Chaotic Beauty by Nicole Ciacchella

Author:Nicole Ciacchella
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweenix Rising Books
Published: 2017-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Marie was silent as she served Yukari the next morning, her face unreadable, but Yukari could sense the maid's seething anger. She supposed it would cool with time, and though she didn't think she was undeserving of it, it was a relief when Marie left her alone at last.

Looks like I'll be punished after all.

She wanted to resent the idea, but she couldn't. No matter how much she tried to hold a grudge against Marie, she would think of how she would feel in Marie's situation, and she didn't think she would behave any differently. Loyalty was a foreign concept to a lifelong loner like her, but she had eyes and could see the effects of the loyalty Marie felt for her master. In truth, Yukari envied it. She wondered what it would be like to inspire such strong emotions in another person.

Sighing, she plowed her hands through her hair, rubbing her scalp. This was why she hadn't wanted to stay in the castle, why she hadn't wanted to have such an abundance of time to think. It made her long for things that would never be possible. It made her miss things she had never before thought to miss because she hadn't had time to realize they were lacking.

Pushing thoughts of Marie aside, she finished getting ready for her morning excursion with Lord Talal. Marie hadn't said anything in response when Yukari had requested that the maid bring her the sturdiest pair of boots she could find, she had simply disappeared and reappeared a short time later, placing them on the floor without a glance at Yukari.

She had just finished pulling the boots on when Lord Talal knocked on her door. She thought about telling him to come in, but the idea of him inside her room caused a strange feeling, and the words remained lodged in her throat.

"Are you ready?" he asked when she opened the door.

"Yes, I am," she said, ducking her head under her pack's strap, settling it crosswise over her body. "Thank you for this," she said, hooking her thumb under the strap. She still had trouble with the words, which sounded awkward and stilted, but she was grateful for the gift. It had been lying on top of her pile of clothes, and she had known immediately that Lord Talal had to be responsible for it.

"You're welcome," he said, sounding as awkward as she felt.

Flushing, she thought of how the last time she'd taken a pack from him, she'd stuffed it with objects from his castle, and she wondered if he could see the shame she was certain was written all over her face.

"Well, you needed something to carry your gear while we're tramping through the forest," he said. "And I'm not going to carry it."

Surprised, she barked out a laugh. Mocking filled his tone, and she was amazed that he was making a joke about his own privileged position. "Yes, wouldn't want you to have to behave like a peasant, would we?"

"Certainly not," he said, punctuating his words with his hideous chuckle.

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