The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the mocking titters of the gathered ladies. Eva felt her heart splinter as the golden coin hit the ground, letting out a sharp clink that echoed in her ears. Humiliated beyond measure, she knew better than to return home empty-handed.
'Pride cannot feed anyone!' her father's voice thundered in her memory, recalling the day he had struck her for refusing to sell her shawls to a Seraph who mocked their family. She could not bear to relive that pain.
Her fingers trembled as she stooped to retrieve the coin. It felt heavier than its weight, carrying the sting of lost dignity and forced submission. She clenched it in her palm, hiding the shake from the eyes that watched her with cruel delight.
The ladies' laughter rippled through the greenhouse, sharp and relentless, but Eva refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break. She straightened her back, hugged her basket close, and whispered, "Thank you, milady," her voice low, careful to mask the quiver within.
Anny's smirk widened, satisfied with the display of subservience, while the others exchanged knowing glances.
Yet behind Eva's polite green eyes burned a quiet, unyielding determination. Even as she left the manor, her heels aching from her swift retreat, she vowed to herself that she would not bow to cruelty.
Only when she reached the shelter of a solitary tree did she crouch, pressing her face to her knees, allowing the coin to fall onto her basket with a soft plop. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs muffled by the embrace of her arms.
What had she done to deserve such scorn? Why had they delighted in shaming her so? She did not know. All she understood was that Seraphs, with all their beauty and willfulness, could be merciless, and though she tried to stay strong, she could not stop the large, pearl like tears that spilled freely from her eyes.
In her sorrow, she hadn't noticed the carriage that had stopped beside her. Only when a large shadow fell over her, shielding her from the harsh sun, did she lift her head.
Her chin trembled as her eyes met the man inside the carriage. His gaze, wide and startled, met hers with unmistakable recognition.
"Miss Evangeline?" The voice was calm, polite, a Seraph's tone—but the young man's brown eyes betrayed genuine concern. Adrian Iverson. The very same Seraph who had been the source of the ladies' envy, the one whose presence alone had caused her so much unwanted attention.
For a moment, Eva doubted what she saw. She blinked, unsure if her tear-blurred vision was playing tricks on her. When she realized she wasn't mistaken, she quickly turned away, dabbing at her cheeks with the long sleeves of her dress to hide her tears. She could not bear another humiliation.
Adrian, as if sensing how invasive it would be to stare, looked away. He then stepped down from the carriage, unlocking the door with careful grace, and offered her a handkerchief. Eva caught sight of it but politely declined.
"It was the pollen," she murmured, forcing a smile. "Thank you, but I wouldn't want to dirty such an expensive handkerchief."
"To wipe the tears of a lady," Adrian replied with a gentle smile, his voice smooth and warm, "should be the handkerchief's greatest honor, Miss Eva."
Eva's heart tightened. Though his words were soft, she feared letting him see her vulnerability. She quickly stood, tugging the wooden basket onto her arm, trying to compose herself.
"I should hurry home. My parents will be worried... my older brother and sister..."
"I can help you back home," Adrian offered, extending his hand toward the carriage.
"I wouldn't dare." She looked away and hurried her steps, hoping he would take the hint.
Adrian, however, was startled at how quickly she tried to escape. Their previous meeting had gone so smoothly, they had laughed, shared small jokes. It was their first encounter, yet she had seemed to enjoy his presence.
Now, though, she was trying to put distance between them. She thought that if she was curt enough, he might be offended and leave her alone. But, unexpectedly, he quickened his pace, closing the space between them with ease.
"Have I offended you, Miss Evangeline?" he asked gently, keeping pace with her. "I thought we both enjoyed our conversation last night. I came to find you, so we could continue it. So we could, be friends."
Her chest tightened. Guilt coiled inside her like a snake. Adrian had done nothing wrong, yet she had endured Miss Anny's cruelty and feared the consequences if their continued acquaintance became known. What if the ladies in the manor gossiped again? What if her father, already troubled by her work, learned of it? She could barely bear to imagine it.
She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "You did not offend me. How could you offend someone like me?" Her voice was quiet, but steady, and her green eyes met his furrowed brows.
Adrian's gaze softened, though his question held a hint of gentle challenge. "If I have not offended you... why do you seem so afraid of me? I don't believe I've ever scared you, have I?"
"It's not you," she sighed, her breaths quick and shallow. "We- we have different status. You are a Seraph from a great family, and I am a human, a commoner. No one would be pleased to see us talking together."
"Is that why you've been crying?" A frown knotted Adrian's forehead. "Who is it that isn't pleased?"
"Names don't matter," she murmured, fearful that Adrian might confront the women and make things worse. "I just... I think we need distance. Humans have always been warned not to cross paths with Seraphs. Now I understand why. You've done nothing wrong, it isn't your fault, but I don't want to cause further trouble for either of us."
"This isn't fair, Miss Evangeline," Adrian protested, running a hand over his forehead with a sigh. His white wings trembled, feathers quivering as if mirroring the tension in his chest. "If this is no one's fault, then why do we have to fear the others?"
Eva pursed her lips. He could say such words because he wasn't the one to suffer the wraths of those girl, wasn't the one who had to face bitter disappointment from her parents.
"Because in this town, Seraphs control everything," she said, quickening her steps. "I'm sorry, but in my current state, I cannot have a calm conversation with you. I just wish you would understand the difference in our worlds... to prevent any misunderstandings."
Her cheeks burned as she recalled the cruel rumor: that she had kissed Adrian. Who had seen? Who had lied? Her stomach twisted at the thought.
Hurriedly, Evangeline ran down the path toward home, unaware of the dark, possessive expression that had settled on Adrian's face.
His sigh slipped out in frustration, knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. Brown eyes followed Evangeline's retreating figure, a fierce annoyance simmering beneath his otherwise calm exterior.
When he stepped back into the carriage, his tone was sharper than usual as he addressed the coachman, his trusted aide.
"Have you sent her the envelope?"
"Yes, Sir Adrian. It should already be in the young miss's mailbox."
"But she doesn't seem aware of it," Adrian muttered with a click of his tongue. "And I couldn't mention it before she fled."
"Shall we go to her house, sir? Stop her from attending the party with someone else?" the aide suggested cautiously.
Adrian gave a low, amused scoff, the sound laced with menace. A crooked smile tugged at his lips. "No need. We'll return for today." His eyes narrowed to the cobbled ground beyond the carriage window. "As long as the rumor of her kissing me spreads, no man will dare escort her to the ball. No one."
The words lingered in the air like a promise as the carriage rolled forward. Yet Adrian's gaze remained fixed on the path Evangeline had taken, sharp and possessive, like a predator watching its prey vanish into the thicket. His tongue flicked across his lips, slow and deliberate, as though savoring the inevitability of her return to him.