𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

𝟎𝟐𝟖

a/n; thank you for all the support so far!! don't be a silent reader and do vote and comment as that would motivate me tremendously :]

—

During your third year of separation with Silas, you turned eighteen.

"A drink? No thank you. I'm not a drinker," you smiled politely. "I dislike alcohol quite heavily, actually."

You were permitted to have your first drink now that you had technically turned into an adult, but still, the smell of booze sent unease coiling in your gut. It reminded you of too many things: the feverish, drunken words that your mother had said to you on that fateful day, and the smell that permeated your home when you were young.

Your cousins had claimed that turning into an adult was something to be celebrated, and thus, they had dragged you into the town's local winery. It was meant to be a festive occasion, but they had abandoned you for the company of women. You could see them at the corner of your eye, drinking merrily and making a fool of themselves.

You sighed. Some of the regulars had spotted a new face and were eager to talk to you, offering you drinks that you readily declined. You had only agreed to go out because you thought it would be a fitting change of pace.

You hadn't managed to dig anything up about the curse, and you were close to giving up. You made a mental note to interrogate your father about it, for you were convinced he knew something that you didn't.

"I got a real pretty daughter," one of the men told you, his words slurring. "You're a fine man. Could do good as her husband. You don't have a lover somewhere, do you?"

You didn't, but still, your mind flashed to Silas. "No," you said honestly, "I don't."

"Then—"

"—but I'm not interested. I'm much too young," you added swiftly. You tapped your fingers against the wooden table, hoping to send a hint to the man that you simply weren't interested in conversation, but annoyingly, he persisted.

"Much too young? You're eighteen."

"Exactly," you said, "that's too young to be thinking about marriage. My mind lies in my duties. I haven't even thought about dating yet."

"Duties? What's your job, mister?"

You decided it would be too much of a bother to tell him the truth. "Just a servant working somewhere."

"Ah, what a droll life," the man said piteously, "wouldn't a marriage spruce things up? I have friends whose daughters and sons are getting engaged."

"I'm not your friends' son," you shrugged your shoulders loosely, still managing to maintain an easy and relaxed smile. You didn't want them to dislike you, and thus, you were too much of a coward to be straight up rude to them. It was stupid how your people-pleasing actions had persisted over the years.