Nicholas and Sophie spent the entire afternoon retelling each other and swapping stories about their time together as children. Most of them were all wrapped in memories about how the two enjoyed the entire month together before Nicholas left to return to the castle.
"I actually came here with my parents a few months later," Nicholas said. "But you were gone and we couldn't find you."
"Well.. after you left, my aunt's men found me and took me to Hastings. My grandfather heard about my parents' death and apparently, regretted that he had banished my father, his only son, from his home after my father decided to marry down to a woman from the lower class."
Nicholas remembered that Sophie lived with a relatively wealthy family. So, it was her aunt's family?
"Why didn't you live with your grandfather?" Nicholas asked her. "You never told me about him, just your aunt and her family."
"Well… my aunt is my father's younger sister. She took me in because my grandfather died and left his estate under her care. I was lucky she didn't kick me out of her home after grandpa died."
"Oh…"
Nicholas actually didn't think Sophie should be thankful for being treated so badly by her aunt. In fact, now that he found out Sophie's father was her grandfather's only son, Nicholas had a suspicion that the reason her aunt kept her in Hastings with her family was that Sophie was entitled to her grandfather's estate.
Usually, a family's property and wealth were passed down to their sons, not daughters. If this was true… then Sophie should fight back to get her inheritance from her evil aunt.
Nicholas decided to investigate this matter as soon as possible. Of course, after he finished his business in Hauntingen to get a cure for his lycanthropy.
"So…" Sophie batted her eyes and tilted her head to see Nic's neck better. She remembered he was injured badly back then and couldn't talk during his stay at Sophie's home.
"What are you looking at?" Nicholas asked her curiously.
"I am just surprised to hear your voice. You could barely talk back then…" Sophie pointed out carefully as she sipped her drink. She looked him in the eye and said, "I'm so glad that you've recovered, Nick."
Nicholas smiled grimly and touched his throat. "Yeah, I was afraid that I'd never speak again. Fortunately, I healed well and survived that night."
Or it was actually misfortune due to him being afflicted with lycanthropy.
But right now, it didn't bother Nicholas that much since he was with Sophie. If it weren't for this situation, then he would have never been able to meet with her.
"Yeah, considering that I was a child back then and only had the salve that my mother had, it was a miracle." Sophie remembered it clearly as she looked at the young man.
"And I grew up still as handsome as ever," Nicholas chuckled.
"Pfft… that confidence." Sophie rolled her eyes but she was obviously amused.
"That's what my mother told me, and you can't deny that all of the women at our academy kept bugging me," Nicholas grimaced. "I honestly dislike too much attention, but it's not like I can change my face. At best, I can hide it."
"Did you consider that they might be interested in your family background and wealth?" Sophie raised a brow. "Not necessarily your looks?"
Nicholas smiled broadly. "While that's also true and applicable to me… are you telling me that I don't look handsome to you? Do you not find me attractive, Sophie?"
"Uff…" Sophie averted her gaze and shrugged. "I guess you are handsome. A lot more handsome than Richard Lancaster the school prince, that's for sure. With a great attitude too. So, your future wife will be incredibly lucky."
Nicholas stared at her and nearly choked on his tea. "Ah, I guess that a woman as beautiful as you would have incredibly high standards for men."
Sophie raised a brow. "I never said that."
Nicholas smiled at his friend and said, "I'm really happy to see you again, Sophie. I was a little worried that we wouldn't get along after all those years, but you're still as kind as ever and yet you've also changed in ways that are amazing."
"You're probably looking at me too positively," Sophie coughed. "You should remember that I always end up running away from people."
"It's for a good reason though, those people were horrible," Nicholas said. "I'm… Uhm, I really wish that I was there for you during those tough times."
Sophie smiled. "Well, it's not really too late to repay me. You can still contact the Rostchild bank, right? You did promise to help me out with that loan and it would be incredible if you could do that for me."
"Haha, I can do that, but, uff... of course, you'd bring that up," Nicholas chuckled and rubbed his eye. "I doubt that saving my life is worth just that though. I owe you more than that, Sophie."
"Nick, if anyone else were in my position, they would have helped you back then," Sophie said.
"But it was still you, and nothing's going to change it. I feel indebted to you and grateful," Nicholas replied. "You weren't just my savior but someone who I became fast friends with, someone who I could trust…"
"It's the same for me, Nicholas. I am grateful for you too..."
"Huh? How come?"
"Actually, I'm also grateful that you came on that stormy night," Sophie told him with a smile.
If it weren't for Nicholas, perhaps Sophie would have remained completely alone. After her parents died, she was very lonely and sad. Nic's presence helped her in a way to cope after their deaths.
The 'help' that happened when they were children was not only one-way, perhaps Sophie actually needed Nicholas back then more than he did with hers. Right now, Sophie was a lot happier with him around.
Nicholas stared at Sophie's bright smile and found his heart pounding at that moment. Was this what it felt to be around someone who saved his life and who he considered to be a trustworthy person?
"Sophie… would you like to stay with me in the inn?" Nicholas asked. "I can cover the costs and make sure that you get a really nice room to stay in."
"Huh? Why?"
"Well, I know that this home is very important to you," Nicholas said as he looked around the house. He immediately noticed some things that needed more repairs. "And it's important to me as well. But it'd be more comfortable for you to stay in an inn right? The beds are softer..."
Sophie smiled and shook her head. "You don't have to do that for me, Nick. I'd like to stay here in my home. I traveled so far to get back here and then I'd stay at some inn? No thanks."
Nicholas knew that it would be impossible to change her mind.
When Sophie decided on one thing, it was hard to convince her otherwise. So, Nicholas nodded. "Okay, I guess that only means one thing then. I'll be staying here with you."
"Wait, what?" Sophie stared at him. "Are you serious?"
"Didn't we live together for a month here?" Nicholas asked and grinned at her. He pulled up to his feet. "It won't be that different from before, Sophie. So I'll just go get some of my things so I can stay here."
Sophie coughed and shook her head vehemently. "It's different now that we're older, Nick. You can't just stay here just because we used to stay together under one roof"
"How come?" Nicholas raised a brow. freewebn(o)vel.com
"Well that's…" Sophie didn't want to speak about how other people would look at them because she was rarely bothered by those. But the idea of living with Nicholas again at this age was enough to make her feel embarrassed.
"You don't have to worry about anything," Nicholas smiled sheepishly. "I just want to help you while I'm here and also because it's convenient for me to be close to the forest as well."
"Convenient?"
"I'm looking for Wolfsbane."
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