Beyond The Sands of Time

Chapter 4: Unexpected Encounters

"Hello," I greeted as I stood at the door of Ivan's royal chamber, having just pushed it open.

Ivan swiftly looked up upon hearing my voice, and my breath caught in my throat. I found myself rooted to the spot, my eyes tracing every detail of the man before me—his disheveled hair, rolled-up sleeves, and the few open buttons on his shirt that offered a tantalizing glimpse of his chest.

He abandoned whatever he was occupied with and hurried toward me. In my attempt to walk toward him without any support, I stumbled, anticipating the impact with the hard floor. But it never came. Instead, I opened my eyes to see Ivan's strong arms wrapped securely around my waist. I looked up at him, finding a swirl of emotions in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. He swiftly lifted me, causing a gasp to escape my lips. He then gently placed me on the couch and settled beside me, maintaining a respectful distance.

"I—" We both began to speak simultaneously, and a chuckle escaped my lips, lightening the atmosphere. I took a deep breath before continuing.

"Eliza informed me that you've been inquiring about my condition through her," I inquired, to which Ivan nodded.

"Well, I'm feeling better, but this weakness is quite bothersome," I continued, my nervousness evident in my words. "I was wondering if you could accompany me to the garden, which I can see from my chamber window?"

Before he could respond, I rambled on, my words becoming increasingly incoherent. "Of course, only if you're free. It's really not that important. I can always return to my chamber and rest, and when I feel better, I can visit the garden by myself. Yes, that's a good idea. I shouldn't have bothered you with such mundane matters. I'll just go." By this point, I was breathless from my rapid speech.

Summoning my strength to stand, I attempted to get up, but my legs gave way, causing me to fall onto Ivan's lap. I let out a loud shriek, which was enough to make Kayden and Eliza burst into the chamber without knocking.

"It's not what it looks like," I quickly explained to avoid the teasing smirks from both of them, though it was probably too late for that. Eliza wore a knowing smirk that clearly meant we would have a lengthy chat about this later.

"Um, we thought something happened, which is why we barged in without knocking," Kayden explained.

This snapped me out of my trance, and I tried to stand up, but Ivan's arms were firmly around me, keeping me in place. He gave me a brief look.

"It's alright, I understand. Lady Eliza, you don't have to wait up for Raven. You can call it a day and retire to your chamber, and the same goes for you, Kayden."

Both of them nodded and left, closing the door behind them and granting us some much-needed privacy.

Author's Note:

In this chapter, unexpected encounters and a rush of emotions fill the air. As Cassandra and Ivan find themselves in a moment of vulnerability, the dynamics between them begin to shift. Thank you for being part of this journey, and I can't wait to see how their story unfolds.

Warm regards,
Ivory