Chapter 82 - Healing Wounds?

''It's not that. He has affections for me but he just refuses to see them. He is always so cold and distant that for him, affections are nothing. So, he is just not seeing them,'' Esme tried to make the situation look better. 

And Duchess Flora immediately picked up her silk napkin to wipe her unshed tears, ''Are you telling the truth?" 

I am lying, ''Yes,'' Esme inwardly sighed in relief. The heavens might have killed her with a thunderstrike if she had made this delicate lady cry. 

''Your Grace, we did not find anyone except for a few cats playing there,'' The guards reported. 

Duchess Flora waved her hand, ''You can leave,'' She turned to look at Esme, ''No matter what, you should not give up.''

Esme nodded, ''I am determined to win his heart,'' I am determined to tell you the truth before I leave.

For someone who loathed liars, Esme believed that she had sinned again and again by lying to these people.

At this moment, from the corner of her eyes, she saw someone rushing towards them. It was Aunt Greta who served the Duchess. 

''My Lady, His Grace has woken up and is looking for you,'' The old lady said to the Duchess. 

A smile bloomed on Duchess Flora's youthful face, ''I will be there,'' She said to her before looking at Esme. 

Esme smiled as she nodded at her. She greeted the old lady. 

Aunt Greta looked at her as she smiled through her wrinkles, ''My lady, I was in a hurry just now and did not greet you...'' 

''No need to worry about that,'' Esme waved her hand. 

''I will see you later,'' Duchess Flora smiled at Esme. 

Esme nodded. 

''Serve Lady Esme properly,'' Duchess Flora said. 

At this moment, Esme saw someone whom she has not seen for days. It was Liz. She was standing amidst the rows of servants at a distance and she stepped forward with her head lowered. 

Duchess Flora removed an exquisite ring from her finger before she handed it to Liz, ''Make sure my daughter has eaten properly,'' She said before she turned around and left with Aunt Greta. 

Esme glanced at their retreating backs as a small smile played on her lips. 

Liz glanced at the ring in her hand. Unlike the previous times when she would be excited and show what she received to others, she only glanced at it in a daze. 

When she came forward to serve her, Esme stood up. ''I will eat later,'' She said and she turned around to leave. 

''You have become so arrogant,'' Liz said as she glanced at the beautiful pale green gown that Esme was wearing.

Esme paused for a moment. She stood up to not make her feel small by serving her. But how did she become arrogant in this? 

A little confused, she left the place without responding to her. 

Just as she had taken a few steps, she saw another familiar face. 

''My Lady,'' Keith Reiner greeted her. 

Esme nodded, ''Mr. Reiner, I have some work so I was leaving now.'' 

''Sure,'' Keith Reiner bowed again as he made a way for her.

Esme walked away. 

Keith glanced at her back. Initially, he was her superior when she was working in the gardens but he did not realize when the distance between them grew so much. 

While he was looking at Esme, someone else was looking at him from a distance. Liz followed his gaze and glanced at Esme's retreating back before looking at the ring in her hand. 

When Esme reached the room, she noticed that there was no one inside. 

Aleister was not back yet. 

'Roar' 

She turned around and walked towards the door before patting Leo's head which was stuck out towards her near the door, ''Where is he?" 

'Roar' 

Esme saw him shaking his head, ''He won't come back now?" She was amazed by her skills of understanding what Leo wanted to say but then, he was always expressive around her. 

Leo shook his head. 

Esme nodded, ''Alright, you can go out and play,'' She said. 

Leo narrowed his eyes at her. Did this foolish human mistake him for a cat?

Esme laughed. This arrogant thing!

After sending him away, Esme closed the door and walked towards the huge mirror on the wall. 

She slowly removed the gown from her upper body and turned around such that her back was facing towards the mirror. 

She brought her hair to one side, letting them rest in front of her shoulders as she glanced at the long purplish mark that came from her shoulder down to her back. 

While looking at her back, her sleeves lifted and she noticed some scratches on her hand near her elbows. It must have happened when she almost fell in the well. 

Yesterday by the time they reached the Magistrate's manor, she was so tired that she slept after Aleister left with Rowan and she did not notice any injuries and when they were inside the carriage today, she felt the pain in her body but she could not see anything because of her clothes. 

Later, Duchess Flora called her over for breakfast and all the while, sitting there, her shoulders were aching. 

Esme gently ran her fingers on her elbows and the wound started healing. This was the only power that she could use at her will.

As the bruises on her elbows healed, Esme adjusted the sleeves while letting the gown rest a few inches above her chest as she looked at the glaring purplish mark on her back. 

''Ssss....'' She sucked in a cold breath and closed her eyes when she raised her right hand but because her right shoulder was injured, it hurt in that position. 

She lifted her left hand, trying to reach the injury but her fingers did not reach it. 

Esme's lips thinned. She opened her eyes letting out a helpless sigh but her eyes widened when she glanced at the mirror. 

''You... What are you doing here?" Esme closed her eyes in a panic as she hugged her front body.