Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 26: The Lady Stirs Feelings In The Beast

Sparx only let out a small sound, rubbing his cheek against Lady Karina's. She allowed the fox beast to settle on her shoulders, carrying the box and roll of parchment and putting them down on the desk.

She retrieved a tall stool to perch herself on while Sparx's bushy tail swished around, his eyes eagerly watching her work as she laid out the parchment.

For hours, her writing filled about a quarter of the sheet, tallies from last spring through summer and winter down to the current spring.

Most of the tally was for honey, the result of a particularly fruitful fall and quite the busy bees. But there was also a rally for the upcoming apricot and cherry harvest and an estimate of what the lady projected to glean.

All the while Sparx's body subtly radiated heat to keep them both warm from the cold draft coming from the lancet window.

And as Lady Karina tried to determine just how to harvest so much produce with very little labour force, she perked her head up when she noticed Sparx became uneasy.

The little fox's ears twitched as if sensing something approaching and quickly hopped off her shoulder, returning to the hiding spot in the compartment of the book shelf.

Lady Karina was surprised when Van Merikh suddenly entered the solar; she'd never even heard him enter the keep as all had seemed still and quiet in the entry hall beyond.

She hadn't even heard a door open. But suddenly the dangerous man was standing in the doorway and she was startled by his abrupt appearance.

She was glad that Sparx had run off quickly without a trace, but Van Merikh's prying eyes did not miss the fresh scorch marks on the stone floor leading to the shelf.

It made him raise a brow, but he didn't question it.

"My Lord?" Lady Karina uttered before he could speak since she noticed where his eyes had wandered with suspicion over to the floor. "Is there something that you require?"

Van Merikh just stood there a moment, appraising her with his dual-coloured eyes. And as time passed, the unnerving effect of his unusual eyes had less of an impact on her.

Now she was coming to find them strangely intriguing.

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"There are some guests that have arrived," he said in his rumbling baritone. "We will reserve the great hall as a meeting location and will require refreshments to be served."

Lady Karina could guess what sort of 'guests' he was referring to.

"As you wish, my Lord," she answered compliantly.

Lady Karina set down her quill and plopped off the stool. And just as she passed Van Merikh on her way from the solar, she suddenly drew to a halt.

"When the hour of your meeting is concluded, I would request a moment of your time to have a discussion with you as well," she said, craning her neck back to look up at him.

The man was so tall she had to practically lay her head back.

"We are nearing the arrival of two critical harvests," she continued, exhaling wearily. "And it appears that I am rather short-staffed and require more servants to complete the task."

"Short-staffed? And why is that?"

Lady Karina lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Because you slaughtered the majority of Moonveil's labour force when you invaded the keep. Whoever is left are but a few female servants to accomplish a task that usually requires several dozen men."

Such fire in her words, it amused him to no end. However, Van Merikh did not react to what he could have interpreted as a rebuke.

"There is a village to the south," he suddenly stated.

"Aye; Haleville is six miles to the south. What of it?" She asked, her brows furrowing.

"It is from there that I will recruit your labour force, Lady."

Lady Karina eyed him wearily. "It would be wise if you allowed me to accomplish this. Your presence will bring nothing but terror to people if you barge in there demanding workers."

"And?" Van Merikh eyed her back impassively, as if unclear about what point she was trying to make.

"And they will flee at the first sight of you," she bit back. "I need them to flee to Moonveil, not flee from it."

The corner of his mouth twitched and Lady Karina could see that he was struggling not to smirk proudly.

"It is not funny," she said frankly, not withholding the glare in her eyes.

Van Merikh let his smirk break through reluctantly.

"Nay, it is not, but it is simply the way that you have said it that makes it so." Van Merikh leaned against the doorframe. "Well, do you require my help or not, Lady?"

"I do not."

"Then what would be the purpose of your meeting with me later?" He raised a brow again.

"Simply to consult your thoughts on the matter and now that I have them, I would seek your permission to travel to the village of Haleville and carry out the hiring process."

Van Merikh wasn't very fond of that idea.

His smile faded. "Not without an escort, Lady."

Lady Karina wasn't very fond of his accompaniment either.

She shook her head at him vehemently. "Certainly not you. You must assign someone else to me. One glance at you and the people of Haleville will flee in terror for their dear lives."

Van Merikh knew very well that he should have agreed with her.

The less bothered he was with her, the better.

However, eight days of attempting to detach himself from her and the conflicts she stirred within him had been destroyed by a mere two minutes in her presence.

Lady Karina made him smile.

She wasn't afraid to share her thoughts about him.

The Lady had stirred feelings no one else ever had the courage to.

And never being one to show emotion or wear his heart upon his sleeve, Van Merikh had no guidance on how to control them once they surfaced.

Orpheus Van Merikh always took what he wanted.

And that would never change.