The man towered over Elain by a head, despite her being slightly taller than most women her age.
This time, he was wearing a dark grey inner shirt and vest, and she no longer smelled blood on him, which told her his wound must be fully healed.
As it was the middle of the day, the faint sunlight creeping through the alley fell upon the man's figure, and she noticed his hair which she had thought was pure black, was not entirely so, but held slight undertones of dark red. It could hardly be seen from afar, only noticeable if one stood too close.
"Might I be of any help, milord?" Elain asked as politely as she could.
She had been feeling a strange aura from this man, as if he were someone one should not get close to. She was often right about her instincts, and she wasn't in the mood to question them now.
With the way the man spoke and moved as if he were not bound by the rigid rules of the world, he definitely reeked of trouble.
And trouble was the last thing she wanted in her life.
"Did you think of me in the time we haven't seen each other?"
The atrocity of the question made Elain's eyes widen.
She had never met a nobleman who spoke so forwardly. It was better to say she wasn't used to speaking to men at all, especially someone as full of mischief as this one. Clearly, this upper-class man was bored with his life and had sought amusement in her.
"Please mind your words."
He suddenly looked confused. "What is wrong with my words? I am asking a normal question, aren't I?"
She took a sharp breath before offering him a tight smile.
"Look, milord, I am very happy to see that you are well after the state I found you in before, and thank you for telling me about the place in this alley," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "I've decided I have no business being here, so I must go. I'm sure you have better things to spend your precious time on, so I hope you can step out of my way."
He still didn't step aside. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if to get a better look at her.
She couldn't help but glare at him now. He dressed like a gentleman, but clearly he wasn't taught how to be one. Or maybe he was, but refused to act like one.
"You look thinner than I remember. Is nutritious food scarce in your home?" he asked in a tone that sounded genuinely curious.
But after the way he had been taunting her, Elain took it as mockery.
Truth was, her small meals had become even smaller in the past week, as advised by her aunt. As she was to appear in society for Halcyon, Cynthia said she must look like the fragile and sickly lady people knew her to be.
Cynthia also said it would help divert the attention of noblemen away from her, as it would bring trouble if she gained suitors. After all, when one caught attention, curiosity followed, and then people would start digging for whatever information they could find.
Elain didn't like eating such small portions when she was already having meager meals every day to keep up the image Cynthia had crafted for her, but just like all her aunt's orders in the past, she couldn't say no.
She believed she owed it to the Blythmors—her obedience.
Her aunt had promised that they would find her a suitable match when the time came. Cynthia hadn't detailed what kind of suitable match she meant, but Elain knew it wouldn't be a man from high society. She had accepted it and, in truth, she didn't mind. After all, she believed one's status shouldn't be the basis of marriage.
"Don't you know that it is offensive to comment on a woman's weight?" Elain asked the silver-eyed man, picking up the pieces of her shattered confidence.
His eyes narrowed. "Does it sound like I am trying to offend you?"
"Are you not?"
"I guess it's a trend," he said, which made her frown in confusion. "You women must be trying to have a better figure for Halcyon. Mm, eyeing a suitor?"
Why was he asking such questions? Elain scoffed in disbelief. The nerve of this man to talk to her as though they were close acquaintances when it was only the second time they had met!
"Though, personally, I'd like my woman to be healthy-looking," he added, as if she were interested in his preference.
When he saw her glare, he grinned slyly. "A little more food would do you some good."
Before Elain could forget all her manners and speak indecent words, the man thankfully stepped away. She glared at him once more before storming off without offering any courtesy.
She hadn't taken five steps when she heard a distant chuckle.