96 Daydream
After ending the life of the demon that dared to cross the border and step into his territory, Nicholas had a much greater satisfaction in watching his soldiers hold the ugly thing down and ripping its body into pieces.
This would be nothing but a warning to whatever demon lingered out there and he’d like to see which demon would be brave enough to step into his domain after that.
Taking a walk in the garden, he caught sight of his mother at the corner of the garden, sitting in the arbor with the strange lady next to her. They seemed to be having tea and enjoying their light conversation but it was something that triggered his suspicion.
When did his mother become so comfortable with strangers? It’s never like his mother to be so nice and worst of all, she’s having tea with a total stranger.
The stranger might have saved his life but that doesn’t mean he’d blindly trust her and that’s exactly what his mother was doing.
He planned on walking away and leaving them to their own discussion, but stopped before he could even take a step forward.
‘It wouldn’t hurt to pass my greetings. I haven’t seen my mother today.’ he convinced himself on why he shouldn’t just walk away, using his mother as bait when his real intention was to crosspath with the strange lady.
With that excuse of a greeting, he headed for their direction.
He watched her cinnamon-brown hair effortlessly flutter to the cool breeze that swayed back and forth, the wind carried a mixture of alluring scents of flowers that pleased his mood and for a few seconds, he couldn’t help but picture the strange lady as one of those flowers.
.....
Upon reaching the arbor made by green leaves and stems from plants, the strange lady looked bothered about something, drawing his attention and when he saw her trying to swat something away, a hot liquid ended up splashing on his body and he paused in his steps.
He closed his eyes, pinning his lips together as this wasn’t how he pictured his entrance to be.
“Forgive my carelessness, I’m so sorry.” Was the panicked voice of the strange lady who was already up at her feet, keeping her head bowed as a sign of apology before raising them to look at him and he met her brown eyes when his eyes flickered open.
“Are you hurt? The tea was really hot so you must have been hurt from it, I even ruined your outfit, please have mercy, it wasn’t intentional.” Anna’s mind was already filled with a lot of things and it seems she just keeps bringing more to the table, isn’t it her bad luck.
She stared at the young handsome man whose noble outfit was stained due to the tea she accidentally spilled on him. Thankfully it didn’t look like it touched his skin, but the look in his Amber eyes was one she found difficult to read.
Was he upset?
“Nicholas, are you alright?” His mother also rose from her seat, hurrying to go check her son and making sure he wasn’t hurt from the tea spill.
“I’m fine mother.” He responded, “I actually came over to pass my greetings but I guess it had been rejected before I even started.”
He wasn’t looking at her, but Anna knew he was referring to her in some way, causing her to shake her head and lower it in remorse in front of him.
“Oh Nicholas, she didn’t do it on purpose and she already apologized.” His mother cut in, “she’s actually very nice.”
He raised a pretty brow, “Is she? Then how does she tend to my clothes?”
“She’s not a maid Nick.” His mother reminded him, “she’s your father’s guest and also your personal physician, you don’t expect her to wash your clothes for you.”
Nicholas ran his fingers through his brown hair but he said nothing, his personal physician? He doesn’t recall appointing her as his personal physician.
“Who made her my physician?” He inquired before looking at her, but her head remained dipped in a low bow and he felt somewhat disappointed she wasn’t even looking at him.
“Your father and I.” Madam Alina smiled before reaching for Anna’s arm and only then did Anna raise her head up to look at the woman.
“Ignore my son, he tends to act like this with people he isn’t familiar with.” She explained but that made her mind drift to a certain someone who also has issues with talking to strangers.
“Once again, do accept my apology.” Anna bowed and it only made Nick slightly frustrated with how respectful she was. Apart from that there was nothing attached.
“Fine.” He finally responded in a rich manly tone, “but as my physician you should learn to keep me from harm’s way, not add salt to the already opened wound.”
He felt glad it didn’t spill to his wounded arm, it hadn’t healed yet and he didn’t want to imagine how painful it’d end up being for him if the hot tea touched him there.
“If you want I can have a look at your wound in return.” Anna offered but he only scoffed.
“Why? To spill_”
“That’s even better, let her have a look at your wound to make sure no damages were done.” Madam Alina chimed in while pulling Anna to stand beside her son whose gaze grew more suspicious due to his mother’s act.
Alina couldn’t help but smile at how perfect they looked together, her charming son was already at the age of getting married but he constantly rejects the women she brings to him with the excuse of wanting someone different and unique.
Well now she can do nothing more but bring them closer together and make sure they fall for one another before Anna thinks of going back to her place.
“Anna my dear, do apply the same ointment you applied on him last night, he’s already standing before me thanks to your magical Herbs.”
Anna nodded in affirmation, but when Nicholas opened his mouth to object, the warning stare from his mother silenced him and he shut his lips.
“Go now.” She gestured for them to leave. Nicholas had a particular question he was tempted to ask his mother but decided to save it for another day.
Anna and Nicholas left the garden at madam Alina’s word. Nicholas walked ahead while Anna followed behind like an obedient servant.
She raised her head up to make sure she hadn’t lost sight of Nicholas just yet and that’s when she saw him. The glacier was resting his back on the wall with his hands in his pocket, looking ethereal and devilishly handsome as always.
He met her stare and winked, causing Anna’s heart to palpitate in her chest and when she blinked, he was no longer there.
“Where did he go?” His quick disappearance wasn’t one she had expected but a quick snap at her face made her look up to meet Nicholas’s Amber eyes.
“Why did you stop walking?”
“Stop?” She realized they were still standing before the passageway and truly, she had stopped walking.
“Was it a daydream?” She muttered to herself, only for Nicholas to snap his finger at her face again, gaining her attention back.
“You blacked out again.”
Anna immediately shook her head, “no I just.... thought of something, we can continue.”
“Stay ahead this time, this way you won’t stop walking.”
He was curious to know what had her eyes glinting earlier but stopped himself from asking after spotting a golden badge hanging around her waist.
“Hey, where did you get this?”
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