Two thoughts crossed Valerie's mind as she stared back at the green eyes that were staring at her.
He has such beautiful eyes.
And most importantly, when did he arrive?!
Valerie cleared her throat and moved away from the railing that overlooked the lower part of the mansion. Her cheeks were hot, and she tried fanning them for a bit before she finally took a step towards the spiral staircase. Every step she took matched the loud thump of her heart. Finally, she reached the bottom stairs and stepped into the living room.
Raelyth's gaze once again met hers. He didn't falter, nor did he try looking away from her.
He was such a beautiful man, Jesus, Valerie thought. She stood, taking her eyes away from her husband-to-be to her father. Ethan nodded and gestured for Valerie to take the space beside the Grand Duke of Nor'east.
Once Valerie sat, goosebumps enveloped her skin. His warmth enveloped her and made her cold as well. It was a strange feeling she could not quite name.
"Duke Raelyth, this is my daughter—"
"I am certain your daughter can introduce herself." The voice came from above Valerie's head. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a bit at the sound of his voice.
His voice was so deep and masculine. It was also calm and soothing, like waves of an ocean. God, what is wrong with me! she thought.
Remembering what he said, she raised her head up, taking a bold step to look at Raelyth, and as she had expected, he was staring down at her. She cleared her throat, occasionally rubbing her palms together atop her gown.
"I..." She shut her mouth quickly, not wanting to even give the slightest stutter. Preparing herself once more—something Ethan depreciated, the time wastage—she started, "I am Valerie Valencia, daughter of Ethan Valencia."
A small smile tipped the corner of Raelyth's lips. "Valerie..." The way he pronounced her name sounded like salvation. Not that she knew what it sounded like. Raelyth outstretched his hand, and after a heartbeat, Valerie placed hers on his, not expecting the man to raise her hand up to his lips and place a kiss on top while holding her gaze with his mesmerizing jade eyes.
Valerie gulped. She could feel her whole body heating up, most especially her face. Not used to such action and in fear that her father might disregard Raelyth's action, she quickly pulled her hand away, covering it with the other atop her dress. To say she was shy was an understatement.
Raelyth only chuckled, the sound dark and more like a growl to Valerie's ears. "I like her," Raelyth said, his gaze on Ethan.
Valerie's eyes widened. She stared at her father, who was smiling bright at Raelyth. "Of course you should. That is only how a marriage should work, isn't it?" Then his gaze landed on his daughter. "If both the husband and wife loved each other." He was insinuating something, and Valerie picked up what it was.
"Is your belongings ready?" Raelyth asked, taking his gaze back to the girl beside him. He was spellbound by her, he admitted. When he had looked up, over the railing, to see the fair girl with blonde hair that could pass for white and those grey eyes that shone brightly, his breath hitched. And then she came down, spoke to him, took her hand away from his because she was shy—he instantly knew she was the one for him.
He was certain she had heard about the rumours of him being mad, but he picked that she was not scared. She was just shy, nervous.
"Y... yes, they are," she said.
Raelyth nodded, finding it hard to look away from her. He wanted to run his hands through her hair; he could tell it would be as soft as it looked and smelled. "We should get going then." He entwined his hand with hers and pulled her to stand with him. "You may visit us anytime you like, as she is your daughter, though I would appreciate a letter beforehand."
Valerie almost snorted. She knew Ethan would never step his foot inside the Nor'east Grand Duke's home for her.
"Yes, definitely. Do take care of yourself, Valerie." Then he stood up and approached her. Ethan raised his hand, and Valerie involuntarily flinched, her hold on Raelyth's tightening. Ethan's smile became tight; he placed his hand on Valerie's cheek and rubbed it in a way that would pass for affectionate if he wasn't a cold-blooded father.
"I will visit you soon." Ethan stepped back, giving Raelyth the final nod.
"Ready?" he asked, staring down at her.
"Yes," Valerie muttered.
Raelyth nodded back at Ethan, then turned on his heels, leaving the mansion, two maidservants following suit. The coachman opened the carriage door for them, and Raelyth, the gentleman he was, let Valerie step in first before he joined her.
After the maidservants had settled everything and the coachman readied the horses, they rode out of Ethan Valencia's compound.
Valerie didn't know if she was feeling lighter or heavier, given she had finally left her abusive, broken home.
"Why did you flinch back then?" Raelyth suddenly asked, drawing Valerie's attention to him.
"I do not know what you are talking about," she muttered.
"Yes, you do, darling. You flinched—"
"Don't call me that." She didn't know where the burst of courage came from as she stared at Raelyth and told him.
"Darling?" he asked in confusion.
"Yes... please don't," Valerie whispered, looking down at their entwined hands.
"Okay." Raelyth's voice softened. He used his other hand to lift up her face so that she stared at him. "Now answer my question. And I would not be happy if you brush it aside."
Of all the attributes she had termed Raelyth with even before meeting him, calm was the least of them. No, it wasn't even on the list. She had thought he would be everything like his name.
Mad.
"He used to hit us," Valerie finally said. Why should she not? She was finally out of her father's wing and wouldn't be seeing him in a long time.
"Your father?" Raelyth's eyes hardened as he asked to be certain.
Valerie held his gaze, her calm mirroring his hardness. "Yes, my father."