The carriage abruptly stopped, jolting Renzille and Kreios from their thoughts.
Renzille instinctively looked out the window, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of their surroundings, her gaze falling upon the estate belonging to the Thillion family.
Renzille's shoulders slumped slightly as she let out a weary sigh, turning her gaze toward Kreios.
"When we enter the mansion." She started, her tone leaving no room for debate. "I want you to remain close to me. Trust nobody in that place except for me and yourself. Especially not my father, Count Thillion. Understood?"
Kreios nodded, his adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.
"I understand." He answered softly, his voice steady despite the look of anxiety in his eyes. "Trust is to be solely placed in you— no one else in the manor is to be trusted."
Renzille stared at him, her gaze glued to him with an unreadable glint in her eyes, causing him to continue assuring her.
"I completely understand the gravity of your warning." Kreios quickly added, only for his eyes to widen in surprise when Renzille suddenly took hold of his cheeks, his body instinctively tensing at the unexpected contact.
However, her soft smile, though small, held a certain sincerity in it that caught his attention.
"I know it's hard to believe what I said, but.. I can promise you one thing, and that is me not letting anyone lay a finger on you without consequence." Renzille stated, her words ringing in his ears.
Kreios couldn't help, but feel both uncertainty and hope, the touch of her hands on his cheeks, firm but gentle, grounding him in the moment.
"I want to believe you." He murmured, his voice shaking. "So I will."
Renzille's eyes met Kreios', her gaze steady and unwavering, searching his expression for any hint of doubt, but there was no sign of mistrust in his eyes, nor uncertainty.
In that moment, Renzille's gaze softened slightly, a flicker of understanding passing through her eyes.
She continued to hold his cheeks, as if silently communicating her own determination through that simple touch, then she nodded in acknowledgement, her fingers reluctantly releasing their hold on Kreios' cheeks.
Just as she turned away from him, the carriage door was opened wide by the coachman, signaling their arrival at the Thillion mansion.
Renzille inhaled deeply, steeling herself and with a final glance at Kreios, reassuring him through her calm and composed expression, she swiftly stepped out of the carriage.
She left inside the carriage and let him be with his thoughts for a moment, that was when the beastman finally comprehended what happened.
Kreios' heart thundered in his chest, the warmth of Renzille's touch still lingering on his cheeks, fogging his thoughts— a dazed surprise washed over him, making his surroundings momentarily hazy and out of focus.
Kreios found himself reflecting on his impressions of Renzille.
Was the naive and forsaken child of House Thillion always so captivating? His thoughts swirled, blending confusion with a sliver of admiration.
After a minute, Renzille turned her gaze back towards the carriage and became slightly confused when she realized that Kreios still remained seated.
Raising an eyebrow, she called out to him gently, her voice laced with slight concern. "Kreios? Are you feeling nervous?"
Kreios quickly snapped out of his haze, his eyes meeting Renzille's as he hastily shook his head.
"No, no, I'm fine." He assured, his voice tinged with embarrassment as he offered an excuse and apology to conceal his flustered state. "I was just lost in thought for a moment.. I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Renzille's gaze softened, relief washing over her upon hearing Kreios' reassurance.
She smiled slightly, appreciative of his quick recovery, but her eyebrows quickly furrowed in worry. "Good, but hurry now. We must avoid my father's gaze at all costs. Let's go quickly and try to be as discreet as possible."
Kreios nodded and in his haste to get out of the carriage, he ended up stumbling, losing his footing and hurtling forward.
However, before he could hit the ground, Renzille swiftly lunged forward, extending her arm and catching him mid-fall— the unexpected movement caught Kreios off guard.
The situation left him stunned as embarrassment and gratitude flickered across his face, but Renzille's expression remained focused and vigilant as she avoided looking directly at Kreios, her eyes scanning their surroundings cautiously.
"Please accept my apologies." She muttered softly, making Kreios frown in confusion. "But we really have to hurry."
With a firm grip on his wrist, she led him along at a brisk pace, her voice conveyed both urgency and concern as she apologized for the crude manner in which she grabbed his wrist before practically pulling him toward the mansion with reckless abandon.
Kreios couldn't help, but let out a gasp at the unexpected pace she set on them, his footing was uncertain, resulting in his steps stumbling as she hauled him forward.
Fortunately, Renzille was mindful of his occasional stumbles and would stop momentarily, giving him a chance to regain his bearings, but she would quickly resume her brisk pace, her grip on his wrist firm and unwavering, propelling him forward.
Renzille guided Kreios through the entrance of the residence, her grip shifting seamlessly from his wrist to his hand, her grip lightening slightly to a gentler hold.
Renzille's fingers wrapped around his hand, their touch careful yet firm enough to keep dragging him and the moment their hands intertwined, Kreios felt a slight warmth in his chest, the contact itself feeling like a silent promise of protection.
He wordlessly followed Renzille's lead, allowing her to lead him forth into the spacious corridors of the Thillion estate.
This place is huge. Kreios mused in his mind, his gaze roaming the space of the mansion, his breath catching slightly as he took in the luxurious surroundings.
The halls were adorned with decorations and artworks that are clearly expensive, maybe even costing an entire fortune of a commoner, then the corridors themselves are lined with richly textured fabrics that have complicated designs.
Fancy decorations hung from the ceiling, reflecting the golden light that emanated from crystal chandeliers partnered with the scent of money lingering in the air.
The floor was covered with a plush red carpet that softened their footsteps— the sheer spaciousness of the estate becoming overwhelming to him, the sight of it all leaving him slightly awestruck.
He kept close to Renzille, his hand firmly in hers, his heart beating anxiously inside his chest.
After observing the sight of the mansion's interior with the best he could do— he took notice of the staff of the mansion, including the maids and butlers, who respectfully lowered their heads in acknowledgment of Renzille's presence.
However, his presence did not go unnoticed; the gazes of the mansion's staff lingered on him, filled with curiosity and judgment.
Kreios could feel their eyes on him, silently measuring and assessing him, and clearly, there was judgment and condescension in their glances, something that he tried to mentally prepare himself to.
As Kreios and Renzille continued their journey through the mansion, Kreios found himself unconsciously tightening his grip on her hand.
It will be fine.. Lady Thillion promised that she would not let anything happen to me.
Kreios' lips pressed together as he averted his gaze from the curious eyes of the staff, the obvious judgment in their eyes left a gnawing unease in him, but he chose to remain calm, focusing instead on simply keeping his eyes trained ahead.
Holding onto Renzille's hand became a small comfort, a reminder that he was not entirely on his own in this unfamiliar territory.
It will be fine. I have her.