86: Cruel Brat

Cruel Brat

Oriana looked at the large man glaring down at her. It was Rafal who she bumped into. He had just stepped out of the doorway when Oriana happened to bump her face against his hard chest.0

"You broke my nose, Young Master," she mumbled, covering her nose with her hands. 

"Whose fault is it to not look ahead?" he replied grumpily.

"Apologies, Young Master. I was negligent." She bowed to him, but seeing the redness on her nose, Rafal's stern expression softened. 

"Let me see. There is no blood, right—"

A voice interrupted him. "Don't you have urgent work to do, Rafal?" 

Rafal's body stiffened and he stepped away from Oriana. 

Arlan walked towards them the moment he heard Oriana's whining in pain.

"I will be on my way, my Lord." Rafal looked at Oriana. "Find Smith to get you ice." He then walked ahead. 

Oriana glared at Arlan who didn't show a tinge of sympathy towards her and ran inside the first guest mansion. "Cruel brat."

Though she said it after going inside the residence, Arlan still heard it. 'I am cruel now? Can't she just look ahead while walking. Careless idiot.'

Since there was no bleeding, Oriana soon forgot about her swollen nose and started packing her stuff which took her hardly five minutes to do. When she came out, Arlan was no longer in the garden and she straightaway went to the bedchamber belonging to Arlan. 

One manservant approached her as she was about to enter the chamber. "Orian, this medicinal patch is for your nose."

"Who sent it?" 

"Miss Janella."

'Of course it must be her as she is kind unlike that brat.' She accepted the patch and thanked the servant. "Uhm, wait, can I ask a question? I was asked to sleep in the side chamber of this room. The side chamber only has a bed. Is there a separate washroom on this floor I can use?"

"You can go to the servant quarters downstairs and use the communal washrooms we use."

Oriana entered Arlan's bedchamber then walked towards one of the five doors connected to it. Her new sleeping arrangement was a small room with a bed for a single person's use, a small wooden cupboard and dresser. There was a single glass window overlooking the front yard. Though considered 'small' among the other rooms in the mansion, it was still bigger than her own room back in the village. 

She opened the window, allowing a cool breeze to enter. 'This room is fine, but sharing space with that brat is troublesome. What if he pulls another perverted act? I can't even step out of here as the only door to leave passes through his bedchamber. I might break my bones if I jump down the window.' 

She could only sigh.

'It was better when I was a servant of that Third Young Master. At least, I had privacy, but here, if I  breathe too loud, he might hear me.'

She put her stuff down, and the first thing she did was not to unpack but to check if the door had a lock. Seeing that small metal bolt, she sighed in relief. 'Thank the spirits, at least I can lock the door when I sleep in the night.'

She got that herbal patch and stood in front of the mirror to apply it to her slightly swollen nose. It was not that bad and it would have gone away in a few hours on its own. Only then did Oriana remember Butler Smith mentioning how servants must look after their appearances for the sake of their master's dignity. 

'But how did Miss Janella learn that I was hurt? I didn't see her around. Maybe some servant told her.'

Just then, she heard the sound of a door opening and went out of her sleeping quarters. Her master had returned to his chamber. 

Arlan  looked at her. "I am heading out. Prepare casual clothes for me."

Oriana didn't ask any question and quietly went to the wardrobe room. Arlan followed her. He looked at the small frame which was worrying over which set of clothes to get. She looked utterly confused as till now she never had to personally select clothes for a noble. 

Casual? For her, all the clothes on the rack were expensive and luxurious. A commoner whose only clothes were drab black garments obviously had no inkling for high society fashion.

"That black coat and vest to your left would be fine over what I am wearing," she heard Arlan say. With a relieved sigh, she immediately pulled out a matching set of black tailcoat and double-breasted vest. 

Arlan stood in front of the mirror and she first helped him put on the vest and then the tailcoat. While she began to button him up, Arlan quietly enjoyed their closeness. In that packed room, the scent of lavender and honeysuckles intertwined, both calming and heady, which suddenly gave him an urge to stay in place and not leave.

His gaze lowered towards her face who was busy doing her work, not knowing how her scent was affecting him. He could not deny she was beautiful. Even dressing as a boy could not hide her beauty. 'I wonder how she survived in this world while looking like this. Must have fought her way out.'

"I will return late in the night," he informed her. 

She moved her gaze up upon hearing him speak all of a sudden, but realizing her mistake, she lowered her gaze. "Yes, my Lord."

"Do not stay awake to wait for me. Go to sleep early."

'Huh? Why does he sound like he cares about my wellbeing when he clearly doesn't?' she simply replied, "I dare not my Lord."

"Are you planning to go against my words?" His voice turned a little colder.

"I dare not. I apologize. I will follow as the Lord says." 

Arlan then chose his own cravat, his cufflinks, lapel pins and other ornaments for noblemen that left Oriana dizzy with confusion. She had always had the impression that only ladies had to wear jewelry and decorations on their clothes. It appeared that though less obvious, the men were no different. 

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