Alaric felt the tremble of her hands as they grasped to him, and he was surprised. "Why are your hands shaking, little one?" he asked.
Luzella's gaze dropped to Alaric's hand, her eyes widening in alarm. "Oh no, it's spreading. Quickly, do something. what's happening to your hand?" she asked, her voice urgent, and tried to reach out to examine his hand more closely.
Alaric gently pulled his hand back, out of Luzella's reach, and offered a reassuring smile. "Calm down first, little one. It's really nothing. Just look at me, it's nothing," he said, his voice soothing, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to her growing panic.
Luzella's eyes, filled with worry and growing tension, locked onto Alaric's. Her face was etched with concern, and she was on the verge of tears. "No.... No, it's burning your hand," she whispered urgently.
Alaric said reassuringly "It's not burning my hand, look, I'm fine." He gently rotated his hand, showcasing the affected area. The lava-like liquid dripped from his hand, hissing and crackling as it hit the ground, consuming everything it touched. Yet, Alaric's skin remained unscathed, radiating a warm, golden glow. "It's just dripping from my hand, it doesn't harm me in anyways." His calm eyes met Luzella's worried gaze. "Look at it now, it'll heal on its own," he said, his gentle tone reassuring.
Luzella's eyes followed Alaric's hand as the lava substance vanished into thin air, leaving his skin smooth and unblemished. His hand looked perfectly normal, not a single mark or blemish to be seen. She shifted her gaze to the limestone marble floor, where the lava droplets had fallen amidst the shattered glass fragments from the broken table. The marble was scorched and blackened, emitting a charred, acrid smell that filled the air. The sound of crackling flames accompanied the sight of the damaged floor, and the nearby couch, where a few droplets of lava had landed, was visibly scorched, its fabric darkened with jarred marks. Luzella's eyes snapped back to his, her expression a mix of wonder and awe.
Luzella's eyes widened in wonder as she asked, "Wow! Was it magic or what?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and her gaze sparkled with curiosity. But beneath the wonder, a wave of relief washed over her, her shoulders relaxing as the tension melted off her face. The concern that had etched her face just moments before began to fade, replaced by a mix of awe and fascination. Her breath still caught slightly as she waited for his response, the silence between them thick with anticipation.
Alaric's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his grin spreading wide across his face. He gently rubbed her hair with the same hand that had been covered in lava just moments before, the touch sending a soft whisper of movement through her locks. The scent of his skin, slightly smoky from the lava, mingled with the air around them. His voice was low and playful, laced with amusement, as he said, "Haa, it's kinda magic, little chick. Did you like it? Want to see it again?" The warmth of his breath caressed her skin, making her feel a flutter in her chest.
Luzella's words were laced with a mix of relief and wariness as she shook her head, her voice firm but slightly hesitant. "No need for another time. I already watched enough. It was good, it didn't harm you." Her gaze lingered on his hand, as if searching for any sign of injury, her brow furrowed in concern. Despite her words, her eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity, hinting that she wasn't entirely unaffected by what she'd witnessed.
Alaric's voice was soothing, his words a gentle balm to her frazzled nerves. "Stop being a worrywart and let's go grab some food now, and then you can sleep for as many hours as you want. Okay?" He smiled and his tone was playful, but with a hint of understanding, as if he knew exactly what she needed to unwind.
However, Luzella's face reddened with anger as she spun away from him, her voice sharp and biting. "Why should I? You should go and break another glass," she snapped. "Do you think only you can do anything when you get angry? I won't eat, no matter what. Now, go and break another glass." Her words were laced with sarcasm and resentment that left no doubt about her fury. As she turned sharply to left from there, her long hair swirled around her. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the space, a deliberate stride that conveyed her anger and frustration.
Alaric's eyes widened in surprise as he watched Luzella's outburst, his mind racing with questions. He wondered, 'Is she really the kind and sweet girl the information described?' taken aback by her fierce reaction. He thought she had quite a temper.
Alaric sighed and took big strides to stop her, quickly closing the distance between them. He reached out and gently but firmly grasped her hand, his touch warm and calming. "Okay, enough," he said softly. "It's my mistake. Calm down. Let's forget about this and it won't happen again." His voice was soothing, a gentle balm to her frazzled emotions, as he tried to diffuse the tension between them.
Luzella didn't respond, and Alaric softly sighed. He tried again, his voice gentle and persuasive. "If someone acknowledges their mistake and promises to learn from it, wouldn't it be fair to give them another chance? Don't you think so?" His words hung in the air, filled with a hopeful expectation that she would understand his sincerity and calm down.
Luzella's expression finally softened, and she murmured a reluctant "Hmm." Alaric's face lit up with a warm smile as he said, "That's my little girl. Now, come and let's eat something." His tone was as if coaxing her out of her irritation. She looked up at him, her gaze still wary but slightly more yielding.
Luzella nodded, and together they headed to eat. As it turned out, Butler Halley wasn't there, and instead, a girl named Mia came to serve them. She efficiently attended to their needs and left them alone once she had finished her work. The atmosphere seemed to relax further as they were left to themselves, the silence between them no longer tense but rather companionable.
Luzella continued to eat, while Alaric took a few bites before pushing his food aside and sipping his drink instead. She glanced up at him, and asked, "Why aren't you eating anything?" Her voice was soft, but her gaze held a hint of concern.
Unlike how he teased before, saying she was his meal, this time Alaric replied nonchalantly, "I'm full. You continue to eat to your fill, and I'll keep you company." His voice was relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair, his eyes on her as he sipped his drink, his presence calm and attentive."
Luzella raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with skepticism. "It's so little. Is your stomach really full?" She looked at him doubtfully, as if questioning the validity of his claim.
Alaric chuckled and replied, "Hmm, why wouldn't I eat to my stomach's fill? It's my home, after all. I'm really full. You continue eating." His words were laced with amusement, the atmosphere between them lightening further.
Luzella sighed and finished her meal. Afterward, they both left the dining room and entered the living room. Alaric turned to her and said, "Now, go get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." His voice was gentle, with a hint of warmth, as he bid her a good night.
Luzella's brow furrowed slightly as she asked, "Hmm? Your room upstairs too. Wasn't it? Aren't you going to sleep?"
Alaric shook his head and replied, "No, I'm going somewhere."
Luzella didn't press for details and instead suggested, "But it's already midnight, wouldn't you go tomorrow?" Her tone was gentle, with a hint of concern for his late-night plans.
Alaric smiled and replied, "It's fine. It's normal for me. I have to go now. You go to your room and sleep." Luzella thought for a moment, her eyes searching his face, and said, "Then I'll come with you."
Alaric's expression softened as he replied, "Little girl, I told you I'll see you tomorrow, so now go to bed." His voice was gentle but firm, with a warm tone that put her at ease.
Luzella's face set in a stubborn expression as she replied, "Earlier, you said I'm staying with you wherever you are. Now you're leaving me here? You're a big liar if you change your words like this with a child." Her voice trembled slightly, her lower lip jutting out in a pout.
Alaric's eyebrow shot up as he questioned, "With a child? Are you referring to yourself as a child?" His tone was laced with amusement, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Luzella's face reddened slightly as she huffed, "You're calling me 'little girl, little girl, little girl' this whole time. If you think I'm a little girl at this age, doesn't that mean I'm still a child?" Her voice was tinged with indignation, her arms crossing over her chest in a defensive gesture.
Alaric's eyes danced with amusement as he asked, "Tell me something, were you acting all this time in front of everyone?" His voice was laced with playful skepticism, his lips curling into a hint of a smile.
Luzella's brow furrowed in a frown as she asked, "What do you mean?" her eyes narrowing slightly as she awaited his response.
Alaric's gaze locked onto Luzella's as he explained, "Everyone says you're a sweet and kind girl, but all I see is a fierce and temperamental girl standing right in front of me."
Luzella's eyes widened as she gasped and her frown deepening as she demanded, "Did you make inquired about me?" Her voice was sharp, her face tense with a mix of surprise and annoyance.
Alaric's smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement as he said, "How do you think I found you if I didn't make inquiries about you?" His voice was low and smooth, a smile still playing on his lips.
Luzella's face flushed as she grasped his point, her features scrunching up slightly. "It's because you're different towards me compared to others, so I'm different with you," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of fury.
Alaric took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as he asked, "Why do you think I'm different from others to you, little girl?" His breath grazed her skin, sending a subtle shiver through the air.
Luzella took a step back, her eyes locked on Alaric's as she replied, "Because no one's ever made inquiries about me before, and yet here you are, who has. Isn't this reason simple enough for you?"