Chapter 51 Lingering Questions
The dimly lit corridors of the manor echoed with Valen’s steady footsteps. Days had passed since his last talk with Lucian, and though he tried to focus on his duties, Ella had been on his mind constantly. She had been avoiding him, and he couldn’t blame her. He hadn’t been forthcoming with answers, and now her frustration hung heavily between them.
The affairs of the clan had kept him busy. The destruction of the Southern Clan had put all the other lords on edge, with alliances wavering and tensions high. Every small decision seemed to demand his attention, and the council meetings were endless. Now, finally, he had a moment of peace. A brief respite. He decided it was time to speak to Ella.
Valen knocked gently on Ella’s door. After a moment of hesitation, she opened it. Her expression was guarded, her eyes searching his face for something.
“Valen,” she said, her voice cool but polite. “What brings you here?”
“We need to talk,” he replied. “May I come in?”
Ella hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. Valen entered the room, his eyes scanning her space. It was simple but cozy, with soft lighting and a faint scent of lavender.
“What do you want to talk about?” Ella asked, folding her arms and leaning against the wall.
Valen took a deep breath. “I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. I’ve kept things from you, but it wasn’t out of malice. I—”
“Then why?” Ella interrupted, her voice rising slightly. “Why bring me here in the first place Valen? I want the truth. What am I to you, Valen? A pawn? An obligation? Or something else entirely?”
Her words struck him like a blow. Valen stepped closer, his gaze softening. “Ella, it’s not like that—”
“Then what is it like?” she pressed. Her frustration was spilling out now, her voice trembling. “You have never answered my question on why you brought me here in the first place. You hate healers, don’t you? For fuck sake answer me Valen. Why keep me here? I deserve to know the truth.”
Valen’s jaw tightened. He wanted to tell her everything, but how could he put into words the storm of emotions he barely understood himself? Before he could answer, there was a sharp knock at the door.
“Lord Valen,” Dorian’s voice called from the other side. “We have an emergency. You’re needed immediately.”
Valen closed his eyes briefly, frustration bubbling under his calm exterior. He turned back to Ella, who was watching him with wide, questioning eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “I have to go.”
Ella’s expression shifted. She saw the weariness in his features, the weight he carried every day. “Wait,” she said, stepping forward. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Valen hesitated. Her offer touched him more than he expected. But before he could respond, Dorian spoke again.
“Morgana is already at the scene,” Dorian added, his tone pointed.
Ella stiffened at the mention of Morgana’s name. She tried to mask her reaction, but Valen noticed.
“Don’t worry about it,” Valen said, his voice gentler now. “Stay here. I’ll handle it.”
With that, he turned and left, Dorian following closely behind. Ella stood in the doorway, watching them disappear down the hall. Her chest tightened.
She closed the door and leaned against it, her mind racing. Valen’s presence always stirred something in her—something she couldn’t quite name. But now, confusion and frustration overshadowed it. He hadn’t answered her questions, and the fact that Morgana was involved only added to her unease.
Ella moved to the window, looking out into the night. The moon cast its silvery glow over the manor grounds, but its beauty did little to calm her.
“Why won’t he just tell me?” she whispered to herself.
The memory of his tired eyes lingered in her mind. He looked so burdened, so exhausted. And yet, she couldn’t ignore the pang of jealousy she felt knowing Morgana was with him. She clenched her fists, her heart aching with questions she didn’t know how to answer.
Meanwhile, Valen and Dorian strode quickly through the halls, heading toward the scene of the emergency.
“Morgana’s presence was unnecessary,” Valen muttered, his frustration evident.
“She insisted,” Dorian replied. “You know how she is.”
Valen’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t have time for Morgana’s games, especially not with everything else weighing on him. His mind kept drifting back to Ella, to the way she looked at him before he left. He had wanted to stay, to explain everything, but duty always seemed to come first.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Valen asked suddenly, surprising even himself.
Dorian raised an eyebrow. “Ella? She’s stronger than she looks. But if I'm to be honest; If she doesn't get the answers she seeks, she might not stay around long enough for you to realize it.”
Valen didn’t respond, but Dorian’s words struck a chord.
Back in her room, Ella paced back and forth, her emotions swirling. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Valen was hiding something big—something that could change everything. And Morgana’s involvement only made it harder to trust him.
“Maybe I’m just overthinking it,” she muttered. But deep down, she knew there was more to the story, especially since everyone except Morgana was stirring away from answering her questions.
Ella sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor. For the first time since arriving at the manor, she felt truly alone. She had no answers, no direction, and no idea what Valen really wanted from her. Her chest tightened at the thought of him walking away yet again, leaving her in this limbo.
Ella leaned back, closing her eyes with a sigh. Maybe she was wrong to expect answers from him. Maybe she was wrong to hope he’d let her in.
Her fingers curled into the soft fabric of her dress. “He’s keeping me at arm’s length,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “And I don’t know if I can take it anymore.”
She wasn’t angry—at least not entirely. The confusion, the jealousy, the ache in her chest—it all felt too overwhelming. For the first time, Ella wasn’t sure if she wanted to fight to understand him or pull away to protect herself.
But one thing is for sure. She had had her own fair share of betrayal and mistrust; if Valen wouldn't open up to her, then she didn't belong here nor by his side.
But how does she leave this place without being detected?