At the same time that Elinora was in the garden with Oliver, Alaric was in his office. Next to him, Ronnik was helping him organize some documents.
The duke looked distracted, sometimes his eyes lowered on the papers and sometimes out the window. He held the same document in his hand for hours, his fingers tightening slightly around the paper. Ronnik couldn't help but notice.
"Is it something that concerns you, Your Grace?" he asked carefully.
Alaric took a deep breath, as if considering his answer.
"Jaden..." he hesitated, "Doesn't he seem late to you? Is he still showing Oliver Edrian around?"
Ronnik didn't react immediately.
"I don't know, Your Grace. Do you want me to go and find him? "
The duke let a silence hover in the room before answering.
"Yes. Tell him to come at once. I need him."
Ronnik nodded and left, leaving Alaric alone in the office.
He was silent for a moment, looking at the papers in front of him, but he couldn't focus. He stood up and began to walk slowly across the room, crossing his arms behind his back.
Why did this situation bother him so much? It was just a tour.
Why did he feel this annoying tightness in his chest?
He didn't like the way Oliver Edrian was looking at Jaden. Like he knew something. Like he wanted something. He'd tried to hide it well, but in their meeting earlier, Alaric had noticed that at every opportunity Oliver had been sneaking glances at "Jaden". That was what he couldn't get out of his head, and he kept thinking about it.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Elinora walked in.
"Your Grace, do you need me for something?"
Alaric turned to her, his eyes piercing.
"You're late."
Elinora stood in the doorway, trying to read the duke's expression.
"Lord Edrian had many questions," she replied in a calm voice.
Alaric watched her for a moment in silence. His eyes never left her face.
Elinora then began to get nervous. She was not used to the duke looking at her so intently for so long. Many things crossed her mind.
Does he suspect something? I'm doomed if something like this happens. If not, then is he just angry that I wasn't here when he needed me or because I started? Oh, I don't know!
"Is something wrong, Your Grace?" asked Elinora finally hesitantly.
Alaric didn't answer directly.
"It's nothing," he said and turned back to his desk.
Elinora felt a strange relief that the duke didn't insist, but at the same time she couldn't ignore the fact that something was bothering him.
"Do you need something, Your Grace? Ronnik told me you were looking for me," she asked, trying to appear as calm as she could.
Alaric tapped his fingertips against the desk and was silent for a moment.
"You said Lord Adrian had a lot of questions..." he began, his voice softer than Elinora had expected. "About what?"
The question was simple. But Elinora knew from the look in his eyes that it wasn't so simple.
She felt a shudder run down her back. If she told him the truth, it would only make things worse. She had to think of something.
"About the mansion, of course," she replied quickly.
Alaric's eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
"Just the mansion?"
Her heart pounded.
"Yes, of course. What else could he ask me?"
The duke didn't seem entirely satisfied, but he didn't press the matter any further.
"All right," he said at last, and turned to his papers.
Elinora went to leave, but the moment her back was turned, she heard his voice again.
"Jaden."
She stopped.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
Alaric didn't look up from his papers this time.
"If anything... unusual happens, I want you to tell me."
Elinora felt a lump in her throat.
"Yes, Your Grace."
She walked out of the room with quiet steps, but as soon as the door closed behind her, her breathing grew heavier.
He was suspecting something.
And that was dangerous.
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