Sophie was stunned at this sudden question. She was not sure how to answer him. Why did he sound... jealous?
"I was thinking of other things, my lord," Sophie finally replied as calmly as possible. She was on a stranger's turf and she didn't even know where she was right now. She only knew that she was in a castle, but which castle? Where was this place located?
If she needed to run away, in case the man started showing his bad side, then Sophie must know where she was in the first place. "I am sorry if you feel offended. I do not find you uninteresting, my lord. On the contrary, I am very curious. You seemed to be shrouded in mystery."
Sophie swallowed and continued her explanation. "However, I try not to ask too many questions and keep my curiosity to myself. That's why I kept my mind busy, thinking about other things... So, I can distract my mind from you."
She didn't want the duke to misunderstand her. So, she tried to explain herself as clearly as possible.
The man narrowed his eyes and looked at her more closely. He seemed pleased with her reply. Even though Sophie couldn't see, somehow she could feel the man's mouth twitch in a pleased smile.
Relief washed over her. Did he find her answer satisfactory?
"So, you have been curious?" The man asked Sophie with his deep and dark voice, sounding like he was teasing her.
"I have, my lord."
"So, why aren't you asking me any questions if you are curious about me?"
"I do not dare, my lord. I am a lowly peasant and I have no right to talk to a nobleman without being talked to first. I am a afraid I will offend you with my questions."
"Try me."
Sophie hated those two words. It was like a challenge, and she didn't know what the other person wanted by challenging her that way. Did he sincerely want her to ask him questions because he wanted to open up with her?
Or did he just want to mock her and see if she would really be so presumptuous and question a noble?
She bit her lip and looked at the mysterious man. She didn't know if he was a good man and his words were sincere. There was no way to read his expression because of that darn mask.
"Well... I am curious to know why do you offer me a job," Sophie finally decided to ask him something, but she chose the most neutral topic. Not about his face and his mask, but about Sophie. She wanted to gauge his interest and motives in helping her. "You have many staff and workers here. You don't need another one."
The man smiled. He was wrong about her. He thought Sophie would ask about his face and why he covered it with a mask. Apparently, she tactfully avoided it and ask a neutral question instead.
"Ah... you are a frank woman," Duke Romanov chuckled. "Isn't that obvious? Why do I want to hire you to work for me even though I already have a lot of staff?"
"Obvious...?" Sophie's heart skipped a beat. So, did this mean the man was really interested in her and wanted to keep her around by offering her the job? And he didn't even pretend by saying Sophie was wrong about his many staff.
"Yes, I think it's obvious that if I have a lot of staff and I still hire you for a job, that means some of my staff are useless. So, I have to fire them and hire you."
"Wait... what??" Sophie was astounded.
The duke's words were totally unexpected. She thought he wanted to say that he was interested in her and wanted to keep her close...
But... he actually was not happy with his staff and wanted to replace them with Sophie?
The woman's eyes bulged and she looked around the banquet hall with a shocked expression at the staff, who was hovering around the dining table with food and drinks to serve them.
She was worried they would be offended and hated her when they heard how the duke was unhappy with their performance and wanted to fire them for Sophie.
"Oh no.." She raised her hands and waved at the duke, hurriedly making a rejection gesture. "I... I don't want to take other people's jobs. There is no need to hire me..."
"Very well," Leland had expected her reaction and he thought she was funny. The man cleared his throat and then spoke with the most serious tone. "So, do you prefer me to say that the reason I offered you a job so you can stay here is because I am interested in you?"
"What...?"
"Because I am."
Sophie batted her eyes in shock and her mouth was agape. So, this man WAS teasing her.
Now that the duke had openly said that he was interested in Sophie, the woman was dumbfounded. She didn't know how to react to such a sudden confession.
Dinah and the other female staff around them immediately paid more attention to the two people who were having breakfast at the table of honor.
Their ears perked up, trying to make sense of what their Alpha was saying to the woman he brought in last night. So, he WAS REALLY INTERESTED in her.
They were all wondering if this woman would really be their Luna.
That can't be, right? She was not a lycan like them...
Secret glances were exchanged among some pack members and they all shared the same concern. What would happen to their mission if their Alpha was swayed by this human female and lost focus on their pack?
For one, his mother, the previous Luna, and the clan elders would be unhappy. There were some talks about their Alpha choosing his Mate from among the daughters of the other powerful packs that were in alliance with them to overthrow the human kingdoms.
And there was also that beautiful witch that his mother was very fond of.
What's clear was that an Alpha like him that came from such an important bloodline could only match with a female lycan from a similar alpha bloodline.
The woman who was having breakfast with him now was stunningly beautiful.. but she was human.
She was in fact... their enemy.
.
.
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From Missrealitybites:
It's true that Sophie came from an important bloodline of Alpha herself, but these other pack members didn't know it yet.
Plus, her lycan gene is so thin because she takes after her father the most, and what's worse is that she can't shift.
New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ewebnov(e)l.com