{Selene’s POV}
"Yes, Milady."
A calm, steady voice broke through my trail of thoughts.
I turned slightly, and there he stood, tall and poised.
Wearing that sa servant uniform, yet carrying it with a kind of quiet charisma that didn’t belong in this place.
He hadn’t bowed, not completely, but he also didn’t et my eyes.
A subtle nod to decorum.
Waiting for orders.
I narrowed my eyes, then released a faint pulse of my Essence, nothing overwhelming but just enough to make any normal person drop on their knees.
But he didn’t flinch.
I had used this trick before, and it had worked perfectly, but now...
My lips curled, amused.
He’s resisting.
Interesting.
I didn’t press further.
With a gentle motion, I let the pressure fade and turned on my heel, my gown swayed, catching the light breeze.
"Follow ."
I commanded, and he followed.
As I walked ahead, his footsteps followed behind, soft, steady, and asured. He maintained the proper distance.
Not too close. Not too far.
I glanced sideways, voice cool and neutral.
"Well, you’ve been serving here for a month now... and I still don’t even know who you are."
My words were deliberate, casually wrapped in curiosity.
I didn’t want to sound too probing. Not yet.
Then, as if offhandedly, I added,
"What’s your na?"
He looked at , briefly, unreadable, then answered.
But when the na that left his lips—
I stopped.
"It’s Alaric, Milady."
My heels tapped once against the stone path before going still.
Slowly, I turned back to face him. My gaze locked on his.
"What did you say?"
I asked again, trying to make sure that did I heard anything wrong.
Was it a mistake?
But no, he blinked once, then spoke again.
"Alaric."
What?
My thoughts began racing again, but my expression remained smooth as silk.
I said nothing more, just turned, my gown brushing against my ankles as I resud walking.
He followed.
But my mind kept spinning.
Alaric? Not Brandon?
First, that unnatural calmness. Then the strength, enough to overpower soone awakened.
And now this?
He’s hiding sothing.
No... he is sothing.
We soon arrived at the garden, tucked away behind the estate, sheltered from the rest of the world by carefully-trimd hedges and flowering trees. The only place in this suffocating house that brought comfort.
I took a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and sat gracefully on the bench.
The breeze carried the faint scent of jasmine. The late afternoon sun bathed the marble stones in gold.
This... is peace.
My eyes drifted shut for a mont.
Ever since my daughter left for the academy, this garden had beco the one place I didn’t have to wear the mask of the perfect noble lady. Of the Baroness.
Here, I’m just .
Not Selene Glimor.
Just Selene.
Just... a woman trying to breathe.
Just as I was thinking about this all, from the corner of my eye, I saw him again, still standing where I left him.
But he wasn’t looking at .
But at empty air.
Brows furrowed. Eyes unfocused.
Spaced out again?
I’d noticed it before.
The first ti, I’d dismissed it. Exhaustion, maybe.
The second ti, I wondered.
Now? It had beco a pattern.
Disorder? Head trauma? Perhaps?
Before I could say anything, he stirred.
His shoulders straightened slightly as he stepped forward.
Silently, he moved to the small cart beside us.
Then with practiced grace and etiquette, he lifted the porcelain teapot and poured a cup for , without instruction.
And without hesitation, in a proper, formal, noble etiquette.
He placed it before as though he had done it a thousand tis.
I raised a brow, but said nothing.
Then, I simply lifted the cup, brought it to my lips, and took a sip.
The tea was perfect.
Of course it was.
Then I let my shoulders loosen slightly, tension bleeding out of .
And without turning to look at him, I ordered.
"Massage my shoulders."
I heard the pause behind , just a second, then felt his hands move, firm but asured. He wasn’t clumsy.
I closed my eyes for a mont. Let the silence stretch. Let him work.
But.
Questions buzzed in my mind.
Who are you really? Where did you co from? What are you planning?
But of course, I said none of that.
No one in their right mind blurts such things aloud.
Instead, I let out a deep breath and straightened slightly.
"Alaric."
I began, in a calm and firm tone.
"You saw him, didn’t you? Renard. What do you think of him?"
****
{Alaric’s POV}
Even without using Essence... they’re really good.
I leaned against the railing of the balcony, watching the duel wrap up below in the courtyard.
Renard and Hadric parted with strained civility, their blades lowering after a final exchange.Hadric was more refined, calculated.
But Renard? He was just a flashy, arrogant and overconfidence.
Tch. Noble brat.
There was power in his strikes, sure. But his stance was wide open. His footwork, way sloppy. And Hadric, ofcourse he was or in sense had to be on losing end.
If he would have been in my old world, I could’ve beaten him even blindfolded.
Then I exhaled, and my gaze shifted.
To her.
Selene Glimor.
Baroness of this estate.
She stood in the courtyard. Her long raven-black hair flowed like ink, cascading over her shoulders.
And those erald-green eyes, sharp, intelligent and cold, scanned the world with the weight of soone who had survived it.
The green gown she wore clung to her body with elegant precision, highlighting her slender waist, her full curves, her proud stature.
And yet... there was a subtle sorrow behind those eyes. That anyone could guess.
She wasn’t just beautiful.
No.
She was striking. Not the seductive beauty that begged for attention. The kind that held power.
More refined than most won I’d ever t. In both lives.
I clicked my tongue.
Well, not like I usually appraise won like this.
But I had to be honest. She was... fascinating.
Not just because she was the one the system told to "subjugate."
But because, for the first ti in this godforsaken world, I didn’t feel completely in control of the ga.
How the hell do I even approach soone like her?
Flatter her? Stupid idea.
Prove myself?
Beat down that noble brat she clearly hates?
Ha. He’d wipe the floor with right now. I might have the edge in form and skill, but against a fully awakened opponent, my current body might as well be made of paper.
I sighed.
Then—
As if fate had been listening in, her gaze suddenly turned upward.
Directly at .
And before I could even look away.
"Co here."
She spoke.
To .
My brows furrowed slightly. A bit confused. A bit cautious.
She’d barely spared a second glance until now. So why?
But I didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t.
I gave a small nod and turned away from the railing.
And began moving, towards her.
--------------------------------
{A/N}
Yo guys, welco back.
I have a question.
Did you like the POV switch? And should I do it again, in future?
Well, that’s it. BYE. And THANK YOU for reading.
(Don’t forget to give PS though, hehehe)
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