Eira glared at him, her frustration mounting as she released his shirt. Forget it, she thought. There was no reasoning with this man. She'd have to figure out her way out of this place.
"Where are my things?" she asked, suddenly recalling that she had placed her bag on the floor before the fight.
Lyle tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Your things are safe."
Eira's eyes narrowed. "I didn't ask if they were safe. I asked where they are."
Lyle remained calm, but there was a quiet authority in his voice. "They're being kept with my attendant."
Eira sighed, knowing arguing with him was pointless. She sat down on the bed, making sure to keep a good distance between them. "Thank you for keeping my things, but I want them back. Can you ask your attendant to bring them?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, her stomach growled loudly, echoing in the quiet room. Eira blinked in surprise, realizing how hungry she was—she hadn't eaten since the morning.
Lyle's eyes flicked to her stomach, and his lips curved into a small smile. "You'll get your things back once you've showered, eaten, and rested."
Eira frowned, annoyed by his control over the situation. "And if I refuse?"
His gaze remained steady. "Then you'll stay here, hungry, with no way out. But I don't think you would want to refuse a meal, especially when you need it."
Eira glared at him again, her hunger beginning to overpower her pride. She didn't want to stay in this place, but it was clear that escaping on an empty stomach was not going to work either. Begrudgingly, she accepted his terms, for now.
"Fine," she muttered. "But don't think this means I'm staying."
Lyle's smile widened slightly as if he had already anticipated her answer. "Good. I'll have the maids prepare everything for you."
Without waiting for her to respond, he stood up and headed toward the door, leaving her alone in the room.
…
Lyle descended the stairs unhurriedly. When he reached the bottom, Jania was waiting for him, her face calm but her eyes full of questions.
"Master Lyle," she said, stepping forward. "I called Doctor Liam, and he's on his way."
"Mm," Lyle gave a brief nod, his expression showing disinterest.
Jania watched him carefully, noticing how unusually relaxed he appeared. "Is there something you need?"
"Tell the maids to prepare toiletries, and comfortable clothes for her, she needs to rest and eat," Lyle said, "Also, bring her things to her."
Jania raised an eyebrow slightly, but she didn't question him. "Of course, Master Lyle. Right away."
As she turned to leave, Lyle added, "Make sure the food is plenty, but nothing too heavy."
'And when did you become a doctor?'
Jania thought as she nodded and quickly made her way down the hall, leaving Lyle standing at the base of the stairs. He gazed back up towards Eira's room for a moment, his expression softening slightly.
---
Back in the room, Eira sat on the edge of the bed, tapping her foot impatiently. Every second felt like an eternity, and the growling in her stomach wasn't helping her mood. She glanced at the door, half expecting Lyle to come back with another bizarre request.
What does he even want from me? she thought, still unable to make sense of the situation. Everything about this felt wrong and weird, but she knew she needed to stay calm and focused if she was going to figure out a way out.
Minutes passed before there was a knock at the door. Three young maids entered the room, one was pushing a trolley, like the ones used in hotels to deliver meals, while the other two carried fresh towels, clothes, and toiletries.
"Miss, we've brought you dinner and some essentials," the first maid said softly, bowing slightly as she pushed the trolley toward a small table in the corner of the room.
The second maid, holding a stack of towels, placed them on a nearby chair while the third arranged a set of clothes on the bed. The three maids worked quickly, avoiding eye contact with Eira, who sat watching them with suspicion.
"Master Lyle said you should freshen up before eating," one of the maids added nervously, glancing at the others as they finished setting up. "If there's anything else you need, please let us know."
Eira raised an eyebrow. Comfortable? She nearly laughed. "What I need is my things," she said, her voice sharp but calm.
The maids exchanged a quick look before one of them spoke. "They will be brought to you shortly, Miss."
Eira sighed, feeling the walls of the room closing in on her again. She couldn't shake the feeling of being a kidnapped princess, with how polite the staff seemed. "Fine," she muttered, glancing at the steaming plates of food. Her stomach growled again, betraying her.
The maids quickly left the room after bowing, leaving Eira alone with her thoughts—and the smell of the food, which was becoming harder to ignore.
She reluctantly stood up, picking up the towel and toiletries before making her way to the bathroom.
Eira stepped into the bathroom and was momentarily awed by the luxurious setup. Marble floors, gleaming fixtures, and a spacious shower that looked like it belonged in a five-star hotel. Everything was pristine, and untouched, with a futuristic feel to it.
She walked forward but stopped when a chime sounded beside her making her turn to look at the wall that slowly started turning into a mirror.
The fuck? Did a part of the wall just open or did a part of the wall just turn into a damn mirror?
Eira stared at the wall-turned-mirror, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. What the hell? she thought, glancing around the luxurious bathroom again, suddenly feeling even more out of place.
Shaking her head, she tried to push her unease aside and focus on the immediate need: a shower. She wasn't about to let some weird, futuristic tech distract her from the fact that she felt grimy and exhausted. Grabbing the towel, she stepped toward the shower.
As the warm water hit her skin, Eira sighed, letting the heat relax her tense muscles. For a few moments, she allowed herself to forget the absurd situation she was in. She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind.
After a few minutes, she stepped out of the shower, drying herself quickly. She grabbed the clothes left on the bed—a loose-fitting white T-shirt and gray sweatpants.
As she dressed, her stomach growled again, and the smell of the food pulled her back to reality. Hurriedly, she sat down at the small table and began eating Despite her frustration and confusion, the food was delicious—fresh bread, roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, and a light soup.
Fine, she thought, as she took another bite. I'll eat. But once I have my strength back, I'm getting the hell out of here.
After finishing the meal, Eira pushed the plate away and leaned back in her chair. She knew she had to get her things and leave, but there was a strange exhaustion settling over her, likely from the stress and the adrenaline of the day. She tried to fight it, but her body was urging her to rest, just for a little while.
She stood up and paced the room again, glancing out the window. Night had fallen, and the view was serene as if she were in some kind of isolated mansion in the middle of nowhere. No sign of the outside world, no hint of where exactly she was.
Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. Eira tensed, immediately on guard, but then remembered it was likely one of the maids.
"Miss, we've brought your things," a voice called from behind the door.
Eira's pulse quickened. Finally.
She walked over and opened the door slightly, eyeing the maid suspiciously. The young woman held Eira's bag in her hands, offering it with a polite bow. Eira collected it, mouthing a thanks, and shut the door again. She placed the bag on the bed and rifled through it, checking to make sure everything was there. Her books, phone, wallet—all accounted for.
But still, the silence from the AI weighed on her mind. Where the hell is it?
Eira pulled out her phone, but just as she powered it on, the screen flashed once, then fizzled out. Dead.
Just perfect. When she thought she'd found something to keep herself busy with.
Frustration mounting, Eira tossed the phone back into the bag. She sat on the bed, her mind running through her options. She needed to get out of there, but without knowing the layout of the mansion or where the exits were, it felt like an impossible task. And Lyle... he was watching her every move, or at least it felt like he was.
With no immediate answers, she decided to lie down for just a few minutes. She would rest, recharge, and figure out her next move.
But as soon as her head hit the pillow, her exhaustion took over, and despite her determination, her eyes slowly closed.
Just a few minutes, she thought, as sleep overtook her.
A while later, the door slowly opened, and a tall figure walked into the room. He stopped by the bed, his violet eyes staring intently at the girl who slept in an unladylike manner with her arm draped over her face, her red hair scattering in all directions and one leg sticking out from under the blanket. Lyle stood there for a moment, silently watching her, his expression unreadable.
Then he leaned down, silently pulling up the blanket, and got into the bed. Eira who never slept deeply and was always conscious of her surroundings had no idea that someone had gotten into her bed.