Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 132: Not jealousy

Arabella opened her eyes to the first rays of sunlight that had graced her skin. The tightness that restrained her movements prompted her to look down at herself, only to note that the green gown she’d picked for the previous day still wrapped her body.

A loud sigh of relief escaped her upon clasping a hand around her pendant after realizing it was nowhere on the nightstand by the bed.

The memories of the night before resisted her call, allowing her mind to wander and stray, with free reign to theorize on what must had happened for her to end up in such a state.

The face that stared back at her from the bathroom mirror was a well-rested one, somewhat pleasant to admire.

The young woman picked a different gown but mourned the comfort of the one she had to leave behind.

Horseback training promised to be more arduous with that prospect alone. However, Arabella did not get to linger on that thought as the grinding of the breakfast trolley filled the hallways and knocked on her door before Ada’s hand ever did.

"Morning, Miss," the maid chirped.

"Morning, Ada," Arabella’s eyes followed her motion along, but her eyebrows remained a tad furrowed, asking questions her own voice withheld.

"What is it, Miss?" Ada tilted her head slightly to the side, a smile still plastered on, "You seem a little confused," she added.

"Well, I suppose... I am a bit confused...," she trailed off, eyes seemingly drifting into a faraway land, "To tell you the truth, I don’t exactly remember how I got to bed yesterday," she twiddled her fingers, hoping the maid would somehow have the answer.

In response, the beam on Ada faded a little, replaced by the look of comprehension that had dawned on her features, "Oh... It must’ve been that then," she muttered more to herself.

"I am sorry, I didn’t catch that," Arabella leaned in a little as though trying to listen closely.

Snapping out of whatever cave Ada had gotten stuck in, her eyes locked with Arabella’s, "I believe that by the time you returned from the horseback riding session, my shift was already over and thus I did not see you, but this very morning, Master Silas sought after me in order to leave a message for you,"

"Did something happen? Something must’ve come up during the night or this morning otherwise he would’ve simply told me about it yesterday unless...," the young woman had launched into postulations of her own but trailed off towards the end, her voice breaking off.

"Were you in a nightgown when you woke up this morning, Miss?" Ada offered her an apologetic look.

"No, I was not," she simmered down.

"That might be it then. You fell asleep during the ride, and he didn’t want to wake you," Ada’s hand let go of her own chin, "Well, he simply wanted you to know that there would be no horseback riding today,"

That last sentence pushed the fact that she’d fallen asleep in Silas’ arms to the side.

"Oh...," Arabella’s face fell even more, "Then he must’ve changed his mind about bringing me along on their outing," she chuckled softly, but it was clear it did not come from the heart, "I figured he would. It wouldn’t exactly be my place,"

"Oh no! It’s not that at all!" seeing the tragic frown on her, Ada rushed to set the record straight, "He said he noticed you struggled with the dress yesterday, and wanted to take you shopping for better suited garments at nightfall,"

From a frown to an instant beam, Arabella’s entire demeanor lit up, "Really?" she practically leapt before clearing her throat, "Right. That is very thoughtful of him,"

"Extremely," the maid nodded profusely, "What should we do today then? Should we head to the library? I’d love to read some more today as well,"

"Did you manage to read yesterday?"

"Oh yes! The head maid had forgotten that I wouldn’t spend the day with you and didn’t include me in the chore schedule the entire morning. So, I managed to practice a bit," she smiled.

"Then perhaps we should take a break from reading?" Arabella tilted her head to the side, index finger on her chin, "I’ve always taken breaks from reading. That’s how I kept my passion for it alive,"

"Alright then. I trust you!"

"I’d like to visit the gardens again. I haven’t had enough of those white roses yet," Arabella’s eyes traveled towards the window.

"That’s doable. Especially since Master Silas has left the manor today," Ada placed the last dish from the trolley onto the table.

The young woman took a seat and picked an empty glass before pouring some milk inside, "Ada, I told you already," she started, "He only acted that way because of his craving for blood. He’s had his fill now," she shook her head slowly.

"I am not so sure of that," Ada did, indeed, not seem convinced. The grimace on her features was proof enough of that, but she articulated her thoughts for good measure, "I’ve never been close with Edna, but as far as I know, he’s never behaved that way with her or any other blood provider before,"

"I believe it was because with Edna, he’s never had to," Arabella wiped the few drops of milk that painted her lips, "Edna has succumbed to the Mirari and still suffers its consequences to this day. Silas was aware of that at the time," her attention turned towards the little blue bird that had settled upon her windowsill to tweet at will, "She’s never looked at anyone else, thus even in his most vulnerable state, he knew he had no reason to be...,"

"Jealous?" Ada finished the sentence Arabella couldn’t.

In reply, the young woman’s cheeks reddened on the spot, "I wouldn’t say... That,"

"You certainly give him a reason to be jealous," Ada smirked.

"Ada, please!" she whined, dragging the letters in every word.

The giggle that had escaped Ada filled the entire room, "Alright, alright," though very quickly after that, her smile dimmed down, "Speaking of the Mirari, it still perplexes me that you did not succumb to it. You still haven’t!"