Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 290: The Wall Between Us

Chapter 289: The Wall Between Us

Baron Redwick’s cheeks reddened at Lyria’s words, a flush creeping up from his collar to the tips of his ears. He adjusted his spectacles with a quick, nervous motion, his fingers fumbling slightly with the frames.

"Your Highness," he said, his voice carrying a note of gentle disbelief, "you need not lie to me. I know that I bore people with the way I become caught up in speaking about things that no one else finds interesting. It is a habit I have never quite managed to break, no matter how hard I try. I have been told as much on numerous occasions."

Lyria shook her head, her expression earnest and unwavering. She met his gaze directly, refusing to look away.

"I am n-not lying to you," she said. "I g-genuinely enjoyed hearing you speak. It was refreshing to hear s-someone speak with such p-passion about something they are interested i-in."

Baron Redwick stared at her for a moment, searching her face for any sign of insincerity. He found none. Her eyes were clear, her expression open, and there was no trace of the polite dismissal he had grown accustomed to receiving from others.

He adjusted his spectacles again.

The truth was, he had lied when he explained to her why he had started training. That was not the real reason he had decided to learn to fight. The only reason he had done so was to strengthen his body, to make it look like Benedict’s, so that she might look at him with the same interest he had seen in her eyes when she watched the Earl train.

Benedict had been unable to train him earlier because he had to leave for his date with Princess Jacinta. And Baron Redwick had to admit he was quite glad for that. He was not certain he could have focused when he knew the Princess would have been watching Benedict alone.

He also knew that Princess Lyria had watched him and Alistair train in the training grounds, even if only for a few minutes. He had wondered why she had not watched as diligently as her maids had been, but after arriving at the library and seeing her with Evander, he realised the reason.

And he was not going to lie to himself.

He did not like it.

Princess Lyria felt more comfortable with Duke Valenridge than she did with him. She had let Evander rest his head in her lap.

With him, she was different.

Guarded and careful.

There was a wall between them that he had not been able to breach, no matter how hard he tried.

He could not help wondering if it was because he had asked her if she could read. If that moment of vulnerability, that moment of exposure, had cost him her trust permanently.

Lyria spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.

"What is w-wrong, my l-lord?" she asked. "You seem d-distant. Your mind is elsewhere."

Baron Redwick blinked, startled out of his reverie. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he had almost forgotten she was still there, still watching him with those curious eyes of hers.

Perhaps Duke Valenridge had been onto something when he started calling her Curious Wolf.

"Nothing," he said quickly, too quickly. "I am perfectly well. There is no cause for concern."

But after a moment, he could not keep the question inside.

"Your Highness," he said slowly, "may I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Of c-course."

He hesitated, then forced the words out.

"Have you truly forgiven me for what I did before?"

Lyria frowned.

"What d-do you m-mean?"

"The day I asked you if you could read," he said. "I have wondered, ever since, whether you have truly forgiven me, or whether you simply said so to end the conversation. I have replayed that moment countless times, and I cannot shake the feeling that I have damaged something between us."

She was quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful.

"I am n-no longer angry at you," she said. "I t-thought that was o-obvious."

"Well, you have said so," he replied. "But you have put a wall between us. You are not free with me. I thought we were past that, but I can see now that we are not. You are still careful around me."

Lyria was quiet, a frown on her face.

"I have a w-wall with e-everyone, my lord," she said. "It is not s-something personal against you. It is h-how I have a-always been."

He almost told her that it did not seem as though she had one with Duke Valenridge.

That he had seen Evander resting on her lap, and that he had been filled with jealousy when he saw it.

That he knew if it had been him, she would not have allowed it.

That she would have refused him.

But he did not say that.

Instead, he sighed and shook his head.

"It seems as though you are more cautious around me than around everyone else," he said. "And I cannot help but wonder why."

Lyria was quiet again, her gaze dropping to her hands.

Then she spoke.

"Why are you a-asking me this?" she said. "What brought on these q-questions?"

She paused.

"Are you m-mad because I was alone w-with Duke V-valenridge?" she asked. "Is that why you are a-asking me all t-these questions?"

Baron Redwick swallowed. He adjusted his spectacles again, the gesture becoming almost frantic as he tried to buy himself time to think.

He could admit it.

But would that make her put more of a wall between them?

Would that make her dislike him even more?

Or would she dislike him more for not telling her the truth?

He was quiet for a long moment. The silence stretched between them.

Then he spoke.

"I was a little jealous," he said. "That you were alone with Evander."

Lyria blinked at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

He continued, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

"I know it is ridiculous. I should not be jealous. We are not..." He paused, drawing in a slow breath. "There is nothing between us that would give me the right to feel such a thing. But I could not help myself when I saw it. I am sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."