His Half Blood Princess

7.

No Serena.

My conscience warned as I moved to turn the door knob.

Do you really believe that Edwin Vincent would hurt you?

This man provided you with food, clothing and shelter after saving you from being lynched. And how do you repay him? By snooping around in his house. Do you really believe he would hurt you? And what would you say when when he catches you spying around in his house? Then he would lose his trust in you and probably turn you in to the authority.

I nodded in agreement with myself and went back to the library. The worst thing that would happen would be getting accused of theft.

I sat down and opened the book but couldn't concentrate, especially with the black door just across from the library.

With a sigh, I packed the thirteen books I chose. I balanced them on my hands and went for my room.

There was a chair and a table there and I settled there and started reading.

I was so engrossed in reading that I didn't notice the time, and it wasn't until a maid came to tell me lunch was ready that I realised I was hungry.

*

We were having lunch and one could only hear the cluttering of silverware, but my mind was on something else. I wanted to ask Edwin Vincent, who was eating his lunch two questions, but I didn't want to interrupt him so I waited until he was done with his plate, and after he drank some water.

I took that as my cue to ask him.

"Why are we in the middle of the forest?" I asked. I never noticed at first because we entered through gates in the carriage, and when we entered the villa, I was too busy admiring the inside to think of the outside.

Edwin Vincent looked up at me with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Serena don't be naive," he stated and laid back on his chair.

"Did you think I would take you to the middle of the town when I'm hiding you for a crime?" he quirked his eyebrow and my head hung down in shame.

"People would gossip. They would wonder why I, Lord Edwin Vincent brings a strange girl to his house. Your reputation will also be ruined. This is the safest place for you." he stated.

"But aren't there some dangerous animals in the forest like wolves and" I started to ask but he interrupted.

"Not a single animal lives in this forest I can assure you, or else there would have been hunters with guns. Not that I expect you to go out of the villa of course," he said and I quickly looked up.

"Don't you trust me?" he asks.

"I do." or at least I don't have a reason not to.

"Good, now finish your lunch, I have something to do right now." he said getting up and walked out of the dining room in quick strides.

I didn't even get to ask him my next question.

*

Back in my room, I continued to read until it started getting dark and it was now time for dinner.

A different maid came to call me and advised that it was a good idea to change my clothes when I got up to exit the room.

"But this dress looks okay." I said and twirled halfway in front of her.

"Maybe," the older woman pressed her lips together. "but it's squeezed here and there with specks of dirt too, and it's good to always make yourself presentable in front of his Lord." she advised, and I did just that.

Lord Edwin Vincent beamed when I entered the dining room and stood up as he pulled out a chair for me.

"Beautiful as always." he complimented.

"Thank you." I smiled as I sat down.

Dinner was going smoothly until Edwin Vincent asked me.

"Do you enjoy the books in my library?"

"Yes, I do enjoy them very well actually," I replied delightfully.

"I was also wondering, about that black door" I blurted.

"Where you snooping around in my house?" he accused.

"Nooo," I quickly denied it. "I wasn't," I shrugged trying to look nonchalant. "I didn't even near it. I was just wondering why it was black in colour."

Edwin Vincent didn't look convinced as he squinted his eyes and stared at me with an intimidating gaze.

I felt saved when a servant walked in and over to where Edwin Vincent sat before bowing.

"The message is here my Lord." the servant stated, extending a silver coloured tray with a white paper on it.

I looked between Edwin Vincent and the servant, waiting for him to notice the servant's presence, but Lord Edwin Vincent didn't move his gaze on me until I started to cower in my seat and he finally snapped out of it.

"That room is just my office," he laid back in his chair. "And look!" he picked the paper from the servant's tray and the servant bowed before scurrying out of the dining room. "Your surprise is here," he handed me the paper.

I took it from him confused.

"Open it." he motioned to the paper.

I opened the paper and recognised my mother's handwriting immediately and I exclaimed. I looked at Lord Edwin Vincent and he smiled.

"I will leave you to it." he said getting up and I waited till he was out of the dining room to open and start reading it.

Dear Serena,

It breaks my heart that we have to be separated from each other and Bruno already misses you so much, but I console my heart with the fact that this is the only way to keep you safe. Whatever has happened is already in the past and there's no rewinding it. You have your future ahead of you so don't let anything stand in your way.

This Lord is very kind as he has provided your brother and I a good place to stay in, and I must admit it is more than I expected. He is very good man dear and I trust that you are okay with him.

I hope you find peace wherever you are and I look forward to the day we will be reunited again.

Love, Mama.

I teared up reading the last part as I hugged the paper to chest and close my eyes before inhaling deeply. Who knew one could get emotional at a single letter? I'm just glad Lord Edwin Vincent was sensible enough to leave me alone with it.

After wiping my face, I got up and went back to my room, feeling satisfied I closed the door behind me and looked at the books that lay on my table with the one I was currently reading on top.

After putting mother's letter safely in the drawer, I changed into my nightgown and lit up another lamp before going over to the table and sitting on my chair.

Mama never let me read at night back at home, saying it would hurt my eyes, even though deep down I knew she didn't want me to waste the kerosene in the lamp and right now that I was going against her words, I felt a little rebellious.

Just one page.

I told myself as I picked the book and started turning to the page I stopped last, even though I knew it was a lie.

But a paper I didn't know was there in the book slipped off and fell to my feet.

I bent down and picked the small white paper, wondering how it got there, but I read the three words written in fine cursive on it and it made me more confused as my forehead creased than the presence of the paper there in the first place.

Who are you? The note read.