Chapter 46

The maids wandered around aimlessly, seeming unsure what to do next and Etra eventually motioned to them that they should come into the bathroom, as their mistress had summoned them. They carefully tested the water temperature and used cloth from the Empire, because they’d been instructed to only use products from there until Ilyin became healthy.

“Please tell us if you are uncomfortable,” Etra requested.

The maids seemed to have decided that their mistress was a frail lady, since she was sick so often, and even lay a soft cloth under her feet when she climbed out of the bathtub. Then, another maid helped her walk back to the bedroom where she was pampered, as they rubbed essential oils on her hair and brushed it until her thick blond hair looked revived and lush again.

When it came time to eat, they fussed about the food as well and Etra said, “This is too cold.” She checked every dish before it was served to Ilyin, even after she’d told her not to worry because she was beginning to feel like a burden to everyone. Nevertheless, Etra continued to check them regardless and Ilyin couldn’t help but smile as she watched her do so.

“I am not that sick.”

“You still have to be careful,” Ves said.

“I am all right, honestly.”

As Ilyin tried to stop Etra from doing the extra work, Ves gently implored, “We will die if we don’t take care of you correctly, Mistress. And please call us whenever you need to.”

The maids all went away with Ves and Ilyin was left alone with her thoughts, unaware of how cold the mansion had been during her sleep. She looked up at the immaculate ceiling and saw that there were no shadows.

Ilyin felt no fear when the door to her bedroom opened here, and couldn’t refuse the maids, since they were so different from those in the Arlen Estate. She wondered whether she deserved to be served like this, but they were so eager to do so, albeit to save their skins. She was somewhat sorry that she wasn’t able to refuse their help, and the only saving grace was that they seemed not to hate what they were doing.

Ilyin lowered her gaze from the ceiling, and her thoughts turned to Den. She thought of Aden, and now the answer to the question she’d asked him, seemed to be staring her in the face, but she wasn’t entirely sure. That was why she’d asked Aden whether he’d had a secret, but he’d said that he had none.

Dreamily gazing out the window, she suddenly saw a black stallion approaching the mansion and the man riding the black beauty was someone familiar, as she recognized his black hair which stood out against the white snow.

He wore light clothes, even though it was blistering cold weather, and there weren’t many people who would be able to tolerate the ice-cold air without a thick winter coat. Ilyin felt like she had on the night of her arrival and was now almost certain who Den was.

The rumors about the Duke’s eyes freezing people were most probably inflated but it had been spread to make the Duke seem like a formidable presence. That would’ve been enough to keep the other three powerful families in check. Not many would want to risk seeing the Duke’s eyes, even if it was merely a rumor, and she had been fearful of this.

However, there were the Delrose knights and maids who came into contact with him often and this had made her suspicious. The Duke seemed to move about a lot so that the other families wouldn’t know whether he was inside or outside the mansion. How could the Duke move so freely when the servants and knights had to avoid his eyes to avoid death?

He could hide his face with a cloth, but there were limits to this. Therefore, the only conclusion she could come to was that there was a high possibility of him having another identity. It was then that the room turned dark, and Ilyin’s gaze remained locked on the window; she believed she had her answer.

“Are you feeling better?” His voice was low and gentle as always.

Ilyin nodded slightly, “I am all right since everyone is caring for me.” She raised her hand, thinking that Aden would hold it but he hesitated.

“My hands are still cold.”

She remembered he had been outside and just said, “Please.”

Aden was silent for a moment before placing his hand on hers, which was cold, and she rubbed it like he had done for her, to warm it up. Ilyin felt him flinch as her hand rubbed the flesh between his fingers, and she warmed him before reaching for his wrist. Aden stopped her fingers with his now warm hand.

“Aden, what’s wrong?”

“It’s difficult to concentrate. It tickles.”

A small laugh escaped Ilyin’s lips and it felt good to loosen up a bit. Aden seemed to have taken off his coat before he sat on the bed, and she breathed in the aromatic oil he must’ve used while bathing. Then, Ilyin removed her cape and placed it next to her, instantly feeling the heat from Aden’s body.