170: Mood swings (part 2)

Mood swings (part 2)

Stepping into the middle house which had once belonged to Nicolas's family, Adela couldn't help but notice its striking resemblance to the house Egon had invited her to. Despite the cozy ambiance, her eyes lacked the warmth that should have reflected in such surroundings.0

It pained her.

Following Aldric, she took her place at the dining table, settling into the chair he had pulled out for her—positioned in the middle. To her right sat Aldric, while Egon claimed the seat on her left.

"Adela!" Aldric exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "This must be my lucky day!"

As her gaze fell upon the fish served on the table, Adela's stomach objected fiercly. However, her attention was quickly drawn back to the enthusiastic man by her side, and she managed a smile.

"After you," Aldric said, gesturing towards the food.

She picked up her knife and fork, but her empty wrist burned under the penetrating gaze of Egon. Swallowing without chewing, she attempted to divert her attention from the discomfort.

Meanwhile, Aldric eagerly began enjoying his meal, his enthusiasm bringing a renewed smile to Adela's face.

"What happened to your bracelet?" Egon's voice reached her ears, low and filled with an undertone that seemed to draw her into the depths of dark nothingness.

Adela kept her focus straight ahead, deliberately avoiding Egon's gaze. Her silence spoke volumes and served as a sufficient response to his query.

She looked at her plate, pretending to be engrossed in her food, while her mind raced with thoughts and emotions that she dared not reveal.

"She looks lovely with or without it," Aldric interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.

Adela blinked, her gaze still fixed on her plate, not daring to meet the eyes of either man.

"...You must have grown tired of the bracelet for you to take it off," Egon's voice slipped out in a dark murmur.

Aldric raised his glass, trying to shift the focus away from the uncomfortable topic. "Alright! Let's celebrate our new partnership and the upcoming industrial zone between Lanark and Latora."

Adela managed a forced smile, relieved that Aldric's attention had shifted. She took another bite of her food, but her appetite had vanished.

Egon's eyes remained fixed on her, his piercing gaze causing her discomfort. She could feel his unspoken questions hanging in the air, and it only added to the weight she already carried.

"Some people think that spur of the moment decisions are reckless and stupid," Aldric commented, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

Adela swallowed, the taste of the food now bland and unappetizing. "I believe in following one's inner voice, sometimes... Sometimes, you need to take that leap of faith," she replied, her voice lacking conviction.

"Endless contemplations and the arrogance of those who cannot afford to make mistakes are attributes I don't want associated with me as a ruler," Aldric stated, glancing at Adela with a lopsided smile. "But I'm monopolizing the conversation. Let's hear about you too."

Adela took a sip of her drink, her mind clouding. "...Egon is your exact opposite," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, surprising both men at the table. She turned her head slightly towards Egon, her eyes avoiding direct contact. "He's not one to talk about himself, except to those who are extremely close to him... His family," Adela clarified, her gaze flickering briefly towards Aldric before settling back on her plate. She took another sip of her drink, the liquid offering no moisture to the burn in her throat.

"...I'm not one to easily get close to people. It's just who I am," Egon finally spoke, his tone guarded.

Adela fluttered her eyes, feeling a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. The food on her plate seemed to blend together, its taste indistinguishable. She struggled to find her voice, her mind fogging further.

"It sounds like you need a long break from work or simply need to loosen up. You'll burn out prematurely if you continue like this," Aldric suggested to Egon, his gaze shifting between Adela and the man sitting across from him.

"It's as Adela said, you and I are very different. I just have a different approach to life," Egon replied, his eyes lingering on Adela, searching for something beneath the surface.

"Adela," Aldric called her attention, "It's your turn. We haven't left you much space to talk about yourself at all."

She wiped her mouth with her handkerchief and placed it next to her plate. Her expression grew distant, her voice tinged with weariness. "I can't think of anything, really," she shrugged. "I'm probably not the most interesting person at this table." Her gaze shifted towards the couch behind them, a longing for escape evident in her eyes. "Would it be too rude if I lay down for a moment?"

Aldric's face turned serious, concern etched on his features. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Her brows furrowed, "I might be coming down with something. I feel strange."

Aldric reached out, placing his hand gently on her forehead. Meanwhile, Adela caught a glimpse of Egon clenching and unclenching his jaw.

"You have a mild fever. Perhaps it's the effect I have on you... I can't be sure. You're the first Healer who spends this much time around me," Aldric commented, his voice laced with concern.

"I'll be fine if I lie down for a moment."

"We'll step outside," Egon interjected, his tone curt and controlled.

"...Will we?" Aldric's question hung in the air, the tension between the two men palpable.

"Yes," Egon replied firmly. "We'll leave her to rest."

As the two men departed from the house, leaving Adela in solitude, the suffocating burden of her unexpressed thoughts and emotions grew heavier. She mustered the strength to make her way to the couch, where she kicked off her shoes and gently touched the bracelet now takin place on her ankle, concealing it from Egon's inquisitive gaze.

Weary to her core, she stretched out and surrendered to an overwhelming exhaustion that consumed her. Her mind became a whirlpool of forbidden knowledge, thoughts that demanded careful organization but for which she lacked the energy.

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