“If there is anything you require, please let us know.”
As Talia inspected the room with a critical eye, the lord standing by the door addressed her. Varkas, who had removed his coat and hung it beside the fireplace, made a request in his usual indifferent tone.
“I would appreciate some water for washing and some heated wine.”
“I shall have it brought immediately.”
Once the man withdrew, Talia collapsed into a chair lined with velvet cushions.
She was utterly exhausted after touring towns and villages since early morning. Pretending to straighten the damp hem of her skirt, she discreetly rubbed her aching knees.
Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Varkas spoke quietly.
“I shall summon a healer. It would be best if you rested for the remainder of the day.”
Talia frowned.
“And what about you?”
“I intend to meet with the lord. It may take some time, so please retire first.”
“When have you ever done otherwise?”
Talia snapped rather sharply.
They had been sharing the same room for several days now, but she had never once seen him lie down.
Varkas always worked until dawn, and sometimes spent entire nights in discussions with local lords.
The point had come where all the tension she felt whenever they entered the same room seemed ridiculous.
After glaring at him with tightly sealed lips, Talia threw herself onto the bed.
“I'll rest on my own, so mind your own business.”
Varkas quietly watched her for a moment before letting out a small sigh and leaving.
Not long afterward, servants arrived carrying trays laden with wine and fruit, along with a wooden bathtub filled with steaming water.
Talia called for her nurse and washed lightly before eating several pieces of fruit preserved in honey with her wine.
She was about to ask the healer to burn sleep herbs when loud laughter echoed outside the door.
Apparently, the knights had begun drinking.
Wearing a bored expression, Talia suddenly stiffened.
Among the boisterous noise was the high-pitched laughter of women.
She urgently shook the nurse awake from her dozing beside the fireplace.
“Nurse, does this lord happen to have daughters?”
“How should I know that?”
The nurse replied, looking somewhat dumbfounded.
Talia snapped irritably.
“I'm asking if you heard anything on the way here!”
“I don't know either. We were called here immediately after arriving.”
The nurse let out a heavy sigh.
“More importantly, may I return to my room now? I need some rest myself.”
Talia was about to send her downstairs but bit her lip.
Seeing the exhaustion written across the woman's face made the tiny scrap of conscience she possessed sting.
The nurse was already tired from the unfamiliar journey, and she had also had to assist with Talia's bath.
Slowly, Talia nodded.
“Fine. You may go.”
The nurse immediately left.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Talia peeked into the corridor.
As the noise from outside became clearer, anxiety churned in her stomach.
She knew perfectly well that Varkas would never do anything improper.
Even so.
Biting her lips uneasily, Talia finally put on her coat and stepped outside.
Descending the stairs after passing through corridors flickering with firelight, she saw groups of men and women laughing and flirting together.
Narrowing her eyes, she looked over the men's faces.
They all seemed familiar.
They were the mounted warriors of House Siorcan.
One of them was pulling a young maid around the waist and whispering into her ear with his lips pressed close. The maid giggled with flushed cheeks.