CHAPTER 43: WHO ARE YOU?

Lumina reached her chambers with an exhausted sigh, her shoulders drooping from the stress of the day. But her breath caught halfway as she paused just past the threshold, her brows tightening in confusion at the amount of noise going on in the chambers.

"Stella... are you sure this is our chamber?" she asked softly.

Stella, standing beside her, also blinked in astonishment. Guards stood at every corner and maids buzzed around, and the sound of scrubbing and sweeping echoed from within the room.

"We are in the right place, my lady," she said, though her tone held anger.

"It seems... someone’s cleaning," she answered leaving Lumina in more confusion.

Lumina’s head tilted slightly, her senses picking up more than just the obvious. It was too noisy and unfamiliar.

"My lady!" a familiar voice called, and Lumina turned just as Ero came rushing toward her. At once, the maids stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

"Ero," Lumina said, brows still drawn. "Why do we have guests in my chambers?"

Ero smiled, dipping his head. "They are not guests, my lady. My lord brought them here to assist with the upkeep. He said you deserve comfort, and they were chosen personally."

Lumina scoffed lightly. "Can they reduce the noise, please... I dislike my evenings getting noisy." Ero nodded and turned to them.

"You heard the Lady... make more noises or disrupt the evening than you are out." They all bowed and Lumina snickered at this

"Is Ashen back then?"

"Not yet," Ero admitted.

"We will talk about this later," she murmured, walking forward while the servants parted and bowed. "You may proceed with your duties."

She made her way deeper into her private chambers and let herself collapse onto the cushioned seat.

But the moment she tried to relax, the thoughts she had worked so hard to suppress earlier returned thoughts which had nearly gotten her in trouble.

That kiss, that maddening, confusing kiss. She hadn’t been able to focus during the entire class.

She was lost in thought when a rich scent wafted into the room. Her head lifted as she sniffed the air. It smelled like roasted meat, honeyed bread, and something herbal.

"Stella?" she called. The door creaked open, but it wasn’t Stella.

"You are back," Lumina said softly, the familiarity in his presence unmistakable.

Ashen’s smile deepened as he moved closer to her. There was something about her voice, the way she recognized him even before he spoke, that stirred something in his chest. Without a word, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Lumina’s eyes widened under her blindfold.

"Did you miss me?" he asked, his voice teasing but low.

"Mi–Miss... of course not," she stammered, cheeks warming. He only chuckled.

"How was your class today?"

She tilted her head toward him, surprised. No one had ever asked her that. Not her father’s. The urge to tell him everything surged within her, but she didn’t want to seem too eager. So she simply nodded.

Ashen reached for her wrist. "What are you...?" she began, but her voice faded as she felt something cool brush against her skin.

He fastened a golden bracelet around her wrist. It was delicate, elegant, and from the texture alone she could tell it shimmered in the light. Then he produced a beautiful hairpin, lifting her hair gently to place it.

She sat in silence, in awe. She had never received gifts like these before. Her father rarely had time for such gestures. She had no stepmother who cared. It had always been her and Stella, surviving.

"What are these?" she asked quietly, fighting the warmth rising in her chest.

"Gifts... For my beautiful lady," Ashen said, still adjusting the pin in her hair.

She turned toward him slightly, as if trying to see him through the darkness behind her lids. Her hands rose, hovering until he gently guided them to his face.

His breath caught as her fingers brushed over his cheek. No one had ever touched him like that before! Soft, curious, reverent.

He held still as she explored the contours of his face, her fingertips trembling slightly. He could tell she was trying to master the structure of his face.

"Do you care so much now?" she whispered.

But then her hand withdrew suddenly, and her expression darkened. Ashen noticed the shift instantly.

"What’s wrong?" She turned her face away.

He walked around to face her, trying to catch a glimpse of her hidden expression. Without thinking, he reached up and gently removed the silk blindfold.

She gasped and shut her eyes tightly. "Don’t do that again! I could enchant you without meaning to," she warned, trying to shield her face.

But he stopped her. "You are crying," he said, his voice barely audible.

Lumina froze as more tears spilled down her cheeks, and his heart twisted painfully at the sight. Without hesitation, he pulled her into an embrace.

"I miss my eyes," she whispered brokenly. Her arms wrapped around him, clutching his tunic. "I miss seeing... I used to see..."

His throat constricted at this, that one confession shattered him. She hadn’t always been blind. Someone did this to her, though he wanted to ask but not immediately.

"I promised I would find him soon," he said quietly.

She pulled back just enough to face him. "Then make it quick," she whispered.

Ashen gave a soft smile, brushing her hair aside and kissing her forehead once more. "I will. Trust me."

She smiled back and it was so pure, so radiant, that for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

But then, her smile faltered like she recalled something.

"Is there a problem, my lady?" he asked, frowning.

Lumina tilted her head slightly, brows furrowing. She lifted her hands again and touched his face. "You... weren’t enchanted," she murmured.

"What?"

"When people look into my eyes... they fall under my spell. But you didn’t." Ashen’s brows rose, confused. "What does that mean?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Who are you?"