Ch 14: Curiously lost

Aribella POV

The evening air wasn’t as humid as it had been midday, but the warmth of the setting sun was still uncomfortable.

I paused in my walk, quickly braiding my loose hair back. I felt Kaelar’s eyes on me almost constantly, but I didn’t mind. It didn’t feel like there was any judgement, just plain curiosity.

A part of me wanted to ask him why I had piqued his curiosity, but I kept my mouth quiet, enjoying the silence of the walk.

The castle gardens were beautiful, and the greenhouse sat just beyond them. It was even more awe inspiring as I drew closer, and my lips pulled into a broad grin.

Kaelar opened the doors, and I smiled, “Thank you, sir.”

He nodded wordlessly, his eyes not giving away a single thought as he followed me inside the massive space.

“Holy. Shit.”

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, glancing around, thankful that no one besides Kaelar and I were here at this time in the evening.

Rows and rows of plants and flowers filled every square foot of the massive building.

Falling to my knees, I admired a row of Calendula. The golden petals were vibrant and reminded me of the hue of the setting sun just beyond these walls.

“What are those?” Kaelar’s voice dragged me from the moment.

“They’re Calendula. A flower that is part of the daisy family, but they have healing properties. If you mash up the leaves or boil them in tea, they have anti-inflammatory properties.”

“Were you an herbalist at your ranch?” Kaelar questioned, his brows knitting.

Heat flooded my cheeks, “Uhm, no,” my lips pursed as I fought the flood of embarrassment at admitting the truth. “I was just kind of a book nerd.”

That’s precisely how I know where I am right now.

“Was?” he arched a brow, showing the most expression I’d seen from him all day.

“I suppose I will always be a book nerd,” I chuckled nervously. “I like to learn.”

“The castle has an impressive library.”

“Then that’s where we go next,” I flashed him a grateful smile, but it seemed the mask had slid back into place. He silently nodded, and I took that as my cue to keep going.

Moving through the space, I admired rows of Chamomile, Echinacea, and St. John’s Wort. Each were used for different areas of medicine, and since it seems I’ve traveled back in time, the likelihood of any modern medicine was zero.

This was their means of medication, all housed in this massive greenhouse. The thought seemed dangerous if I were being honest. Housing your entire kingdoms medicine in one large glass container seemed like an ill-thought idea. If someone wanted to bring Sacaris to their knees, destroying this place would be a great way to start.

It would take at least a year to replenish what was lost.

Kaelar posted him beside the double doors, keeping an eye on me from afar as I walked through endless rows of flowers and herbs. I silently wished I’d brought my notebook for the second time tonight so that I could jot down my thoughts.

I’m not sure how much time had passed, but as I glanced up at the shimmering glass roof, the sun had long set, and stars dotted the darkening night sky.

“I’m so sorry,” I jogged over to Kaelar. “I hadn’t realized how much time had passed.”

“Stay as long as you need.”

“I’m all finished now,” I smiled. “There is far too much to take in for one afternoon.”

He opened the door, motioning for me to pass through before him. I wasn’t used to this type of treatment. At the ranch, our family were equal. Even Peyton was on the same level as my mother and father.

Before that, when I was Charlotte, I felt like nothing. In terms of a class system, I was a slave… Lower than a servant. Stephan didn’t see me as anything more than property. I was his to control and use however he pleased.

The more time I spend away from that life, the more I see things for how they truly were. I was weak, but I thought my love would somehow prevail. I continued to grasp onto those fleeting moments of happiness. Even after there was more bad than good, I couldn’t let them go.

I couldn’t let him go.

“Ms. Voss?” Kaelar’s voice dragged my from my train of thought, and I realized I’d been staring up at the sky, lost in my thoughts.

As my focus returned, I noticed how breathtaking the sky looked out here. Sacaris wasn't polluted with artificial lighting or smog from busy cities. The air was clear, and the sky appeared grateful as it allowed us to see the full scope of its beauty.

Heat flooded my cheeks once again, and I was grateful at that moment that Kaelar wasn’t one to pry. My life before this was a tragedy. One that I didn’t want to relive.

I offered him an apologetic smile, nodding as I walked through the opened door, but I only made it a few steps before slamming into a hard body.

Warm hands grabbed onto my arms as I stumbled backwards.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, lifting my gaze from the ground to meet deep brown eyes of Mael Whitehall.

“Aribella Voss,” his voice was as smooth as silk, but the way my name rolled off his tongue sent a shiver down my spine. “And here I thought you and I had hit it off. But then I find out that you are here as my brother’s guest, and well,” Mael tilted his head, pouting, “I can’t say I’m not a little hurt by that.”

Reo stood off to the side, the picture of a perfect guard. His hands were behind his back, and he stared forward as if he couldn’t be bothered to pay me any mind.

“I uhm…” I stammered those two words out, trying to conjure up anything in my mind to say right now.

Think. Think. Think.

“The proposal came out of left field,” I nervously chuckled, “Rhory asked to court me, and I felt like I couldn’t say no.”

It wasn’t technically a lie. The proposal had come out of left field, but I’d asked for Rhory to come to me, and that was his way of doing so.

Mael let out a soft chuckle, “Well in that case, I am regretful for not making that decision first. But I suppose you didn’t really give me the opportunity. Reo informed me of your untimely departure, and I was quite disappointed, Aribella Voss.”

I was starting to hate that name. Everyone around here used it, but when Mael spoke it; It felt like a weapon.

“For that, I am terribly sorry,” I’d been practicing my lying. Lately, it seemed that it was all I could do. Everything out of my mouth seemed to be a lie or half-truth that was meant to cover up my real feelings.

If Mael had caught on, he would have been just as good as I was at saving face.

He reached out, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, “No need to apologize. But,” he took a step closer, and our bodies felt uncomfortably close. “I hope you don’t think that my brother courting you will stop me from pursuing you.”

My fingernails dug into my palms as I tried to calm my racing heart. What was it about me that made him think that I was the perfect pawn in his game?

At my silence, he stepped back, removing the hand from my shoulder, and I nearly choked on air in relief. I had been holding my breath, hoping that he couldn’t sense my discomfort.

“I am flattered,” I forced a smile, bowing softly.

“I’ll see you around, Aribella Voss.”