Page 29 of A Kingdom so Crimson

"Levon, if you insist on lecturing me about proper conduct, may I remind you that we're sharing a room?" I remarked, gesturing towards the cramped space, clenching my jaw in frustration. Calum would be livid if he found out about this arrangement.

"Would you prefer to sleep in the carriage, my lady?" he retorted, his tone tinged with annoyance.

"What about—" I started, searching for an excuse. "What if I need to relieve myself during the night?" I trailed off, a pang of realization hitting me at how entitled I must sound.

He gestured down the hall and briskly entered the room, depositing my trunk on one bed and his on the other. Then, he stepped back out into the hall where his footman waited.

I closed the door with a resounding thud. How was I supposed to navigate this with him? I suppressed a groan, recalling Darius' advice to control my anger.

Fine. This was to be a new experience, a new…I hesitated, uncertain of what lay ahead besides potential disaster. Squashing the thought before it could spiral further, I made my way over to the bed.

Sinking onto the thin mattress, it groaned under my weight as I unraveled my braid. With a sigh, I slipped off my boots and kicked them underneath the bed. Stretching out my legs and arms, I massaged my tight neck and shoulders, still bearing the bruises from the evaluation.

As I stood up to move my trunk to the floor, the door swung open once more, revealing the two footmen with more of our belongings in tow. They piled the cases high into the corner before scurrying off as if afraid of my presence.

"Hungry?" Levon reentered the room, balancing two bowls of steamy stew, accompanied with a hearty roll.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, my stomach protesting loudly at the delicious aroma emanating from the food. Levon handed me one bowl before settling on the bed opposite me, the old mattress creaking with each movement.

"Why do your footmen seem to be afraid of me?" I inquired, sinking back onto the bed and sampling the stew. Surprisingly flavorful and spicy despite its less-than-appetizing appearance.

"You're the charming and quite attractive lady they've heard about for months," he said, taking a bite.

I sat there, a mixture of confusion and frustration evident on my face. "What do you mean?" I pressed. Levon remained silent, opting instead to shovel stew into his mouth while stealing nervous glances in my direction. "Levon," I demanded.

He finished his meal and set the bowl down on the small table between the beds. "Jesri is quite the storyteller," he remarked, reclining on the bed with his feet dangling off the edge.

If I could only strangle Jesri right now, I would. His mastery lay not in truth but in weaving webs of deceit, and I could only imagine the elaborate tales he had spun for Levon.

"I'd wager he painted me as the epitome of desirability, destined for greatness, yet claimed my life in Fernwen was much too mundane for someone of mytalents," I began, my voice thick with bitterness. "He likely bribed you to whisk me away, to toughen me up for whatever this Match may be, and parade me before the king like a prized possession—all so Jesri could revel in the glory and earn respect within the Royal household." I paused, taking another bite of my meal.

Levon propped himself up on his arm, his gaze piercing as he studied me intently. He parted his lips to speak, but I interjected before he could utter a word.

"Hm? Was that not correct?" I challenged. "Perhaps he paid you handsomely to whisk me away and parade me before the King's Court, all so he could swoop in as the heroic rescuer ofhis damsel in distress? Hoping that by showcasing his efforts, he would earn admiration from those around him, who would then urge him to stay, forge alliances, or resort to whatever means necessary to paint himself as the hero!"

Levon shook his head, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You certainly have a vivid imagination, my lady." Levon's emerald gaze bore into mine, unwavering and steady. "Don't let yourself get upset over crushed flowers, Eliah," he advised, his voice calm but firm. "Your emotions are written all over your face, in your body language. Don't let it show."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance, utterly defeated. This anger, an unwelcome intruder, seemed to hold me in its grasp with unrelenting force.

"Then whatdidJesri tell you, Levon?" I inquired, my words dripping with sarcasm.

"He simply claimed he had a beautiful young lady in need of a better life," Levon replied calmly, his demeanor unruffled despite the storm brewing within me.

I clenched my jaw, fighting back the urge to hurl my bowl across the room, channeling all my frustration into maintaining control, remembering Darius's words to trust him.

A better life?!If he truly wished for me to have abetter life, then why subject me to such cruelty for as long as I have been breathing? I scoffed bitterly, realizing, once again, it was all just a façade.

"I don't believe you. Why else would Jesri allow you to take away his prized possession unless he also stood to gain something? You two had an arrangement, and I'm merely the pawn in your little game," I retorted, rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth, struggling to contain my anger.

Levon's demeanor softened, a hint of sympathy creeping into his expression. "He could be rash at times—" he paused, holding up a hand as I laughed bitterly.

"Hewasexceedingly cruel to you, Eliah. And while it's true that we have an arrangement, I assure you that you will be looked after in my care. I did not enjoy watching you suffer. Not even aprized possessionmerits such harsh treatment. You have my word, Eliah. You will be cared for, and you will succeed."

His words extinguished the flames of anger burning within me. I sat there, rendered speechless, simply staring at him before nodding in gratitude and silently finishing my stew. I yearned for a better life—one where I could shed the label of an orphan and thrive with strength and resilience.

He broke the silence. "So, you've never ventured beyond Fernwen?"

"No," I admitted, pausing briefly. "I've been to town on special occasions, but I was never allowed to venture beyond Fernwen." Except for that one time when Jesri permitted Calum and me to ride to the Western Sea Port for important business matters in his carriage. I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory, recalling how I ended up getting sick and decorating the carriage with the contents of my stomach. Jesri was furious, and he never allowed me to ride in his carriage again after that incident.

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