The strangest behavior

JULIETTE

“Hello, little Pet.”

Darius smirked as he pushed me aside and strode into my small room, his presence filling it up with his aura that dripped with power and authority.

I shut the door behind me, but I didn't move, I clutched the handle, just in case of plans to bolt.

“Why are you here?” I asked, toning down the feeling of annoyance bubbling within. “Do you need me for something?”

Darius didn’t reply, he just stood there, crossing his arms while his eyes scanned the room like he was searching for something.

An uncomfortable silence stretched long enough to make me uneasy, until finally, he spoke.

“Sit down.” His tone was commanding as always.

I bit at my lips, hesitating, Darius was already seated at the edge of my bed, and it was the only stable furniture in the room.

My instincts screamed at me to fall on my feet and sit on the floor, anything to avoid a useless punishment from him.

However, I refused to lower my dignity for a man like Darius. I found myself approaching the other end of the bed and perched myself there, putting as much distance as possible.

I wasn't sure Darius noticed, but the way his smirk grew into a full smile made my heart clench, maybe he noticed but didn’t comment.

“How is the book going?” he casually asked, like this was some friendly chit chat, whereas there was always something crazy up his sleeves.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

His brows furrowed as time passed without a response from me.

“How is the book, Juliette?” Darius asked again, dragging each word with a slight warning behind his tone.

I muttered, “It’s going fine.”

Something flickered in his eyes, something I could pass for approval, or amusement.

“Good,” he said smoothly. “I am sure you will be prepared for your new night routine.”

“My brows creased, “Night routine?”

“Yes.” Darius replied, “I call it the night lessons.”

My stomach twisted. “I didn't understand, what do I need a night lesson for?”

Darius rolled his eyes, as though my question wasn't worth a reply.“Every night, I will drop by to ask you questions about the books you have read, and the contexts you have understood. Ranging from politics, history, war strategies, fallen heroes, and the old gods…I need to be sure you are using your time right.”

I scoffed, drowning in confusion, “Hold on.” I cut in. “You gave me one book, just one.”

His lips curved into a knowing smirk. “I am aware.” Then, without another word, he stood up and tilted his head toward the door. “Come with me.”

I got up, and obediently followed behind him, down the corridors, until we arrived at his chambers.

He pushed the door open, walking in I strode behind him and stopped in the centre, while he dispersed to the far end where his desk lay.

Darius swiftly turned, “Come.” He gestured and I moved forward, stopping before his desk.

My eyes widened. Because on the desk sat not just one, but five thick, leather books. I subconsciously reached out to touch them, they felt soft and fragile. A part of me was scared to pick any of them up to avoid any of the books from falling apart.

“Do you know what these are?” He asked, gliding his finger against one of them.

There were no labels on the covers, but I was hoping to find out, “No I don't.”

“Good, now you get to find out and prepare.” Darius declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Tomorrow night, your lessons begin.”

*******************

I returned to my room with the other books Darius had gifted me. Still surprised he was just handing me these books of knowledge. I have a feeling that he is not giving me this

And now these night lessons, it’s so obvious Darius has plans. Maybe he is doing this for the council, to make me a laughing stock, a tool for more embarrassment.

I sighed and dropped the book on the bed, I crashed on the floor and pulled out Kianka's.

Finally, I could continue reading, hopefully, no one would show up to distract me again.

I opened to the page I stopped and began reading from where I left off. “The adventures of Kianka.”

Leading a simple, quiet life in the neighboring pack, Kianka developed knowledge of the people and their living methods. She noticed a lot of impurities that the leaders in power were causing their people. From high tasks, to abject neglect, resource scarcity, and so on.

The people's complaints were ignored and tossed aside, and this triggered Kianka, she grew determined to fix the problems, but it was impossible being a nobody. However, Kianka found the advantage of applying to be a maid, which she was granted.

She maneuvered her duties to be assigned anywhere near the courtroom, and each time she got the opportunity to eavesdrop, she wouldn't let it slip by. Two years went by, and Kianka remained the maid who cleaned the courtroom, until one night she received a letter from the Alpha heir, asking her to return home.

Kianka was seventeen at this point, and she still wasn't ready for marriage, so instead of returning home, she took a bold move and stormed one of the court meetings, creating an argument that divided the Court officials in half. A fight ensued and in that process, the Alpha King lost his life.

Kianka was held responsible, she was arrested, but fled the pack right before they could find her, and into the desert lands she went, where she vowed to rise in power and return home with her head held high.

I took a pause on the book, reflecting on what I had been reading. Kianka made sacrifices for people she didn't know and worked as a maid for two years just to learn the ways of the court and expose their injustice.

Kianka has a lot of balls, this was literally the beginning and she was already set on a winning path.

I didn't want to sync Kianka's story to mine for some encouragement or something, but there was just one thought I couldn't ignore.

Darius handing me these books felt like Elyan helping Kianka escape, giving her the chance to become the great woman she was.

And this is what I call the strangest behavior.