52

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO
GABRIELLE
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The days slowly turned into weeks, I was finally allowed to leave the room and walk around by myself. My injuries were healed and I could finally move around without pain, even better was that I could finally stop taking those disgusting blood capsules.
I tied my hair into a ponytail, it was longer now, already brushing past my shoulders. Today, I could finally do what I had been anticipating in these past days. Lucian was working at this time which was why I considered it as the best opportunity.
I walked into the kitchen to see Geoffrey, he didn't realize my presence until I was merely some spaces away.
"Ma'am!" He exclaimed.
I crossed both my arms, it wasn't the first time I had told him to just call me by my name, but he always preferred to call me just that or addressing me as Mrs. Castiel. I always felt odd because he was quite elderly to me.
"What do you want? You could have just told me and I would have sent it over to you." He said.
If only he knew that it could be quite tiring in having everything being done for me, sometimes I always wished to have things done by myself but was never allowed to. The thought of returning to the bedroom had me shuddering an idea suddenly occurred to me.
"I want to prepare lunch today!" I announced.
If he looked any more surprised then his eyes would definitely be leaving their sockets.
I started to rummage the ingredients present in the kitchen, baking was one of my favorite things to do, but sadly I don't get that opportunity that often. But that was in my home, father always ensured that every chore was done by the servants, my sister and I was only supposed to look and dress up like pretty dolls.
Most of the days, I wished I had a normal life, waking up every day and leaving for work, going to wherever they want without fear of being attacked. I thought I would gain freedom once I was away from my father's care. I didn't think I would fall into the same situation all over again. Sometimes, the feeling of being secured was nice, other times it was just so suffocating.

I found the flour, eggs and some apples. It seemed everything I needed to make some apple pie was present.
"Kindly let me know what you want and I will prepare it, you shouldn't have to do my work."
"It's fine!" I flashed him a quick smile but he still looked doubtful and nervous.
"Or we can do it together, I'll tell you what I need you to do." I amended, he still didn't look convinced but that proved to be satisfactory enough for him.
"How long have you been working here?" I asked when we were slicing the apples.
"It's been more than twenty years."
More than twenty years! I knew he would be the right person to ask.
I leaned closer to him, my voice lowered to a whisper.
"So you've known Lucian for that long? How is he? Have you experienced that he behaves unusually sometimes?"
His expression changed altogether. Okay, I think that might have come off too directly. His strong reaction told me that he definitely knew something, but he was reluctant to speak about it.
"Please can you tell me? I only want to know everything about him, I want to be able to help him, I wouldn't have asked you if I had other choices." I pleaded.
He shot me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but we are never allowed to discuss this topic."
His words reminded me of Loretta's, and it suddenly had me thinking, had Lucian been sent to the hospital the other day because he had hurt himself?
Was his behavior the word she termed as "upset?"
Just as she hadn't explained further to me, Geoffrey seemed to want nothing more than to get off the topic.
"Was it Lucian who forbade the topic being spoken about?" I spoke aloud, if it was Lucian, then the only one who could give me an answer was him.
"It was the former master, his wife suffered from the same condition before she finally gave in." He spoke and looked as though he instantly regretted it.
I was shocked by his admission. Was it some deadly heritable disease?
Gave in to what?
As in she killed herself? Had she hurt herself for so long and finally decided to end it, was that how she died?
A cold shudder spread through my body, turning me to ice. Would Lucian also do the same someday?
What exactly was it?
We resumed making the pies in silence, it took some time to finally prepare them until they were all done.
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Even if everyone refused to talk about it, I still had to find out some other way. But how? The only option was to ask Lucian himself, but what if he wouldn't tell me? I was walking around, deep in thoughts when my eyes caught sight of a figure making his way out of Lucian's office.
Devin.
Although he was constantly around and we've bumped against each other a few times, I had never tried to talk to him or him to me.
It was irrational to still hold a grudge against him for Derek's incident. He had only followed his boss' orders and it turned out that Derek wasn't even a good person.
Maybe it was time to say a few words to him?
Was I really thinking he would tell me anything? He was undoubtedly the closest person to Lucian, and the most loyal because Lucian took him almost everywhere. If others wouldn't speak, why would he?
Forget it, I still had to make an attempt.
I quickened my pace and easily caught up with him.
"Hey!" I tried to smile, it was too wide, too stiff, and very fake, I wondered if he noticed.
He didn't respond at first, I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes before it disappeared. Well, I was surprised at myself too.
Okay...what should I say next? I couldn't just ask him straight from the blue.
"Um, the weather is nice today! The sky is quite blue!" I chuckled nervously. Shit! Did I really say that out loud?
Geez, I wasn't a social person, but I really didn't think it was this bad.
He was staring at me mutely, probably thinking I was stupid, well maybe I was.
"Is there something you need? If not, I have some urgent work..." He spoke for the first time, I admit that I was surprised that he sounded the way normal people do. I kind of expected him to be very rigid and hostile.
"Actually, yes" I clenched my palms together, getting a bit close to him was the first task.
"I wanted to give you something, can you wait here?"
I didn't wait for a response before speeding to the kitchen. I returned shortly with a small tray containing a pie and a can of beer.
He was still standing there, although he looked impatient. Surely, he wouldn't refuse my token of becoming friends with him.
"What is this?" He spoke when I extended both to him.
"An apple pie and beer? I made extra and thought you might want some."

He gave me a blank look. The poor fellow was probably surprised by my friendliness, what if he thought they were poisoned? Was that the reason he seem to be hesitating?
"Are you going to take it or will you keep me standing all day?"
He reluctantly accepted the tray from my hand and I beamed my triumph.
"Great!" I clapped my hands.
"This means we are friends now! And I can ask you whatever I want from now on and you are going to answer!"
I was finally able to draw a reaction from him, he looked absolutely horrified as he choked on the words.
"F..Friends?"
I nearly rolled my eyes at the suspicious look in his eyes, I didn't think I was so scary.
Then, without so much as a word of thanks, he hurried off.
A sigh escaped my mouth as I realized that I was back to where I started, having absolutely nothing to do.

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