The sun's first rays pierced through Ahicia's window, casting a warm glow over her room. She stirred slightly, the ache in her legs pulling her into full consciousness. Her feet still throbbed from the ordeal days before, but she ignored the pain, her mind consumed by the lingering thoughts of Damian.
She sat up slowly, brushing her tangled hair away from her face. A soft knock at the door made her ears twitch, and before she could respond, the door creaked open.
Lysandra stood there, clutching a tray with a steaming cup of cinnamon tea and a small plate of cookies. Her usual confidence was replaced by a vulnerability that was rare for her. Her golden eyes were glassy, her shoulders trembling slightly as she stepped into the room.
"Good morning, Ahicia," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ahicia turned toward her, startled by the raw emotion in Lysandra's tone. A bright, genuine smile spread across her lips, softening her pale features. "Good morning, Lysandra. Why are you crying?"
Lysandra froze, her hands tightening on the tray as tears spilled silently down her cheeks. "It's just… you're up," she said, her voice cracking. "You're out of bed, smiling, looking at me. It's been weeks, Ahicia. I thought…"
Her words trailed off, choked by a sob she couldn't suppress.
Ahicia rose from the bed, her bare feet padding softly against the floor as she walked over to Lysandra. Taking the tray from her hands, she set it down on the bedside table before pulling Lysandra into a firm hug.
"I'm here," Ahicia murmured, stroking Lysandra's hair soothingly. "I'm not going anywhere."
Lysandra clung to her, her tears soaking into Ahicia's nightgown. "You scared me," she admitted, her voice muffled. "I thought we were going to lose you."
Ahicia pulled back slightly, her smile still warm and reassuring. "It'll take more than this to get rid of me," she teased gently, wiping away Lysandra's tears with her thumb.
The two women stood there for a moment, a shared silence filled with unspoken gratitude. Lysandra finally stepped back, straightening her shoulders as she regained her composure.
"I brought you tea and cookies," she said, gesturing toward the tray.
Ahicia chuckled softly. "You spoil me."
"You deserve it," Lysandra replied, her voice steady once more. "Now, go easy today, okay? Don't overdo it."
Ahicia nodded, her heart lighter than it had been in days. She dressed quickly and headed to her office, determined to make the most of her newfound energy.
The sight awaiting her brought a wry smile to her face—a mountain of paperwork covered her desk. Lysandra had tried her best to keep up during Ahicia's absence, but the sheer volume of tasks was overwhelming. Ahicia rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
Hours passed in a blur as she read, signed, and sorted documents. The weight of responsibility pressed on her, but her thoughts remained elsewhere. Every few minutes, her mind wandered to Damian—his warm embrace, his teasing smile, the way his golden eyes softened when he looked at her.
She glanced at the clock, her heart skipping a beat. It was nearly dinner time.
Ahicia made her way to the dining room, her steps light despite the lingering pain in her legs. She reached the table, her smile faltering when she saw only Grace seated there.
"Where's Damian?" Ahicia asked, her voice calm but laced with disappointment.
Grace smirked, swirling the wine in her glass. "Busy, I suppose. Men like him have important matters to attend to."
Ahicia took her seat, her expression unreadable. Grace leaned forward, her lips curving into a malicious grin.
"You know," Grace began, her tone dripping with false sweetness, "it won't be long before Damian and I have a child together. Once that happens, you'll be out of this house for good."
A dark, eerie smile spread across Ahicia's face, sending a chill down Grace's spine. Ahicia picked up her glass of wine, sipping it leisurely before setting it down with deliberate care.
"Funny," Ahicia said softly, her voice like silk over steel, "considering you haven't even spent a single night with him."
Grace's smug expression faltered as Ahicia rose from her chair, her movements graceful yet commanding. She walked over to Grace, leaning in close to whisper in her ear.
"Be like me," Ahicia murmured, her tone venomous yet poised. "I've already lost everything to him. We share kisses every morning. Can you say the same?"
Without waiting for a response, Ahicia straightened and walked away, her nightgown trailing behind her like a queen's train.
Grace sat frozen, her nails digging into her palm as she seethed in silent fury.
By the time the clock struck noon, Ahicia stretched and leaned back in her chair, exhaustion seeping into her bones. Lysandra joined her, both women sharing a rare moment of light laughter as they recounted their progress.
A sharp knock interrupted their reprieve. The door creaked open, revealing Damian's assistant. His disheveled appearance startled both women—his hair was unkempt, and his eyes bore dark circles as if he hadn't slept in days.
"Lady Ahicia," he said, bowing deeply, his voice trembling. "Please, I need your help."
Ahicia blinked, surprised by his desperate tone. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with concern.
The assistant dropped to his knees, bowing so low that his forehead nearly touched the floor. "Master Damian… he had refuse it come out of his office, and it is killing both me and him.
Ahicia's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. "why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lysandra's ears twitched, her expression hardening. "Explain yourself," she demanded, her tone sharp.
The assistant raised his head slightly, his golden eyes filled with despair. "He said that he want to finish all his work, of the past 2 months, and that is something to be accomplished in 2 weeks.
Ahicia felt her breath hitch, a wave of dread washing over her. She clutched the edge of her desk, her knuckles white.
"Why come to me?" she asked,
"Because…" The assistant hesitated, his voice breaking. "Because you're the only one he listens to. Please, Lady Ahicia, do something. Anything."