Chapter 82

**Merianna**

After the lengthy discussion I had with Noch and Zerial, things calmed down. Well, if it wasn’t for a certain someone that was making me second guess everything I had previously assumed.

Thyrion had lately made it a ritual to come by my room every day while I was being treated with either snacks from the kitchen or random flowers that I had no idea even existed in this climate. I couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or had ulterior motives. At least his presence didn’t irritate me as much as it used to in the beginning.

Something else about him was starting to irritate me though. Every time he entered my room, and I wanted to ask him something, he would interrupt me by shoving his gifts in my face and then disappear out of my room again before I knew what was happening. He had managed to slip away like that four times during the week already, but today, I was going to catch him.

I was lying in bed, reading a book on herbs that Nelia had thought would be good for me to expand my horizons with. Not that I was paying particular attention to what I was reading, I was waiting for the moment my door would open and let a certain tall, dark, and handsome person saunter in. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait for long.

“Good morning Merianna! I hope that you’ve had a good night’s sleep and are feeling even better than yesterday!” Thyrion cheered happily as he waltzed into my room with a stunning bouquet of multi-coloured roses in hand this time.

“I am, thank you. But why-,” I got cut off yet again by having the flowers shoved into my face, just when I wanted to ask him why he was being so overly friendly.

“Now, now, no need to thank me! It’s only natural to visit the injured. Now that I have paid my visit, I shall see you again tomorrow! I have cookies on the menu for tomorrow, so please do look forward to it!” He babbled and power walked back towards my door.

I sighed and sent my energy pulsing through the room, which activated my trap. Thyrion suddenly froze right as he was about to reach out and turn my doorknob. Surprised, he looked down at the floor and found that he was stuck in a rune inscribed square of space. He was able to move in the designated area, but not able to put even a hair outside of it. He turned to me with a wounded pout, which I ignored.

“Now Thyrion, I’m glad to see that you are so interested in my health, but don’t you think this is a little excessive?” I asked while dangling his latest bouquet of flowers on the tips of my fingers. They were beautiful, even I had to admit that, as rough as I was. All the flowers he had brought me were beautiful and fragrant. I didn’t want to admit it but I already had his other bouquets hanging to dry in one of the closets to make potpourri with later.

“Is this really necessary?” He asked while pointing down at the trap inscription I etched into the floor with my scriber the night before. I was glad I designed it to activate manually. Dorris would have murdered me if she had been caught up in an automatically activated trap.

“Yes. Yes, it most definitely is. Nelia is still refusing to let me leave this room, and she had basically ordered everyone in the Order to make sure I stay here. So I’m being obedient for now. Which means I can’t chase after you and pin you down by force for answers. Especially when you seem to be desperate to escape the moment you drop off these… gifts.” I placed the flowers on my bedside table and crossed my arms over my chest, giving him a drilling glare.

He swallowed nervously and eyed my inscribed runes once more before turning back to me. “So… what exactly is it that you want to know?”

I raised my eyebrow at his reaction. At least it seemed like I had done a very good job with my runes if he was unable to break out immediately. “I hope you aren’t trying to follow through with what you blurted out to Dermon back then. I know you don’t really like me in that way.” 

He gave me a sly grin. “What makes you think that I wasn’t being serious back then?”

“Because I know for a fact that you like Nelia.” I said with a shrug.

“Wait what?!” He sputtered. I frowned. Wasn’t that obvious? He was chatting with her more often than most of the other members in the Order since he came here. His body was always leaning towards her like he couldn’t help it when they spoke. Also, Nelia had a massive crush on him as well. She wasn’t even trying to hide it.

I shrugged again. “It’s ridiculously obvious, you know? She also has a big crush on you too. So I wouldn’t mind it if the two of you started courting. There hasn’t been a single young man in this place that hasn’t been taken with her yet. But I won’t try to hunt you down like I did them. You’re at least more decent than they are when you want to be.”

“No no no no! You’re misunderstanding!” He said quickly while waving his hands frantically, since he couldn’t move from his spot.

I was starting to get confused by his adamant denial. “Am I?”

“Yes yes! It’s not Nelia that I like! It’s you!” I didn’t think that it was possible, but Thyrion’s cheeks actually started showing a slight tint of a blush at his bold declaration.

I sat there dumbly for a moment. Trying to process this information was just about as easy as chewing on a rock. “Huh?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m in love with you, Merianna. Not Nelia. I wanted to try and get closer to you first before saying this, but I can’t let you sit with the misunderstanding that I’m trying to get closer to Nelia and not you.” He said while looking me in the eye. His words didn’t leave any room for doubt, and neither did his eyes.

He… was earnest. 

He was… serious.

“Oh…” I said brilliantly, still trying to have his words work their way through my brain. “B-but I’m a horrible person.” I blurted finally.

His face broke out in an incredulous smile. “No, you aren’t. You’re actually a very kind and gentle person.”

That seemed to make me snap out of my shock. “But I have a short temper! I attack people that so much as say something that irritates me, heck I even threatened you. I have a natural ability for fighting and killing. I snap at people easily and sling insults like slinging mud. No one even tries to get within ten feet of me when they get to know how I am. I’m-,”

“No, you aren’t.” He interrupted my blabber firmly. “Sure, you have a short temper, but I find it fun and endearing since you don’t really act impulsively, even when you’re angry. When you attack people, it’s usually someone like Raska or Noch who you know can block and easily deflect your blows, or the person actually deserved it. And who in this place doesn’t fight and kill? You’re a member, so it comes with the territory. All the people around here already know that your insults are usually one way you show affection and they give as good as they get.”

Without me knowing it, he had managed to break my binding runes and started slowly walking towards me. I was completely taken by surprise by his confession and words. Never had anyone said these kinds of things to me before. He slowly leaned over me, placing one of his hands on my headboard for balance.

“And all those people that don’t get close to you after merely seeing the surface, have no idea what they are missing out on.” His free hand gently touched the side of my face as he looked into my eyes, making sure that I saw he wasn’t lying to me or playing around.

I blinked, completely speechless for the first time in my life. The best I could muster were sputters that didn’t make any sense at all. Was it just me or did the bed suddenly start getting too hot?

Thyrion smiled softly down at me and rubbed his thumb against my cheek. His smirks always made him look devilishly handsome, but that smile he was giving me right then, seemed to be doing something strange to my heart.

“I’ll come around to check up on you again tomorrow. You better get used to seeing me around quickly, because I’m not going anywhere for a very, very long time. Maybe even never.” Thyrion said, and then quickly planted a kiss on my forehead before I knew what was going on.

“See you tomorrow!” He said happily as he slipped out and closed the door behind him again.

I felt feverishly hot all of a sudden. My heart was fluttering in my chest, my cheeks were on fire, and my forehead was tingling. Was this what it felt like to blush? Was I blushing, or developing a fever? I wanted to do something, anything. Scream? Maybe, but that wasn’t a good idea. Run after him with my scythe? Maybe, but also not a good idea. Fan my face and pace a hole through my floor? That was more reasonable, but Nelia ordered me to stay under my covers unless I needed to use the restroom. And Nelia’s threats with her new wand in tow certainly overrode any impulsive actions.

All I was settled with, was to sink down into my bed and pull all my covers tightly up over my nose, only leaving my eyes exposed while my head fumed.

This was something that I’ve never encountered before. I had definitely started liking Thyrion, but was I starting to like him in a romantic way as well? No, I was starting to see him as a friend and a possible brother-in-law. But now…

A thought suddenly struck me, and anxiety quickly shot up my spine and twisted my stomach.

What will Nelia think of this?!