Payne looked from me to Adaranth. I didn't know what he saw on my face but he suddenly started frowning. A shadow passed his face and he looked very scary. Just as scary as usual in my past life. Contrary to myself, Adaranth wasn't used to seeing him like that and he couldn't help taking a step back as Payne was running towards him.
"You!"
Payne grabbed Adaranth by the collar and I immediately jumped between them:
"Hey! What are you doing? Let him go!"
Payne couldn't even see me anymore and he mumbled in his beard something I couldn't understand:
"I knew that you were suspicious."
Adaranth was as lost as myself and he had no idea what to say, looking at me with pleading eyes. Payne didn't seem to like it because he turned even redder:
"Stop looking at him. I am your opponent.
-What are you talking about? What are you doing? Let him go! He didn't do anything wrong!"
Payne finally noticed my nails sinking into his arm and he turned to me, puzzled:
"Why are you defending him? Is he threatening you?
-What? Threatening? No! He is my friend! He would never do that!"
Payne looked completely lost. He loosened his grip a bit but still didn't let go of Adaranth's collar.
"But you screamed."
I suddenly realized what he was talking about and quickly shook my head:
"He didn't do anything wrong! It's a misunderstanding! You should ask questions before you grab people by the collar! What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you be so stupid?
-Then why did you ask him to stop?"
I turned redder and redder, having no idea how to explain what truly happened. Seeing Payne's expression deteriorate made Adaranth answer instead:
"The Young Master gets very shy when he gets complimented."
Payne's frown couldn't have gotten deeper but seeing me get completely flushed confirmed the statement and after long seconds he finally let go of Adaranth. He didn't stop looking at me however and I could feel my cheeks heating up more than possible.
"Are you weak to compliments?"
My head shot up:
"I am not weak!"
Payne opened wide eyes seeing the color of my cheeks and having suddenly remembered that I was blushing, I quickly looked back down:
"You should apologize to Ranti and leave. I am tired. I need to rest."
Payne didn't say anything for so long that I thought I would hit him.
"I apologize. It seems I have taken up too much of your time."
He didn't really apologize to Adaranth but I could argue with him later, when my cheeks weren't the color of lava anymore. I nodded and helped Payne out of the room:
"Yes, you should go. Bye."
He was very heavy but I pushed him with all my strength and closed the door behind him. When I turned around Adaranth seemed more lost than me:
"Did the Duke rush into your room just because you screamed?"
Wanting to quickly forget about it, I shrugged.
"He seemed very worried about you.
-Yes. Anyway, good night."
Adaranth laughed seeing my unease but he didn't dare tease me anymore and left. He came back early in the morning to help me get ready for breakfast. He came very early so I wouldn't have to eat with the other members of the Grimsbane family. I hoped that I would quickly eat and leave before anyone arrived. Once ready, Adaranth opened the door for me but I found myself face to face with Essence Grimsbane. She seemed surprised that the door had opened but she quickly regained her composure:
"Good morning, Mister Zeidan.
-Good morning."
She turned to Adaranth and greeted him too before asking him to leave:
"I would like to speak privately to your Master."
Adaranth looked at me with questioning eyes and I nodded. Adaranth bowed and left us alone. I should have offered Essence to get in for some tea but I didn't want to and just continued staring at her, waiting for her to say what she wanted and leave. Essence did feel the awkwardness in the air and she cleared her throat:
"I heard about the events that took place the day before and wished to have a word with you about them."
Already? I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, Essence was still the head of the family but I still didn't expect it to be this fast.
She looked back at me and I understood that she didn't want to talk in the corridor. I sighed before opening the door wider. I didn't say anything and just pinched my lips. She took that as me inviting her in. She bowed before entering the room quietly. She did look calmer than usual but she was still wearing her authoritarian air. She waited for me to offer her a chair but seeing that I wouldn't, she sat down. That did seem to annoy her a bit but she didn't comment on it.
Me on the other hand, I sat down on my bed, visibly tired. I had a hard time sleeping because of everything that took place. I didn't have the energy for a conversation with Essence. Especially not if she was going to criticize me again and question me about the reason why I knew about the attack.
"The Duke told me about what happened.
-Did he?"
I answered just to fill the silence. Seeing that I wouldn't say more, Essence went on:
"He did. And I came here to thank you, mister Zeidan."
I was glad I was seated because otherwise I would have lost my balance. What did she just say? I must have hallucinated because of the lack of sleep. I blinked a few times in surprise.
"Thank me?
-Yes.
-You want to thank me?"
Essence frowned:
"Yes.
-For what?"
I couldn't hide my surprise which surprised Essence in turn:
"For saving my granddaughter of course."
She replied as if it was completely normal but it was never seen before.
"I am forever grateful to you."
I had no idea what to say. I wasn't used to having people thank me and even less having Essence thank me. The Duke was being weird and now Essence was starting to get weird too.
"I didn't do it for your gratitude."
Essence looked at me for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"I suppose you didn't."
There was a brief silence where no one really knew what to say. We just looked at each other awkwardly.
"No matter the reason, you saved my granddaughter which means that you also saved me. I wish to reward you.
-No need.
-I would feel indebted to you otherwise.
-You don't have to. Once again, I didn't do it for you. And there is no need for you to thank me or to pretend to like me. I know that you hate me and I don't want you to like me. I won't be here for long anyway."
Essence seemed taken aback by my honesty but I preferred to say things clearly. I hated misunderstandings.
"Do you plan on leaving?
-Yes. Don't worry, I won't stay for long. I don't plan on marrying the Duke so you can relax."
She noded slowly.
"I see..."