Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 60

It appeared that Helsa had inherited her acting skills from her father because Lucifer played the role of the ailing man perfectly. He applied powder and heat to his face every hour that Charlotte did not see him, he made sure that he always moved weak-like, he even managed to make his voice sound raspy. There was no visible reason for Charlotte to suspect that he wasn't really ill and because of that she stayed with him and her family longer and longer. The poor maiden couldn't help it, she thought her father would die without her and she was determined not to let another one of her parents pass on supposedly due to her. 

However despite being so busy tending to her father, Charlotte still found herself thinking of Alastor. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with him and the nightmares she had about him only made that feeling worse. She found herself no longer dreaming of her handsome gentleman. Now she saw only Alastor looking sad, miserable, even sickly.  In her dreams he was always lying in some darkness surrounded by animals who appeared to be mourning him. When she voiced these nightmares to her family along with her questions about what they could mean, they merely replied;

"They're only dreams Charlotte. Nothing more. You probably just feel guilty or pitiful for the creature so your mind is putting there images in your head."

But she wasn't completely convinced. She was torn. Torn between the two men she cared for most. Wondering which one of them needed her more. 

Then one night she had a dream that differed from all others.

...

The brunette beauty was perched at a golden vanity, coming her long hair elegantly while gazing at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she was glowing, positively radiant yet a displeased expression was painted on her lovely face. As though she was greatly disappointed by something. Or rather someone.

"Don't take it to heart your highness." Her maidservant said. "I'm sure he did not mean to stay as long as he did. You know how men are once they're on the hunt."

"Yes but he knows I would prefer him not to hunt after dark. It is dangerous and it keeps him away from me longer than I can bear. Because of that hunt he missed the special dinner I prepared for us."

"Speak of the devil, here he comes my lady. Shall I stay?"

"No Verona. I don't think his majesty would enjoy being reprimanded in front of his staff."

"As you wish."

The maidservant exited the bed chamber and shortly afterward a handsome young man with striking red hair and brown eyes entered. The violet-eyed maiden refused to face him. She only continued to comb out her hair.

"You're angry with me."  He sighed.

She didn't respond. 

"I can't say that I blame you. I know I said I wouldn't hunt after dark anymore and I know I missed dinner, time just seemed to pass without my knowledge."

She still said nothing.

"But while time is not always on my mind, you are for certain."

He approached her slowly and presented her with a bouquet a wild roses. He discover a bush full of them down by a river bank where he had pursued a stag and he cut them himself while making sure that they would be arranged perfectly. 

She finally turned around to look at him and she accepted his gift.

"They're beautiful." She confessed. "But I am still cross with you. Do you know how upsetting it is to plan a special dinner for your husband only for him not to show?"