Faith's POV
The pen's metallic scrape against the polished wood shattered the stillness, and the chill that swept through me settled in the hollow of my chest.
The clock's ticking grew louder, echoing through the stillness as Felix's gaze held mine, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity in the dim light.
My fingers trembled slightly as I withdrew my hand from the contract.
The paper seemed to rustle ominously as I pushed it toward Felix. The air was heavy, weighing me down. I shifted in my seat, the chair creaking softly beneath me.
Felix's eyes never left mine, his stare piercing. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. The clock ticked on, marking the seconds as the silence stretched between us.
"I'm going to the library," I announced, pushing my chair back as I stood up.
Felix nodded, his eyes never leaving mine, and snapped his fingers. The maid appeared instantly, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear.
"Sir? Do you need anything?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Assist her to the library," Felix instructed, his voice low and smooth, like honey dripping from a spoon. He stood up, his movements fluid and powerful, and smirked at me. "And tell another one to send my food to my office. I'll be waiting."
As the maid scurried off to relay the message, I caught a glimpse of the other servants exchanging nervous glances.
One of them, a young girl with a pale face, hurried off to fulfill Felix's request. Her hands were shaking, and her eyes darted nervously towards the door, as if she feared Felix's wrath.
I watched her go, feeling a shiver run down my spine. What was it about Felix that inspired such fear? His power was palpable, a living, breathing thing that seemed to fill the room.
The maid returned, her eyes fixed on me. "This way, miss," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I followed her, my senses on high alert. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel Felix's eyes on me, even as I walked away.
As we entered the library, the scent of old books and leather enveloped me, immediately calming my nerves.
Towering shelves stretched towards the ceiling, their wooden surfaces gleaming in the soft light that filtered through the stained glass windows.
The maid who accompanied me was a stranger, her face kinder and gentler than the one who had been serving me. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity as she watched me take in the room.
"How old are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if I feared disturbing the silence.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she answered softly, "I'm 21." Her voice was like a gentle breeze on a summer day, soothing and calm.
As she spoke, her fingers fluttered nervously over the folds of her apron, betraying a hint of anxiety beneath her tranquil exterior. I sensed a story behind her downcast eyes, a tale of secrets and whispers that only these walls might know.
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I left the library, the bright sunlight and fresh air enveloped me , providing a welcome respite from the musty silence of books.
The garden's serenity had begun to feel suffocating, the passing hours marked only by the lazy drift of clouds across the sky.
Khana's departure had left me alone with my thoughts, and I'd found myself wandering back to the gentle maid's enigmatic smile.
Her habit of casting her eyes downward during our conversations had become a fascination, like a puzzle I couldn't quite solve.
The sudden interruption came without warning, a warm voice whispering my name as arms enveloped me in a tight hug.
I stumbled, caught off guard, but as I returned the embrace, a sense of belonging washed over me. It was as if I'd finally found a fragment of home.
"Azil?" I breathed, pulling back to gaze at the mischievous grin spreading across her face.
Her eyes sparkled with mirth. "You owe me the juiciest details, Faith. How did you manage to snag my brother?" The teasing lilt in her voice was infectious, but I detected a hint of genuine surprise beneath.
As we settled onto a weathered bench, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh cut grass enveloped us.
Azil's words tumbled out in a gentle stream, but my attention snagged on a single phrase 'my brother' Felix.
The name whispered through my mind like a summer breeze, leaving a trail of gooseflesh in its wake. A flutter in my chest caught me off guard, as if a thousand wings had taken flight. I felt the world tilt, ever so slightly, and my senses come alive.
I whispered the words to myself, a desperate attempt to cling to sanity. "I must be crazy."
Azil's gaze locked into mine , her eyes sparkling with amusement. The garden around us transformed as I recounted the events that lead me at this moment , from Felix's rescue to the hasty marriage, the garden around us transforming .
The flower and trees seemed to lean on , their silence a palpable presence . I hoped Azil would offer some semblance of clarity but her expression only deepened my uncertainty.
Azil's expression transformed from curiosity to incredulity, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
When I finished, she let out a low, throaty chuckle, I felt a thrill of unease .
"Oh, Faith," she said, shaking her head, "in the smallest, most remote corner of your brain, you believed my brother?" Her voice dripped with skepticism, each word a delicate needle pricking my pride.
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I met her gaze. "Did you even read the contract, at least?" she pressed, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
I hesitated, my lips parting to release a barely audible "no."
Azil's laughter spilled out, a melodic sound that grated against my nerves.
I hated they way her laughter made me feel :foolish , naive and trapped .
The garden, once a serene oasis, now seemed to closing in around me, the shadows deepening into mocking grins.
Azil's laughter had dissipated, replaced by an unsettling intensity as she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Firstly, Felix has no family except for me and Adrien." The words hung in the air like a challenge, daring me to confront the truth.
A faint breeze stirred the garden, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
I breathed it in, trying to calm the turmoil brewing inside me. But Azil's gaze held mine, her eyes piercing with a knowing glint.
I shifted uncomfortably on the bench, the wooden slats creaking softly beneath me. Azil's eyes seemed to gleam with a mixture of pity and amusement.
"He lied to you, Faith," she whispered, her breath dancing across my skin. "And you believed him, without even bothering to read the contract."
Azil's eyes sparked with a mixture of amusement and concern ,as if she's trying to protect me from Felix's secrets .
The sunlight filtering through the branches above us seemed to dim, casting long, ominous shadows across the grass.
I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine, my heart racing with every beat. Azil's voice dropped to a whisper, her words sending a shiver down my spine. "What if you're not even married, Faith?"
The question hung in the air, suspended like a challenge.
I felt my breath catch in my throat, my mind reeling with the implications. And then, just as I was about to respond, a faint rustling echoed through the garden, growing louder with every passing moment.