12. The Request!

Author's POV

Arthur's hand was still on her cheek and it made her nervous because of which she couldn't speak. She was frozen in her place.

"I don't like to wait for an answer."

He raised his eyebrows amused at her.

Garry's jaw was on the floor because he has been with Arthur since childhood and he hasn't seen him talking to anyone softly the way he was talking to the girl.

Arthur removed his hand from her soft cheeks and stepped back, realising that he was making her nervous.

"I should leave."

She mumbled awkwardly and started walking away hurriedly.

Arthur smiled amused at her, she was struggling to hold the bridal dress up and was stumbling like a toddler on the dark road.

"Your uncle just went that way. He might catch you in the middle."

He teased.

It made her freeze. She took a deep breath and turned around, her innocent look was fluttering his heart.

"I need to go back."

She requested.

"It's dark now... The town is far from here."

He stepped towards her.

"I'll drop her, we have a car."

Garry thought he was being helpful.

Arthur gritted and glared at him.

"You don't love your tongue or what..."

He mumbled lowly but threateningly.

Garry gulped and looked at her.

"Sorry, I forgot that we are out of the fuel."

He covered up.

Arabella looked at them and around her confused.

"I'll go alone, it's okay."

Arthur stood in front of her with a disapproving look.

"What made you think that I'll let you go alone in the dark?"

She just stared at him, he was looking exactly like Oliver except for a few differences which told them apart.

"Then?"

She mumbled and he smiled at her naive behaviour.

He was never curious to know about something. He has never asked any girl to stay over but she was looking different. He wanted to know more about her.

"Stay here for tonight... I'll drop you back in the morning..."

He suggested.

She thought for a second.

"Matilda said not to trust strangers. Especially those who live in this house... Last time one man hurt me and my friend, he looked exactly like you."

Arthur closed his eyes and cursed.

"Oliver!"

He doesn't like the way he messes up things.

"I apologise on behalf of him."

He gently grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it like a gentleman.

"Now I have to invite you in and make it up for my brother's stupidity. He won't hurt you again. Please?"

She smiled softly at his gentle request and nodded, he wasn't looking troublesome like his brother. And not to mention, she didn't want to take the dark way where her uncle might find her.

Arthur smiled and led her inside.

Garry pinched himself and gasped.

"What happened to this man... Is this a dream?"

Arabella let go of her dress when she stepped inside. She looked around, the house was the same as before but Oliver was missing. She couldn't see him anywhere.

"He is not here. Don't worry!"

Arthur assured and led her inside.

"Let's have dinner... I am hungry."

Garry set the table.

Arabella sat at the table when Arthur gestured for her to sit.

She couldn't eat much as she was feeling awkward.

"You didn't tell me your name."

Arthur asked again.

She looked at him.

"Arabella."

Arthur smiled and chuckled when he heard the name.

"Beautiful name."

"Ohhh!"

Garry chuckled.

Arabella looked at them confused.

"It was his mother's old name... Now people call her Rose."

He explained and she smiled widely.

She somehow managed to finish the food which was given to her and yawned.

Arthur saw her cute yawn and chuckled.

"Sleepy, little Dove?"

She closed her mouth awkwardly.

"Sorry, I'll sleep on the couch in the living room... Thank you for letting me stay."

"You don't have to... We have a guest room."

Arthur shook his head in disagreement.

"Please, let me sleep out... I don't feel safe in closed room."

She requested, worried that he will not agree.

He frowned at the weird fear but nodded making her smile gratefully.

Arabella sat on the couch in the living room while they both went to their rooms.

Arthur came out after freshening up and watched his little Dove from upstairs. She was fixing her dress and was yawning like a cute kid. He has never seen something so innocent.

This girl was doing something to his heart.

She fixed the pillow and placed her head on it.

His eyes fell on her feet and noticed injuries. Those little feet were tortured. He grabbed the first aid kit and went downstairs.

He didn't want her to wake up so he sat by her feet and gently touched her. Arabella jolted up from the sleep when she felt his touch.

"Relax, I am just checking on your feet."

He assured.

She gulped and sat up while he placed her feet on his lap.

"What were you doing to get injured like this?"

He sounded mad.

"I was running away from my uncle, didn't get the chance to wear shoes and didn't know that people throw broken glasses on the road."

She mumbled sadly.

He gritted madly when he heard that.

"Where do you stay now?"

"Orphanage! Matilda helped me but she is hospitalized now."

She hissed when he cleaned the wound.

"You are not letting it heal, it's infected."

He declared.

"I didn't do anything."

She answered scared.

"Is it bad?"

Her eyes widened when he grabbed the syringe.

"No!"

He grabbed her and pulled her closer while locking her in his hold. She whined and tried to get free.

"I am a martial artist, little Dove... The best one in the Knight empire, you think your delicate hands can break this hold."

He mocked and injected the medicine in her arm making her hiss.

He let her go when he was done and she looked at him shocked, not understanding why he was doing all this for her. He doesn't have to. His eyes also paused on her when she stared at him with those Dove eyes.

It was compelling him.

They both were lost in each other's eyes when his thumb gently caressed her soft lips. He never felt so tempting to feel something like this.

She gulped and her breathing quickened when he slowly leaned down to her lips. He was close but his phone rang and broke the trance.

She quickly scooted away from him and fixed her dress. Arthur disconnected his call and cleared his throat.

"You need to take care of your feet..."

She nodded and looked everywhere but at him after an awkward situation.

He smiled amused, he has encountered bold girls all these years and here she was shy like a rabbit.

"How old are you?"

He asked curiously, he was guessing that she must be around twenty.

"Seventeen!"

She mumbled and his smile disappeared.

"What?"

He scowled.