Chapter 97: The Library-III

As she hold the key, Elise then pulled the envelope which came from the church from her pocket, she almost forgot the envelope the church gave but she had to go to the library now as she didn't want to keep Master Ian waiting for too long and placed the envelope again to took a step faster to the library.

The orange light seeped inside the curtain, coloring the corridor with hues of black and orange which hide the right side of her face as she stopped in front of the door which she recalled to be the library.

Elise turned the door knob to see that it was locked by a key and used her to open the door. Pushing the door for it to open, her nose was greeted with a gentle scent of paper, a scent she likes as she was fond of books. When she entered the library which was wider than she thought with vast amount of books placed neatly inside the bookshelf. Her blue eyes traveled around the places seeing books that she had never seen before with her steps kept to walk straight on track.

In front of her was a wide window covered with ivory curtain, there was a stair which was used to help the person to take books which was placed high on top of the book shelf that almost touched the ceiling. A chandelier made up of crystal was right above her head as she took a stop. At first she didn't notice the chandelier which at most of the time covered by shadows.

Her gaze shifted to look around, trying to find Master Ian but she find no one and had to duck her head around the places to find that he wasn't inside. Just as she was about to stop searching and try to call Ian's name suddenly a voice breathed beside her ears.

"You've finally came." A hint of glee appeared on his voice.

Elise shuddered, her eyes moved quickly to see Ian standing with a wide grin on his handsome face. Her gaze unknowingly find its way to the color of his lips, the smoothness it moved when it had open to speak and blink to compose herself.

"I've been waiting for you." There was joy filling her heart at his words.

She gave him a smile she tried hard not to appear too wide, "I'm sorry for being late, Master Ian."

"Sorry again, I've told you not to say that again didn't I? Like the time in the dining room there should be nothing you apologize for." Ian found the objection Elise had on her eyes slowly disappearing even without her lips opening to talk.

Master Ian may said she didn't do wrong but in truth what she had done was a terrible mistake for a maid. She let her mind in clouds that she should have asked the Lady if she needed a new napkin. Elise was lucky that Ian didn't punish her for doing so but she also felt responsible.

Ian's gaze moved from her eyes to the red hair that rested on her black uniform, his hand reached out to play and feel the texture of her hair and looked up to ask, "Or else you apologize to receive a punishment?" A playful tone he spoke with underrated a slight wicked tone he hid.

Punishment? Elise looked at him with a weary eyes, her heart dropped from high up in the clouds to her stomach. What punishment will she receive because of her mistake? As she had thought she did a terrible mistake. Eli)s glanced up to see how Ian was smiling which perhaps could be a good sign or a bad one but it was better to see him smiling than the angry expression he had before when facing Duke Gary and Lady Ellen in the dining room.

"I didn't..." she whispered her voice barely audible.

"Hm? I didn't hear you well, puppy what did you say?" Ian feigned his question as if he didn't caught well what the girl had said when in reality he could hear her words very clearly. His face leaned forward and he didn't miss the way Elise's breaths hitched in surprise and her back tilted back with her legs that cautiously took steps back to prop herself.

"I didn't apologize to be punished." She spoke a little louder this time in between the silence of the library her voice was heard well.

"That you did, but that was a bad mistake you did before. Although the woman overreacted in it, you did keep your mind on the clouds." hummed Ian and Elise looked at him with a glint if surprise taking place.

"How did you know?" She asked and there was the question appearing on her min that ask if Master Ian's eyes was not only two but four with another pair attached on the back of his head. But then again, Master Ian never left thing unnoticed. He knew everything.

"I have magic." He teased her and Elise knew that magic wasn't capable to help other read one's thought which was why she doubted it with her eyes.

"I don't think that is how magic works." Elise remarked and had Ian to chuckle.

"Of course it didn't but I'm different." Which was correct thought Elise. If Ian told her that he could read other's mind, she would had believed it there and now. Since before, Ian always seem to guess people's thoughts right but that wasn't all, their emotions too.

Elise then saw Ian's hand which was playing with her hair twirled, and he spoke, "As you employer, I shouldn't discriminate you for the mistake that you did." Elise's stomach churn at Ian's words and her eyes fell sullen to hear Ian add, "Don't be sad it is a punishment you will also enjoy, trust me."

Elise eyes blinked at him questioning his words. Was there a punishment someone could enjoy? But she thought that punishment wasn't something to be looked forward to so the person who was punished would learn from their mistake. She had heard some whisper about punishments given to maids. One of it was whips but she believe deeply in her heart Master Ian wouldn't treat her in such an abusive manners. Then what punishment?

"However we will have to postpone the punishment for a little longer." trailed Ian and Elise breathed in relief. "What is this?" Ian asked after pulling the envelope from her pocket. When she had entered the library, Ian had kept his sight at the corner of the envelope. It wasn't that he didn't knew what of from who the letter came from as Maroon had reported him beforehand, it was also a good chance for him.

"It's the letter from the church, it's about the exam I entered and the result of the exam." Elise replied and she heard Ian humming his chin was tipped down and even though her voice was louder now, he didn't took a step backward from the place he stood at making her nerves jumping up and down whenever he made a move.

"How is the result?" Ian asked, and Elise look up at him, greeted by his smile. "Satisfying?"

"I haven't had the chance to read the letter yet. I thought I should do it at night or after lunch break." replied Elise. Ian finally took a step behind for her body to stop tilting back and finally stood up straight with her hands clenched against her beating heart. She saw Ian moving to take a seat at the small cushioned chair with a round table and his finger tapped the surface of the desk as if to call her.

"There is no need to wait until darkness come and your stomach grumble, you could read it here now." he instructed, bringing his finger toward her and moving it to call her.