Luncheon was held by one in the afternoon. An hour before when it was usually held in the Valencia house. Valerie wondered how it was over there, it hadn't been more than a day. She wondered if Lorien had arrived, if he had taken Malorie, or if he was speaking to Father. She also worried about her stepmother. Unknowingly, she sighed.
Raelyth looked up from his plate at her. "Is the food not to your taste?" He worried.
Valerie hastily shook her head. "The food is to my liking. A thought just crossed my mind, that is all." Valerie looked down at her meal; they were all delicious, including the ones she had seen and not seen.
Raelyth nodded. "Is it about your sister?" He asked.
Valerie looked up at him, finding no reason to lie or hide the truth from him. "Yes, it is about Malorie. But I do not want to ruin lunch by speaking about it. Maybe we will speak about it later." She told with a small smile. "I love the food. It is delicious."
"I am glad it is prepared to your liking. If there is any change you want, do wish to speak about it," he uttered gently.
"Yes."
Raelyth and Valerie didn't speak anymore during luncheon, which held for less than an hour. After lunch ended, Raelyth had asked her if she needed a change of clothes, but she had said she was alright.
Raelyth held her hand, which she was used to now. He led her up the stairs, and when they reached the first floor, he stopped. "This is the first floor," he said. "It's usually for guests who come over for soirees and cannot make it back to their various homes."
"So it's like a guest house in your main home?" Valerie asked, her interest picking at soirees. Her father had never let her nor Malorie attend a soiree.
"That is what I meant," Raelyth responded.
"Oh..." Valerie nodded. As they walked the passageway, entering a corner that led to many more rooms and bathrooms. "I have never attended a soiree."
Raelyth looked stunned at her words. He looked down at her with his brows elegantly raised up. "No?" Valerie shook her head. "You never found interest in it, or you just could not attend?"
"Father usually only went to soirees with Mama. His usual words were, and I quote; 'Malorie is already promised, and you, Valerie, I do not intend to get you married anytime soon, so there is no point in being my escorts to a soiree.'" She breathed out.
"Malorie is married?" He asked.
Valerie paused their movements by what she noticed was a staircase which most probably led to the second floor directly. "You do know Malorie was promised to you?"
Raelyth blinked. "No. I did not."
Valerie's ears heated. She did not know if that was a thing she was supposed to say. "Yes," she turned away from him, staring at the staircase. "But she did not like you; she liked another man. So Father had to marry me to you."
"I am glad." His statement had Valerie whipping her head to him. "I am glad it is you who married me." He resumed their walk, up the stairs and to the second floor.
"Oh..." Valerie felt her neck and cheeks heat up. She didn't know what to respond to that.
"This is where the library is situated," Raelyth said, and when Valerie looked up to him for confirmation and he nodded, she made a show of running through the squared passageway looking for which door opened the library. When she found it, she gasped and ran inside. Raelyth only chuckled, taking measured steps towards the room.
He entered the library and shut the door, watching as she ran through the whole library in awe. "This is the biggest library I have ever seen. It is even bigger than Sir Taylor's bookstore!"
"Do you like it?" Raelyth asked as he approached her standing in the middle of the room. The library was built in a way that the three walls had shelves built on them, and more, leaving the centre of the room empty with two couches resting opposite each other.
"Like it?" She swivelled to face him. "Raelyth, I love it!" It was the second or third time he had heard his name from her mouth in just a day of them being together.
Hm... It seemed their marriage would be lovely, Raelyth thought. Though he knew the bright thought could not hide what he truly is and what she would find out someday.
Not today though, he soothed his mind.
"You can always come here whenever you wish. It is yours."
"It is mine?" Valerie repeated, looking genuinely stunned, though her eyes shone brighter than ever.
"Yes, yours." He moved closer, raising his hand and caressing her cheek. Valerie subconsciously leaned into him. "I would be going out for an errand soon. Whatever you wish to have or wish to do, you tell Momo."
Valerie's eyes dimmed at the prospect of him leaving, but she had to remind herself that it was just their first time meeting, even though they acted like old-time lovers. "Yes, I will. We will have dinner together, right?"
"Yes, dear. I will return home on time for dinner." Valerie nodded at his assurance.
"Can I write a letter to Malorie?"
"Yes. You can write to your sister. Momo will handle the delivery." Valerie nodded.
The couple stood staring at each other with Raelyth's hand still on her cheek, then he did something absolutely stunning. He leaned down and left a warm kiss on Valerie's cheek, replacing his hand with his lips. Valerie's heart did a somersault; she physically tried to hold herself together and not melt in a puddle at his feet.
"Farewell, my Moonflower. I will see you soon." And with that, Raelyth turned on his heels and left the library, leaving his wife-to-be at the comfort of plenty of books and a palpitating heart.
"What... What is wrong with me?"