Chapter 127: Dust, Distance, and What Is Not Said
Chapter 126: Dust, Distance, and What Is Not Said
Lyria’s POV
At first, I said nothing.
There was something in the way he stood there—so certain, so unmoving—that made it difficult to speak immediately. Not fear... not exactly. More like the kind of hesitation one feels when they realise they are being seen a little too clearly.
Earl Hawthorne shifted the supplies slightly in his hands, as though to remind me of his purpose.
"I do understand your desire for privacy," he said at last, his tone gentler now, "truly I do. But I cannot in good conscience stand by and watch you struggle with this alone."
I exhaled slowly.
It would have been easier if he were simply stubborn in silence. But he was not. He spoke as though he genuinely meant it.
Still...
That did not change anything.
"You are a-an Earl," I said carefully.
"Though my identity h-has been... exposed," I hesitated on the word, "I still hold no s-standing. It w-would not befit a man of your p-position to be s-seen with me."
His brows drew together slightly, as though I had said something particularly confusing.
"And," I added, my gaze flicking briefly to his shoulders before I could stop myself, "you are... presently w-without your c-coat."
It was only then that he looked down at himself.
"Oh," he said in shock, as if just realising he was half naked.
I looked away quickly, because if I stayed looking too long, I might actually laugh at how genuinely surprised he was, and that would have been entirely improper.
"Rumours," I continued instead, forcing the words out in a steady line, "w-would spread. And given my p-position is still... unstable, it would reflect p-poorly on you."
His expression softened slightly, though not in agreement.
"Even so," he said, "you are a Moon candidate."
I gave a small, humourless breath.
"I a-am," I agreed. "But I am also i-illegitimate in the eyes of t-the court. And I have not been f-formally accepted i-into anything."
That, at least, was the truth of it.
He frowned then.
"Duke Aurelgrave and the others spoke as though your inclusion is inevitable," he said.
"T-that may b-be true," I said. "B-but it doesn’t change the r-rules."
His gaze sharpened a little.
"The rules?"
I nodded once.
"One is n-not meant to be s-seen with a princess without a c-chaperone," I said.
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw it.
The exact instant it registered.
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
A flicker of realisation... followed immediately by something like embarrassment.
I almost laughed at his expression.
"I—" he began.
Then stopped, exhaled, then began again.
"I may have forgotten that detail."
"I noticed," I replied quietly.
That earned me a pause.
And honestly, Jacinta did not abide by those rules, and she was not reprimanded for it, but I knew that if I were to follow suit, the Queen would find fault.
I was not at liberty to be enjoying time with the Earl, and I could not have the Queen exerting her anger on me again just because of something I was technically not at fault for.
I heard a short breath that might have been amusement, and then turned my attention back to the Earl.
"I had intended to speak with you longer," he said after a moment, "but it appears I have created complications."
Then, more gently, he stepped back.
"Very well," he said. "I will take my leave for now."
I hesitated.
"...T-thank you," I added, almost reluctantly. "F-for helping."
His expression softened again.
"I will speak with you another time, then," he said. "And you are most welcome."
I nodded.
He turned.
Walked a few steps.
Then paused and turned back.
For a moment, I thought he would say something else. Something important, perhaps.
Instead, he simply bowed again, and then he left.
I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, until the corridor felt empty again.
Then I exhaled.
And picked up the supplies properly.
—
By the time I reached my chambers, my arms were beginning to ache faintly.
The door opened with a soft creak, and I stepped inside. It was empty, which again wasn’t surprising. The maids didn’t seem particularly interested in being my maids or even helping me out.
I placed the supplies down carefully, then stood still for a moment, scanning the room.
The wind still slipped through the cracks like it owned the place. There was dust everywhere.
My gaze moved around the chambers. There was a lot of work to do, and since the maids were not going to assist me, I was going to have to do everything myself. I wondered if there would be a place where I could hide my outing clothes.
I chuckled at that.
It wasn’t even that funny.
I moved around, testing floorboards. This would be the exact opportunity to sneak back to my old chambers and get my supplies, but I would need a place to hide it.
And as I moved around, I tried not to think about the Earl.
Which was proving more difficult than I would have liked.
There was something about him. A kind of boyish ease that made him feel out of place in this palace, and yet somehow not entirely.
It was strange. I wasn’t used to it, but I had to admit that it was endearing.
Oh well. I could think about the Earl later. It was time to clean.
I tied a cloth over my nose first.
The smell of dust had already begun to settle heavily in the air, and I refused to let it win before I even started.
Then I pulled on the cleaning apron.
I rolled my sleeves properly, tied a cloth over my face to help with the allergies, and then began cleaning.
I didn’t know how long I stayed cleaning. I was just focused on doing my work that I didn’t even realise the time, not until the maids came back.
"Oh," one said. "It seems you are almost done with cleaning?"
