Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 93: A new adventure

Arabella stuck to her morning routine which usually ended in front of the mirror where the contemplation of the pendant resting on her chest was done.

Though unlike every forenoon before that, the young woman had dragged her feet, taking every action with much less heart. Considering the news she’d received the previous day, her lack of life was no shocker.

As it was customary, Ada pushed the breakfast trolley inside after acquiring permission to enter.

"Good morning, Miss," the maid had immediately picked up on Arabella’s state and thus sounded unhappy herself.

"Morning, Ada," the young woman stood in place, only looking at the maid through the mirror facing her, "Thank you for the breakfast, but I am afraid, I am still not feeling any hungry," she offered an apologetic grimace that resembled a smile, but only distantly.

"Oh, that won’t do, Miss! Not today!" Ada uttered with more confidence all of the sudden, causing Arabella’s head to finally turn her way. The maid’s eyes fell to the floor as she fumbled for words, that swift wave of credence seemingly abandoning her, "It’s... Master Silas, Miss. He has asked for you to be ready and out by the entrance right after breakfast," she stuttered a few times around the beginning of her sentence.

"Why might that be?"

Although still weak, there was a dash more of curiosity in Arabella’s tone.

The halfway knitted eyebrows on her prompted Ada to answer quickly, "I was not made aware of his exact plans, Miss. The master has got a carriage ready outside, and it seems he is already expecting you to join him,"

"Oh... Oh dear!" Arabella’s eyes slowly flickered from one spot to another, "Then I shouldn’t make him wait. I’ll go right this second,"

And with that, she sped towards the door, grasping the knob but halting when Ada’s voice came again.

"Please, Miss! He won’t be pleased to know that you’ve gone without any food since yesterday’s breakfast!"

It was by no means a threat, but the urgency in her tone made it come across as one. Flinging her eyes down, Ada’s hand rose to cover her mouth when catching herself.

"I understand," Arabella mumbled, walking back to the tray, "I will drink the orange juice along with a blueberry muffin for some energy," she sat down at the table.

"That is an amazing idea!" Ada chirped, rushing to fill a glass cup with juice.

"I am sorry for burdening you, Ada. I don’t mean to give you such grief," irises straight on the orange liquid, the young woman did not blink once while slowly shaking her head from left to right.

"Please, never say such things, Miss," Ada placed a gentle hand on Arabela’s shoulder, "Not once have I ever considered you a burden to myself," her smile although feeble was so filled with warmth.

"Thank you," she whispered in return.

Delicious as always, the food was. Naturally, since the cooks put great efforts into their craft. Arabella did her very best to show gratefulness by savoring every bite which was no easy task. It was as if her entire digestive system threw a tantrum after each munch.

Ada merely watched as Arabella’s face gradually turned red every time her stomach rumbled in a combination of protest and hunger.

"I believe my stomach will hate me for the rest of my life for this," she chuckled, attempting to dispel the awkwardness lurking in the silent gaps between them.

"It’ll forgive you," Ada joked back, "Time heals everything,"

"Does it?"

"I’d rather continue believing it does. Thinking otherwise does not delight me in the slightest," Eyes on the window to the side, Ada fiddled with her own fingers.

Those were some of the last words the two women had exchanged before Arabella went outside to join Silas.

By then, he was already seated and comfortable in the beautiful carriage. His glare never softened despite him clearly trying.

It was obvious his forté lay elsewhere and thus Arabella learned to not mind. Knowing she was safe was more than enough. Especially at the time.

"It is a lovely day today, isn’t it?"

A wave of surprise flashed across her face very momentarily the instant she’d placed her behind on the soft cushion facing him, as idle chit chat was never his strongest suit either.

For the first time ever since they’d met, Silas broke the silence and not with something blunt or upfront and instead started with something he’d consider "beating around the bush".

"So it is," without a glance through the window, she merely nodded in a subdued manner, having already averted her eyes towards her own lap.

"We will need to find you something more comfortable than these dresses for our future outings," his deep voice knocked the silence away once more.

"Of course," still looking down at herself, she took a pinch full of the gown between her fingers, showing absolutely no interest in the destination of their travel.

Her mind bustled so loud, Silas could have sworn he’d caught a few wisps of it all.

"Are you not the least bit curious?"

The realization of her lack of grace, struck her like a slap clacking across the face, her eyes widened that instant, the green of her gemstones glowing all the more brilliantly and sheerly. Hands clasped together on her lap, she straightened her posture before launching into a string of apologies and explanations, "My apologies! It seems I’ve been more distracted than I’d been willing to admit, but in no way did I mean to insult you. Of course, I am curious!" Arabella had blurted all of it almost in one breath, "Of course, I am, " she added.

"I am not insulted," he said simply.

She bit her tongue, not knowing what else to say.

"We are heading for the Fata valley," was all that he said, awaiting her reaction.

"The Fata? Isn’t that the closest fairy ring?"

Nearly leaping off her seat, her eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets.