The afternoon rain in front of the Zehren mansion lasted through the night. Lightning roared constantly in the sky.
Cain watched the droplet-covered windows while his emotions flowed with the same intensity as the storm. Despite having had what anyone would describe as a perfect afternoon, he felt deeply resentful toward everything around him. The further the clock advanced, the lonelier he felt.
Across from him, Miss Eilith enjoyed a quiet dinner accompanied by the four candidates sharing the table. She had been invited at Count Salieri's insistence. Cain had called for her to apologize personally, just as his father had ordered. But in reality, she was not affected at all by what had occurred during the Marquise's party.
Eilith was not pretentious. She possessed the rare virtue of understanding. Furthermore, at that time, Raguel had handled the entire situation with his usual courtesy, even without being asked. Eilith set her glass on the table and looked at Cain with a thoughtful expression.
—You know, Cain... the festival of Yuor will be held soon.
Leroy reacted before Cain could grasp the direction of the conversation. He knew that region well, as its famous festival always coincided with the change of season.
—Countless times my grandfather has broken his promise to travel to Yuor with me —Eilith continued with a small sigh—. And this year... I fear the same will happen.
Lucrecia immediately understood the intention behind those words. The Duke's granddaughter was speaking openly about the Billeter family's home province, a distant place located at least five hours north of Kevland. Then, she said it bluntly.
—Cain, come with me to Yuor. If you go, my grandfather will allow it.
The young noblewoman's intentions were clear. No one was surprised. The other three chosen ones simply observed Cain with interest, waiting for his reaction as if it were a small performance. It was impossible to remain silent under so many gazes.
Spring was ending, and the Count's son could afford a few days away from his duties within the mansion. Moreover, refusing was not truly an option. If he thought about it, this was also an opportunity to redeem himself for his previous discourtesy.
Cain leaned his elbow on the table and finally responded:
—Of course. It would be a pleasure.
At the affirmative response, Eilith smiled like a child who had just been granted something she desired with capricious insistence. Her innocent blue eyes shone with excitement.
—My... I feel a bit jealous. Why only Cain?
Gazes turned toward Raguel, who had uttered those words with his habitual, carefree elegance. He had clearly made a joke. And, as usual, no one except Eilith seemed to find it funny. She tilted her head slightly toward him.
—Would you like to visit Yuor?
Raguel rested his chin on his hand with a dramatic gesture.
—I only feel depressed because Cain will spend so much time alone with the lovely Eilith.
The young woman's cheeks flushed instantly. Intimidated, she covered her lips with her delicate fingers, trying to hide her embarrassment. The "castaño" devil would have continued teasing her with even more embarrassing comments, but at that moment, a maid appeared discreetly at the dining room entrance. She bowed with respect.
—Miss Delilah has returned.
The news was whispered with discretion. The "glass doll" was the only one who noticed how Raguel's smile softened before he rose from his seat and left the dining room without a word.
Delilah's visit had ended. The mere thought of the place she had come from piqued all of the Barons' son's curiosity. Feigning modesty had never been part of his personality. That was why, without thinking too much, he found himself walking down the hallway toward the mansion's entrance.
At that moment, Delilah was descending from the automobile. The rain fell heavily, but the scene seemed part of an illusion. Her damp hair and slightly wet face gave her a particular charm. Raguel felt the urge to dry her skin and take her to a warmer place.
But the young woman did not expect to find him there. She stopped before crossing the door.
—Why are you here?
A gust of wind dragged the rain into the foyer. Delilah instinctively moved toward him, seeking shelter under the roof. Raguel observed her closely.
—Did your visit with the Bathorys go well? —he asked curiously—. Is Neil truly such an impressive man?
—He is.
The answer was immediate. Direct. The simple weight of those two words awakened an even greater curiosity in Raguel. He leaned slightly toward her.
—Delilah... did you really see Neil Bathory?
She nodded naturally, as if she were unaware of how unreachable that man was for most people. The experience had been so impactful that she could barely control her own reactions.
—If that happened...
—I cannot tell you anything about what occurred there —she interrupted firmly—. I am going back to my room.
If she stayed, Raguel would interrogate her all night. And she could not afford to speak freely about the Bathory family.
—Would you like to have dinner? —he asked—. Everyone is in the dining room.
Delilah looked toward the dining room door with a cold expression. She was too tired to join the others.
—I will dine in my room.
Before Raguel could try to stop her, she gave him a small smile.
—Lately, I've become quite unbearable for Lucrecia and...
She stopped. Her gaze slid slowly toward the stairs.
—Cain seems more peaceful when I am not around.
Delilah had little control over her emotions. Since things had not changed between them, her heart grew cold every time she had to face his presence. And that was the true problem.
Raguel remembered it clearly. He had seen Cain that night, standing in the Grand Ballroom, looking toward the balcony before leaving the party without a word. It was he who had to invent an excuse for Count Salieri when his firstborn did not return. What Cain had witnessed from the mansion's entrance was the farewell between Andrea Bathory and Delilah.
A surprisingly captivating scene. And Cain had been unable to control himself. Raguel believed he understood what that meant.
The following morning, Cain barely looked at Delilah. Even when they came face to face in the mansion's hallways, he limited himself to offering a brief greeting before continuing on his way. The smile he showed was too perfect, too rehearsed. Fake.
The most impressive thing, however, was Delilah's control. She responded to that coldness with the same distant courtesy, as if her own feelings did not matter at all. But Raguel could notice the dull glint in her eyes... a silent resignation that was painful to observe.
Leaning against one of the corridor's columns, Raguel looked at her out of the corner of his eye before speaking.
—Cain will travel to Yuor next week —he said calmly—. Perhaps you will feel better when he is gone.
Delilah's face went pale instantly. Her body tensed, as if that news had pierced her chest. Cain was going to travel? To Yuor? When? The mere idea of not seeing him for who knew how long caused an unexpected pain in her chest. Because, although they barely exchanged words, she could not deny that she longed to find him in the hallways, even if only to cross a fleeting glance.
She lowered her gaze and responded with a controlled voice.
—Cain's affairs have nothing to do with me.
It was not a good time to provoke her. Raguel could see it clearly. Delilah was spending all her energy pretending to be something she clearly did not feel. Even so, he could not help but smile with a certain malice.
—You like Cain so much that you can't even hide it.
The words hit her hard. They sparked an even greater effort in her to repress her emotions. But Raguel was only playing. He didn't expect her to react with such fragility. After a brief silence, she finally spoke.
—He is on a level that is too high —she said in a low voice—. What I feel has no meaning.
Those words tore at her own heart as soon as she uttered them. She felt annoyed. Defeated. And the desire to disappear, to hide somewhere where no one could see her, began to grow within her chest.
Raguel sighed softly. Then he took a step toward her.
—Let me walk you to your room.
Raguel could be an intimidating man. Tall, serene, impossible to ignore. Someone difficult to escape when he decided to approach. But Delilah understood immediately that he had no intention of hurting her.
His beautiful emerald eyes observed her with sincere concern.
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