n

n

n

"Why aren't you back in your house resting? Do you not sleep at all?

"

nAt this point, I was just amazed. First, by his rudeness, second, by his work ethic. I wanted to think that he was just doing this on a whim and he's bored enough so he opted to— I don't know, trespass on the Herman soil?

nBut this is Lukas. Why on earth would he be here? This guy is absolutely loyal to himself and his job. If he wanted to waste time, he wouldn't come here. There is nothing to see here!

nSo he's probably telling the truth that he's guarding me right now.

nBut why?!

nHe then leaned to the wall near the fireplace and rubbed his chin in thought.

n

"I was sleeping earlier but then someone blasted the moon.

"

n

"Are you serious? Where did you even sleep?--

" A thought then slipped to my mind which made me stare at him in astonishment,

"Don't tell me you have been here all along?

"

n

"...

"

nLukas did not reply, further boosting my assumption.

n

"Lukas!

" I couldn't help but berate him.

nHe frowned as soon as my voice raised and knotted his brows in displeasure

n

"Why do you keep shouting?

"

n

"Because you're an idiot!

" was my instant reply.

nWho on earth would even do what he did? I bet he slept on the roof or somewhere outside the mansion near my room. Or he could have been on the balcony all this time. Who knows when he started doing that? I won't even get to know any of this until now if I haven't confronted him.

nLukas seemed surprised to hear me calling him an idiot but only for a second.

n

"Hoh? You're getting bolder.

"

n

"You need to leave, your grace,

" I immediately changed my tune and reminded him.

nLukas fixed his gaze on me which I boldly met. Red to purple, our eyes locked to one another. One was curious while the other was defiant.

nThe clock kept ticking and the wind howled outside. It found its way inside from the opened door on the balcony and made the room biting cold.

nAt first, I was just holding my ground, wanting to show him that I'm serious. But the longer I stared, the more I felt like I was being pulled in. It's strange and hypnotic. I get to notice some things I didn't see before. I also realized that yes, Lukas is one fine man.

nFor starters, I already know that. That's what makes it crazy. I am aware that he is handsome, everyone around me is, and I accepted that fact. It's programmed in me, way before. And because I am already aware of it, I didn't have to think about it when we met.

nBut right now, as I look at him, I get to appreciate it more.

nThe room wasn't that bright with only the lamp as a light source. It cast shadows on his face, making him look more mysterious. The shirt he was wearing was a bit opened, showing some skin on his chest where you could see a part of his tattoo that goes up to the side of his neck. He looks effortlessly wicked. Even without doing anything, you would know that he is not a gentle person at all. He's dark, devious, arrogant to his bones.

nAll those negative adjectives should make him look bad, but no…

nHe's veeeery attractive.

nWhen that thought struck, I was dumbfounded by myself afterward. I suddenly got nervous as I started being conscious of him. And that's a big deal to someone who is always surrounded by attractive people.

nMy attention was hooked, for sure. I couldn't even hear anything else but the fast beating of my heart, however absurd that is.

nMy anima stirred in response but I was too distracted to understand it. Feeling my cheeks starting to burn, I immediately averted my gaze from him and started questioning my state of mind.

nI was seriously about to have an existential crisis in silence.

nMe? Getting conscious of a man? Why am I reacting this way? What's wrong with me?

n

"It's still snowing outside. If I go out I will freeze to death. Why are you so cruel?

" Lukas' playful voice entered my ears, waking me up from my momentary distraction.

nI looked at him with a deadpan expression, trying to act fine.

n

"Don't give me that bull**, you don't feel cold.

"

nI thought that my remark was very witty, I'm almost proud of it. But when you take into account that what I just said was not a known case and only a selected few know, add the fact that I'm particularly a stranger to him, telling him that is not a good choice at all.

nI should have known better than to mindlessly open my mouth.

nLukas is already suspicious of me and not even a day has passed yet, and here I am biting my own foot, again.

n

"...

"

n

"...

"

nLukas' playful aura darkened. It was instantaneous, scaring the living daylights out of me. His eyes seemed to combust with dark fires as he gave me a dirty look as sharp as a knife.

n

"Your brother told you so?

" He uttered dangerously.

n

"...

"

nIs it late to sew my mouth shut? Can the ground swallow me now?

nLukas sauntered towards me, looking like the devil who's out for my soul. Every step he took was like a hammer pummeling my chest. My whole body was tense as I tried to step back so I could widen our distance. But this made Lukas angrier, narrowing his eyes on me as a warning.

nWelp—

n

"Why aren't you saying anything?

"

nHe was now in front of me, invading my personal space. His ominous mood was stagnating the air around me, robbing me of my breath.

nWith him being like this, I'd rather stay mute than say something stupid and enrage this bull again.

nSo I did. I remained silent, avoiding his eyes and all. What can I say? Should I confess that I learned all of his quirks in the novel? Should I tell him he's a character from that said novel? Should I go and declare I may or may not be from here?

nWhat can I say?

n

"...

"

nSometimes, you just have to shut up and pretend you're deaf.

nIs it a great idea? Certainly not.

nWould it make him angrier? Definitely.

n