A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

Spying on the maid

~Nariya Patel~

The wind rustled the leaves, creating peculiar swirls of patterns until they gracefully descended to the ground, attempting a final tango. We had fully embraced the depths of autumn, the air now considerably chillier. From my window, I observed this picturesque scene, with Nyx nestled even closer to me. Though I knew I should rise and attend to my studies, an inexplicable allure in the atmosphere persuaded me to remain cocooned in the warmth of my blankets. With a reluctant groan, I finally compelled myself to get up, blinking as I discovered that the aftermath of the previous night's chaos had once again been tidied up.

This week held a scheduled doctor's appointment with Dr. Jeon to determine whether the cast could be removed. According to the esteemed Sir Alexie the Great, my hand seemed ready, but uncertainties lingered about my leg. His explicit warning resonated, 'If you intend to sit for exams starting next week, refrain from any imprudent actions involving that hand of yours.′ Duty-bound, I acquiesced; after all, I couldn't afford to lag behind, even for valid medical reasons.

This leads to my nightly ritual, where I find myself downing a multitude of medicines to restore my body's much-needed strength. Dr. Jeon, recognizing the two hours of strenuous excruciation I undergo, deemed it necessary to enhance my stamina. Consequently, she incorporated additional elements into my diet plan, focusing on protein-rich, high-fiber, and low-carbohydrate foods, accompanied by ample water intake and fruit consumption. To aid my muscle recovery, light forms of Yoga were also prescribed.

Once my morning routine was attended to, and I had changed into a sports bra and biker shorts, I fetched my yoga mat and headed outside. Opting against the patio, I chose the space in front of the floor windows as my yoga spot. Under normal circumstances, I would have been up and about by 5:30 in the morning, but due to the medication, my sleep schedule had shifted for the interval 10 pm to 8 am. While not the most conventional, Dr. Jeon assured me that this adjustment was normal during the healing process.

Since the Lord was typically not at home during this time, I had the place to myself, except for the upper floor, which was off-limits. Consequently, my daring choice of clothing felt appropriate in the solitude of the moment.

As I laid out the yoga mat on the floor, Nyx seized the opportunity to engage in her own version of stretches, prompting laughter from me. Balancing on one foot, I bent the other at the knee and pressed it along the inner thigh of my left leg.

The effects of the medication also brought a peculiar consequence. Every night before bedtime, the medicinal haze left me so drowsy that, by the time I hit the pillow, I had no recollection of the state in which I left my room. However, one constant remained—I diligently changed into my pajamas. Each morning, despite the expectation of a room resembling the aftermath of a hurricane, it appeared impeccably tidy. There was only one logical explanation: I not only had a guardian in Nyx but also an unintentional housemaid.

I felt a deep sense of embarrassment about my less-than-ladylike behavior. Sister Amenda at the school would likely blush furiously at the idea that I allowed a man, with no connection to me beyond a piece of paper, to handle my mess—perhaps even my undergarments! My cheeks burned like a beetroot as I struggled to lift my injured leg back into the air, pushing my upper body forward, arms stretching parallel to the floor.

Lost in my own thoughts, I failed to notice an individual keenly observing me from the sidelines. When my peripheral vision caught him, panic surged through me, and my balance wavered. I was positioned in a way that suggested I would land on my left hand in the event of a fall, something I couldn't afford in my current situation. But before I could succumb to the impending fall, an arm swiftly wrapped around my waist, its cold fingers grazing my navel and sending shivers down my spine.