What was she doing there?

He thought she had left with Aldrich.

She just stood at the door, looking like she was just as unsure of her presence there as he was.

"Close the door behind you." He finally found his previously nonexistent voice.

Then he loosened his cravat. It was suddenly so hot despite the fact that he was perched over the balcony.

She stepped further into the room and closed the door behind her, peeking into the hallway briefly to be sure no one had seen her.

Then she turned to him and hid her hands behind her back.

"We have to talk, Your Gra-."

"Yeren." He corrected automatically.

She blinked and a slight colour crept into her cheeks.

Talk? What did she want to talk about?

"Maybe... I was wrong. I..." She closed her eyes shut and opened them again. "I killed the child. And I should not have tried to deceive you."

Yeren could not believe his ears. She was confessing to something she didn’t do?

But why? What was she hoping to achieve by lying to him?

"I see." Was all he said.

He was desperately hoping she would cross the distance between them... or he would do so himself.

"I know I did a very terrible thing... but I want you to find a place in your heart to-"

He couldn’t hear anymore of the rubbish she was spouting.

Yeren finally took the first step and covered the distance between them in a few strides.

Her eyes were wide with confusion as he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers.

A grunt of satisfaction rang deep through him. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed being able to hold her, that it was too good to be true.

Her hands slid into his hair, tousling it further.

A sigh broke through her parted lips and he swallowed it whole.

He needed her. He wanted her then and there.

But anyone could come in on them.

Cursing inwardly, he pulled away from her and looked down at her swollen lips.

She was breathing just as hard as he was.

"You didn’t even let me finish." She said, slowly raising her eyes to his.

Her eyes looked very dark in the light of the candle.

"I don’t want to hear your apology."

Her brow quirked up. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

He averted his gaze.

Forgive her? He was the one who ought to be begging for her forgiveness. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her everything he had found out.

Instead, he said, "You shouldn’t be here. People can’t see us together."

Claire surprised him by coming closer until their bodies were pressed close.

He dared not move away. He dared not even breathe too loudly.

All he could do was wait and see what madness she was conniving.

"I don’t care if anyone sees us. Half the people here already suspect my relationship with you. And if I am going to die, I might as well do so in your arms."

It was almost as if a pail of icy cold water was dunked over his forehead.

What?

"Die?" He repeated, incredulous.

Then she shook her head and laughed nervously. "We are all going to die someday."

Why did he feel like that wasn’t what she had meant? Was she afraid now that her life was being threatened?

He swallowed down his suspicion and turned back to the balcony.

Here she was, close within his reach.

Then why wasn’t he slamming her against a wall like he had been dreaming of doing for days?

"Good night." He heard her mutter.

Then, he heard the door open and close.

And just like that, she was gone.

He downed the contents of his goblet in one swift gulp and dropped it on the stone pavement with more force than was necessary.

She had come to apologize, he still couldn’t believe it. Even when she hadn’t done it?

Why did the proud Lady Stenly reduce herself to a liar just for his forgiveness?

And he was foolish enough to turn her away when he was supposed to be the one begging for her forgiveness.

What a fool he was, indeed.

He remained hunched over the balcony until the noise from below died out completely.

Most of the guests had retired to their chambers. So it was time to retire to his.

A servant met him and his guards as they were ascending the stairway and escorted him to his chambers without even being asked to do so.

As he passed the rows of closed doors, he let himself wonder if she was in one of those rooms.

What if she was inside with Aldrich? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He shook his head to clear the thought.

It didn’t matter to him, he told himself.

The best thing for the both of them was to part ways amicably.

By distancing himself, he was protecting her and her sister.

Yes, that was his reason.

He entered the room and closed the door behind him.

His things had been brought up and the black garment for the funeral was hung over the chair by the wall to avoid being creased.

The bed was a large one, with bedposts and a canopy. The windows were large and wide open, sending the curtains into a frenzy as the wind howled relentlessly.

Rain.

Please rain, he whispered inwardly.

The fireplace was lit, cracking loudly in the deadly silence of the room.

It was a room fit for a man of his status, he mused.

Then he began to undress for bed.

After shedding his travel garments, he rinsed his face with the warm water in the wash basin and tugged on a loose cotton night shirt.

He was afraid to close his eyes.

Because he knew she would fill his dreams.

Especially now that his body was still reeling with unspent release.

Yet, as soon as his head touched the pillow, he was thrown into a slumber.

What wonders did the morning have in store for him?