Page 70 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

R ose faced the brass floor-length mirror, examining her reflection.

Her olive skin glowed from the moisturizing body oil she’d put on.

She could finally let her long, thick hair flow freely now they were away from court, its soft, natural waves reaching down to her chest, resting against the dark-purple dress she had selected from Harriet’s closet.

It was almost a perfect fit, except a tad short, the hem sitting a few inches off the floor.

Although her mother would disapprove, it didn’t bother Rose.

Despite the darkness that blanketed the manor, wall sconces and candelabras lit her path perfectly while she admired the paintings hung along the walls.

The antique furniture was neatly arranged on the soft rugs alongside the crafted moldings.

Fresh flowers filled the clear vase resting on one of the side tables, making her wonder whether Gretta had just arranged them for their arrival or if she regularly kept them filled regardless of having guests.

She’d just reached the hall leading to the dining room when voices began to carry. She recognized them as Roman and Gretta.

As she was about to step inside, she heard her name.

She halted at the crack of the double door, leaning her ear closer.

“I still can’t believe I’ve finally met her after all this time. I used to wonder what all the fuss was about. But now I’ve met her, I think I’m beginning to understand…” Gretta’s voice faded. “Why’d you bring her here?”

“The past few weeks have been hard for her… and a lot of it has been my fault,” Roman said.

“She does seem to have a weight on her shoulders,” Gretta said. “And for good reason, poor thing. I can only imagine how she must be feeling after all she went through… But she seems like a sweet lass. And my goodness—she is a pretty thing, isn’t she?”

Rose unconsciously leaned her ear closer to the door.

“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Roman said, unintentionally making her heart soar.

“I knew it from the first time I saw her when we were children.” He paused, his voice growing more tender.

“She’s also kind and gentle, yet unexpectedly strong, and her mind is just as intricate…

Her quick wit and love of books is the only reason I’m alive. ”

Her heart exploded with pride as she peered down at her feet.

“Well, that fact alone puts her in my good books,” Gretta said. “If she loves reading, you must show her the library! It’s quite an impressive collection, even compared to the castle’s.”

“I plan to,” Roman replied.

Footsteps echoed behind her down the hall.

She quickly smoothed her hair before entering the dining room, opening the door loudly to make her presence known.

She stepped into a cozy, rectangular room with a dark-beamed wooden ceiling that hung lower than the main hall, with an iron chandelier dangling above the center of the wooden table.

Four large windows lined the far wall with torches hung between them, providing a clear view of the lake.

At the head of the table sat a grand stone fireplace that was already roaring, adding warmth to the chilly mountain air. She immediately took a liking to it.

“Hello,” she greeted, pretending not to have heard a word. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“Oh, nonsense! Come in, come in, we were just talking about you,” Gretta said with a gracious smile, standing up from the table. “Roman was telling me you love to read. We have a beautiful library here. You’re eating now, of course, but I’ve made Roman promise to show it to you soon.”

Rose’s gaze settled on Roman, seated at the head of the table closest to the fireplace, facing the flames. But as she entered, he quickly stood, his eyes roving over her from top to bottom, lingering on her free-flowing hair.

Just then, a young maid with short, dirty-blonde hair came in, her head down and concentrating on the soup tray in her hands. She bowed to both of them, daring to look up, and as her eyes landed on Roman, they locked. Her short frame froze.

Rose pressed her lips together to keep from smiling, taking the seat next to Roman, the girl’s attraction all too obvious.

Gretta rolled her eyes, irritated at the girl’s sudden stop. “Roman, Rose, this is Hazel,” Gretta introduced with a small nod. “She’s our new maid.”

Hazel bowed again. Her brown eyes finally flickered to Rose. She looked at her, then back to Roman, then back to her again, casting a look of suspicion.

“Well, put the tray down before the soup gets cold!” Gretta scolded, motioning to the table.

Hazel jumped out of her skin, almost spilling the soup as she carefully lowered the tray, setting a bowl in front of Rose and then Roman.

“Thank you, Hazel, it looks wonderful,” Roman said.

Hazel’s eyes brightened. She slowly brushed the flour off her apron, staring at him as he picked up his spoon.

Another pause came over the conversation as Hazel’s stare lingered on him too long.

Gretta sighed loudly. “Thank you, Hazel. That’ll be all.”

Hazel jumped, snapping out of her trance. “Of course.” With a small bow, she fled the room.

“Don’t mind her. She’ll get the hang of things,” Gretta said, waving her off. “Right, well, if you need anything else, just ring the bell.”

The creamy orange soup was made up of a medley of vegetables.

It melted into her mouth as soon as the hot liquid touched her lips, warming her from within.

The pair shared a quiet meal, with only the sounds of clinking spoons and a crackling fire to break the stillness.

It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence; she’d just grown so accustomed to the volume of the grand hall that she’d almost forgotten how peaceful it was to eat outside of it.

After dinner, Roman gestured to the patio. “Would you care for a walk?”

Rose nodded, taking one last spoonful before wiping her mouth and setting down her napkin, eager to see the lake up close.

Roman opened the adjacent door for her, allowing the cool, crisp air to brush her skin as she stepped onto the patio. She shivered as her flats tapped across the smooth stone, stepping down the shallow set of stairs to the lower level.

The lake reflected the sparkling light of the moon and stars above, while gentle waves lapped against the rocky walls of the patio. She wandered to the stone balustrade at the edge, resting her arms on the cool, rough surface as she gazed out over the water.

Roman joined her, pointing towards the left side of the lake. “There’s a hot spring that streams warm water into the lake. We’d swim closer to it in the winter when it got cold, but in the summer, we’d avoid it. It’s perfect for night swims, if you like that sort of thing.”

For a split second, Rose had an impulse to get in the water. But as she peeked at the stony steps lowering into its depths, fear crept in, remembering her body swirling helplessly with the sea beast.

“You’re still afraid of the water?” he asked in a soft voice, not making it a question.

She wrapped her arms around herself in admission. “Ever since that day at the river, I haven’t been able to force myself into the water— willingly , that is.”

He paused for a long moment, nothing but the small waves filling the silence. “But… that was when we were children.”

Her gaze lowered as she shuffled her feet.

“So during the challenge…” His voice drifted off.

“I couldn’t swim. It was a miracle I didn’t drown.” The whole thing had been a miracle.

He looked out to the water, the wind blowing his hair into his eyes. “Would you get in if I did?”

Her eyes lifted to meet his bold ones. “What? Right now?”

“You have something better to do?” he asked, his lips tugging upward.

Fear grappled at her again, demanding she stay far away from the water, but another part of her told her she needed to learn, that it wasn’t safe for her not to know. It was a fear she desperately wanted to overcome. So she replied with a shaky, “Okay.”

Before she had a chance to reconsider, Roman removed his tunic, exposing his toned chest that caught her attention for far too long—she was no better than Hazel.

He slipped off his pants, remaining only in his undergarments.

He took a few bold steps down the staircase into the water before turning to look up at her expectantly.

She kicked off her shoes, removing her dress with one swoop, leaving her in her thin white slip. The night air grazed her bare skin, sending another shiver down her spine. She steeled herself and tiptoed to the top of the staircase, wrapping her arms around her body for warmth.

Her hesitant gaze lifted to meet his.

Roman’s eyes locked onto her with an expression she didn’t recognize, running themselves over her body, then back up to meet hers as his throat bobbed. He clenched his jaw, deliberate in his movements as he stretched out both hands.

She grasped his rough hands, letting him guide her into the water. She braced herself for the cold, and although it was cool, it wasn’t as frigid as she expected, the underground spring warming the entire lake.

The water was nearly at her hips when her body locked up. She took a deep breath, trying to force her legs to move, but they refused to respond to her demands.

His hand tugged hers gently, urging her to continue.

She glared at him. “You brought me out here to kill me, didn’t you?”

The question caught Roman so off guard that a harsh laugh escaped his lips.

It was a breathtaking sound—one that made her heart pound as loud as a drum.

“There was a fleeting moment when I thought it could be to my advantage,” he said, mimicking her words.

He continued to drag her down the stairs, adding, “I won’t let anything happen to you… I promise.”

His calm, warm voice put her fears at ease. She held her breath and forced herself into the water.

Without hesitating, he pulled her into him. Her arms and legs wrapped around him in a deadlock as her shaking body clung to him.