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Chapter 6

Lia almost dropped the cold and heaving gun Claude had given her, but he was strong enough to turn her around and she stood with her legs shoulder-width apart. He repeated, “A street child.”

She heard a snicker from somewhere, but she could not turn around lest someone discover her true gender. Thankfully, they did not hunt live animals but shot at targets. Claude, who was taller than Lia by two heads, stood behind her and helped her raise her arm as he held the barrel. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “So, what did snow taste like?” Her ear tickled at hearing his voice, and she could not do anything since he was a duke and she stood dead-still. Then, in a demanding voice, he said, “Answer!”

Lia had been about to but her eyes closed when a loud shot suddenly rang out. She had pulled the trigger before she had given the signal and servants ran up to them after a stunned silence, everyone was shocked.

“Young master!” One of the servants cried out. Claude slowly pulled the hand that had held the barrel back, and Lia turned around, ready to faint.

“Bring a doctor!” yelled a servant, “He’s hurt! Hurry!”

Claude silenced the servants with a wave of his hand and narrowed his eyes saying, “I just burned my hand a little, so don’t raise a fuss.”

His palm was a deep red, and Lia turned white. She rushed out to the snowy grounds and brought snow to hold against Claude’s palm. “I am so sorry, honestly!” Her body shook, and everything seemed to grow cold. The snow melted quickly from their body heat, and Lia thought she may die from embarrassment. She felt despondent and afraid and unsure of what to do, so she just continued to fetch snow to put on Claude’s hand until the doctor arrived. Claude just stared at Lia with unreadable eyes.

“I do apologize, Your Highness.” Tears fell from Lia’s eyes, but Claude remained silent as he stared at the child.

“Move,” he said bluntly.

Lia heard a sharp voice and caught a whiff of sweet perfume. It was Marilyn, wearing her beautiful dress, with servants in tow. She covered Claude’s hand with a handkerchief that had been dunked in ice-cold water.

“Are you all right?” Rosina’s question silenced everyone. Kieran bowed, and Rosina blushed as she did the same.

Claude nodded as he removed the handkerchief from his hand and said, “It was a light burn.”

“How stupid of you! You’re young, but to make a mistake while handling a gun!” Marilyn shouted at Lia, who trembled with her head bent low. The girl was right, she was at fault, and a nobleman was hurt as a result, she couldn’t argue the fact.

“Mademoiselle, did you just shout at my brother?” Kieran stepped in front of Lia, and Marilyn’s face turned red as she had not expected that he would take his brother’s side in this situation.

“Look...” she stuttered.

“I said, did you shout to my brother?”

Marilyn’s lips twisted at Kieran’s glaring eyes, “I apologize, I was upset.”

“Apologize to my brother,” he said unsympathetically, “and Lia, please apologize to the young Duke.”

Since Lia didn’t even think of hearing an apology from Marilyn, she bowed until her head almost touched the ground and said meekly, “I apologize, sir.”

Marilyn didn’t apologize to Lia, and she just glared at Kieran, her eyes brimming with tears. Then, they heard a chuckle.

“Snow,” Claude said as he approached Lia and put out his reddened hand, after dropping Marilyn’s handkerchief. Lia slowly raised her head to see Claude. “Are you deaf?” He questioned.

“Snow?” She was confused.

“Bring the snow Canillian. It felt much better than that handkerchief.”

***

The hyperactivity surrounding the incident came to an end after the resident doctor treated Claude, and Lia didn’t have to bring all the snow in the gardens to him. After returning to her room, she sat by the window and watched the carriages take the ladies away. Marilyn’s loud shouting still rang in her ears. She had been justified in her anger because Lia knew how burns felt and so she prayed with her eyes tightly closed for Claude to get well soon.

Lia’s thoughts were disrupted when she heard a commotion outside her room and the door burst open, banging loudly against the wall. The Marchioness barged in, her face stone-cold and she slapped the child’s cheek as Lia was rising from her chair; silence ensued and Betty stood behind her with her mouth wide open.

“You! How dare you?” The Marchioness yelled. She was livid, and she was no longer the strict yet kind person Lia knew, and Lia’s eyes welled up with tears. “Do not be with them! How dare you try to take Kieran’s place!”

Lia’s mouth was agape, as she had thought she had been slapped for burning Claude’s hand. However, the Marchioness was angry at Lia being among them.

“Answer me!” she shouted.

Lia spoke with lowered shoulders. “Yes, Madame.”

“The prince was among them! How dare you embarrass Kieran!”

Lia had never been told that the prince would be there. Her body began to shake as she sobbed with her head bowed low, and the Marchioness continued to speak, not allowing her a chance to respond. “I don’t know why you think you can cry. Your role is just to live quietly. Don’t step forward unless you are instructed to do so!”

The Marchioness turned around and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Lia sat back down on the chair and covered her red cheek. Betty came running with a wet towel, and she hugged Lia with a saddened face. Lia cried openly to the only gentle person who hugged her here.

***

The Marquis’s eyes were surprised as Lia came out to the dining room with swollen eyes, and the Marchioness did not even glance at her. Lia had to sit down next to Claude, and he sighed on seeing Lia’s red eyes.

“I am sorry to hear that Lia made a mistake in the shooting arena, Claude,” said the Marchioness.

The Marquis spoke as he sipped wine, and Lia avoided Kieran’s fierce gaze as she unfolded the napkin.

“No, it’s my mistake. Lian’s not at fault, and he managed the situation quite well.”

Lia stared at Claude, appreciating his light answer, and she noticed his bandaged hand and could smell that sage and other herb oils had been used to dress it.

“Thank you, I owe you a great debt,” said Theodore, interrupting the awkward situation, “I thank you for lending me your library.”

“It’s nice to hear that you like it,” replied the Marquis as he raised his wine glass high. Theodore had said the Vale library had even more rare books than the Imperial Library and the teacher had long anticipated a visit to it.

Lia did not speak during the meal, and Kieran did the same. She met Claude’s eyes, still avoiding Kieran’s gaze though. Putting a small piece of meat in her mouth, she chewed on it for a long time and it felt like everyone’s eyes were on her. Managing to finish the meal, she then stood up, despite knowing that was against manners, and ran from the mansion and hid in the gardens.

Moonlight shone a path on the white snow, and she followed it to hide by the gigantic statue of an angel that she could see from her bedroom window. It was perfect for hiding from the cold as its wings were folded as if they were protecting something. She found a comfortable spot and snuggled against it with her knees folded, looking up at the bright moon. She was conditioned to the cold and didn’t feel any pain. This is the perfect place.

She had been staring at the star-studded sky for a long time when a tall shadow suddenly loomed over her. Lia saw Claude’s clear blue eyes looking down at her and he had on a heavy coat, unlike her.

“Your Highness,” she whispered.

He looked around instead of answering and kneeled on one knee while looking deeply into her eyes. Lia stared at Claude’s face and thought he was more beautiful than the night sky. He continued to look at her while grabbing a fistful of snow and then held it against her cheek. She was unsure whether this was to console her or punish her. Claude’s smile was eerily beautiful, and her cold cheek began to sting.

“Was it like this?” he asked gently.

Claude had said something she could not understand and he tilted his head before standing up. He then disappeared as if he had never been there.

“What did he mean?” Lia said aloud as she climbed off of the statue with her brow furrowed. But Claude was no longer there, only his footsteps over hers, showed her that she hadn’t seen an illusion.