Twisted Greed (Twisted Sin #1)

Chapter 4

"I see you enjoy company in a much brighter place," Zavier said, his tone laced with amusement and a hint of something darker.

Yzabella's mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. She forced herself to remain composed, not wanting to give away her distress. "I... I was simply exploring the palace," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Zienna, sensing the tension but unaware of its cause, looked between them with a curious expression. "Is there something I missed?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Zavier's smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Yzabella's. "Nothing of importance, dear sister. Just a small adventure our guest had earlier."

Yzabella felt her cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and anger rising within her. She needed to regain control of the situation, to show that she wasn't intimidated. "Yes, just a small adventure," she echoed, forcing a smile. "This palace is full of surprises."

Zienna, noticing the discomfort, interjected smoothly. "Perhaps we should all explore more together. There are many hidden gems within these walls."

"An excellent idea," Valerian agreed, though his eyes were still on the maid, who was trying to maintain her composure under his gaze.

Zienna clapped her hands, her cheerful demeanor restoring some of the lightness to the atmosphere. "Yes, let's do that. Tomorrow, we can all take a tour of the palace and its gardens. It will be a wonderful way to spend the day."

Yzabella nodded, grateful for the distraction. "I would love that."

She then turned to Alaric and smiled at him, which he replied to with a small smile before taking a seat beside Zavier. She was taken aback when his eyes dropped to her neck, where a bruise-like mark had darkened from red to purple. His brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened as he shot Zavier a deadly glare.

She immediately covered it with her hair, arranging it to hide the bruise.

But Zienna, being a keen observer with a sunny and curious personality, chimed in, "Did an insect bite you in the garden? You know there's quite a lot of them wandering around since the surroundings are plants, you should be careful." She looked at Yzabella with worry in her eyes. "I recommend using a melilot ointment on it. It really works on me and perhaps you too, Yza."

"O-oh, thank you, Zienna," she smiled shyly. "I will keep that in mind."

"But why did the bruise become big like that?" Another question from Zienna, which Yzabella wanted to avoid but sadly could not.

She wished that something would swallow her whole at that moment. "I-it's..."

She gulped.

"It's because the insect that bit her was big." She almost choked on her own saliva when she heard Zavier's teasing.

It wasn't just her who almost choked. Valerian coughed, spilling tea as he quickly grabbed napkins to wipe the table, nervously laughing. On the other side, Zienna gave him a concerned look, while Alaric continued to glare at Zavier.

The tension in the room was palpable, and the silence that followed felt heavy. Yzabella's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing for a way to defuse the situation. She glanced at Zavier, whose casual smirk did little to hide the storm brewing in his eyes.

Zienna, still concerned but sensing the awkwardness, offered a reassuring smile. “Well, do take care. And if you need anything, please let me know.”

Yzabella nodded gratefully, feeling the intensity of Alaric’s gaze shifting back and forth between her and Zavier. The tension in the air was intense, and she wished for a moment of respite from the probing eyes.