Marcel
The storm still raged on outside, winds howling and rain smacking against the windows as if the heavens were wrestling with some personal turmoil. It matched the mess going on in my chest.
Dahlia brought in lunch not long after Liam settled in. Hot chicken soup, perfectly timed for the cold. The scent was comfortable. Exactly what I needed at this moment.
The servants set the table, and usually Odessa would join the table without being summoned, but minutes crawled past, and there was no trace of her.
"Dahlia…" I called out before touching my bowl. "Inform Odessa that lunch is served.." I ordered, and Dahlia left immediately.
"Do we really have to wait for her before we eat?" Thana grumbled, and I shrugged my shoulders.
"We don't have to… I'm just making sure she knows," I replied, and Liam strolled in, his eyes fixated on the feast-filled table.
I pulled my bowl of soup closer and stirred it around, savoring the sweet scent of coriander.
"She said she's not hungry, master," Dahlia murmured after returning from the East Wing.
"Did she actually say that or did she just ignore you?" I asked without lifting my eyes from the bowl in front of me.
"She said it. Very softly."
I nodded. No point pushing. "Leave her then."
Dahlia served the rest of the soup in silence. I watched as the steam curled upwards, vanishing in the air like the last trace of peace in this house.
Thana sat across from me, her fingers curled around the spoon, but she hadn't taken a single bite. She kept stealing glances at Liam, who was seated at the far end of the table, clearly on edge and trying his best not to acknowledge her.
"So, Liam," Thana started, her voice light and forced, "how's your estate faring this season? Still growing those golden grapes?"
Liam didn't look up. "Still growing," he replied dryly and continued eating.
Her lips tightened slightly, but she said nothing more.
"I heard you bought three new estates, Liam…" Thana added. "You have really outdone yourself, lord Liam.." she teased and chuckled, but Liam remained indifferent.
"Pass the salt please.." Liam muttered and one of servants handed it over to him. I could see the look in Thana's eyes– the disappointment in them as she played with her food.
It looked like she was just about to cry all over again, but there wasn't much that I could do. Liam used to be close friends with her, but after her disappearance, he just grew this unfathomable hatred for her.
The rest of lunch was eaten in silence, and for the entire time, Odessa never left her room to join us. Thana barely touched her food, but she gulped down the entire glass of water in front of her and immediately excused herself.
"You could have at least said something nice to her, Liam…" I said to him after Thana left, but he only rolled his eyes.
I cleared my throat. "I was thinking of acquiring some land north of Syros. It's mostly abandoned now, but the soil looks promising."
Liam looked up at that. "Good move. The river channels nearby will be useful for irrigation. But—" he paused, spoon mid-air, "who's the girl?"
I blinked. "What girl?"
"The one who refused to join us. Odessa, was it?" His eyes narrowed. "She doesn't act like a regular servant. And you wanted her at the table, which is—unusual."
I said nothing at first, pushing my half-empty bowl aside. Then I stood. "Come. We'll talk in my study."
Without waiting for a response, I left the dining room. He followed me without a word, like always.
Once the study door was shut behind us, I turned to him.
"I know I can trust you, Liam, and that's the reason I'm letting you in on this…" I started. "It's complicated, but I'll explain it in the best way I can.."
"Go on," he replied.
"She's… not just a servant," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "I married her."
Liam's eyes widened, and I saw all the questions racing through his head.
"It wasn't romantic," I added quickly. "It was to save her. She was being auctioned off by the mayor during the slave sale. And not just to any man, to an Apollo—a man thrice her age and known for… unspeakable things. So I bought her freedom by marrying her."
"Hold on…" Liam interrupted. "Odessa is the same one I saw when I arrived? The blue-eyed angel?"
"Yes," I replied, and he rubbed his chin.
Liam sat down slowly. "You married a slave to save her, and now she's here taking care of your mother?"
"She insisted on repaying me somehow," I said. "This was her way."
"And Thana?" Liam asked flatly.
"What about her?" I replied, though my tone was more defensive than I liked.
"You still have her here. Letting her linger like some ghost from your past, while that girl—Odessa—is hiding away like she's the intruder."
"She is an intruder," I snapped. "I don't have feelings for her, Liam. She knows this. We had an agreement."
Liam scoffed. "Maybe you made an agreement. She clearly didn't sign up for isolation and silence. You treat her like glass, like a burden, when she deserves…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "Marcel, if you're not careful, you'll lose both women—one to your silence, and the other to your pride."
"Why can't you understand that I just can't send either of them away? And I don't love Odessa the way I love Thana.." I blurted.
"If Odessa didn't seem special to you, I'm certain you wouldn't have had the idea of marrying her just to save her from Apollo.." Liam added and leaned forward on his chair.
I looked away, jaw clenched. "Thana is none of your concern."
"She is if she's clouding your judgment. Send her away. Focus on what's in front of you. On Odessa. There's something different about her."
"I'm not sending Thana away," I said sharply. "End of discussion."
Liam sighed, getting up from the chair. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't lie to yourself about Odessa. Because one day, you'll wake up and realize she meant more than you ever allowed her to."
He left the study, and I was alone with the silence again—except this time, the storm outside wasn't half as loud as the one inside my head.