Chapter 19 - A New Warmth In His Cold Heart

Eloise’s POV



I was surprised by his sudden appearance. Even though we had gotten sort of intimate and it seemed like we were getting closer, I figured that Xavier was going to continue to neglect me as he had been doing before.



Maybe he does care? I thought to myself.



I shook the thoughts from my head and smiled warmly at Xavier. “I assume work ended early, my Lord?" I asked.



Xavier didn't give me an answer.



I gave him a small nod and went back to teaching the class. Alright… well… maybe he just wanted to hear the lectures for himself and see what I knew. He’s definitely in for a treat then!



“So, as I was saying, who can tell me–”



Instead, Xavier grabbed my wrist and began walking me out of the class.



“Oh! Well, I guess we're finishing up! Goodbye, everyone!" I waved with my free hand.



The students echoed their goodbyes and waves.



Xavier seemed eager to drag me back to the castle immediately. He continued to walk at such a fast pace that I was finding it really hard to keep up.



Did I do something wrong? Why is he so mad at me all of a sudden?



“Hey–” I tripped over something but he just continued to drag me along. “Hey! Can you please slow down?”



Xavier came to an abrupt stop and simply looked back at me with a frown on his face. He let out a sigh before continuing to walk but at a much slower pace. He hadn’t said a word to me.



Did something happen at work? What’s wrong with him?



I walked alongside him in nervous silence. I wanted to press on and ask about why he was so angry. Instead, I decided to wait until we got back to the room. I didn’t want to make him more mad than he already was.



Once we arrived back at the castle, Xavier ordered for a servant to warm up our dinners. He sat down next to an empty chair and still hadn’t said anything.



It was when I sat in the chair next to him and looked at the set table that I realized why he was so irritated.



Oh… Goddess… he wanted to have dinner with me tonight…



I looked up at Xavier and gave him a small smile, though there was some shame behind it. "I'm so sorry, my Lord. I didn’t think I was going to take that long giving them a lecture. Next time, I'll send someone to you to let you know when I'll be coming home late."



Xavier let out another sigh and spoke in a low voice. "I would prefer you to let me know when you plan to leave the castle. I had no idea you were gone until I got back."



“Of course, my Lord. I'm sorry."



He tapped his finger on the table before he continued. "How did you learn to make potions like that anyway?"



“Ever since I was a child, I’ve had the ability to memorize and recall magical spells after only hearing them once.” I looked up at him and gave him a wide smile. “But you can imagine how useless that was to me since I couldn’t even harness my own magical powers. So, I turned to making potions. I’m a fast learner.”



“I couldn’t recognize your techniques… They’re rather unique.” He raised a curious eyebrow.



“That’s because they’re ancient techniques. Medicine makers today don’t really know how to read older texts to study. But I do. I’ll take the information I learn from them and use my knowledge to make better and more highly effective potions.”



“And what of the ingredients that you had with you? I recognized some but a few of them I didn’t.”



“Some ingredients are from ancient texts, too. After people stopped learning how to read them, people stopped learning how to grow the necessary herbs and plants. But we witches back at the Wisdom castle still grow them since I’m the only one who actually knows what to do with them. I just always keep spare ingredients on me.”



Xavier nodded and opened his mouth to say something else but stopped when the servant came back with our food.



“Enjoy, my Lord and Lady,” they bowed before leaving us alone.



While it was our first dinner together, the time spent was rather quiet. Still, I enjoyed it. Every once in a while I would take a glance at Xavier and notice how he was more at ease being around me.



It was like the walls he had built around him were beginning to come down.



Looks like things are beginning to fall into place…



————



Xavier’s POV



After we were finished with dinner, we washed up and went to bed. All of the energy was drained from Eloise after a long day of having to hold classes. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.



But I stayed wide awake. I tossed and turned in bed and was unable to stop thinking about what happened at the medical school.



So many people flocked to her classes and followed her mindlessly.



They said they were there for her smarts.



But then the boys said they were there for her looks.



A sense of anger started to stir in my heart but this wasn’t the regular kind of anger I was used to feeling.



I thought back to what the boys said about me. About how I was the lucky one to have married her.



The nerve of those little boys… I’m not the lucky one, SHE’S the lucky one! She’s lucky that she’s the wife of someone so powerful and intelligent and–



I closed my eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply so I could calm my thoughts. When I opened my eyes again, I looked over at Eloise who slept soundly next to me.



Her body was curled up like a meek kitten as the bright moon lit up her pretty face. The more I continued to watch her, the more the desire in my heart continued to burn. I realized at that moment that I was trying to possess her.



She’s mine. And it’ll stay like that. She pledged her life to me and me alone. nm



Suddenly, Eloise shifted in her sleep and rolled over, her soft body touched my arm.



Like a moth attracted to a flame, I wrapped my arm around Eloise's waist and pulled her into my embrace. Then I planted a deep kiss on her lips.



Confusing thoughts fogged my mind but I shook them away.



This isn't love.



It's just lust.



I don't love her.



I lust for her.



I looked at Eloise one last time before I closed my eyes to try and get some rest.



I can’t be in love with the daughter of the Wisdoms. There’s just no way! Right…?