XI
It was him.
The man sitting across from her was him.
All those years ago, they had met under that starry sky. And yet they had never known it. It was no wonder his eyes always stood out to her. Deep down, she had recognized them.
She began scrambling for words, seeking desperately for something to say, but Kent abruptly stood up from his seat. "Forgive me, I forgot myself for a second there."
She stood there, lips parted with a complete loss for words.
"It's getting late, we should start heading back to the castle," he declared, dropping a bill on the counter before grabbing her garment bag and heading toward the door.
Y/N stared at his retreating form, feet planted into the ground. How had everything gone so spectacularly wrong so quickly? She hurried to follow him.
Staring at the back of his head while they walked back to where their horse had been stabled, she had a million questions whizzing through her head.
Did he recognize her? What was he doing in Lenor Vale that night?
Had he told anybody else about his circumstances?
And, most importantly, what was he to her, or she to him?
All these questions gave her a headache, and she cringed at the anti-soulmate speech she had given him unprompted. Or at least semi-unprompted.
But she also felt a pang in her heart. Because even after all these years, it seemed he hadn't found the happiness he was looking for. Or deserved.
When their horse came into sight, Kent quickly mounted it before offering Y/N a hand. This time, he would be the one in front with the reins, and she would be in the back. She took the garment bag from him to make guiding the horse easier, and he thanked her.
——— ??ˋ ? ?ˊ? ———
The ride back to the palace was a quiet one.
Neither of them spoke to the other. They hadn't fought or anything, but the tension in the air was thick enough that you could slice a knife through it.
They were able to sneak back into the grounds without incident, although Y/N noticed that security seemed to be tighter closer to nighttime.
Walking her back to her bedroom door, Kent turned to walk back in the direction they came from when Y/N grabbed his wrist to stop him. She had done so without thinking and was staring down at where they were connected in surprise. But Kent did not turn around to face her, to look her in the eyes.
Her grip on his wrist loosened. "Goodnight, Kent."
He gently pulled his arm out of her grasp, nodded his head, and left.
Y/N didn't move from her spot in the corridor until he was out of view. She frowned down at the garment bag. She had been so happy when she first received it only hours ago. How had things changed so quickly?
Unlocking the door, she walked into her pitch-black room. That was odd. She didn't remember closing her curtains. She liked to keep them open to gaze at the moon and stars. She dropped her belongings in the space where she knew her bed was and went to open her curtains.
As the moonlight flooded her room, she noticed a figure in the corner of her eye.
She felt her heart sink and let out a loud yelp.
She stumbled back onto her bed, and only then did she recognize the blond-haired man sitting across from her on her desk chair.
His face held a victorious grin, as if he was pleased with the reaction she had given him.
"What in the name of Irene are you doing in my room?!" she shrieked.
Lennox leaned back casually in the seat. "You always offer such warm greetings to me, don't you?"
"How did you get in?" she demanded, ignoring his comment.
"Are you honestly asking me such a stupid question?" he shot back.
Y/N tried her best to calm her breathing. It was his castle, of course he could get into any room he wanted.
Lennox peered at the large garment bag sitting next to her on her bed. " You went clothes shopping?"
"Why are you here?"
"Wow, your conversational skills are off the charts, aren't they? Have you been listening to a word I've said, or are you pretending to be deaf?"
"Oh, I heard you, but I'm choosing to ignore your questions in favour of mine."
Lennox stood up and began inching closer to her.
"You know, the strangest thing happened today. I finished up my meetings early, and when I left, my personal guard was nowhere to be seen. As if he had vanished into thin air. And in his place was Bower, claiming every excuse in the book as to why Yoshida HAD to leave. "
He had to go help with an emergency outside."
"He got food poisoning." "He was kidnapped?"
And even more that completely wasted my time."
A small smile threatened to pull on Y/N's lips as she heard the ridiculous excuses Laurence had offered Lennox. Damn him. This wasn't the time to laugh.
"He was obviously lying, and something told me that I had to check up on my dear Healer. Because so often, the two of you could be found together. So you can imagine my surprise when you were also nowhere to be found. None of the servants had seen you in quite some time;
you had left right after work, and your room was completely empty. No one had seen you two leave the palace grounds either. I thought, surely this couldn't be a coincidence. The two of you had snuck off somewhere."
A prick of annoyance flashed through Lennox at the thought of them somewhere he couldn't reach. He didn't like not knowing.
"And so I thought I would wait. See how long it would take for you to come back. And you sure did take your time," he said, looking down at his watch.
What Lennox omitted was the fact that a part of him was unable to focus when he realized Y/N had left the palace grounds and was Irene knew where.
He now stood in front of her figure, leaning on the bed. He held the bag to inspect it. "And it was all for this? A little bit of shopping? Surely you're aware that it's forbidden for staff to sneak out of the palace without notifying anyone."
Y/N gulped, both at his proximity and at his questioning. She did know she wasn't technically allowed to leave without informing Healer Ellis first, but she doubted Healer Ellis would be convinced she was sick on the day of the Investiture when Y/N had gone shopping only a day before.
Lennox's eyes seemed to be able to read her every thought. He gazed at her like a hunter would its prey, stalking her every reflex and move.
"You didn't tell anyone, did you?" he asked.
Y/N looked at him, defiance plastered all across her face.
He scoffed a laugh. "Seems like you were very lucky I was discreet. This could've ended very badly for you, Healer."
A pit formed in her stomach from his assessing gaze.
She felt like he could hear her every thought.
He looked at the bag one last time before tossing it back onto the bed.
He looked down at her figure, noting the comfortable yet feminine clothing she was wearing.
The blouse that, although loose, flattered her, the skirt that flowed down her legs, but was now hiked up because of the position she was in.
The barrette in her hair and the simple black shoes she wore.
He had never seen her dressed like this before.
Did she do this all for Yoshida? It seemed like a lot of effort to go through just for a friendly outing.
He felt that prick of annoyance again.
He pinned her down against the bed, one of his hands resting next to her head, and the other next to her waist.
"I assure you, Healer, this is the last time you will pull such a stunt on me again. I do not tolerate disobedience, but you already know that. And yet, somehow, when something is wrong, you're always involved."
He brushed a hair out of her face. "And believe me when I say if you try to pull anything during my Investiture, I will know, and you will face punishment. I have been far too tolerant when it comes to you, but I assure you the same will not be said for tomorrow. So behave like a good girl,
won't you?"
Y/N's palms began to sweat. He was so close. Irene, why was he so close!? If she breathed in too much air, their chests would be touching. And with only the moonlight illuminating his face, it made the scene all the more unsettling.
Turning her face so she was looking directly at him, she looked straight into his eyes. And he stared back. And because of their short distance, she was able to see his eyes sharpen. His lips turned down into a frown. Something didn't feel right.
Lennox's heart ached with some unknown feeling.
He must've been going crazy. Because for a split second, he couldn't help but admire how dream-like she looked in this moment.
Hair fanned out across the bed, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and eyes that stared straight into his with both hatred and fear.
He pushed himself away from her. What in Irene's name was he thinking?
All these restless nights must've finally been catching up to him.
There was absolutely no way he would ever think of that under normal circumstances.
The back of his neck felt hot and itchy.
His skin flushed. He took a few steps back.
He needed to get out of here. He needed some space from this witch.
He rushed towards the door and threw it open.
Only once he was halfway out did he turn back around to give his final warning.
"Stay out of the way tomorrow. I don't want to see your face at all."
The door slammed on his way out.
——— ??ˋ ? ?ˊ? ———
The next morning, the palace was bursting with energy.
Hundreds of lords, ladies, and their staff were settling into the palace for the festivities.
It seemed like the last several hours were filled with carriages arriving and people unloading luggage to take to their respective rooms.
Many greeted friends whom they had not seen in some time.
Healer Ellis had Y/N, Leon, and Dante working to the bone to ensure they had enough stock of potions and salves for the most common ailments.
Many of the noble families would be bringing their own Healers as well to ensure there was enough staff in case of anything.
Y/N's fingertips were currently stained red from crushing up Flame Lily petals.
The scent of pine, dirt, and alcohol was abundant in the workroom.