A pair of hazel eyes opened, blinking drowsily, but seconds later, their owner was startled awake.
Oriana realized she had been sleeping in the library, but her attention was elsewhere. She stared at the direction of the door, as if she felt something.
’Was someone here? Was I caught idling during work hours? I feel like someone was here just now...’
For a few moments, she continued to look at the door as if there was something on the other side of that door. She let out a hearty yawn and gave her arms a leisurely stretch.
’Must be my imagination. If someone entered the library, it would be either the butler or the prince—and they would have woken me up and punished me for sleeping.’
She let out a soft hiss after forgetting that her sides were injured. She really should avoid abrupt movements. She turned her attention back on the table, more specifically the book she was reading before she fell asleep. Her face fell flat. "Damn it, did I just drool on this book? Ahh! No, what if I smudge the print? Need to clean it carefully.’’
She dabbed the edge of her sleeves over the parchment. She stood up upon realizing it was already dark and the last rays of sunlight from the setting sun barely allowed her to see inside the chamber.
She collected the pages of handwritten notes she made and placed them neatly on the table, using one of the books as a paperweight. She only proceeded downstairs after returning the finished books back on their shelves.
This time, she was able to eat together with the other servants in the common dining area, and the topic of their conversation was still Oriana’s heroic act of saving the damsel in distress. She also began to learn some of the names and backgrounds of her colleagues.
As Arlan had errands for her to run, Roman spared her from her routinary work, and that night, she was allowed to retire to her chamber early.
Lying in bed, she smiled lightly.
’No wonder people say those who wield the pen struggle less in life. I didn’t have to labor till my body was tired, didn’t have to put myself in danger, didn’t have to worry about putting food on the table and could even go to bed so early.’
Then, the smile on her lips disappeared.
’Don’t get used to this life, Ori. This is a life you got by swindling people and lying to your grandfather. Grandpa should be eating stale bread and vegetables grown from our yard, yet here you are enjoying luxury alone. This can’t be. I can’t be happy about this. Grandpa, I will be back soon and I will make sure I won’t leave your side again. Even if our life in the village is simple and hard at times, I prefer that over this comfort because in that life I have you, Grandpa. Home is wherever I’m with the person most important to me.
’My grandpa, I hope you are sleeping well. I hope you are taking your medications on time...’
The next day, Oriana woke up at the crack of dawn. As the primary attendant, she went to Arlan’s chamber along with Roman, intending to properly do her chores. To her surprise, Arlan already had a bath, and Neil and Damien were helping him with his clothes.
’Did he wake up earlier than usual? I am sure I woke up on time.’
Arlan looked at Oriana’s reflection in the mirror and found her appearance better than the previous day.
The prince’s attire was an exquisite navy blue ensemble with golden tassels on the shoulders, the mix of hues of blue and gold, along with his black waistcoat and the one shoulder cape of the same color, giving a solemn and regal air to his elegant features.
Once he was done with clothes, Oriana moved to get the accessories to fix on his clothes. Neil had already brought out several cufflinks and brooches on a velvet cushion for the prince to choose. As she stood up in front of him to fix the chosen brooches on his lapel. Arlan lowered his gaze to look at her small face.
The mark on her cheek had mostly faded to a yellowish bruise, but still, it was noticeable enough for Arlan to frown.
’Before that that mark on her face disappears completely, I will make sure to punish the one who caused it.’
Her hands and gaze moved towards the collar of his shirt, and perhaps it was an inevitable reaction to his gaze, her eyes flitted up to his unsmiling face.
That pair of blue eyes stared at her with an intense gaze. Calm as the sea, but at the same time, there seemed to be a storm behind those irises. Her heart skipped a beat and she lowered her gaze immediately. She tried to steady her lightly trembling hands but she didn’t know how to calm her heart, making her regret looking at him.
’Somehow, he always manages to scare me even without doing anything.’
With her this close to him, Arlan could hear her wild heartbeats. He enjoyed that rhythmic sound, satisfied that he caused it. This stubborn, goal-oriented, unyielding, fearless and ignorant woman, there was nothing that could make her like this but him. He was the only one.
Oriana finished arranging the brooches, golden trinkets and the aiguillettes on his body, and she quickly stepped aside with her head lowered.
After the prince had his morning meal, Oriana overheard from his instructions to Roman that he would be away for the day. Arlan appeared to have important work in the central palace, where he needed to attend a royal court session about something he prepared last night. From what she heard, the prince stayed awake the entire night due to this.
’How hardworking. The more I stay with him, the less he seems to be a spoiled brat,’ Oriana could not help but think.