Chapter 56
The air in the chamber was still as Federico entered, his gaze quickly finding Azalea resting on the sofa opposite the bed. Her eyes were closed, though her expression was far from peaceful. She seemed to be lost in thought, but as the soft creak of his footsteps neared, her eyes flickered open, landing on him with a neutral stare.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice quiet but carrying a hint of genuine concern.
Azalea shifted on the sofa, offering a small, polite nod. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Federico paused, then glanced briefly toward the door as if he had been turning a thought over in his mind since he walked in. “I… couldn’t help but notice the tension between you and your sister,” he said carefully. “It seems your relationship isn’t… the easiest.”
Azalea scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. “Let’s not pretend here, Federico. Since there’s no one around to watch us, you don’t have to keep up the act of caring.” Her voice was cool, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability she’d shown the previous night. “We both know you don’t care about me, so why bother?”
Federico took a small breath, his brow furrowing slightly. “I’m not pretending, Azalea. I was simply asking.”
“Well, don’t,” she snapped, standing up and moving toward the bed. “My relationship with my sister is none of your business, just as my life beyond this room is none of your business. Focus on your family. Leave mine out of it.”
She climbed onto the bed and turned away from him, signalling that the conversation was over in her mind. The silence that followed felt heavy, filled with the unspoken words they both seemed unwilling to say.
Federico remained where he was, watching her with a steady, contemplative gaze. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes lingered on her for a long moment, as if trying to see past the walls she’d hastily put up. His jaw tightened slightly, though he did not attempt to bridge the distance she’d created.
Finally, he turned and walked to the balcony, pushing open the doors with a measured force. A rush of cool air swept into the room, cutting through the tension that hung thickly in the air.
Azalea lay on the bed, hearing the soft rustle of his movements as he stepped outside. The breeze brought the scent of night-blooming flowers into the room, mixing with the distant sounds of the kingdom as evening settled in. For a moment, she was almost tempted to call out to him, to let down her defences if only to admit that perhaps, just perhaps, there was something more between them than the rigid terms of their contract. But the bitterness in her heart kept her silent.
Federico stood on the balcony, his hands resting on the cold railing. He stared out at the kingdom below, his mind churning with thoughts he couldn’t easily dismiss. Her words replayed in his mind, each one laced with the pain she tried to hide behind her defensive tone. He hadn’t expected her to react so sharply; he hadn’t meant to intrude, only to offer some sense of understanding. Yet every time he took a step closer, she seemed determined to push him further away.
After a few minutes, he exhaled, his breath visible in the cool night air. His thoughts turned back to their marriage, the responsibilities that weighed heavily on both their shoulders, and the strange sense of familiarity he’d felt with her since the night they’d first been bound by the contract. He’d begun to realise that Azalea was not as easy to understand as he’d first assumed, that her layers were far more complex than any of his preconceptions had accounted for.
Turning back toward the room, he watched her lying there on the bed, her back to him. The distance between them felt as physical as the walls of the chamber. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more behind her anger, a hidden depth that he’d yet to reach.
But for now, he chose silence. He didn’t push further, didn’t attempt to question her words or break through the walls she’d erected. Instead, he stepped away from the balcony and moved quietly toward his side of the room, his thoughts lingering on her long after he turned away.
As he settled into his chair across the room, Federico kept his gaze fixed out the window, the world beyond their chamber a quiet, distant echo of his tangled thoughts.
_____
Maya sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing as she replayed the last conversation she’d had with Bennett. The threats, the demands-all of it left her feeling trapped in a web of secrets she wasn’t sure she could keep. She barely heard the door open until a familiar figure stepped in.
“Maya.”
She jumped slightly, her mother’s voice jolting her back to reality. “Mother! I… I didn’t hear you come in.”
Lady Margaret raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed as she regarded Maya with a scrutinising gaze. “You’ve been… distracted, lately,” she said, her tone probing but soft. “I can’t help but notice that you’ve been acting a bit off these past few days. Is there something going on that I should know about?”
Maya’s heart raced, and she swallowed, hoping her face didn’t betray her emotions. She forced a smile and shook her head. “No, Mother. There’s… there’s absolutely nothing going on. Everything’s fine.”
Lady Margaret didn’t seem convinced, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied her daughter’s expression. “Maya, you know you can tell me anything, don’t you? I’d rather hear it from you than find out some other way.” Her gaze softened, a hint of concern breaking through her usually composed demeanour.
“I appreciate that, Mother,” Maya replied, trying to maintain her composure. “But truly, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Lady Margaret sighed, glancing around the room as though searching for answers herself. After a moment, she gave a small nod, seeming to accept Maya’s words-at least for now.
“Well, if that’s the case…” She took a deep breath before continuing, “I wanted to let you know that I’ll be inviting Bennett over for dinner tomorrow evening.”
Maya’s eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a jolt of panic shoot through her chest. “B-Bennett?” she stammered, struggling to keep her voice steady. “Why?”
“Well, seeing as you seem to know him well, it’s only right that the family also acknowledges him as a friend. He’s a respected figure, after all.” Lady Margaret’s gaze was firm as if she’d already decided this was the best course of action. “Besides, he’s been around the kingdom long enough, and it would be good for the family to build connections with someone of his status.”
Maya could barely manage a nod, feeling her throat tighten as she tried to swallow her anxiety. “That… that sounds fine, Mother. I’m sure Bennett would be honoured.”
Lady Margaret tilted her head, noting Maya’s hesitation. “Is something the matter? You don’t look too thrilled.”
“No, it’s… it’s just a surprise, that’s all,” Maya replied, her voice faint. She forced herself to smile, though she could feel her pulse racing. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I think it’ll be a… a lovely evening.”
Her mother studied her for another long moment as if trying to read between the lines. “Good. I’ll make the necessary arrangements, then,” she said finally, her tone softening. She placed a hand on Maya’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know I can trust you, Maya. Remember that.”
Maya forced herself to nod, though the weight of her mother’s words felt like a tightening chain around her heart. “Of course, Mother. Thank you.”
Lady Margaret gave her a final, searching look before turning to leave. As she reached the door, she paused, glancing over her shoulder. “I’ll let the rest of the family know to expect Bennett. I think it’ll be nice for everyone to get better acquainted.”
“Right… Yes, it will,” Maya replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
With a nod, Lady Margaret stepped out, closing the door quietly behind her. As soon as she was gone, Maya let out a shuddering breath, sinking onto the bed. Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them in her lap, her mind racing.
Dinner with Bennett. Tomorrow night.
The idea filled her with dread, knowing he’d likely use the opportunity to push his plans even further. She could picture the smug expression on his face as he mingled with her family, each calculated move meant to remind her of the secrets she was desperate to keep hidden. What would he say? What would he hint at in front of her family?
And yet, she had no choice but to play along. For now.
Swallowing hard, she forced herself to calm down, though her mind whirled with apprehension. The clock was ticking, and she knew the next evening could change everything.
She could only hope that whatever plans Bennett had for her wouldn’t unravel the fragile stability she’d worked so hard to maintain.