Luzella freshened up and slipped into cozy night clothes, the soft fabric a gentle comfort against her skin. The weariness of the day seemed to melt away, but her mind still lingered on the thoughts that had been troubling her.
Luzella settled on the bed, she couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness that had been weighing her down like an unyielding shadow. Her mind racing with desperation, she tried to think of a way to escape her situation. With a deep, sorrowful sigh, she let her thoughts drift aimlessly, hoping that somehow, someway, a solution would present itself, like a beacon of light in the darkness, guiding her towards freedom and peace.
Just then, a knock on the door broke the silence. Luzella rose and walked towards the door, and as she opened the door, she was greeted by Butler Halley with a warm smile and a respectful nod. "Good evening, Ms.Luzella. Dinner is ready, if you'd like to join us downstairs."
Despite her circumstances, Luzella's face softened into a warm smile as she replied with a gentle nod "Thank you, Mr. Halley. I'll be right down." Halley stepped aside, allowing Luzella to proceed.
Luzella's footsteps echoed softly through the hallway as she made her way towards the stairs, the gentle rustle of her clothing accompanying her movements. With a quiet deliberateness, she descended the stairs, Butler Halley following closely behind her, his footsteps a subtle accompaniment to hers.
Butler Halley's gaze followed Luzella as she descended the stairs, and he thought to himself that she was quite composed, a trait that impressed him.
As they reached the dining table, Alaric, who was already seated in the main chair, looked up and caught sight of Luzella approaching. The warm glow of the chandelier above highlighted the sharp contours of his face, and his eyes, piercing and intense, met hers. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, the air thick with unspoken tension. Luzella's gaze locked onto his, and she came to an abrupt halt, her footsteps frozen in mid-stride as if rooted to the spot.
As Luzella's eyes met Alaric's across the room, her mind flashed back to the earlier moment in her bedroom and she felt so embarrassed to face him.
Alaric's lips curled into a knowing smirk as he uttered the words, "Come here." His eyes, gleaming with a hint of amusement, locked onto Luzella's, and with a subtle tilt of his head, he gestured with his eyes towards the chair to his right, inviting her to sit.
Luzella shook off her thoughts and walked towards the chairs, heading directly for a different seat instead of the one Alaric had chosen. She sank into the seat, her voice soft as she said, "I'm fine here."
Alaric leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed and his piercing gaze fixed on Luzella as he replied in a deep, low tone, his voice dripping with subtle menace "Little girl, do you prefer to sit in my lap and let me feed you?" The question hung in the air with a hint of challenging that made Luzella's heart skip a beat.
She looked up at him briefly before she stood up and made her way to the chair on Alaric's right side, her movements deliberate as she sat down. A glimmer sparked in Alaric's eyes, and his lips curved slightly upward before he swiftly erased the expression.
However, Butler Halley, standing discreetly at the edge of the room, caught the fleeting glimpse of Alaric's brief smile, his eyes surprised slightly as he processed the unexpected sight. For a moment, Halley's stoic expression faltered by such a rare reaction from Alaric.
But Butler Halley composed himself and went to serve them the dinner before leaving the room.
Luzella's eyes widened as she gazed at the array of dishes before her, she couldn't help but wonder if she was expected to make her way through it all. "I don't think I can eat all this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper and her gaze darting from one dish to another dish.
Alaric's expression softened slightly as he met Luzella's gaze, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You don't have to," he said, his deep voice low and reassuring. "Just eat what you can."
Luzella's eyes lit up with hope as she swiftly turned to Alaric, her gaze locking onto his. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, seeking confirmation of his reassuring words.
Alaric nodded with a hum and added "Really" to reassure her.
A relief washed over Luzella's face that she didn't need to eat all this. However, a doubt came to her mind and her brow quickly furrowed with a questioning gaze settled in her eyes. "Then who will eat all of this?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern about the food going to waste.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with sarcasm as he replied, "Little girl, with the many staff members working in the mansion, Do you think the food will go to waste?" His words dripped with indirect amusement, implying that the staff would likely devour the food before it went to waste.
Luzella's response was a simple "Oh," before she dug into her food, the clinking of her fork against the plate the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Alaric's intense gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes seeming to bore into her very soul. As she felt his piercing stare, Luzella glanced up, her heart skipping a beat as their eyes met. Her voice laced with nervousness, she asked, "Why aren't you eating? And why are you staring at me like that?" Her question hung in the air, filled with unspoken emotions.
Alaric's gaze didn't waver, his eyes piercing through the silence like shards of ice. His voice dropped to a whisper as he spoke, "I'm not eating because I'm saving my appetite for something more... satisfying." his words hanging in the air like a promise. "And I'm not staring at you, I'm staring at my meal, little girl," he added, his tone low and mysterious.