Chapter 38
As I rattled off my grievances, his sharp eyes widened in surprise. Soon, his brow furrowed, and a faint sigh slipped past his lips.
At my brazen retort, he clicked his tongue with a dry chuckle and rubbed his forehead. Sensing his dilemma, I chewed on my lip before speaking up.
He lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine. As I stared straight into that pure, clear green, a wry, crooked smile spread across his lips.
“Call me Lars, then. Though with that impressive sharp wit of yours, I trust you know there will be times you still have to call me Damian.”
Still turning the name ‘Lars, Lars’ over and over beneath my breath, I blinked belatedly. Watching my face, he scratched his chin slowly in the ensuing quiet.
The thought hit me a moment later, and I grabbed his arm in a panic.
Kirhin had told me Lars kept the perfume bottle tied to his waist. To lose it without noticing meant things had been frantic beyond imagination.
Lars blinked briefly and flinched, pulling back the arm I was holding. As I cast my eyes down, my fingertips brushed against thick, layered cloth. Come to think of it, there was a faint, sharp scent of antiseptic lingering about him.
Following the nod of his chin, I noticed my bare foot peeking out from the hem of my dress and hurriedly tucked it away. Lars raised an eyebrow askew and remarked dryly.
As I fumbled in embarrassment, footsteps sounded outside the door. Turning my head, I heard Maya’s muted voice filter through the wood.
I shouted on impulse and whipped back around to Lars. To my surprise, he simply stood with his arms crossed, eyes cast downward in thought. At the very least, it seemed he had no intention of vanishing on the spot.
Relieved, I drew a quiet breath, stood pressed against the doorframe, and eased the door open a crack. Then I stopped Maya, who had set down her basket and medicine basin at the sound of the door opening to pick them back up.
Maya’s eyes rounded in surprise. Wearing a tired expression, I lowered my voice.
Lending firmness to my tone, I gazed steadily into her eyes, and Maya’s flustered hesitation began to soften. She likely suspected it had something to do with Nina.
From what I had learned of her, Maya at least possessed enough sense to know there was a reason whenever I dug my heels in.
Darting a quick glance about, Maya bowed her head and hurried away. Once I made sure she was gone, I grunted softly as I hauled the medicine basin, snack basket, and water bowl inside.
As I shut the door and let out an exhausted sigh, Lars slipped over and effortlessly lifted the water bowl.
At his teasing tone, I jutted out my lower lip in a sulk and argued back.
Popping a bite-sized sandwich from the snack basket into his mouth, he moved the water and medicine vials over to the table. I followed along behind him, swinging the basket by its handle.
I was using that pretext to check how badly hurt he was and ensure it wasn’t serious, but Lars was no fool. With a wry chuckle that said he saw right through me, he crooked a finger.
When he abruptly began soaking a clean cloth in the water, I balked.
Though he spoke nonchalantly, the faint curl at the corner of his handsome mouth gave away his amusement.
Exposing feet marred by calluses and open cuts was humiliating, yet I didn’t want to refuse him. It was the first time anyone had ever looked after me like this—and part of me wanted to knock that unruffled composure right out of him.
Replying brazenly, I sat perched on the edge of the sofa, tucked my skirts around my legs, bent my knees, and held out my foot. Lars let out a dry laugh, spread the damp towel wide, and gently drew my calf forward.
At the firm touch of his warm hand against my calf, I swallowed dryly without realizing it. Feeling my face grow hot, I quickly turned my head to look out the window.
The dark night sky was showered in stars that shone with breathtaking brilliance. I had to fight tooth and nail to keep a certain scene from Where the Veil of Night Sings from popping into my head.
His touch was delicate as the damp cloth gently wiped away the caked blood, but that didn’t mean it was painless. I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes down to see him cradling my ankle, a tight furrow in his brow as he surveyed the wounds.
Strangely, looking at his face seemed to dull the pain. Seeing his displeased scowl over my injury filled me with an enchanting warmth. If anything, I found myself wishing the wound were worse just so this care would last longer.
Contrary to my wish, however, his hands moved with seasoned precision. Watching his brisk, methodical movements as he disinfected the raw cuts, smoothed healing ointment over them, and wrapped the linen, I blurted out a murmur.
Glancing up at me, he offered a calm rejoinder before asking,
It was clearly an answer he hadn’t expected, and one dark brow ticked upward. I added,
Lars exhaled a chuckle that was half a sigh, then narrowed his eyes. The lovely green that had been focused on my wounds was now fixed squarely on me.
A hint of helpless pride bled into my voice. After all, more than anyone else, I wanted this man to see the effort I had put in.
Evidently caught off guard, his rich, melodic voice cracked with heavy surprise.
Having finished binding one foot with neat precision, his hands froze before reaching for the other. I watched a deep crease slowly etch its way across his smooth brow.
Reciting the passage that seemed to have struck Penu the most, I offered a broad grin. I had half expected an impressed Lars to chuckle and give my cheek a light tap or something of the sort, but he merely stared at me, his eyes frozen in place.
As the awkward silence stretched on, a trace of unease crept into me, and I cleared my throat before hastily babbling on.
Cutting me off, Lars rubbed his furrowed brow and asked,
Watching his reaction closely, I pleaded my case with earnest conviction.
I had hoped my words would smooth the furrow between his brows, but my expectations were dashed once more. Watching another crease join the first, I chewed on my lip, then stammered out in a shrinking murmur.
