CHAPTER 165: UNSETTLING STARE

The sun was beginning to set, and Viktor woke up feeling much better, it was almost as if the fever had completely cleared from his body. He took a warm bath and changed into something more appropriate. As he stood in front of the mirror to fix his hair, he noticed the colour had returned to his face. He was looking more like himself again.

A knock on the door pulled his attention away from the mirror. He was about to ask the person to come in when the door suddenly burst open and Charlotte walked in. Viktor sighed and shook his head.

Her eyes swept over him from head to toe. "You look much better now. How do you feel?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"I feel wonderful," Viktor replied with a smile.

"That’s great. Vanessa’s herbal tea really worked wonders." Charlotte returned his smile.

"So, you call her by her name now?" He arched a brow at her.

"I didn’t want to. She said she was fine with it said ’madam’ was too formal for her." Charlotte walked over to the mirror and gently nudged Viktor aside with her hip as she leaned forward to examine her reflection.

Viktor shook his head again. "Do you know where she is? I would like to thank her for the tea."

Charlotte adjusted her hair in the mirror, then said, "I had my hair styled differently. You didn’t say anything about it." She straightened, still standing in front of the mirror, waiting for his response.

"I didn’t notice any difference," Viktor said, studying her hair with mild confusion.

Charlotte turned to him, arms crossed over her chest. "Well, now that I’ve told you, you must compliment my hair."

His gaze flicked briefly to her hair, still unsure what exactly had changed, but he decided to play along. "It looks good on you, Lucy," he said, making it sound as genuine as possible.

A broad smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Viktor."

"Now, do you know where Lilith’s mother is? I would like to meet her," he asked.

"Well, I don’t particularly know where she is at the moment, but we can look around. Lilith is taking a short nap in her chambers, so we shouldn’t disturb her," Charlotte explained.

"Where do you suggest we begin searching for her?"

"The kitchen. Come along." She hooked her arm around his and tugged him along as they stepped out of the room. Viktor quickly turned back to close the door before following her down the hallway and stairs toward the kitchen.

Unfortunately for them, Vanessa was neither in the kitchen nor in the dining room. Charlotte and Viktor decided to question a maid to find out her whereabouts.

The young maid bowed and approached them. "You called me, my lady?"

"Yes," Charlotte said. "I would like to know where Vanessa is. She’s not in the kitchen or dining room."

"She’s outside, in the garden. I can take you to her," the maid offered.

Charlotte thanked her, and they followed as she led them to the garden behind the house. It was a small but thriving space, filled with healthy greens, fruits, and vegetables.

Vanessa was dressed in a brown gown with a grey apron tied around her waist and a white scarf partially covering her hair. She was crouched beside a bed of carrots, carefully harvesting them from the soil.

"My lady," the maid called, bowing slightly, "Lady Charlotte is here to see you. She’s been looking for you." With that, the maid turned and walked away.

"Oh," Vanessa said, rising to her feet. She pulled off her gloves and placed them in the basket, then turned to face them. Her eyes settled on Charlotte first, then shifted to Viktor.

"Good evening, my lady," Viktor began with a warm smile. "I came to thank you for the herbal tea. It worked wonders. Forgive my manners, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Viktor."

Her expression dropped. She stared at him as though he had grown a second head, and Viktor found it difficult to maintain his smile under her intense gaze.

They stood in silence for a few long moments before Charlotte broke it. "Are those carrots?" she asked, peering into the basket.

Vanessa blinked and quickly looked to Charlotte. "Mmm... yes, they are," she replied.

"That’s amazing. Do you grow all your vegetables?" Charlotte asked, clearly intrigued.

"Most of them," Vanessa said with a shaky smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I try to grow as much as I can. Not just for freshness, but because I enjoy it, it keeps me busy."

Viktor cleared his throat, gently drawing their attention back to him. "Thank you again for the tea and the food. I’m truly grateful."

"You are welcome... Viktor. I’m glad you’re feeling better now. If you want more bread, I can make some for you," she offered.

"I’m more than full for now, perhaps tomorrow. Thank you for your kindness." Viktor gave a polite bow, trying to ignore the unsettling way she continued to stare at him, making him uneasy.

"Very well, if you say so," Vanessa replied. "You should go inside and rest. I’ll start preparing dinner soon."

Charlotte frowned slightly. "Do you cook every day?"

"Well, not every day, but most of the time. Although I have maids who can easily handle it, I prefer to cook for my family. I enjoy it," she explained, wiping her hands across her apron.

"That’s wonderful. We won’t take any more of your time. Viktor and I will head back now," Charlotte said, tugging lightly on Viktor’s sleeve.

"Alright. Take care and rest well... Viktor."

Viktor offered her another small bow before following Charlotte back into the mansion. His mind lingered on the conversation. He had never felt so nervous, unsettled, or uncomfortable while speaking to someone. There was something about Vanessa, something oddly familiar and yet completely distant. He was sure he had never seen her before, but the feeling clung to him.

"I don’t think Vanessa quite fancied you," Charlotte remarked as they reached the base of the stairs.