Chapter 4: Starving

When he was finally done tying the robe and saw him step out of the bathroom, I sighed in relief.

However, the relief I felt was only temporary.

“What are you still doing there in the bathroom? Come over here and assist me!”

Assist him on what?

I stepped out of the bathroom nervously and stumbled on my feet but thankfully I was able to regain my balance and stopped my face from kissing the floor.

I didn’t see him anywhere near the bed and found the walk-in closet’s door open so I went inside, my heart pounding hard.

“Help me get dressed,” he ordered and I swallowed hard again. Seems like the lump in my throat won’t just leave me alone.

I want to ask why there is a need for him to seek assistance when he can perfectly do it himself. I’d just annoy him if I make a small mistake. However, I kept the words to myself.

Lucian seems to be a twisted person. He does everything with disdain and looks at everything around him as if the world always falls short of his expectations. He is a hard man to please and now I know why he chose to make me work as his slave instead of getting me tortured by his people. As his enemy’s daughter, he must be planning of playing with me until he’s tired and ready to dispose me.

I know I don’t deserve such treatment. I’m not like my father and brothers and never did I once think of harming anyone. But somehow, I can sympathize with Lucian. He lost the family he loves so much at a young age and was forced to live in the shadows, and I don’t think I’d ever know what kind of pain he had gone through all those years.

The whole time I was buttoning Lucian’s shirt, my hands were cold and trembling and I could almost feel my soul leaving my body. I just couldn’t help my anxiety with how his brooding eyes were staring at me intently as if he was watching if I’d make a mistake.

I could feel the cold sweat around my nape as I buttoned the black vest on the top of his white shirt while he was rolling the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows.

I glanced at the mirror on the left where I can see both of us from head to foot. I immediately noticed the height difference and how small I am in front of him. I look frail and skinny. My dress is also marked with some dirt because the slaves’ quarter where I stayed since last night is dirty. My hair doesn’t have hairpins now and my ginger curls are flowing down my back.

When Lucian was putting on his trousers earlier, I looked in the opposite direction and when he was done, it was only then I realized I didn’t breathe the whole time he was doing it. Now that I’m finally done helping him with his upper clothes, a soft sigh escaped my lips, which brought a frown to Lucian’s face.

“The way you sighed feels like you just got through the biggest hurdle of your life. Is it that hard to assist your master in dressing up?” he asked sarcastically, mocking her.

“The next time you better refrain from trembling in front of me. I don’t like it. Heed my word unless you want to be ravaged by my men and get the same torture your brothers are receiving. Do you understand, dear Elisa?”

His tone sounded sweet and gentle in the last part but it only made me shiver in fear because I can see it all in his eyes. This man can be anything but sweet and gentle. He is dangerous. Probably one of the most dangerous men I have ever met in my entire life.

After he was done in the closet, he went out and asked the waiting maid outside to send him his dinner.

I stood by his side with my head down to the floor when he sat in front of the table filled with different dishes.

When I smelled the aroma of the food it was only then I realized I have been starving for the whole day.

I lifted my head a bit to peek at the food served on the table and my mouth watered at the sight. It wasn’t my first time to starve since there were many times in the past when I did a small mistake and my father would starve me for a day or two. Ordinary werewolves can stand three days without eating but I’m different than the rest. I’m weak and sickly, and I guess that prevented me from getting my wolf. It is also the reason why even though I only hadn’t eaten for a day I feel like I’ve been starving for a month.

Heat rose to my cheeks when my stomach suddenly churned loudly, which made Lucian stopped from eating.

“You just didn’t eat for a day and your stomach churns that loud? As much as I hate to say this, Benedict is one of the strongest male werewolves under my father. I’m starting to doubt if you really are his daughter. You are so weak and useless.”

I also came to the point when I doubted it too. But as I grew up, I noticed the resemblance between me and my brothers became undeniable. Father and I also have the same hazel eyes, only that mine seemed to appear a little brighter.

“Pardon me, master.” She kept her head down and bit her bottom lip, trying hard not to look at the table in front of her. Why does she even need to stand beside him while he’s eating anyway? To serve him water? Doesn’t he even feel even just an ounce of discomfort letting a hungry lady watch him eat?

Lucian suddenly stood not a minute later. I raised my head to see what he is going to do next.

 “I’m going down and you need to stay here. Clean the table. You can throw the remaining food if you want. I lost my appetite,” he said coldly before leaving the room without another word.

My mouth fell agape looking at the table filled with food. He barely ate anything and some dishes were left untouched!

He said I can throw the food if I want… does that mean I can choose not to throw it away?