As Varkas stepped onto the footboard, he slowly swept his narrowed eyes over her.
A faint crease appeared between his perfectly straight brows.
Before she could even understand why, he climbed into the carriage in a few long strides, picked up the cloak lying on the floor, and draped it over her shoulders. Then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out to lift her.
Startled, Talia violently shoved his shoulder.
“I can walk on my own!”
The effects of the medicine had worn off, and pain had begun to spread upward from her knee again, but walking for a short while should not have been a problem.
Throwing aside the troublesome cloak, she carefully lowered her feet, making sure her scars remained hidden.
At that moment, a firm hand caught her shoulder.
“You're planning to go out dressed like that?”
His gaze struck like a wedge.
Shrinking her shoulders, Talia lowered her eyes and looked over herself.
Apparently, the strings of her dress had come loose while she slept. Her thin shoulders and arms were completely exposed.
And that wasn't all.
The deep neckline had fallen low enough to reveal her cleavage.
Blushing furiously, Talia hurriedly pulled up the bodice of her dress.
Watching her unladylike state in silence, Varkas let out a quiet sigh and once more wrapped his coat around her shoulders.
This time, Talia did not refuse.
After fastening it all the way to her neck without leaving the slightest gap, he effortlessly picked her up and carried her outside.
It felt as though she had become some carefully wrapped doll.
No.
Not something that adorable.
He was merely showing pity to a cripple who could barely walk.
Deliberately, Talia drove cruel words through her own heart.
It seemed as though punching a hole in it herself would hurt less later than allowing him to take even the smallest piece of it.
“Sir, what should we do with the messenger from the East?”
Just as he reached the threshold, one of the men standing near the entrance spoke.
Through the cloak, Talia stole a glance at his face.
The man, with the build of a bear and the piercing eyes of an eagle, was also sneaking looks at her.
“Do I have to give instructions for every little thing?”
Varkas coldly replied while pulling the cloak over her head.
“Prepare lodging somewhere suitable and assign someone to attend him. I'll see him tomorrow, once it's light.”
Without waiting for an answer, he strode into the building.
As he crossed the spacious hall and climbed the stairs, Talia pieced together the fragments of information she had gathered.
Many people seemed worried that this marriage would damage the relationship between the Crown Prince and House Siorcan.
While Senevier busied herself preparing the wedding, Varkas had likely spent the entire time dealing with the aftermath.
He had probably soothed Gareth, who was furious over the betrayal, and explained to Marquis Oristein and the conservative nobles that he had not turned his back on them.
Even so, people still seemed unable to accept that the bride had suddenly changed.
And that was only /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ natural.
Even she still suspected this situation might be someone's malicious joke.
“I'll summon someone to attend you.”
Varkas, who had entered the room before she realized it, lowered her onto a long velvet chair.
Talia looked around the cozy bedroom before turning her eyes back to him.
Undoing the buttons of his ceremonial clothes with one hand, Varkas pulled the cord hanging beside the bed to summon a servant.
Seeing that, her insides tightened.
She cried out sharply.
“I don't need anyone attending me!”
Turning around, Varkas frowned.
Avoiding his gaze, Talia lowered her eyes.
“Bring my nanny.”
“It's late. I'll bring her here at first light tomorrow. Please endure just one night.”