Maskli (Legacy Of Bluebloods 1#)

43

"I assumed you'll be resuming your service there." She remarked in our conversation about Catsimite as she shifted in her seat, attempting to find balance amidst the carriage's movement. A faint frown creased her brow, indicating her struggle to remain steady. I held my hand to extend my offer to help, tremendously making it worse as the carriage hit a protruding rock on the road. I felt her body weighed over mine as my arm went around her waist.

It happened in only two seconds. Sam's eyes widened in surprise, followed by the two of us hurrying to the opposite of our seats like a polar magnet. I barely shook off the pleasing warmth of her body against mine, the thought of it only made my cheeks flush.

I murmured, brushing it with my practiced aloofness "To answer your question, yes.".

That was all it took to resume our silence. It took all of me to diminish my clouded sense of her. Thankfully, the carriage seemed to understand its significant timing. It gradually eased to a stop, saving Sam mostly from remaining in the awkward atmosphere. There was a hum of laughter and gentle...chattering from a distance, which flared the curiosity in me. Odd, I thought most of our people stayed in my father's residence now. I wondered if Sam could hear it too.

My eyes widened in surprise as I took in this place for the first time. I wonder if it were any season in Sembon, this place would have been a mesmerizing meadow. Amidst the desolation of white and vulnerability stood a double-level building, neither new nor broken. Without a word, Sam strode forward, her arms folded inside the window of her cloak. I was itching to ask her about this place, yet something told me it was unwise to question her when her brows pulled taut to the center of her forehead, appearing distressed. The building is distressed itself, there is a hole at the windows like vacant eyes gazing into a frigid expanse, the brown exterior of the building faded by years, decades possibly speaking of its simplicity, judging from the lack of decoration such as Solstice tree in the porch or blue ribbons plastered around the chimney wall. There was a wooden fence facing down the puddle of snow, assuming the biting weather toppled it. I lifted the wooden signboard.

Arae's Refuge for Orphans. Orphanage amid the meadow? That explained the joyous waves of laughter and carols inside the refuge. Why were they not protected by my father? Were they here for the whole quake? Or they had been at the Cathedral until the king's decree? I was searching for Sam's explanation, but she was already knocking on the door.

A woman answered the door. She was figuratively older than my sister Jane, no taller than her or Sam, muttering something incoherent. At first, she wasn't looking at us, she was cradling a toddler latched by the left side of her hips, gently rocking the child as he cried while her other hand held the door. Then, she finally turned to us, particularly to Sam, her face morphed from disdain to surprise. She gushed "Miss Evan... I didn't expect you here on such an important day." Her gaze slowly trailed to me, and to my surprise, her expression hardened.

"My lord." She emphasized, frowning between us. The only plausible reason for her disdain was rumours that circulated between me, Sam, and Eva. Sam noticed the tension, hastily saving the situation "He's with me as a safety escort, Lady Arae, not a threat."

Ah, the founder of this place. I nodded curtly, refraining from intimidating her with my words. Lady Arae clicked her tongue, nodding back "Very well then, come in."

Sam's hand clasped mine, her forefinger tapped on my fist lightly. She was mildly amused "She is rather protective of the children; don't her demeanour get to you."

I inclined my head towards hers, lowering my voice "What did she anticipate, I wonder? That I devour those spawns as my Solstice meal? I admit I do have a taste for mischief, but never mischief-makers."