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NORA POV

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was how soft everything felt. The bed, the pillow, even the blanket was different from anything I had ever used. I turned a little, stretching my legs, and that was when the smell hit me. Clean. Warm. Expensive. It was nothing like the scent of the packhouse. For a few seconds I just lay there, feeling like I was in a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. The ceiling above me was so high I had to tilt my head back a little to see all of it. The corners had some gold designs that looked hand-painted. Light was coming in through tall silk curtains. I sat up quickly. This was not my room.

I blinked, trying to put the pieces together. Then I remembered the dinner. The stares. Derek’s hand holding mine. The big car that picked us up. The palace.

“Our mate” Lunara added

Before I could settle into that thought, a loud female voice cut through the silence.

 “You are nothing but an ungrateful bastard.”

The voice was strong and sharp, the kind that didn’t need to shout twice to be heard. I got up from the bed and moved towards the double doors. One was slightly open. I leaned in and looked through the space.

Derek was standing there. His shoulders were tense, his face unreadable. Opposite him was a tall woman wearing a green silk gown. She had the kind of presence that made you want to stand straighter. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her eyes were fixed on Derek like she was ready for a fight. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who she was. She was his mother.

“Lyric!” Derek’s voice was sudden and deep. A man stepped in immediately, dressed in black, tall and built 

“Escort mother out,” Derek ordered.

My hand fled to my mouth..his mother? Mother?

 If he could send his own mother out like that, what about me?

The man in black gave a short bow and walked the woman out without another word. She didn’t fight him, but the way she turned her head at the last second to glare at Derek told me this conversation was far from over.

When the doors shut, the silence felt heavier, He let out a low growl and kicked a small table beside him. It hit the wall with a loud crash. I flinched. At that moment, it hit me that maybe all the perfect gentleman things he had done were just one side of him. And if this was the other side, I didn’t want to know what it would look like if it was directed at me.

I didn’t know if I should go back to bed and pretend I didn’t hear anything, or step out 

I quickly stepped back from the door and slid into bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin. My eyes shut just in time as I heard footsteps coming closer. I made my breathing slow, steady, like I was deep in sleep.

About five minutes later, the door opened quietly. Soft footsteps crossed the room, and then I felt it—his palm, warm against my forehead. The touch made my chest tighten.

“She’s been sleep talking,” Derek’s voice was low, almost worried. “Panicking in her sleep.”

A woman’s voice replied gently, “She might have gone through some trauma… or maybe she’s just not used to this environment.”

“So… she needs treatment?” he asked.

“No,” the woman answered. “She just needs a lot of rest.”

I stayed still, fighting the urge to open my eyes. Then I felt his hand wrap around mine, firm but careful.

“She’s been scrubbing at the packhouse for too long,” Derek said, his tone softer now. “It’s affected her fingers.”

“If there’s anything that can make them better…” he added.

“Pedicure will sort that out,” the woman said. “And she might need to wear warm gloves for some time.”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles, slow and thoughtful. “Do it. Make sure she gets everything she needs.”

I kept my breathing even, eyes closed, while Derek’s hand stayed on mine. The woman beside him was still talking about my fingers and some skincare product, when the sound of light, quick footsteps came from the hallway.

The door pushed open without a knock.

“Brother!” a bright, cheerful voice called before she even stepped fully inside. Her tone was so different from Derek’s—full of energy, playful.

“Keep your voice down, Lyra,” Derek said quietly, but there was no edge in his tone.

She seems to lean over me slightly, her eyes lighting up. “She looks so cute and peaceful in her sleep,” Lyra said, grinning at the others.

One of the women behind her chuckled softly. “She does, my Princess.”

“The goddess picked the right one for you bro?” She tease

Derek gave her a look I couldn’t read. “She’s resting.”

“Fine, I’ll let her rest. But when she wakes up, I’m stealing her for a while.”

“You won’t,” Derek said simply, but I could hear the hint of amusement in his voice.

“We’ll see about that., awwwn She’s so pretty, I’m so jealous.”

Lyra leaned close, her voice soft but bright. “She looks so strong. I guess she’s from a higher rank.”

Then it’s all about rank, I thought, feeling a sharp sting.

Before I could think more, Derek’s voice cut in, calm and steady. “Does it matter?”

I stayed still, pretending to be asleep, waiting to hear what Lyra would say.

“I haven’t even seen her properly, but I already love her. I just hope my low background won’t ruin things.”

“Hmm… maybe it matters sometimes,” she answered thoughtfully.

Then her tone shifted, cheerful and teasing. “But it doesn’t really matter to me, Lyra. I just want her to be a shopping addict like me. That way, you’ll stop nagging, and I’ll gang up with her to buy every latest luxury out there.”

“Brother, do you know her hobby?” she asked Derek with a grin.

Derek laughed softly. “Lyra, we should all go out now, she needs to rest.”

They were already dragging each other toward the door, laughing like kids.

I almost laughed too. She was so sweet.