This love is like a curse (28)
Thalia, awkwardly moving her fingers, suddenly squeezed out a sharp answer with difficulty:
- Yes... if you damage even one hair, I won’t leave it like that.
He didn't answer. But his movements seemed to become more careful. When his fingers touched her hair, as if caressing it, Thalia swallowed dryly.
Between the lapels of his shirt, his massive neck and gracefully protruding collarbones, like a bird’s wings, were visible. She clearly felt how his flexible but strong forearms moved in time with his actions, and his long legs in tight trousers, located right next to her hips, prevented her from remaining calm.
She lowered her head to hide her burning face.
- H...how long longer?
Can hair stuck in a button take so long to be freed? Or is it just that she's so tense that every second seems like an eternity? My palms were sweating.
She wiped her hands on the pile of clothes on the floor, then winced, noticing that even the inside of her wrists were red.
Is she really all red? How ridiculous she looks now! Raising her voice nervously, she said:
- That's enough! Just cut it!
Longboat, usually agile and fast, this time dug for an unbearably long time, then lowered one hand to his belt.
Seeing him take out a dagger, she tensed. When he moved his hand behind her back again, Thalia instinctively grabbed the hem of his robe.
- J-Just don’t cut off too much, my hair...
Before she finished speaking, there was a slight click and the slight tension at the roots disappeared.
My heart skipped a beat. What if he cut off a whole strand? In panic, she turned around sharply.
Luckily there was no hair on the floor. But there lay a sparkling golden button.
She picked it up and examined it carefully: the coat of arms of the Knights of Roem was engraved on the carefully polished surface.
Talia raised her head again and looked at him. Longboat had already stood up and was putting the dagger back in its sheath.
- How long are you going to sit? - he said dryly, straightening his disheveled clothes.
Thalia stood up embarrassed. It was somehow awkward. Clearing her throat, she handed him the button:
- Here, take it.
- No need. Throw it away,” Barkas said indifferently, glancing briefly out the window. The pre-sunset sky was already red there.
He looked around the trashed room again and exhaled tiredly:
- Can I leave?
Thalia nodded silently. He bowed his head slightly and walked out.
She stood for a little longer, listening to the retreating footsteps, and then rushed to the nightstand by the bed, took out a jewelry box and carefully hid his button in the farthest corner.
That night she couldn't sleep. A strange emotion ached in my chest. Unfamiliar feelings haunted me. She went over his words, movements, glances again and again.
What if... No, it can’t be. Although, suddenly...
My thoughts were confused, there was noise in my head. It felt like my brain was about to explode. And yet... for some reason I wanted to smile. She tossed and turned all night, filled with happiness.
But youthful dreams were not destined to last long. Just a few days later, news spread about the engagement of Barkas and Ayla.
It was like waking up from a sweet dream. Even worse - like falling from heaven straight to earth.
She immediately ran out of the palace and headed towards the training ground. Although he usually arrived at noon to accompany her as a guard, she could not wait.
Crossing the palace square, Thalia burst into the parade ground where the knights were training. She felt wary glances at her, but she had no time for that now.
Looking around, she frantically searched for ash-blond hair. But she soon realized that there were only recruits here - not official knights. This means he is most likely in the office.
She turned around and headed towards the military department located right next to the site. As expected, Barkas was there. But, it seems, not for the papers at all.
Thalia, who was already reaching for the doorknob, froze when she heard a subtle sob. Through the slightly open door she managed to see Barkas standing by the window with his back to the light, and a woman with her face buried in his chest and sobbing uncontrollably.
Thalia froze, as if she had been hit by an icy wave - something she could not even imagine.
The stranger raised her head and looked up at Longkas with a desperate plea in her eyes.
“You don’t love that woman, do you?”
The voice was so pitiful that it literally made you sick. It seemed as if the woman was begging, clutching at her last hope.
“You’re only marrying her for political reasons, right?” Please tell me it's true...
My throat tightened. The realization that there was someone who could talk to him like that was like a blow to the head.
Thalia peered into his face with concern. Finally, his tightly compressed lips parted.
“I don’t understand how my answer matters to you.”
His voice was so cold that a chill ran down your spine.
Talia shivered involuntarily. The longboat, looking at the woman with an expression as if she were just a lifeless wax doll, bowed his head slightly, as if in bewilderment.
— Whether it’s calculated or not, what does it change? I gave my word to take Her Highness, the first princess, as my wife, and I intend to keep this promise.
The woman’s fragile shoulders tensed noticeably. She probably felt her heart breaking in pain.
But the man didn’t stop there.
“I don’t know what you were hoping for, but from the very beginning I made it clear that I could not return your feelings.”
The girl's face turned white. But it seems he didn’t feel even a shadow of pity for her - he just sighed irritably and added:
“I hope there won’t be such awkward meetings in the future.” Now that the engagement is officially announced, I wouldn’t want any unnecessary scandals.
The girl recoiled and sank to the floor, like a doll whose threads had suddenly been cut off. An expression of annoyance flashed across Barkas's face for a moment.
His impassive face, devoid of any hint of sympathy, made Thalia shiver. This expression, this look... everything about him was frighteningly familiar.
Thalia hurriedly left the place.
If she had come a little earlier, perhaps she would be crying on the floor now, and not that woman.
The very thought of it filled her with horror. If Barkas had looked at her with that look, if she had had to beg him for love, she would probably have died right on the spot. No - undoubtedly she would have died.
That's why Talia was truly afraid of him. He could kill her with just a few words - and that scared her to the core.
Since then, her behavior towards Barkas has become even more wary. He was no longer an object of love for her, but almost an enemy, a mortal adversary. If she cannot completely suppress her feelings, only one thing awaits her - a life of endless torment.