Chapter 15: Strange

Chapter 15: Strange

“Uncle and Auntie must be sleeping already.” He gave her the cup after sipping a little and said, “I wish I could see them now. I’m afraid I won’t return before the engagement.”

“Oh.” Lucy paused before placing the glass down. Her hand wandered to pick her own juice but she suddenly didn’t feel like drinking it.

Her stomach turned at his words. It was true, her parents had waited till the dinner had almost turned cold. They had hoped he would eat dinner with them.

Her father had shown his disappointment but her mother comforted him, giving the same reason Cedric had given her. ‘He must be busy with work.’

“You mean… You’ll only come again on our engagement day?” She finally managed to say.

He replied with a nod and stood up. “I’ve got so many things to take care of before then.”

“I understand.” Lucy smiled at him. She didn’t conceal her darkness this time. If he was too busy, why did he want the engagement so fast? They should at least understand each other more. Was she asking for too much? She grew up in a family where the men were always busy too. But they didn’t cease to cherish their women and showed their affection. Hopefully, it would be the same for her.

“Come.”

He held her up before leading her to the entrance. She thought he wanted to leave as she had also been trying so hard to hold back a bought of yawns. She was way past her bedtime already.

However, he led her to the left side of the mansion, where the water fountain stood in the midst of well-trimmed flower bushes. A swing stood not far from it and he led her there. It was her favorite spot.

The swing wasn’t large, but enough for two people, and now that she sat very close to him, with barely any elbow room, she felt something strange.

Not because he wore too much perfume as a strong fragrance filled her nose, but because the scent was mixed with something else… Alcohol. Had he been drinking? She frowned.

But then, ranges of perfumes came in different flavors, and almost all contained alcohol which was why they were flammable. It must be a strange mixture for its smell to be so evident in this one.

“Brother Cedric,” she called his attention as he stared at her in a trance.

“Yes, my love,” he answered.

“D–Do you like me?”

“Is that even a question?” He chuckled.

“I fell for you the first time I lay my eyes on you… You have a beautiful face and any man would be a fool not to fall for it.”

Lucy fiddled with her fingers as she looked into his eyes. Was she supposed to feel good by his words? They were nice words. But why didn’t she feel anything?

“A–Apart from my face, is there something else you like about me.”

She wanted to taste the waters even though she already felt bad. He might have good intentions and she must be misinterpreting everything.

“Yes, there are other things I like about you… You are very pretty.”

He already mentioned that. Her head dropped but then, he continued.

“And you are very cute and obedient.” He held her chin up so she could look into his eyes. “Everything about you is stunningly attractive. You may not admit it now but with time, you shall see that your heart—”

“Brother Cedric,” Lucy whispered, cutting him off. His eyes changed in disapproval from being interrupted but she continued anyway. “In your heart? Do you feel anything?”

It must be too early to start asking that as not even a month had passed before they were introduced, even so, she wanted to be assured.

“Do you?”

He answered back with a question. Even though his lips were curved up his eyes weren’t smiling.

She couldn’t hang her head again as he still had her chin in his hand. And guilt slowly crept into her heart. She didn’t also feel anything, she shouldn’t have brought this up. Now, she was being selfish. And they weren’t only doing this for themselves but also for their parents. ‘your case is hopeless.’ Her mother’s words rang in her ears and she bit her lips. There was also again, her problem.

“I… I—” she wanted to answer but he beat her to it.

“It’s nothing to be worried about… You thought I lied when I said I fell for you?”

“N—No.” She quickly shook her head.

“Good.” He laughed softly. “I don’t like delaying things, My love. We can work on your feelings when we are finally together, which shouldn’t be far from now.”

“W—what do you m—mean.”

“After the engagement, we’re getting married immediately.”

Lucy’s heart jumped to her throat and she gasped. When did he decide that? She had been trying so hard to come to terms with the sudden engagement, even trying not to think of it. But marriage? Was she ready for it?

She returned her gaze to him but he wasn’t joking. Even though he was always all smiles eyes never lied. What had she gotten into?

“So you see.” He leaned closer, closing the little distance between them, and the smell of alcohol hit her nose. He had been drinking.

“It is high time we start working on the feelings part.” His hand snaked around her waist and there wasn’t even a breathing space left between them. “Why don’t we start now.”

A shiver ran down her spine and her heart started beating wildly against her ribcage. As if it wanted to fly out of her chest. As if it doesn’t want to witness the scene about to occur.

“B–Brother Cedric.”

“Quiet,” he whispered as his face got closer. Then held her chin again. “Let’s not ruin this moment.”

Her heart screamed danger and sweats trickled down her forehead. No, she couldn’t do this.

With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she struggled out of his hold and sprang up, making him lose balance in the process.

He steadied himself and looked at her with narrowed eyes while she took a step back.

“I– I’m sorry.” She wrapped both hands around herself and stuttered, “Good night.”

And with that said, she turned around and ran inside the house.