closer until his lips were only inches away from Annica's before stopping.
"You have an interesting face, little girl," he said while pulling Annica's face closer. "Maybe that's why you seem familiar."
At first, Annica didn't understand what the man intended to do. But when she could feel the warm breath from Daemond's lips on hers, Annica realized that he was about to kiss her. Instantly, she panicked.
"W-wait," Annica screamed while instinctively turned her face to the side. "L-let me go."
With two hands, she pushed Daemond's chest until he released his grip on her neck.
"I-I-I-I'm sorry, Sir," Annica bowed again to apologize upon seeing the surprise on Daemond's face at her rejection. "M-m-my face just hurts, I-I didn't mean to...."
Annica's sentence halted when she heard the man's laughter.
"Ah...," the man chuckled. "It seems I should be the one to apologize is that's the case."
Annica raised her head again to see Daemond's face. She could hardly believe it when she saw the man laughing.
The monster laughed. The man who had ruined her life, capable of laughing.
Annica could feel the tightness in her chest as she watched the man laugh freely. Along with the appearance of a soldier behind the General.
"General Daemond," the soldier called, bowing his head respectfully. "The head of the Vale district is asking if the General has time to discuss several issues. Is the General willing to meet him?"
Daemond stood up, brushing off the dry leaves and soil clinging to his trousers before straightening his back.
"Ah, yes. Of course," the man said. "Tell him to wait in my office."
"Yes, General." The soldier bowed and turned.
Once the soldier left, Daemond redirected his gaze back to Annica.
"You should also return to your room to change out of your wet clothes, little girl," he said. "Brianna won't do something like this again, right Brianna?"
The general waited while Brianna nervously answered, "Y-yes… of course, general."
"Good," he said, directing his gaze back to Annica. "Stand up."
Annica pushed her foot onto the ground to stand up. But after what had happened, her trembling legs seemed no longer had the strength to support her body.
Unable to hold herself, instead of rising, Annica's body swayed forward. Right into the large body in front of her.
The general caught her body with his muscular arms and held tightly to prevent her from falling.
"You should be more careful, little girl," Daemond said while releasing Annica from his embrace after ensuring she could stand properly.
Annica quickly stepped back and lowered her head.
"Y-yes. I-I'm sorry, General," Annica murmured softly. Uncertain whether the man heard or not since Daemond had already turned his back and walked away.
Even after the man disappeared from her sight, Annica still didn't dare to lift her head.
Her heart still pounded in her chest. Her body still felt hot from the man's touch. She could still smell the scent of the man on her nose. Not foul and pungent as she imagined. But a fresh smell, like summer, mixed with a hint of masculine sweat that made her heart beat even faster.
This feeling...
Is this feeling caused by her immense anger and hatred towards the man?
Is that why she could still smell his scent even after he left? Feel his touch even after he released her? Hear his laughter even after he was gone?
Annica felt … she didn't know what she felt.
It wasn't anger. She knew anger.
It also wasn't hatred. She was good friends with hatred.
What she felt now was different.
What she felt now was...
strange.
***
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