On Monday afternoon, right after lunch and once classes had concluded, Lucrecia made sure to corner Cain as soon as she had the opportunity.
Leroy and Raguel retreated cautiously. Both had heard the whole story and knew perfectly well that an outburst of her anger was inevitable. Being left behind at the party was enough to infuriate her, though in reality, she was much more upset about not being able to see young Neil during the celebration.
Cain barely looked up when the capricious beauty snatched the book he was holding from his hands.
—Listen to me when I speak to you —she demanded, slamming the book against the table to catch his attention.
Her voice was so loud that Delilah could hear it from the dining room. At that moment, she was carrying the lunch utensils on a tray when the scandal made her stop.
She didn't have to apologize personally for what happened at the party, as Cain had promised to take responsibility. Still, it was impossible for her to ignore the situation. She approached the entrance of the hall cautiously, ready to intervene if necessary.
But she took a step back as soon as she heard another woman mentioned.
—I invited Duke Billeter's granddaughter to dinner tonight —Lucrecia announced with authority—. And I assured her she would be able to see you.
The confidence with which she spoke weakened any immediate attempt by Cain to refuse.
The son of Count Salieri recovered the book from her hands, but instead of continuing to read, he simply closed it calmly.
He was not surprised by Lucrecia's bluntness, nor by the fact that she made decisions involving him without even consulting him. In reality, it was convenient for him. The sooner he paid the debt he owed her, the more peaceful he could feel.
—If that girl is looking for a man to marry —he finally responded, leaning against the back of the chair—, wouldn't young Neil Bathory be a better option?
Lucrecia frowned immediately.
—Don't say such absurd things —she replied with evident annoyance—. And don't you dare talk about Neil as if you knew him.
Then she crossed her arms, observing him with a smile full of sarcasm.
—Besides... I know perfectly well that you have no intention of getting into any kind of relationship with any woman.
Cain raised an eyebrow.
—No woman? You say...?
A slight discomfort crossed his expression, a gesture so unusual that even Lucrecia noticed it.
Talking about Neil had been a low blow.
—You can't refuse —she continued, regaining her confidence—. Consider it compensation.
From the beginning, Cain had not planned to refuse. And Lucrecia would never ask for something if she wasn't sure she would get it.
The count's son simply nodded in silence.
That was enough.
Lucrecia regained her good mood almost immediately and went up the stairs with a satisfied smile, as if she had just resolved a minor inconvenience.
When she disappeared, Cain let out a deep sigh.
His position was not truly unfavorable, though it was exhausting to constantly become the entertainment for such complicated women. And dealing with someone carrying the label of the duke's granddaughter, the situation would demand even more care.
—You can come out of there.
His voice was directed straight toward the dining room door. Cain had noticed from the beginning that Delilah remained behind, hidden with a discretion that failed to deceive him.
She appeared slowly, still holding a stack of plates in her hands. Spying had not been her intention, although the result had ended up being exactly that. Embarrassment crossed her face for an instant... but it disappeared almost immediately when Cain rose from his seat and walked directly toward her.
Without saying a word, he took the plates from her hands. Then he turned around with absolute naturalness and walked toward the kitchen as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
—Tell me what you are thinking.
Even carrying dirty plates, the young man retained that natural elegance that seemed to accompany his every move.
Delilah followed him with cautious steps. Although he was addressing her with unexpected familiarity, she wasn't sure if she had the right to give an opinion on something so delicate.
—Is it alright to let Lucrecia do whatever she wants?
When they entered the kitchen, Cain left the plates on the table with a calm movement and then turned to look at her directly.
—There is nothing that can be done —he replied calmly—. I am the only one who gave her a reason to do it.
Delilah stepped back slightly. His dark eyes were intimidating when they observed her with such fixity. The weak sunlight coming through the window partially illuminated his face, but it was still hard to decipher if he was truly being forced into something he didn't want. He had an extraordinary ease for controlling his expressions.
—Regarding the dinner with the duke's granddaughter... —Delilah continued cautiously— surely things will go well. After all, you are also a noble.
Something changed in his gaze as he heard her.
One of the reasons he had fled the party the previous day was precisely that: facing the reality of rejecting yet another woman once again. His list was already quite long, and each time it became a greater nuisance.
—What kind of woman do you think she is to look for a man like me? —he finally asked, with a slight smile that couldn't hide a certain weariness—. Tell me... how do you reject someone so important without offending the duke?
Delilah then remembered the rumors.
Those that said his preferences were "different."
And those that claimed he was still in love with the woman who had abandoned him.
She had never easily believed in gossip, but at that moment, it seemed there were only two possible explanations.
—Delilah... —Cain said suddenly—. Have you ever been in love?
The question fell on her like an unexpected blow.
She couldn't respond immediately. In her short life, everything related to love was inevitably linked to unpleasant memories she preferred to keep buried. Thinking about the past always turned her stomach.
—It's something that won't happen again —she finally responded coldly—. Never. Ever.
Cain's expression changed slightly.
—You are only twenty years old —he said softly—. You are lying if you say never ever.
Delilah looked up with unexpected firmness.
—People think you suffer from some disorder because you reject every woman who approaches you —she said bluntly—. Perhaps love is something exciting for you... but for me, it is completely different.
Cain did not expect such a direct reproach.
He took a small step back, breathed deeply, and then smiled with a strange mix of surprise and resignation. Now he understood better the image she had of him... and, curiously, it didn't bother him that much.
—What disorder are you talking about? —he asked with a hint of amusement—. The reason I don't want to commit to any woman is...
Their eyes met once more.
But Cain stopped.
Something in his expression changed suddenly, as if he had regretted speaking too much. Instead of continuing, he slowly raised his hand and gently touched Delilah's cheeks.
Her heart began to beat fast.
Cain's dark eyes were too deep, and the scent of his fragrance once again invaded all her senses with an unexpected intensity.
Cain sighed.
Suddenly he realized how absurd it must seem trying to explain his life to a girl like her. So, he decided to end the conversation there.
He stepped away slowly and walked toward the door.
Air filled Delilah's lungs again when he left the kitchen.
She couldn't deny the effect such an attractive man had on her. And it was precisely because of that that she had always tried to maintain an ordinary appearance, an image that wouldn't spark anyone's interest.
Because she knew that, if she allowed feelings like that to grow, they would end up dragging her toward a despair that was far too dark.
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