The primary residence of the Bathorys was located in the heart of the city of Kevland. And yet, it was practically inaccessible even to many nobles and important figures. That placed it at the very peak of mystery.
For that reason, Delilah did not take her eyes off the grand structure from the moment the automobile crossed the long entrance toward the dreamlike residence. It was not her first time in this place, but this time she was not as indifferent as the first. The memory of Andrea made her feel nervous. The young man with the kind expression possessed an incredible face, but he was still a Bathory. He belonged to a world that no one but themselves understood.
Her faint suppositions tormented her throughout the journey, even until the moment the automobile stopped in front of a contemporary building she had never seen before.
Andrea was waiting for her. His soft blonde hair was tied back just as it had been the first time they met. He wore simple clothes, though it was difficult to consider anything worn by someone of his position as ordinary. When Delilah descended from the car, the young man smiled naturally.
—Did you enjoy the trip?
Every time that sweet voice reached her ears, Delilah felt as if her heart were about to burst. It was warm, harmonious, and surprisingly affectionate. Andrea extended his hand courteously.
—Welcome.
He gently took Delilah's hand and offered a respectful greeting before guiding her into the building. The entrance was wide, with high ceilings. The first time she had been taken to the residence, she hadn't had the chance to reach this area.
The rumors about the Bathorys were far from reality. For starters, the entrance was filled with valuable objects: treasures from different parts of the world. Merchants were envied for such possessions, as they demonstrated travels and experiences in distant lands. Many nobles in Kevland aspired to the same, but almost none dared to leave the kingdom's borders.
The King had granted titles to create pillars of power within the realm, and many families had sworn absolute loyalty. Some took that oath to the extreme of forbidding their descendants from leaving the lands granted to them, as if their position depended on it.
As they moved through the corridors, Delilah perceived a soft fragrance floating in the air. Scents had no shape, but that sweet essence seemed to create a light curtain in the air, visible only when sunlight filtered through the windows.
Andrea finally stopped in front of a room.
—Older brother, I have brought her.
Delilah could barely lift her gaze upon hearing his words. Inside the room, a dark silhouette rested, seated at the end of a long table. It was then that Delilah noticed the censers placed in the corners of the room—objects clearly originating from the East. For a moment, she felt the urge to step closer to check if they were truly authentic.
But her attention was completely stolen.
A tall man with dark hair stood before her. His bearing was youthful, but his presence commanded respect. When his dark eyes settled on her, a faint smile appeared on his face. His pale skin highlighted delicate yet clearly masculine features. He looked like a celebrity. And his voice, grave and deep, was impossible to ignore.
—Finally, we meet, Delilah.
She was unable to look away. It was poor manners to stare directly at someone of such high rank, but she found it impossible to avoid. All the information and rumors she had heard about Neil Bathory were not enough to describe him. The pressure of standing before him was beginning to affect her.
Neil made a small gesture toward the nearby chairs.
—Please, sit.
Two servants entered from the sides of the room and placed a small circular table in the center. Andrea gently took Delilah's arm and guided her there. The girl seemed too stunned to move on her own. Neil observed her reaction with an almost amused calm before speaking.
—I asked Andrea to be kind to you —he said naturally—. I hope he treated you well during the party.
Andrea, who remained standing near the table, accompanied Delilah to a chair. When she finally sat down, he placed a glass of water in front of her with a patient gesture. Only then did Delilah manage to regain some of her composure. Still, she couldn't stop observing the man in front of her.
Neil did not resemble the nobles she knew. His presence transmitted a different kind of supremacy. Perhaps it came from the weight of his surname. Or perhaps from the absolute confidence with which he captured everyone's attention without the slightest effort.
—I have been observing you for a long time —Neil continued. His voice was soft, but it left no room for doubt—. You have a good personality.
He smiled then. It was a charming smile. Dangerously seductive.
—Guard it well.
Delilah was not sure she understood what he meant by that. The words seemed simple, but there was something else behind them. And among all the feelings beginning to mix inside her, one began to prevail over the rest.
Fear.
Lucrecia's words returned to her mind. Perhaps she had been too naive to ignore the formalities... and her own lack of education. Neil observed her with greater attention, as if he could see that conflict reflected in her silence.
—Your face does not reflect how confused you are —he commented with interest—. You are quite careful.
He was sitting across from her, at the same height. Only a small circular table separated them. With a relaxed gesture, he leaned his face against the palm of his hand while he continued to watch her. Delilah felt her breath hitch.
Then Neil asked, with unexpected lightness:
—Do you like my face?
The question took everyone by surprise. Andrea let out a small laugh, unable to contain himself. There was nothing he enjoyed more than his brother's unexpected jokes.
Delilah lifted her gaze slowly. Her expression was that of someone who had just had a secret discovered. She didn't know how to respond. So, she chose the simplest answer.
—Yes.
Before, she had thought Andrea looked like he stepped out of a fairy tale. But Neil... Neil could not be described with fantasies. She could spend hours trying to find words to explain how impressive he was, and yet she would feel that none would be enough.
Neil intertwined his fingers on the table. When he spoke again, his voice no longer held the same joking tone.
—There are some things we must make clear.
It was evident that this meeting had a purpose. Neil Bathory was a man who only moved forward when he was completely sure it was worth doing. And that was the reason for this encounter. His choice had nothing to do with Delilah's beauty. Nor with her family past. His decision had been made long before she set foot in the Zehren mansion.
The Bathorys had eyes in every noble house. Spies. Infiltrators. It was a secret only they knew. And Neil never took lightly the choice of someone who would work for him.
—From now on, you do not need to be so reserved —he said finally—. I am sure you understand.
His eyes locked onto hers with intensity.
—Concentrate on being useful to me.
Delilah looked up. She wasn't sure what her life was becoming. It still felt hard to believe she deserved to be among the chosen of the Zehren mansion. In her mind, she still thought she should simply walk the path others had laid out for her. Even so, she gathered enough courage to speak.
—Is it permitted for someone like me to be useful to you, Neil?
The heir of Liam Bathory smiled.
—Of course.
His words were calm. Certain.
—I was the one who chose you.
To Neil, Delilah was a docile creature. But she was also someone capable of maintaining control in unexpected situations. She knew how to choose her words even when she was full of doubt. And he found that interesting.
Looking at the two Bathory brothers, no one would imagine what they would be capable of if someone stood in the way of their plans. The charm of the Bathory family lay in their mysterious success and the impeccable reputation everyone accepted without question. Their philosophy was simple: live under the monarch's laws, use their power and money... and never come out at a loss within the world of politics and high society.
Compared to everything Neil had to carry on his shoulders, Delilah's curiosity about why she had been chosen seemed insignificant. The only thing she now knew for sure was that there was a great secret related to Lathasha Zehren. From that moment on, she would have to continue receiving correspondence. Continue visiting that residence. And continue participating in something much larger than she understood.
Even so, a doubt persisted in her mind. Putting something so important in the hands of an ordinary girl seemed irrational.
Lucrecia... or even Cain... would have seemed like much more logical choices.
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