Chapter 83: Taking care of him I.
Thank you so much @ Sarebie for the gift.
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Three days had slipped quietly into memory.
Morning sunlight stretched across the countryside like molten gold, washing the rolling hills beyond the village in a warm glow. Dew sparkled upon the wildflowers scattered through the meadows, while a gentle breeze carried the scent of pine, damp earth, and blooming herbs from the surrounding forest. Unlike the bustling streets of the nearby village or the constant activity within the Elven Palace, the lonely stone cottage resting at the edge of the woodland seemed untouched by the hurried rhythm of the world.
Peace lingered there.
Only the occasional rustling of leaves and distant birdsong disturbed the silence.
The narrow path leading toward the cottage curved gently between ancient trees, and along that path walked a single familiar figure.
Saline.
Gone was the quiet company of Lilian.
Today, she had come alone.
She carried a woven basket over one arm, filled with fruit and herbs. Her pace was steady, though her heart carried a strange mixture of anticipation and uncertainty that she refused to acknowledge.
Lilian had wanted to accompany her.
Unfortunately, Queen Calista had personally assigned nearly every member of the palace household to assist with the final wedding preparations. With only four days remaining until Florence and Commander Kaelion’s wedding, the palace had become busier than ever before.
Someone had to remain behind and help Florence which had left Saline making the journey alone.
"...It’s only because I promised," she murmured beneath her breath as though reminding herself.
The words sounded less convincing every time she repeated them.
She adjusted the basket slightly against her arm and continued walking.
Before long, the familiar stone cottage appeared through the trees.
Sunlight spilled across its weathered walls, and ivy climbed lazily over the pillars supporting the wide wooden balcony. The place possessed a quiet charm that somehow suited its owner perfectly.
As Saline approached the front gate, the sound of chopping wood echoed softly from somewhere behind the house.
Moments later, Adrian appeared around the corner carrying several neatly split logs beneath one arm.
The instant he noticed her, one silver eyebrow lifted.
"You’ve become punctual."
Saline smiled politely.
"I hope I’m not disturbing anyone."
"Not particularly."
He rested the wood beside the porch before dusting his hands together.
"In fact..."
His grey eyes studied her with quiet amusement.
"...I was beginning to suspect you would arrive even earlier today."
Saline blinked.
"What makes you think that?"
Adrian folded his arms.
"You’ve visited days in a row."
She looked away almost immediately.
"I said I’d make sure he recovered."
"I remember."
"And I’m simply keeping my word." Saline said raising a shoulder.
"Of course."
Something about the way Adrian answered made her narrow her eyes.
He gave an exaggerated sigh of surrender.
"Very well."
The corner of his mouth curved upward.
"I merely find your dedication... admirable."
"There is nothing admirable about making sure an injured person doesn’t collapse from neglect."
"No?"
"No."
She spoke so matter-of-factly that Adrian found himself quietly laughing.
"I’ll refrain from arguing."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the balcony.
"He’s outside."
Saline inclined her head in thanks before climbing the wooden steps.
The familiar creak of aged timber greeted her.
When she reached the balcony, she immediately noticed the difference.
Xandros sat comfortably in one of the weathered chairs overlooking the endless green hills stretching toward the horizon. Unlike three days earlier, the unhealthy pallor had faded from his complexion. Color had gradually returned to his face, and although the bandages remained around one shoulder, he looked considerably stronger.
He was reading.
One arm rested casually upon the armrest while the other held an old leather-bound book that appeared to have survived several centuries.
Without lifting his eyes from the page, he spoke.
"I wondered how long it would take you today."
Saline stopped walking.
"You knew it was me?"
"I recognized your footsteps."
She laughed softly.
"I wasn’t aware footsteps could become familiar."
"They can."
Only then did he close the book and raise his eyes toward her.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"And yours have."
For reasons she couldn’t explain, warmth spread across her cheeks.
She cleared her throat before holding up the basket.
"I brought food."
"I suspected as much."
"You sound disappointed."
"I’m merely wondering whether you’re beginning to think I’m incapable of surviving on my own."
She crossed the balcony and placed the basket upon the table between them.
"I’m beginning to think you’d forget to eat if someone didn’t remind you."
His smile widened.
"That sounds remarkably close to concern."
"It sounds remarkably close to common sense."
He chuckled quietly.
"You’re becoming bolder."
"I’ve simply realized arguing with you is unavoidable."
"I consider that progress."
She shook her head, unable to suppress a faint smile of her own.
For a little while, neither of them spoke.
Instead, Saline unpacked the basket with practiced movements, arranging the fruit, and herbs neatly upon the table while Xandros watched in comfortable silence.
It struck her unexpectedly.
Three days ago, silence between them had felt uncertain.
Now...
It somehow felt easy.
Natural and peaceful in a certain way.
She handed him a bowl.
"You’ll eat first."
"You’ve become rather commanding."
"I’m making sure you recover."
"And if I refuse?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
"You won’t."
He held her gaze for a long moment.
Then, without another word, accepted the bowl.
Saline smiled in quiet satisfaction.
"There."
"Happy?"
"A little."
He laughed beneath his breath before taking another bite.
"You know..."
He said thoughtfully.
"...I’m beginning to suspect you’ve mistaken me for one of your patients."
"I don’t have patients."
"Not yet."
She sat opposite him and reached for one of the apples resting inside the basket.
Taking a small knife from beside the cutting board, she began carefully peeling the fruit.
Thin ribbons of crimson skin curled gracefully onto the wooden table as her hands worked with patient precision.
The breeze strengthened.
Several loose strands of her long hair immediately escaped, dancing across her face.
She sighed.
Using the back of one hand, she brushed them away without interrupting her work.
A moment later...
The wind returned.
Again the strands fell across her eyes.
She pushed them aside once more.
"...Persistent," she muttered.
"What is?"
"The wind."
"It seems rather fond of you."
She rolled her eyes."It isn’t." Another gust answered almost immediately.
This time, far more strands escaped, covering half her face completely ans Saline stopped peeling altogether.
"This is becoming ridiculous..."
She tucked the loose hair behind one ear.
Barely two seconds later...
The wind undid all her efforts.
Xandros watched the quiet battle with unmistakable amusement dancing inside his grey eyes.
Finally, he closed his book.
"I believe," he said as he slowly rose from his chair, "the wind has declared victory."
Saline looked up from the half-peeled apple just as Xandros stepped around the table."What are you doing?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Instead of answering, he came to a stop behind her chair.
She could sense him there.
Close enough that the faint scent of cedarwood and cool mountain air clung to him, drifting past her with every gentle movement. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the small fruit knife as she felt him reach toward her.
His hands never touched her at first.
They hovered for a heartbeat, gathering the loose strands that danced wildly in the breeze before his fingers finally brushed against her hair.
The contact was impossibly light.
"So much trouble," he murmured.
His deep voice came from just behind her ear.
"The wind seems determined to steal your attention from everything else."
Saline swallowed.
"I... I can tie it myself."
"I’m aware."
His tone remained calm.
"But you’re holding a knife."
She opened her mouth to protest.
Nothing came out.
Carefully, almost surprisingly skillfully, Xandros gathered the dark strands together. His long fingers moved through her hair with practiced ease, separating it into sections before beginning a loose braid.
His touch was gentle.
Gentler than she had expected from someone whose hands were more accustomed to wielding swords than arranging hair.
Her heartbeat began to quicken.
She stared straight ahead, scarcely aware of the valley stretching beyond the balcony because all she could hear was the quiet sound of his breathing behind her.
All she could feel was the occasional brush of his knuckles against the back of her neck as he worked.
"You’re tense," he observed.
"I’m not."
"You are."
"I’m sitting perfectly still."
"Exactly."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"You’ve been holding your breath for almost a minute."
Only then did she realize he was right.
She released a slow breath, embarrassed.
"Better," he said softly.
The corners of his mouth lifted as he finished the braid, tying the end neatly with a thin ribbon he had somehow found resting on the table.
"There."
His hands lingered for just a moment longer.
Behind her.
Close enough that she could almost feel the warmth radiating from him.
Then he tilted his head ever so slightly.
"My..."
His voice carried unmistakable amusement.
"...your heart is beating rather quickly."
Saline’s eyes widened.
"W-What?"
"It is."
He sounded genuinely thoughtful.
"I wonder why."
Heat rushed into her face.
"I walked here."
"You’ve been sitting down for several minutes."
"I..."
She searched desperately for an explanation.
"...it’s warm."
He glanced toward the cool breeze moving effortlessly through the balcony.
"Is it?"
She knew.
He knew.
Neither of them said it aloud.
Before she could recover, she felt something even softer than before.
His thumb.
It brushed deliberately against the side of her neck a slow, feather-light stroke that sent a shiver racing through her entire body.
Saline inhaled sharply.
The world seemed to pause.
Using only the slightest pressure beneath her chin, Xandros encouraged her to turn toward him.
She did.
Far more willingly than she should have.
Their faces were suddenly only inches apart.
Close enough for her to distinguish the different shades hidden inside his grey eyes.
Close enough to notice the faint scar near his jaw she had never seen before.
Close enough that every steady breath he took seemed to steal one from her in return.
His gaze remained fixed upon hers.
Unwavering and intense.
She had never realized someone could simply look at another person and make them feel so completely seen.
Time stretched strangely.
Seconds became impossibly long.
Her lips parted slightly without her noticing.
Every instinct told her to look away.
She couldn’t.
His eyes seemed almost... hypnotic.
As though they were quietly unraveling every thought she tried desperately to hide.
Then reality struck.
What am I doing?
The thought crashed into her mind with startling force.
Saline abruptly stepped backward, nearly knocking over her chair in the process.
"I..."
Her voice refused to cooperate.
She quickly thrust the peeled apple toward him.
"H-Here."
He accepted it without comment, though the unmistakable curve of satisfaction remained at the corner of his mouth.
"I’ll..."
She pointed vaguely toward the kitchen.
"...I’m getting some water."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried inside the cottage.
The moment she crossed the doorway, she leaned both hands against the kitchen counter.
Her pulse refused to slow.
"What is wrong with me?" she whispered.
She pressed a hand over her chest.
Her heart answered with another rapid beat.
It felt ridiculous.
She had never reacted this way around anyone.
Never become so flustered simply because someone had stood close.
She filled a clay cup with cool water from the pitcher resting nearby, hoping the simple task would steady her thoughts.
It didn’t.
Unable to stop herself, she glanced toward the doorway.
Outside on the balcony, Xandros had resumed his seat.
Except...
He wasn’t reading.
He was watching the doorway.
Watching her.
The instant their eyes met, she looked away so quickly that a few drops of water splashed over her fingers.
"...Get yourself together," she muttered beneath her breath.
After finishing the glass, she inhaled deeply before returning outside with what she hoped was a composed expression.
She sat once again, deliberately leaving a little more space between them this time.
Xandros noticed.
He merely smiled.
Neither of them mentioned what had happened.
The early afternoon breeze continued drifting across the hills in comfortable silence.
For several long moments, Saline occupied herself by looking anywhere except at him.
The trees.
The clouds.
The distant mountains.
Anything.
Finally, Xandros spoke.
"Do you miss home?"
She blinked.
"My home?"
"Yeahh."
She considered the question.
Then slowly shook her head.
"No."
"Not even a little?"
She smiled faintly.
"I know everyone is busy preparing for the wedding."
"Florence hardly notices whether I’m there for an hour or not."
"And Lilian insists she’s capable of helping twice as much when I’m away."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"So you’ve abandoned your responsibilities."
"I have not."
"You’ve been here three days."
She looked at him.
"So have you."
He smiled.
"I live here."
"...That’s different."
"It is."
Silence settled again.
Then he extended one hand toward her.
"Give me your hand."
She frowned.
"...Why?"
"I want to check something."
"Are you suddenly a physician?"
"Humor me."
Still uncertain, Saline slowly placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed gently around her palm.
Warm and steady.
Then, with deliberate slowness, his thumb began rubbing the soft skin between her thumb and forefinger.
The movement was unhurried.
Circular.
Almost absentminded.
Except...
She could tell it wasn’t.
Every slow stroke seemed to draw her attention back to him.
Back to the warmth of his touch, to the quiet intensity of his presence.
He lifted his eyes.
Meeting hers.
Holding them.
The world seemed to narrow once again until nothing remained except his gaze.
It felt as though those silver-grey eyes could see far beyond the surface.
Past every careful answer and every guarded thought.
Straight into her heart.
Warmth spread through her face once more.
Her breathing became uneven.
Why is he looking at me like that?
Each passing second felt strangely unbearable.
Beautiful and Terrifying.
Like standing too close to the edge of something she couldn’t yet name.
Unable to endure it any longer, Saline gently pulled her hand back.
"I’m..."
She cleared her throat.
"I’m alright."
Xandros released her immediately.
"As you wish."
His expression remained perfectly calm.
Almost innocent.
As though he had no idea what effect he had just had on her.
Only he knew exactly what he had been doing.
He rose smoothly from his chair.
"We should go inside."
She nodded quickly.
"Yes."
Grateful for anything that would distract her thoughts, she stood and followed beside him toward the doorway.
As she stepped ahead, the afternoon sun caught her braided hair.
For the briefest instant...
One slender strand shimmered.
Not because of the sun but the hair actually changed.
White...Pure white!
Xandros stopped walking.
His smile faded almost imperceptibly.
Grey eyes lingered upon that single strand as countless thoughts flickered silently through his mind.
He had seen it.
And somehow...
He knew it wasn’t supposed to be there.
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