Chapter Twenty Three

 Unspoken Tensions

 Lucien

The steam rose in thick clouds from the water, swirling around the room, filling the air with warmth. It was a place I often came to clear my mind, to escape the pressures of the world. But today, even the steam felt stifling. The weight on my chest, the pressure building with every passing day, wouldn’t let go. The decisions I had made were beginning to consume me, and I was caught in a web that was getting tighter by the moment.

I leaned on the stone wall beside the steaming basin, my hands gripping the edge. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the tension never seemed to go away. A soft noise behind me made me turn.

There she was.

Irene.

The girl I had brought from the motel, the one who now stood as my bride-to-be. She walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps, her expression calm but her posture too stiff to be natural. I noticed the way she held herself, with a mixture of entitlement and restraint, like she was trying to keep up appearances.

Her eyes locked onto mine, and I could already tell that today would not be a simple conversation.

“I want to talk,” she said, her voice steady, and almost demanding.

I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. I had been waiting for this moment. It was inevitable.

“I don’t want to stay in the room they’ve given me,” she started, walking closer to me. “It’s too small. And I need more servants. You know, someone to take care of my things. I should not be expected to do everything myself.”

I stood there, silently listening, not giving away any emotion. She wasn’t finished yet.

“I also need new dresses. Fine ones. Not the rags I’ve been wearing. The ones I was brought in were... unacceptable. And I expect some gold, too. I need to send money back my boss where I was—where you bought me from.” She paused, waiting for my response.

I felt my jaw tighten. It was exactly what I expected, but hearing her say it still had the same effect. This was not a woman who understood what it meant to be part of this pack. She saw herself as a commodity, and I had bought her.

“You’re asking for a lot,” I said, my voice controlled, calm. “I have already given you more than anyone else would. This is the life you will live now.”

She stepped forward, her voice rising with impatience. “Don’t pretend like you’re doing this out of the kindness of your heart. You bought me like I’m some possession to be put on display. I want what I deserve. And I deserve more than this.”

I stared at her, my hands slowly clenching into fists. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I know exactly what I’m asking for. I’m not here to play games. You need me as much as I need you. The least you can do is make it worth my while.”

My fingers pressed against the stone wall, and I forced myself to stay calm. “You’re mistaken if you think you hold any real power here. I’ve done enough. And I will not be threatened.”

She took a step closer, her eyes cold. “Oh, I think you should listen to me. I could expose everything. I could tell everyone just how you really feel about me. How much you really care for your ‘bride.’” Her voice dripped with disdain. “You’re lucky I’m even pretending to care.”

Her words hit harder than I expected. I didn’t show it, but inside, my chest tightened. She was trying to control the situation. She thought she could manipulate me, push me into doing what she wanted.

Before I could speak, a voice cut in from behind her.

“Go ahead. Tell them everything.”

I turned quickly.

Erwin stood in the doorway, with his eyes locked on Irene, his face cold and calculating. I hadn’t heard him approach, but there he was, standing like he always did, steady, and calm.

Irene froze. Her eyes flickered nervously. “What—what do you want, Erwin?”

“You should go ahead,” Erwin repeated, his voice quieter but filled with a quiet, dangerous intensity. “Tell everyone what you know. Go ahead. Let’s see how that plays out for you.”

Irene's confident stance faltered. She took a step back, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice shaky now.

Erwin’s gaze never wavered. “You think Lucien owes you something because he brought you here. But let me remind you, he’s doing more for you than you could ever repay. And you’ll walk away from this with more than you deserve.”

Irene’s face reddened. “What’s your problem, Erwin? You’re just a servant. What do you care?”

Erwin stepped forward slowly, his expression hardening. “I care because Lucien is doing what’s right, and you’re here pretending you deserve more than you do. You’re lucky he decided to even pretend to care about you.”

Irene blinked rapidly, her composure slipping. “I—”

“You’ll be careful,” Erwin cut her off, his voice cold as ice. “You’ll stop making threats and you’ll stop acting like you can get away with whatever you want. If you don’t... well, let’s just say I’ll make sure you don’t have the chance to play your games here.”

The air between them thickened. Irene’s confidence cracked. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

I could see the tension in her eyes. She was afraid. She was afraid of Erwin. But she wasn’t going to back down so easily.

“I won’t let you get away with this,” Irene finally muttered, her face flushed with anger. “You think you can control everything here? I’ll expose you all if I have to.”

Erwin didn’t flinch. His eyes remained cold, hard, and focused.

“Go ahead,” Erwin repeated. “You can try.”

Irene’s fists clenched. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Erwin cut her off, his voice sharp as a whip.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Erwin warned. “You’re not in charge here. Don’t forget that.”

Irene glared at Erwin, her breath coming in short bursts. She was furious, but she knew she had no real power in this situation. Slowly, she turned and stalked off, her steps heavy with the anger she was trying to control.

I watched her leave, feeling the weight of the silence in the room. Erwin turned to face me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

Erwin nodded but didn’t say anything more. I knew she had just stood up for me, but I also knew that it was a thin line we were walking. If Irene chose to fight back, I might not have the upper hand next time. I leaned against the stone wall, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The last thing I needed was for her to cause more problems.