Adele led Lord Varent to the east wing of the castle.

Servants moved in steady rhythm, with their hands occupied with ropes, buckets, and wooden poles.

The scent of soap lingered faintly in the air from freshly washed clothes.

Adele walked through it with serp to no care about the people around doing the manual labour.

She carried herself as though everything here existed beneath her notice, because it did.

Lord Varent walked beside her.

He had dismissed the idea of formal silence far too quickly for her liking.

"You’re quieter than I expected," he said, glancing at her with a small, almost amused smile. "Most ladies would be eager to fill the air around me."

Adele brows lifted lightly at his audacity, but she did not look at him.

Her gaze remained forward, with her posture straight, and her steps measured. "Most ladies," she replied calmly, "are not me."

Varent huffed softly under his breath. He was both amusement and intrigue at the same time. Yet, he wouldn’t lie that he liked her air of pride around him.

"I can see that," he said. "Still... this stiffness. It is unnecessary between us."

Adele finally turned her head slightly, just enough for her eyes to meet his. "There is nothing between us that requires ease," she said politely, yet her tone said otherwise. "We are simply aquintances at the main time, not mates."

Varent’s smile lingered, but it sharpened slightly at the edges. "You wound me, Milady."

Adele looked ahead again. "I do not recall granting you enough familiarity to be wounded."

That should have ended it, but it didn’t.

Lord Varent seemed... entertained.

"If we are to be acquainted," he continued, "you might find it beneficial to relax your guard."

Adele’s lips pressed together faintly. His voice wasn’t unpleasant to listen to, but she hated every breath he took to speak to her.

"If we are to be acquainted," she corrected softly, "then perhaps it would be beneficial for you to understand the nature of that acquaintance."

Varent raised a brow, a bit taken aback. Women don’t state the rules. At peast, never around him. "And what nature would that be?"

"Political," Adele said simply.

Varent studied her for a second longer than necessary. Then he chuckled.

"I see," he murmured. "You would rather speak of alliances than... anything else."

Adele did not respond immediately.

They walked past a group of servants lifting a basin together. The movements of the servants were careful and coordinated.

Only when they were clear of them did she speak again.

"Politics," she said, "is the only thing of lasting value in conversations like this."

Varent tilted his head slightly. "Conversations like this?" he questioned, trying to keep the conversation going. He would love to know how deep she buries her head into her books.

"Yes. At least between two people who are not yet bound," Adele clarified.

Varent’s eyes lingered on her. "And if that were to change? If I were to be better?"

Adele’s steps did not falter. "Then the conversation would change with it."

That answer seemed to satisfy him. He straightened his postures, and walked on behind her.

They walked in silence after that.

The sound of water dripping, and fabric shifting filled the silence between them.

Varent stopped walking.

Adele took two more steps before she noticed as she had been scanning the ground for the maid Torak was speaking to earlier.

She stopped as well.

Slowly, she turned. Her gaze landed on him.

He wasn’t smiling anymore. There was something else in his expression now. He looked observant.

Adele held his gaze.

"Yes?" she prompted.

Varent took a step closer. It was not enough step to invade her space but it was enough to change the air between them.

"Who is Beta Torak to you?" he asked softly, almost a whisper.

Adele stilled. It was subtle. So subtle that most would have missed it, but it was there. She paused for a fraction too long.

Her brows drew together faintly before smoothing out just as quickly.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, then she relaxed and lifted her chin again as composure settled over her like it had never left.

"No one," she said.

Varent watched her closely, not convinced.

"I saw you two at the ball," he continued. "You danced."

Adele’s expression did not change. "That is hardly unusual," she replied.

"For others, perhaps," Varent said. "Not for you."

Adele’s eyes sharpened slightly.

"If he were to choose you," Varent went on, his voice quieter now, "as a mate during the mating ball..." He paused deliberately, watching her expression. "...would you accept him?"

Adele’s heart dropped. It didn’t show on her face, but inside, her heart dropped.

Her chest tightened. Her breath caught before she smoothed it out.

Her mind moved quickly, faster than the feeling and faster than the memory that tried to rise with it.

She shut it down immediately. Her gaze held his, unwavering. "He will do no such thing," she said, certain.

"He was a mere servant boy," she continued, each word placed carefully, and deliberately, "who got his position because of proximity and because of association with Xanden."

Varent watched her.

"He knows his place." She assured Lord Varent. "I am sure," she added softly, "he has not forgotten it so quickly."

Varent’s gaze lingered. He searched her eyes. "But—"

"Lord Varent." Adele cut him off.

He went quiet.

Adele took a single step closer to him, taking control of the space between them.

"Did you come here," she asked calmly, "to speak to me about me... or about someone else?"

Varent held her gaze.

Then slowly, he smiled to ease whatever tension that was rising between them.

"My apologies," he said. "I see now that my curiosity may have overstepped."

Adele said nothing.

Varent inclined his head slightly. "You are... remarkable," he added.

Adele did not react to that either.

Varent turned slightly, gesturing ahead. "Shall we?" he said.

Adele moved first this time. She walked past him without another word.

Her posture remained perfect but her mind refused to stay quiet. First, Mabel and now, Lord Varent. How long would it take before she jeopardise Torak’s life because of the people in her world?