Rowan also observed how Alaric's gaze softened as he looked at Luzella in his arms, and it was clear that a protective layer had enveloped him. Rowan surprise was palpable as he pieced together the unexpected scene before him. Yes, He is the one who had provided Alaric with all the information about Luzella, but he hadn't anticipated this kind of connection. As he wondered who this lady could be to warrant such tender behavior from Alaric. Then a thought occured in his mind and a sudden realization dawned on him, his expression turned unbelievable. But he immediately shook his head and thought to himself 'Maybe I'm wrong' his mind racing with the possibilities.
As Rowan remained lost in thought, Butler Halley slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him before nudging Rowan's arm. Rowan jolted back to reality, his brow furrowing in annoyance. "What?" he snapped, his tone laced with irritation.
Butler Halley gave Rowan a pointed look, his eyes scanning him up and down for a moment before he spoke. "Don't you think time is running out? We need to hurry. Instead, you're standing here, lost in thought, zoning out in your own world."
With a sudden jolt of awareness, Rowan realized the urgency of the situation and promptly fell into step beside Butler Halley, following him out of the mansion to tackle the task at hand.
As they settled into the car, Rowan turned to Butler Halley with curiosity. "Halley, Who do you think that lady might be in Alaric's arms is?" he asked, his voice low and inquiring.
Halley shot Rowan a side glance before responding, "She's Luzella. She's going to be staying here from now on. You weren't aware, but Alaric ordered a whole new wardrobe for her this morning. I was puzzled when ladies' clothing started arriving at the mansion, specifically on Alaric's floor. Then, when he brought her home at dusk, it all clicked into place that someone was moving in, and it was her. You can imagine how shocked I am." Halley's words trailed off as he recounted the unexpected turn of events.
Rowan's annoyance simmered just below the surface as he realized Halley was blabbering the unnecessary information instead of not having any doubts about Luzella's identity. He opened his mouth to respond with a sarcastic remark, but before he could utter a word, Butler Halley continued, "But then a thought occurred to me." Halley's glanced at Rowan, his expression thoughtful.
Finally Rowan's eyes shifted from annoyance to curiosity as he turned to Halley, he said with a hint of amusement. "I thought you'd lost your mind for not having any doubts or thoughts Halley. Now spill it to me and prove you've got a brain, what's that?"
"What do you think?" Butler Halley's knowing glance hinted that he was aware of Rowan's eagerness to hear more.
"Oh, c'mon, stop your drama and spill it," Rowan said, aware that if he pushed Halley's buttons with his remarks, the butler Halley would clam up, so he opted to play it cool until he got the information he wanted.
Butler Halley's eyebrow arched in amusement as a smirk danced on his lips as he said "I thought maybe it's the girl Alaric has forgotten."
Rowan's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity. "What makes you think that?" he asked, his tone casual despite the intensity of his gaze.
Butler Halley's smirk grew wider. "Just a hunch, Master Rowan. For your information, I asked Alaric to confirm." He paused, deliberately piquing Rowan's curiosity, and as expected, Rowan immediately asked, "What did he say? Did he tell you it's her? Is she really her?"
"Why don't you guess?" Butler Halley playfully asked Rowan, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't you think it's interesting?" He winked at Rowan, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat.
Rowan narrowed his eyes and replied, "Maybe if we acted up earlier in the mansion, Alaric might have killed us for disturbing the peace. But now that we're on the road, there's no one to worry about disturbing. Do you want me to play a little violent game with you?" His tone was serious, implying that Butler Halley would face the dire consequences, if he didn't get the answer he wanted about Alaric's response.
Butler Halley's smirk faltered for a moment before his eyes locked onto Rowan's, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "Well, I don't have the mood to play with you now," he said, pausing for a beat. "Alaric confirmed it that it's really her." His words hung in the air, the truth finally out in the open.
"For heaven's sake!" Rowan blurted out, his eyes wide with astonishment as he stared at Butler Halley in disbelief. "It's really her!" The words tumbled out of his mouth, laced with a mix of shock, excitement, and a hint of trepidation about what might transpire if it was really her.
Butler's gaze drifted slightly as he spoke, his tone measured. "Yes, he's still got no recollection of her, but he's certain it's her." A hint of intrigue danced in his eyes, as if the mystery itself was almost fascinating. "Despite the gaps in his memory, he's unwavering in his conviction about her."
Rowan's lips curled into a sly smile as he said, "She's here now, and I'm curious what drama will unfold before us. We weren't there when he was entangled with her before, but now we get to witness the spectacle."
Halley raised an eyebrow and shot Rowan a brief glance before shaking his head.
Halley felt it was tough to change someone's nature and countered, "I don't think you'll have time to watch someone else's drama if your own is intense enough to handle."
Rowan rubbed his temples, his hand on his forehead, before replying vaguely, "I don't know if my drama will ever get a good ending. It's been going on for years, and still, no solution."
Halley chuckled and let the matter drop, while Rowan remained lost in his thoughts.
•••••
Luzella slept peacefully in Alaric's arms, her gentle breathing a soothing melody that calmed Alaric's soul. He gazed at her unblinkingly, his eyes tracing every detail of her serene face, lost in her world.
Luzella felt a growing discomfort from sleeping in the same position, and as she tried to move, she found herself restricted by gentle but firm hold. With a reluctant effort, she half-opened her bleary eyes, only to be met with a blurry haze.
Luzella blinked repeatedly, her eyelids fluttering like butterfly wings as she struggled to clear the fuzziness from her sleep-heavy eyes. As her vision slowly sharpened, her gaze focused on Alaric's figure before her, his chiseled features illuminated only by the soft, ambient light in the room. Still disoriented from the haze of sleep, her mind lagging behind her waking body, she murmured in a soft, husky voice, "Who are you?" Her words were laced with confusion, her brow furrowed slightly as she tried to place the familiar yet indistinct face so close to her.
As Alaric gazed at Luzella, his eyes crinkled at the corners with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to the cold distance he'd once shown her. His face inches from hers, his voice was a soft whisper, as he said his name "I'm Alaric"
Luzella's gaze locked onto Alaric's, her eyes searching his face as the haze in her mind finally began to clear. The fog lifted, and her vision sharpened, revealing the contours of his features in precise detail. As she took in his familiar face, recognition dawned on her, and now finally knowing his name, she whispered it "Alaric." The sound was tentative, as if testing the name against her memories, trying to reconcile the face with the sound of his name she had just heard.
When Alaric heard his name on her lips, a sense of déjà vu washed over him. Something stirred deep within his heart, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a memory he'd long forgotten, perhaps a fragment of their past that had been buried deep within himself. He nodded his head, a soft "hmm" escaping his lips in response to Luzella's utterance.
As the fog cleared from her mind, Luzella's memories came flooding back the every detail of how she'd ended up in Alaric's arms. Without attempting to pull away from him, she gazed blankly at his face and asked, "Now please tell me, why did you bring me here, to this place, to your mansion?"
Unlike before Alaric didn't try to intimidate her and chose to give her an answer that made Luzella's heart feel settled without burden or worry. "From now on, you are going to be with me, wherever I am."
Luzella's gaze faltered, and she nodded slowly, her eyelids drooping from his gaze as she lowered her head. Her soft hair locks fell forward against her shoulders. Her voice was barely audible when she finally spoke and the single word tumbled out "I'm asking you WHY?" The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions, as she waited for Alaric's response.
Alaric's fingers brushed against her skin as he gently put her hair locks behind her ear, sweeping them back over her shoulder. He leaned in closer, his gaze fixed intently on her lowered face, and asked in a low, husky tone, "Don't you want to be with me?"
Luzella didn't lift her head, and she questioned back, her voice barely above a whisper, "Do I know you to be with you? We're practically strangers."
Alaric put his fingers gently on her chin and lifted her face, his eyes locking onto hers as he asked, "Look at me and say it again, am I really a stranger to you? Will you just sleep like this in some stranger's arms?" There's a hint of fury in his voice.
Luzella's gaze met Alaric's, her eyes flashing with a mix of uncertainty and resolve as she said, "No, but it's the truth that I don't know you." Her words hung in the air, sincere and unflinching, as she held his intense stare. Then, her voice barely above a whisper, she added, "But I felt you were familiar everytime I saw you. It's just that I can't put my finger on how or why."
A flicker of rage ignited within Alaric at her words, but as she added that he felt familiar to her, his anger melted away in an instant, replaced by a warmth that spread through his chest.
Luzella's eyes searched Alaric's face, but he remained silent. Despite the softening of his expression, he offered no response. So, Luzella asked him again, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity, "Who are you? Why I have to be with you?"
"As I've told you earlier, you're with me now, and you're going to stay with me from now on, wherever I am," Alaric's low voice rumbled, the sound sending a gentle vibration through the air.