Chapter 27: Was He Watching Me?

Kara’s POV:

I am sure I wasn’t mistaken… At that moment in his room, amidst the brief silence with our keen eyes locked on each other, and the sound of our soft breathing and nervous heartbeat, Duke Orville was aiming towards my lips. I am sure, that if we hadn’t been interrupted, he could have engraved a passionate kiss on my yearning lips, briefly forgetting about the rest of the world around us.

I was longing for his warm hands to embrace my cold body, his fingers grazing against my skin like that night as if he had memorized every curve of my body…all those spine-chilling sensations that I had experienced on that night were still very vivid my memory.

Maybe that was the reason why I didn’t feel the slightest resolve to resist his approach. My heart was thumping as fast as I could hear his loud heartbeat. Being together with him even in that brief moment had made my heart feel a strange solace, wondering if he was longing for me all this time we were apart…

But just right after these giddy emotions, the bitter reality hits me very well, making my heart ache in pain. Duke Orville will be the future Alpha of this pack…why would someone so far from my reach long for a useless black slave like me?

Tormented by my inner thoughts, when I returned to the small room I was given inside the manor on the first floor where most of the servants lived, I gently tucked the Spanish literature book he had given to me in a drawer.

Before putting it there, I sniffed it once to feel the lingering scent of Duke Orville in each of his belongings, but just with a whiff, I felt a strange ache deep down on my lower abdomen. I felt queasy and rushed to the bathroom, thinking I might throw up…but that wasn’t the case.

At that moment, Lady Martha came to my room and scolded me first for running away from the kitchen after breaking the dishes. But looking at my pale face for a moment, she placed her palm on my forehead to check my temperature as she said, “You seem a little feverish. Now that I remember, you have been looking paler for the past week, do you want me to call a doctor?”

“No…I am fine!” I hurriedly denied it as I have always detested to take medicines. While I washed my face with some cold water, I put my excuses blatantly, “I think I just have an upset stomach. Don’t fret Madam, I will be fine soon.”

“Well,” Lady Martha didn’t seem very convinced by my answer but put a serious expression before she said, “I came here to notify you of the command I have received from Young Master Raphael. He told me starting tomorrow, you will accompany him to the school as his slave, so you don’t have to worry about the household chores anymore. Master has also permitted this command.”

“What!?” In shock and wonder, I almost raised my voice at her.

Indeed I have always loved to study, and earlier before when Grand Duke asked me if I would like to study again, my heart knew it would be an impossible dream to attain for a black slave like me. But now…why would he allow me to go to school when Her Majesty especially sent me here to serve as the black slave of this manor?

Besides, I thought Raphael was avoiding me for the past few weeks, what suddenly came onto him that he propose such a decision?

I was already muddled by my inner thoughts, but Lady Martha seemed to understand my situation. She was quietly about to leave my room but her gaze fell on the Spanish literature book that Duke Orville had given to me earlier. Damn…I had failed to hide it in the drawer before she came!

Lady Martha glanced at the book while making a contemplated expression before she looked at me, “This one is Master’s favorite book and I had heard from Madam Duchess that he had even denied to lend it to her when she was alive. But…now seeing this book here with you, it feels quite strange.”

While I saw her grimacing, I panicked a little as I uttered aloud, “I…I didn’t steal it from the Master’s room! I swear, Madam—”

“I know.” She cut off my words, narrowing her cold eyes on me. “And that’s why it feels very strange to me. But…take this advice from an old lady who has been in this manor for the longest time. Kara…try not to go near Master or his room often. Especially…when Madam Marquess is still here…”

When Lady Martha left the room after whispering those words in a serious tone, it left me feeling unsettled for a while. I knew I shouldn’t be feeling like this…but a flare of jealousy gushed inside my heart when I heard her mentioning Madam Tilin along with Duke Orville again.

Do they have a secret relationship between them? If yes…then how should I define that yearning look in his eyes whenever Duke Orville gazes at me.
………………..

The next day just as I was instructed, I had to wake up earlier than usual to accompany Raphael to the school. Even today my health wasn’t at the best state, and I felt a little drowsy from sharp headache. But I quietly packed my bag as Lady Martha had instructed me before. A butler guided me to the main gate of the castle where I saw Raphael waiting for me outside a lavish black car.

When I reached close, I nervously greeted him with a smile, “Good morning…R-Raphael…”

He quietly opened the car door for me and asked in a sober voice, “Get inside. From now on, you will be accompanying me to school everyday, Kara.”

When I was about to step inside, my dress got tangled on the car door but before I could fall on my face, Raphael grabbed me by my waist, helping me to escape the fall!

I was scared for a second but being embraced in his warm big hands, I saw his rolled hazel eyes locked on me when he said, “I will not let you get hurt anymore, Kara. Don’t fret.”

His words sounded very deep and intense at that moment, but I quickly unleashed myself from his hold. Moving a step far, I thanked him for saving me first. But before I could get inside, I glanced behind at the window of Duke Orville’s room which was visible from the main entrance gate of the manor.

When my eyes fell on it, my body flinched when I saw a cold figure at the window which slide a little as if to avoid my gaze.

Am I mistaken to think Duke Orville was watching me all this time?