DEVOTED TO HEAVEN

CHAPTER IV

Alusia's smile shone with sincerity. Maybe Lord Frinton no longer seemed so dull. Vantei hated it. He didn't like Lord Frinton's silly jokes. He didn't like how genuine Alusia's laugh was either. The boy stood near the veranda. His body was tense and his gaze was murderous. Maybe Vante was ready to coldly kill the blond man at that moment. Still, he said nothing. He just walked past the veranda, secretly hoping that the black-haired woman would notice him. But at the moment, Alusia seemed to see only Lord Frinton.

Of course, Vante would not leave it at that. After all, he would do anything for her...

Lord Frinton left. Alusia, in fact, was jumping in the corridors of the manor. She was happy. After all, she had learned so much about the blond guy during this conversation. And it wasn't boring at all. Perhaps Lord Frinton didn't feel comfortable around Alusia's father at the breakfast table that day. But this time, the black-haired girl was able to hear so many of the boy's thoughts and ideas. She was fascinated. As she wandered down the long corridor that led to the girl's room, her eyes stopped on the house library. There stood Vante. A few strands of hair fell on the boy's face as he read the book intensely. Well, more like he was looking through it, searching for something.

Alusia knocked gently on the open wooden door and Vante's gaze shifted from the book to the girl. She could feel her heart sink. Vante's gaze was different: sly, concentrated, angry? She could not understand. But as soon as their eyes met, Vante became gentler. He smiled slightly, closing the book:

"Miss Alusia, how can I help you?" his voice was soft. Perhaps even too soft.

"What are you doing here?" Alusia curiously stepped inside the library.

"Your father needs some information about East Asian countries. It's a trade matter." the brown-haired man sighed as he put the thick brown book down. "So, I'm trying to find something here."

"I could help." the girl walked closer to Vante while her hands rested behind her back.

"I'd be grateful." the brown-haired boy said with a hopeful expression.

So they started looking around the not very spacious but full library. Both of them were looking at old, dusty books, and for some reason they didn't say a word. However, Alusia decided to end the silence:

"Lord Frinton was here today." she murmured. Vante froze, stopping reading. But he quickly turned the next page and continued reading.

"Really?" he murmured.

"He likes art. So do I." she continued, lightly touching the cover of one of the books. The black-haired woman didn't seem to notice his frustration.

"And I thought he was boring?" Vante smiled wryly, but did not look up from his book.

"Not at all! I'd say I quite like him." Alusia leaned against a brown bookshelf. The whole room was filled with them.

"Then should I tell your father about the possible wedding, Miss Alusia?" Vante scoffed. The black-haired woman frowned.

"Of course not, Vante, she shook her head." But I think it's worth listening to my father this time and giving Lord Frinton a chance. Well, get to know him.

Vante laughed. Again, irony.

"Miss Alusia, don't you see that anymore?" he placed the book in his hand on the shelf and turned to the girl.

"I don't see exactly what, Vante?" the black-haired girl raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms over her chest.

"That he doesn't suit you." the young man frowned.

"Then what is right for me?"

"Me. I am right for you." Vante's gaze softened. "I like you, Miss Alusia." he whispered, coming closer to the girl. Alusia tried to take a step back, but of course she had nowhere to go. After all, there was a huge bookshelf behind her. So, she just clutched the book in her hand tighter.

"You're a hypocrite, Vante." she muttered, "This whole situation is hypocritical. You say you like me, but you've probably slept with all the women in this manor."

Vante sighed, lowering his head:

- I saw your drawing, Alusia," for the first time the brown-haired man addressed the girl informally. He spoke calmly, but kept his stare fixed on the floor. "I know you like me." he finally raised his head.

Alusia said nothing. She didn't dare to look up at Vante, and the words seemed to be stuck somewhere in her throat. But the young man waited. He waited for any answer from the girl. Something that would give him some idea of what was going on in her head.

At that moment, the black-haired girl's mind was in a mess. She didn't know what to think or what to say. She felt dizzy and short of air. Alusia leaned her head on the guy's shoulder and closed her eyes, trying to organize her thoughts:

"Vante..." she started, but the words disappeared. Still, Vante waited patiently.

He waited a few minutes. But nothing more left Alusia's lips. Finally she spoke again:

"I must give Lord Frinton a chance." those were her words. But Vante did not wait for them. He only nodded his head and took a step back. No, not because he was giving up. Of course not. Vante simply knew that one day Lord Frinton would mess up.

All Vante had to do was wait.

Alusia was nervous. Indeed, what a reaction. Had Vante distanced himself from her just like that? No, he couldn't. But she was so embarrassed, so she said a quick goodbye to the brown-haired man and, to tell the truth, ran out of the library, leaving the young man standing alone.

Her feet carried her to her room. The girl quickly closed the door of the room, trying to comprehend what had just happened. She didn't even notice that she still had that stupid book in her hand. After placing it on the brown table, she simply fell into her blue sheets. Her cheeks were rosy and her heart was pounding as if she had just run a good race. In fact, not even like a good run, but more like she had just seen a ghost. The black-haired woman could feel her stomach flip over several times and her organs change places. In other words, she felt anxious. But it wasn't just anxiety. It was all the feelings she had for Vante at the moment. She liked the hell out of him, but she didn't dare to admit it. Oh God, she vowed to herself to never admit it. She'd better take her feelings to the grave. Yes,yes. Dying sounded a lot better than telling Vante that he was driving her crazy. But here she was, admitting to herself that he was driving her crazy. Now she wanted to curse Vante. Curse him for admitting his feelings for her.

The black-haired woman rolled over onto her stomach, hiding her face between the sheets. She wanted to see the darkness. The light blue floral wallpaper made her angry. She wanted peace from everything. Alusia was sure that she would finally choose Lord Frinton. After all, she had to choose him. For her future and for her father's happiness. But as soon as Vante had to say I like you, and lo and behold, her body wanted him.