71: Behind closed doors

Behind closed doors

Adela shuffled her feet towards the food cart that one of the guards had parked beside her bed before he and Sator left the room. She had no appetite whatsoever, but she knew better than to let herself starve at a time like this. A peculiar sight greeted her when she lifted the cover off the plate.0

"Grape leaves?"

Taking a bite, the savory combination of rice and minced meat infused with the citrusy tang of lemon and olive oil exploded in her mouth. She found herself seated on the bed, fork and knife in hand, eagerly devouring more of the delectable rolled goodness.

Her eyes drifted towards the inviting tub that peeked through the adjacent door in front of her. Setting the food aside for a moment, she approached the room, captivated by the sight of the steaming water and delicate petals. Hot surges of embarrassment washed over her for assuming that the room was occupied when she finally saw the two yellow mana stones resting at the bottom of the tub.

"Heat and purification," she surmised to herself.

She took a few steps away from the tub then cautiously opened the cupboard beneath the expansive mirror extending through the entire wall. Inside, she discovered an assortment of towels and bottles in various colors. Her gaze then shifted upward, drawn to a previously concealed door that stood wide open.

"A dressing room," she whispered.

Unlike Emoria, Kolhis was blessed with abundant mana mines, and it was evident that the von Conradies possessed substantial resources.

One by one, Adela unfastened the clasps and buttons of her Emorian clothes. The fabric slipped off her shoulders, revealing the gentle curve of her collarbone. She let out a sigh of relief as the weight of the garments lifted from her body leaving her in only her undergarments which slipped off effortlessly. With a gentle tug, she released the pins that held her hair in place, allowing her long locks to cascade down her back.

Turning towards the mirror, she took a moment to observe her reflection.

Her almond-shaped green eyes, once vibrant, were now engulfed with a purple layer that spoke of her physical and mental fatigue, her eyes slid down noticing how the candlelight in the room highlighted the curve of her lips. She ran her fingers lightly through her hair, still damp from the snow that had fallen on it before Egon pulled her cloak over her head.

Her reflection in the mirror immediately darkened.

What were these crescent marks on his wrist?

She left the girl in the mirror and walked over to the nearby tub, slowly easing herself in. The water was significantly hotter than she was accustomed to, causing her to hiss at the initial discomfort. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she relaxed further, and her heart raced in response to the intense heat.

She leaned back and surrendered to the sensation, momentarily forgetting her surroundings.

Startled by the knocking she heard, Adela's head snapped towards the middle door that connected her room to Egon's. A sense of vulnerability had her mind racing as she frantically looked around, searching for something to cover herself. The sound of squeaking hinges echoed from the other room, followed by a thud of a closing door.

"I did not summon you," Egon's sharp voice reached her ears, muffled by the closed door.

"Olga told me that you are here. Is he here too?" spoke a high-pitched feminine voice that remained unaffected by Egon's bluntness.

Adela's heart raced as she realized she had become an unintentional participant in a conversation that she was never meant to overhear. She quickly got out of the tub, her wet feet leaving small puddles on the floor as she moved to close the bathroom door. However, she froze in her place when she heard the next question.

"Do you want me to help you undress? You must be in great discomfort coming here through a portal... What were you thinking?... Are any of your scars sizzling?"

"No," Egon's response was firm.

Adela's blood boiled.

Feeling possessive all of a sudden, she silently crept closer to the closed door between the two rooms, crouching down and making herself as small as possible. Lady Adelaide de Lanark found herself eavesdropping in a befitting posture for what felt like the lowest moment in her life.

"Why do you look so upset to see me? It's not like you," she reprimanded.

"It is late, and you come without summoning. Someone might misunderstand," Egon's voice carried a tinge of irritation.

"What are you talking about, Egon?" the woman sounded outraged. "Who here doesn't know that I am Andreas's woman?"

"You are no such thing," he retorted.

Adela covered her mouth, Larissa's face flashed in her mind, imagining the impact this revelation would have on her sister.

"No... no... You must be in too much pain to say hurtful things like that. I told you times and times again, Andreas did too... Just take that step and finalize your transformati-..." 

"Lotus!" Egon roared, cutting her off.

Adela's heart thumped in her chest as she listened intently, her morals screaming at her as she pressed her ear closer to the door.

"...I still have that ointment," she spoke petulantly.

"I won't be needing that anymore," he said coldly. "You heard what you came here to ask for, so leave already."

"Why do you keep glancing at that door?" the woman questioned.

There was a long moment of silence, causing Adela's suspense to grow.

"...I heard that you had a guest, but... Is... Is she in the Pearl Wing?" the woman's voice trembled.

"She is," Egon breathed.

"Olga will..." the woman began but was hastily interrupted.

"Yes?" he challenged.

"...She will join you for breakfast," the woman said in a subdued tone. 

There was another moment of silence, followed by Egon's deep voice breaking through. "Lotus, I will never forget how much you took care of Bastian... He grew up knowing a mother's love because of you."

"What is this speech now?" She sounded afraid.

"Andreas is settling down with somebody," Egon revealed.

"Somebody... Who..." Lotus's voice quivered.

"A noblewoman," Egon replied, leaving the identity out.

The sudden sniffle that escaped from inside the room was heartwrenching, it was followed by a flurry of fast footsteps and the squeaking of a door being opened and closed abruptly.

Adela held her breath when a gush of cold air lashed at her bare skin through the small space beneath the door.

"Your hair is dripping wet. Go dry it with a towel," he commanded.

Adela's throat went dry, her eyes looking down in shame as she realized that he was aware of her presence all along, only then did she notice the pool of water spreading from beneath the door and seeping into the adjacent room.

She was mortified.

"Now, Adelaide," he ordered, "Unless you want me to come inside and do it for you,"

With a deep flush of pure humiliation, she sprang up and hurriedly escaped to the bathroom, closing the door behind her and locking it three times.

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