True to his word, Alexander set about mending the gaping hole in Odetta's room. "That's quite considerable," he remarked, surveying the damage as he began to cover it with planks. Odetta stood near her bed, her hands clasped together, a picture of uncertainty. As he reached up, straining to cover the last remaining opening, he furrowed his brow in concentration. Though he was a tall figure, the ceiling loomed high above him, and he turned to the young woman, who observed him with wide eyes.
"Could you lend me a hand?" he requested, his voice steady yet tinged with a hint of desperation.
Odetta's brow knitted in confusion. "How am I supposed to assist you? I am not tall enough to reach the ceiling," she replied, her voice laced with apprehension.
"Fear not," Alexander responded with a grin, "I shall carry you." Without further ado, he approached her, lifting her effortlessly and placing her atop his shoulder. Odetta let out a startled shriek, a mixture of surprise and trepidation washing over her as she instinctively clutched his head for support.
Alexander chuckled, amused by her reaction. "Do not worry, my dear. I assure you, I won't let you fall." His hands were strong and secure, cradling her body with a protective grip. With a hammer in hand, Odetta steadied herself and deftly covered the hole with a plank, puncturing nails with determined strikes. She willed herself to ignore the warmth of his hands gripping her thighs, focusing solely on the task at hand.
Just as she drove the final nail into place, Alexander attempted to lower her back to the ground. However, as Odetta, in an eagerness to descend, shifted her weight, he lost his balance. Panic flashed in his eyes as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, a protective embrace meant to shield her from the impending fall.
With a loud thud, they both tumbled to the ground, the impact leaving Alexander groaning in pain. Odetta, startled, quickly pulled away, her heart racing, and hurried to help him up.
"Oh dear! I am terribly sorry!" Odetta exclaimed, panic lacing her voice as she checked the older man for any sign of injury. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Alexander shook his head, quickly reassuring her, "No, no, I'm okay. Don't worry about it."
Her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure? It sounds quite painful…"
He chuckled softly, gently taking her hand in his. "It's alright. I'm fine, see?" he insisted. Yet, Odetta remained unconvinced. Just as he spoke, a trickle of blood began to flow down his neck. Odetta gasped, her eyes widening in horror.
"You are bleeding!!" she cried, shaking his shoulders in distress.
Alexander touched his head and looked down at the crimson stain on his hand, realizing that he had bumped it against the edge of the bed during their tumble. Initially, he had wished to downplay the incident, not wanting to alarm the young lady before him, but now that she had noticed the blood, he found himself unable to refuse her offer to tend to the wound.
At that moment, the door creaked open, revealing a girl no older than fourteen. "Wellington?" she inquired, her voice soft and light.
"Miss Julietta!" he replied, surprise evident in his tone. The girl, Julietta, did not appear fazed by the sight of blood; rather, she seemed remarkably composed, as if such occurrences were commonplace in this peculiar place. "Why are you bleeding?" she asked, her expression curious yet calm.
Odetta, remaining steadfast at Alexander's side, spoke on his behalf. "It was my fault. He asked me to help cover the hole, and when I tried to jump off his shoulder, he lost his balance and must have bumped his head on the edge of the bed," she explained, her voice earnest.
Julietta nodded, her gaze steady. "I see. You should get your head bandaged, Wellington," she said before turning to leave the room.
Odetta turned to Alexander, concern etched on her features. "Is there any doctor here?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
He shook his head gently. "No, I'm alright, really. I just need the wound covered, and I'll be fine," Alexander reassured her.
Nevertheless, Odetta insisted on tending to the injury herself, adamant that it was her fault he was bleeding. She wrapped a clean cloth around his head, her focus unwavering despite his penetrating gaze. Alexander's eyes held hers, and the intensity of his stare made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
"All done," she finally announced, her voice breaking the silence that had enveloped them.
"Thank you," he replied, gratitude shining in his eyes, still captivated by her presence.
"Is there something on my face?" Odetta asked, perplexed. The castle was eerie, but the inhabitants seemed equally peculiar; they had a tendency to simply stare, and she found herself questioning why.
Alexander remained silent, adding to the palpable tension in the room. He moved closer to her, his gaze flitting between her eyes and lips. 'Is he going to kiss me?' Odetta thought, her heart racing. As much as she wanted to distance herself, she found it increasingly difficult to look away from him. His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, his silver hair shimmering like a halo.
Their faces were mere inches apart when, suddenly, the door creaked open once more. Isadore stepped inside, concern etched across his features. Alexander and Odetta quickly averted their gazes, pretending as if nothing had transpired.
"Did something happen? I heard a thud from downstairs," Isadore inquired, his brow furrowed.
"I fell," Alexander replied nonchalantly. "I was trying to fix the hole," he added, hoping to dismiss any lingering worries.
"Oh...Lady Lenora wishes to see you, Miss Gilmore. She's waiting for you in her garden," Isadore said, his tone shifting to a more formal cadence.
Odetta nodded, her heart still fluttering as she walked toward the door, casting a fleeting glance back at Alexander before leaving. Alone now in Odetta's room, Alexander sighed in disbelief. How could he have been so close to kissing a young woman he had only just met a few days prior? Yet, he could not shake the allure she held over him. Was it her beauty? Her intoxicating scent? Her radiant smile? Or perhaps the serene gentleness she exuded in the midst of chaos?