Cain was a cautious and formal man. However, the way his eyes rested upon Delilah was not the same as how he looked at Eilith. That difference did not go unnoticed by Leroy, and the idea that the Count's son harbored a particular interest in that girl began to take stronger hold in his mind.
—You truly do look thinner. Have you been eating less?
For a moment, Lucrecia forgot everything that irritated her so much and directed her attention toward Delilah. Her concern was sudden... yet genuine, even if her tone remained fierce.
—I don't think I've done anything differently —Delilah responded calmly—. I will be more careful.
Lucrecia furrowed her brow slightly. She hated hearing those apologies that sounded so proper... and at the same time so distant. Without adding anything else, she turned around and returned to the matter of the gifts, dragging Eilith along with the clear intention of making her forget, once and for all, that ill-mannered girl.
Raguel's elegant frame stood up with a relaxed smile. First, he brushed off the wrappings Lucrecia had thrown at him moments before and then elegantly smoothed his long brown hair.
—I will never forgive myself for having to leave and abandon the Duke's noble granddaughter —he said with light drama— but it is inevitable. Today I must attend to certain responsibilities.
Although these kinds of declarations were not strange coming from him, for some reason, the news proved slightly discouraging for Lucrecia.
—Do you have to leave? Truly?
—I am very sorry, Princess Eilith.
Lucrecia sighed with resignation.
—If there is nothing to be done...
Raguel smiled with that characteristic mocking expression of his. Then he directed a gaze toward Cain.
—Cain, now you will have to protect Delilah from the claws of this wicked woman. I leave her in your care.
Lucrecia's face reflected immediate irritation at that provocation. For an instant, she wished to throw something much heavier than a simple paper bag to wipe away that brazen smile. But before the tension could grow again, Eilith took a small red box and placed it gently in Cain's hands.
—Since you are now Delilah's guardian... —she said with a kind smile— could you help her try this on?
Under Raguel's amused gaze and the young noblewoman's silent expectation, Cain was unable to respond with words. He observed the small box for a moment. Then he opened it slowly. Inside rested a black necklace of delicate luster. A gift chosen specifically by Eilith for Delilah's neck.
—Then we shall see each other later.
Raguel finally said his goodbyes, leaving the room just as Delilah became the center of attention once more. Curiously, the unkempt girl experienced a sensation very similar to Lucrecia's when Raguel vanished from a room: a strange void.
Leroy took Delilah's hand to guide her to where Cain was standing. It was then that he perceived something unexpected. For an instant... her hand trembled slightly. A small gesture, yet enough to notice that her body was resisting, even if in an almost imperceptible way.
The necklace had a small diamond in the shape of a teardrop. It was a beautiful but discreet piece of jewelry—a wise choice considering Delilah's lack of attachment to jewels. It had been intended to adorn her without inconveniencing her.
Cain took the necklace between his long fingers and approached her. This time he was not acting on impulse, nor under the influence of a sudden desire he would later regret. On the contrary, the feeling of finding himself in that situation was unexpectedly pleasant to him.
He carefully gathered Delilah's hair, revealing the pale skin of her neck. His fingers barely brushed her shoulders. He could see the delicacy of her back, how slender her figure was. He only needed to fasten the necklace, but for a moment, he wished to be useless—to take his time.
If they were completely alone... perhaps he would not restrain himself; perhaps he would draw even closer without thinking of the consequences. Finally, the clasp closed. The necklace rested upon Delilah's small neck. It was not a flashy piece of jewelry, but it looked perfect on her.
Eilith observed the result with evident satisfaction. The young noblewoman's kind smile caused a deep sense of shame in Delilah. She did not want to accept that gift, but she also lacked the power to reject it. The object came from the Duke's granddaughter and had been given with a sincerity impossible to ignore. Tearing it from her neck would be a petty gesture, and to see herself that way was something she could not bear.
After thanking her for the gesture, she softly asked to be allowed to retire to her room. Eilith had hoped to see her a bit more animated, but the girl continued to raise an invisible barrier between them. Her heart and her thoughts seemed protected by something as hard as the diamond that now hung from her neck.
A diamond held by a mysterious coldness.
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