Alexander stared confusedly at the balcony. "That was weird," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Shaking his head, he turned toward the grand staircase. Each step echoed faintly as he ascended, his hand gliding along the cool, smooth marble railing. The house was filled with warm and friendly servants who always greeted him with smiles, yet, for some reason, unease crept over him as he climbed higher. The cheerful chatter from the living room below felt distant, almost hollow, as though it belonged to a different place entirely.
Midway, he paused and found himself staring at the door to Alicia's room on the second floor. Just moments ago, he had seen her standing on the balcony attached to her room, so he knew she was inside. Yet, something about the stillness of the door and the faint, almost faint sound of movement from within filled him with an mysterious tension. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, golden and warm, but it only deepened the long shadows that seemed to stretch toward him.
Inside Alicia's room, she adjusted her appearance, carefully fixing her hair and smoothing her dress to ensure she looked presentable. She needed to appear calm, acting as though nothing unusual had occurred. As she worked, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing closer. Her hands paus ed mid-motion, her heart skipping a beat as she realized someone was approaching her door.
The footsteps stopped just outside her room. "Alicia, are you there? May I come in?" Alexander's voice came through, laced with both concern and seriousness.
Although nervous, Alicia took a steadying breath before responding, "Yes." Her voice was steady, but her heart raced in her chest, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
The door creaked open, and Alicia quickly looked up at Alexander, her nerves bubbling beneath the surface. She tried to mask it with a forced smile, though her hands betrayed her—slightly crumpling the fabric of her gown. "What made you come here?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with an uncertainty she hoped he wouldn't notice.
He raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident as he took a few steps toward her. His gaze dropped to her gown, and he stopped, studying it with a frown. "Don't tell me you're still planning to attend the ball," he said, his tone serious and unexpectedly sharp.
"What do you mean?" Alicia asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Then, in a flash, memories from her past life came rushing back. She had always dreamed of attending the ball, but Alexander had made it clear that if she did, he would cancel their engagement. Back then, she had been so submissive, pleading with him not to cancel, begging him to let her go without any consequences.
She swallowed hard as she remembered how he had sighed, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm afraid it would be inappropriate for you to attend, knowing that you're engaged," he had said softly, caressing her cheek.
Her voice wavered as she tried to reason with him, "But, Alexander, you're going to escort me. Everybody knows that I'm engaged to you—"
He brushed her hands away, his expression darkening. "I'm not going there to escort you. You know that I don't like that Duke."
"But—" she started, but he cut her off, his voice rising.
"I said you're not going!" he snapped, his tone sharp and final.
Alicia recoiled, taking a few steps back, her throat tight as she fought to hold back tears. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her words barely audible as the weight of the past and present collided within her.
Before Alexander turned to leave, he paused at the door, barely looking at her. His voice was low, but the words cut through the silence. "Don't do things you might regret, my love," he said, his tone both warning and resigned.
Alicia stood there, rooted to the spot, feeling the distance between them grow even wider. The weight of his words lingered in the air as he walked away, leaving her alone in the room with only the sound of her own heartbeat for company.
A light tap on her shoulder from Alexander snapped Alicia back to reality.
"Sorry? What were you saying?" she stammered, her thoughts racing.
Alexander sighed, glancing at her gown with a mixture of frustration and concern. "Don't tell me you're planning to attend the ball."
Her eyes trembled, struggling to keep the gaze steady as she tried to mask the uncertainty inside. She swallowed hard, her voice shaking, "I want to go." The silence that followed felt suffocating, as though the weight of her words alone could bring everything crashing down. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat louder than the last, as she waited for his response.
His expression hardened, his tone becoming serious, "No, you're not going."
Alicia's mind raced, but nothing came out clearly. Her heart was hammering so fast she thought it might stop. "I really want to—" she started, but stopped herself. The fear that had always lingered around him seized her once more. "I'm not going," she finished, looking down, her hands trembling and still clenched into fists.
Alexander's lips curled into a small smile as he sighed. "Good. I just dropped by after hearing that you were preparing for the ball."
She realised that he sent someone to spy on her. He turned to leave, his words lingering in the air, "I'll see you later, my sweet."
As the door clicked shut behind him, Alicia collapsed to the floor, her legs giving way beneath her. Her heart still pounded in her chest, her breath shallow and erratic. She fought to keep her tears at bay, but the strain was too much. The weight of everything she had just endured crushed her, and in a broken whisper, she murmured, "I can't do this anymore." Her voice cracked, the tears finally spilling free as she let out the cry she had been holding back for so long.
Her maid, Catherine, rushed to her side.
"My Lady!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern as she helped Alicia to her feet. "I heard you and the Marquess quarrel. Are you okay?"
Catherine gently helped Alicia sit on her bed, her hands trembling slightly with worry. After a moment, she asked, her voice filled with concern, "My Good Lord! What happened, my lady? Did he bully you again?"
Alicia managed a soft smile through her tears, though the sorrow in her eyes remained. "Catherine, what should I do?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
"My lady..." Catherine's voice faltered with emotion. It was clear how deeply she cared for Alicia. Without another word, she pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close. The room was filled with the sound of Alicia's sobs as the weight of her pain seemed to consume her, every tear a reminder of the helplessness she felt.
After a moment, Alicia finally calmed down, her breath coming in slower, more even bursts. As she looked at Catherine, something stirred within her. She realized with a pang of gratitude that Catherine had been there for her longer than her own parents had ever stayed at the manor. Catherine was more than just a maid; she was like a sister, someone who had always cared deeply for her.
Alicia reached out, gently taking Catherine's hand. "Catherine, send Duke Arthur De Braose a letter, saying that I'm going to visit him."
Catherine smiled softly, her eyes warm with understanding. "Coming up!" she said, giving Alicia's hand a reassuring squeeze before turning to leave.
Alicia gazed out over the balcony, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. The tears had subsided, leaving behind a quiet resolve. As the cool breeze touched her skin, she stood tall, her expression hardening with determination. She knew what she had to do now. Her heart was heavy, but her mind was clear. I need his help, she thought again, the seriousness in her eyes reflecting her resolve.
With a deep breath, she turned toward the wardrobe, ready to take the next step.