Chapter 11: Suspicious Smile

Swana Pov.

How could I not feel horror. How could a human jump onto the balcony of my room on the second floor. But the strangeness didn't stop the longing I felt. I missed this man so much that it was suffocating.

"Ethan, how did you get here?"

He looked down, his eyes staring at the floor without daring to raise his face.

"I wanted to stay near my owner," he said.

Her words left me feeling speechless. But that didn't dispel the suspicion I felt. That's because Ethan knew where I went even though I never said my surname. And he managed to be on the balcony of my room which was very well guarded.

"Never mind, let's go in. You can't be caught in my room," I invited her into my room.

Finally, he raised his handsome face. His eyes with long eyelashes trembled as he looked at me. I couldn't wait to see my reflection in his beautiful eyes.

"Yes, my lady."

Surprisingly, she acted obediently and stood quietly next to me. Very different from her actions of being desperate to find me.

"Ethan, do you know that what you are doing is very dangerous?" I asked.

I couldn't let him do what he wanted without my consent.

"I'm sorry my lady. "

Just as I was about to say the reason why I forbade Ethan from coming with me. There was a noise behind my bedroom door.

"Oh no, someone is coming. You have to hide, Ethan," I said.

If it was my stepmother then I would be in big trouble. She wouldn't hesitate to spread vulgar gossip about me bringing men into the room.

Ethan turned his head towards the balcony. He quickly headed there and hid behind the curtains.

"Swana, I'm coming in," said someone who turned out to be Natasha, my stepmother.

She looked at me angrily. It must be because of what I said to Ludwig this afternoon.

"What rude behavior is this mother? Was the daughter of a Baron never taught to show up at the right time?"

She always took offense if I reminded her that she was only a baron's daughter and became my father's wife.

"Stop your sarcasm Swana. I am now the Earl's mistress. So I'm not a baron's daughter anymore." Apparently, my stepmother wanted to argue.

"But my uncle, the current emperor doesn't recognize it. Your marriage hasn't even been approved yet," I said innocently.

Suddenly my stepmother approached and gave me a threatening look. "I'm not here to argue, I'm just reminding you not to make trouble for Ludwig," she said hatefully.

"Making trouble like what? Is it like telling dad that he's wasting money on gambling?"

Natasha's face paled. She was at a loss for words when I said what a stupid thing her son had done.

"He's your brother after all. Why do you hate him!" Natasha shouted.

"I forgot that my brother's mother was the one who poisoned my mother until she died," I said sarcastically.

Natasha's mouth dropped open. She must not have thought I knew what she did.

"What do you mean! That's slander. I didn't do that cruel thing," she denied.

"Yes, not you but your father. With you behind his actions. "

"You really are a crazy girl. I'll tell Killian that you don't deserve him. Rest assured I will not hesitate to do so if you give Ludwig any more trouble," she threatened.

I smiled, it was fun to watch this woman keep saying stupid things.

"Let's see who loses," I challenged.

She was so angry that she turned around quickly. I thought she was going to leave the room. But his movements stopped and he looked toward the balcony of my room.

'Why is she looking that way?' I asked myself. Feeling uneasy as Natasha headed to the balcony of my room. She seemed to be investigating something.

'Did she see Ethan there?' Question after question began to come to me. My hands were sweaty from my stepmother's actions. If she opened the curtains, Ethan would be caught.

"What other strange actions are you going to do Mom?" I asked to distract my stepmother.

Natasha's hand reached for the curtain covering the balcony. My breath seemed to stop as she did so.

Fortunately, the balcony was empty. Ethan who was supposed to be there disappeared.

"It's okay Swana. I saw something wrong. I thought there was an intruder," he replied haughtily.

"The intruder is on the second floor, he must have wings to get up to my balcony," I said.

Natasha didn't seem to want to respond to me. She stepped off the balcony and was about to check under the balcony. Again, I felt the tension caused by her actions.

But a noise on the first floor distracted Natasha and me. I walked out into the court yard to see what was going on. Natasha also followed my lead.

"What's wrong father? Why are the knights gathered in front?" I asked. Even the foolish Ludwig was in front of the knights. He looked the weakest among the brave and muscular knights. The funny thing was that his face looked scared. How embarrassing.

"The magic tower was attacked. That means someone is challenging the Sinclair kingdom," my father said.

Yes, the magic tower has always been the biggest ally of the Sinclair kingdom. Attacking the magic tower means challenging our kingdom.

But who would be so foolish as to attack a magic tower? What was the person who attacked the magic tower thinking?

"So?"

"His Majesty asked all nobles to mobilize knights to monitor the kingdom's territory in anticipation of another kingdom's attack," my father answered.

While we were talking seriously, Natasha burst into tears at the sight of Ludwig among the knights. She grabbed my father and whined for him not to join the army.

"No, don't let Ludwig go, darling. He'll get hurt!" Natasha whined.

I don't know what my father felt. Even I who saw it felt embarrassed.

Father really took the wrong wife. Now he must accept the consequences.

"Where is Natasha's maid? Quickly bring your mistress to the room!" An angry father shouted.

"No, dear. Don't do that!"

I rubbed my head because I was dizzy with the gossip that would circulate among the nobles later. My stepmother's shameful behavior would definitely be the talk of the town.

My father angrily ordered the knights on horseback to follow him. And I watched them leave in an orderly line. After they all disappeared from my sight, I accidentally saw Ethan. He was grinning at the knights who disappeared from sight. Again I felt that Ethan's attitude was really unusual. He didn't seem like just any slave.  

'I have to find out who Ethan really is,' I said to myself.

Tbc