"Me?" A dry chuckle left Vilian's lips, "Unreasonable? Huh! My dear stepmother, can we get into the talk and not meddle uselessly?
"I see you look fair and healthy."She observed the room as if she had entered an old storeroom. "The Fenans have been looking forward to meeting you. You better show up before tonight at the tea party, or don't blame me for being a bad mother," She said as she glanced annoyedly at Lily.
Vilian replied nothing but looked at the woman who refused to speak in front of her maid.
Sparing no glance Vivian left the room glaring at Lily. The poor maid felt her life at stake whenever she encountered the Master and his Mistress who would wait to spit at her whenever she come across them. Lily left a long sigh as she closed the door slowly in a daze.
"I think I'll have to use my magic powers to walk," said Vilian glancing at Lily.
"You have magic powers, Mi'lady?" The shock was written all over Lily's face. She walked hastily toward Vilian.
"Ah... Lily... Ahh!" Vilian rolled her eyes. "My dear sister... What should we do, get you a brain transplant?"
"Brain transplant?" questioned Lily with a confused look, "Is that even possible, Mi'lady?"
Here we go again. "Aish! You won't imagine what's possible, Lily..."
"Can we transplant exterior organs too?"
"Truth be told, you have no idea how vast the technology has grown. Even the voice can be changed," said Vilian, stifling her laugh as she enjoyed the expression of her maid.
A loud gasp left Lily's mouth as her hands flew to her mouth.
Stepping closer to Vilian seriously, Lily said, "Okay, Mi'lady. Let's do it."
"Do what, Lily?"
"The brain transplant. But let's not get a man's brain, okay? Let's get a genius woman's brain. That way, I can be like Sherlock Holmes."
"Ahh!! Do you even have a brain, Lily? I swear I'm gonna go crazy." Vilian laughed as she said it. She could not stifle it anymore. Lily was once again confused.
"Pardon me, Mi'lady, but I didn't get what you said."
"Never mind, Lily. Now, if you'd help me get to the en-tice-"
"Oh, sure, Mi'lady!" Lily exclaimed as she took off the blanket which was covering Vilian's injuries.
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"So... she seems to be like her sister... I better inform it to sir..." said the person who was eavesdropping by Vilian's door and left as soon as possible.
________________
"Lily? Get me a dress that won't reveal these injuries."
"I'm sorry to say, but you'll have to get on with the gown you see..."
"Ufff~" Leaving an exhausting sigh, "Anyhow, we'll have to go with it," said Vilian as she waited for Lily to bring the dress.
Not soon, Vilian was dressed in a long gown that reached below her ankle. To cover the small scratches and injuries, she had to wear a high neck-long sleeves gown which was thankfully light in weight for her to handle, though her foot ached bit by bit whenever she would take steps.
"Aishh, Lily! Don't come running like that. People will misunderstand."
"But, Mi'lady, you'll trip and fa-"
"I'll handle her. You may leave." Came the voice from behind, startling both the girls.
"But- Sir?" Lily was about to protest but drank back the words.
"Mr. Astrel?"
Astrel closed his eyes for a brief moment as he took a deep breath.
Vilian bit her tongue as he glanced at her with his blue blank eyes. A warm hand snaked around her waist. Widening her eyes, a low gasp left Vilian's lips as she felt it. She glanced at the person to whose hand that belonged.
"What are you doing!? Let me go..." she whispered loudly.
But for some unknown reason, she felt nothing but a sense of safety and comfort. Her thoughts got lost in those blue eyes of his, which looked nowhere but straight into her eyes that held her in place.
Vilian didn't know how long they were looking at each other. She felt like she was under a spell cast by the tall man standing right beside her as if they were stuck to each other.
A clearing of the throat broke their spell, bringing them back from their trances.
Astrel didn't look behind but still glanced at the girl in his arms clutching his shirt fistful.
How adorable, thought Astrel. But as soon as he thought about it, he slid it away.
Ashley walked forward and whispered something shortly in his ears which made his jaw clench and his head as he glanced at his brother. Ashley walked back through the hallways while Lily stood away from them. She had turmoil about whether to leave or not to leave Vilian with the man whom she didn't know well. She had only seen him twice and not anymore. But that was enough for her to tell that he was someone not to mess with.
Astrel leaned forward as he glanced down at the confused girl, but she didn't inch away.
"Better not infuriate your stepmother than she already is," He whispered as he took a deep breath. Her lavender smell wafted into him, awakening an unknown feeling. A sense of hunger.
Vilian's ears turned red as she felt his lips get in contact with her cold ears. She felt his lips pulling up. He smirked as he realized her getting affected by him.
But the word 'stepmother' rang in Vilian's mind like an alarm. A frown settled on her forehead. 'How did her know she was my stepmother? Is it that obvious... or... did I tell him about this?' thought Vilian as she bit her lips while they walked toward the garden.
A soft squeeze on her waist snapped her back to him. She glared at him as she tried to swap his hands off but ended up wincing in pain.
"Careful there," warned Astrel.
"You pervert! Get off me!"
"Fine," he said, and not a minute passed by, she fell to the floor, wincing in pain. Thankfully she didn't get injured. If her wound were to reopen, not only the bandage but the white gloves would sock in blood.
"Why would you do that?"
"You asked for it." He was grinning from ear to ear as he started walking away from her.
"Wait!" She yelled but didn't see him stop. "Uff... Please..." she pleaded and saw him stop but didn't turn around. "Didn't you say that you'll help me?" She questioned as she gritted her teeth
"Didn't you tell me to let you go?" he questioned back as he turned around, glancing at her with a sly smirk.
"Alright... Alright but, just help me get to the garden," She pleaded as she tried to stand up.
"And?"
"Just help me and I'll do anything you want." A loud chuckle left Astrel's lips as he heard her say.
"You know you already owe me for whatever I want, and you're promising something similar to it again," He said as he walked toward her, and the next minute she was in the air, in his arms.
"Astrel!"
"It got me to do this to make your little mouth spell out my name, huh? Such a wild kitty you are," He said as he was carrying her in his arms.
Suddenly they heard footsteps resonating in the hallway. If possible, Vilian's heart would have broken its ribcage and come out.
"Someone's gonna see us. Put me down," Pleaded Vilian, but instead, he started walking like he heard nothing.
The footsteps neared. Vilian crumpled Astrel's shirt, pleading him to put her down.
As the servants and three men came in view, Vilian hid her face in Astrel's chest. Astrel stopped abruptly.