Chapter 76: Caught
As the first ray of sunlight entered through the window, painting Vlad’s face in a warm golden hue, his eyes slowly opened.
He rose to a sitting position, scratching his head through his ruffled hair, the strands sticking up in wild directions. He folded the blanket with practiced precision and placed it on the table along with the pillow, his eyes still half-lidded and his body sore from lying on the hard marble floor throughout the night. The chill had seeped into his bones despite the blanket.
Seraphina was still fast asleep, her untied hair spilled across the pillow like a river of crimson silk, the blanket that should have covered her body tangled between her legs in a tight hug as she lay on her side. Her shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing her rosy, milk-white waist beneath, the smooth skin catching the morning light.
"Quite a noble way to sleep, huh?" Vlad shook his head, releasing a soft sigh. Although the room was warmer than the cold environment outside, the winter was approaching, and the air still carried a biting chill that could easily cause a fever if not properly managed.
He carefully pulled her shirt down, covering her exposed waist with gentle fingers. Then he turned his focus to the blanket tangled between her legs. With a careful touch, he slightly lifted her knee, pulling the blanket free with his other hand. He covered her up to her neck and murmured, "You should not sleep bare if you cannot cover yourself with a blanket properly." His voice was low and parental.
Of course, he said those nagging words aloud because she was fast asleep and could not hear him. The habit of nagging was something he had subconsciously learned while raising Chloe, ignoring the fact that she was just eight months younger than him. The words came naturally, born from years of quiet care.
He opened the long glass windows and peered out. Below him stretched nothing but an open ground, no sign of any human activity, only dew-kissed grass and the pale blue of early morning. He was on the fourth floor of the building, quite high, but not high enough to deter him. He firmly placed his feet on the edge of the window and jumped, making sure to land as far as possible from the building.
His feet hit the ground with a loud thud, his knees bending and his hands touching the mist-covered grass as he balanced himself. The impact sent a jolt through his legs, but he absorbed it smoothly.
"I should scram as quickly as possible," he murmured, pushing himself to his feet before bolting away. His form disappeared around the corner of the building in a flash.
"W-wasn’t that Vlad?" Sophia gasped from the entrance of the building, returning from the academy. Her emerald eyes were wide behind her round glasses as she continuously rubbed them with her little fists, making sure she was not seeing things due to being sleep deprived. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the impossible sight.
"Oh, Lady Seraphina... I was out for one night and you bring a boy to the room," she murmured, a faint blush forming on her cheeks as her imagination of what the two must have done during the long night ran wild, painting vivid scenarios in her tired mind.
---
Few minutes earlier...
"You should not sleep bare if you cannot cover yourself with a blanket properly," Vlad said before moving towards the window. His footsteps were soft against the marble floor.
As he jumped out, Seraphina slowly opened her eyes. The morning light caught the glint of her pink irises as she watched his figure disappear through the window. She grabbed the blanket tightly, turning onto her stomach, her face digging into the pillow. "I will sleep in proper clothes from now on... hero Vlad," she murmured in a mosquito-like tone, her ears burning crimson beneath her tangled hair. A small, secret smile tugged at her lips.
While she was wiggling in her bed, the door of the room slammed open.
"Lady Seraphina!" Sophia’s sharp voice travelled through the room, making Seraphina immediately rise to a sitting position on the bed, the sudden noise startling her. Her heart jumped against her ribs.
"Oh, it is you, Sophia," Seraphina sighed, tugging her hair back from her face. "You scared me."
"You are the one who scared me, Lady Seraphina," Sophia muttered as she covered the distance to the bed with her little steps, her shoes clicking against the marble.
"How could you do it before marriage?" she demanded, reaching the side of the bed. Her hand rested on her waist, her head reaching parallel to Seraphina’s even though she was standing, her small stature making the gesture almost comical. Her voice turned lower as she continued, worry laced in every syllable, "I am not one to discriminate, but Vlad is a commoner. Will Lord Cendral even agree to your relationship?"
Seraphina facepalmed herself, the sound bouncing off the walls of the large room. ’That idiot got caught,’ she muttered inwardly, her palm still pressed against her forehead. "Did anyone else see him besides you?"
Sophia shook her head, her round glasses slipping slightly down her nose. "You should be relieved no one did. Wait... no, that is not what I wanted to ask." She narrowed her emerald eyes, her expression turning stern. "How long has this been going on between you two? I had my suspicions since Orientation, but I did not want to pry. And more importantly, how exactly are you planning to convince Lord Cendral?"
"Slow down, missy." Seraphina raised both hands in surrender, a placating gesture. "We have known each other for a long time. As for convincing Father..."
Her voice trailed off. Lowering her gaze, she gently placed a hand over her stomach and whispered shyly, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson,
"I am sure he will come around once he learns he is getting a grandchild."
