Chapter 78 - Leland And Sophie

"Tell me what's on your mind," the man said once he noticed her silence. "Are you surprised at how you've arrived in this place and are staying in a castle?"

Wait... what? This is a castle?

Sophie's eyes bulged. She had never entered a castle before. The only time she went to one was when Nicholas invited her to have tea in Baron Ferdinand's castle and they only stayed in one of the terraces.

She had no idea what inside a castle should look like. She had imagined luxury, but not at this level.

Perhaps, she lacked imagination because she was just a poor girl who was not exposed to such things, unlike Valerie and Lucia who had visited the capital and went to castles.

"Were you… the one who saved me during the winter storm, my lord?" Sophie asked politely. She didn't miss how the man referred to this area as his castle so it indicated his position. It would be hard to get away so it was best to talk. "I remembered a silhouette—"

The man still didn't look in her direction and it made Sophie freeze uncertainly. 

She was wondering if she had offended the man with her question. If the last thing she saw was a silhouette while she was stranded in the snow, and now suddenly she was here, in this beautiful and warm room, with this man, shouldn't she just take it as a sign that he was indeed the person who saved her life?

Maybe he expected her to use her brain and put two and two together, and now he was disappointed that she still needed to ask the question, indirectly doubting him.

"I-I'm sorry if I offended you, I don't mean to…" Sophie quickly added. "I just don't want to make an assumption. But I want to say thank you for letting me rest here and… for saving me… if you really were the one who took me in from the street last night…."

Her words were nervous and uttered in stammer. The last thing Sophie wanted to do was to offend a nobleman. If this duke felt offended, he might immediately send Sophie to the constables and she would be locked up in prison for.. stealing her aunt's jewelry.

The man could sense Sophie's fear and finally, he nodded slowly and answered her question. "You are right, it was me who saved your life, Miss. I am Duke Ariam Leland Romanov and I saw you while I was out yesterday."

"During the winter storm?!" Sophie's eyes widened but then she bit back down her reply. She lowered her head even though he couldn't see her. "Apologies for speaking out of turn, Lord Romanov. I am grateful that you have saved my life."

"Raise your head. You do not need to be too formal with me," Leland spoke as he noticed Sophie's reflection on the window. She didn't need to bow to him at all. It was so different from how she treated him when they were younger.

"Lord Romanov, this commoner cannot speak to a noble-born without honorifics," Sophie said warily.

A part of her was worried about a situation like this. What kind of duke would randomly save a woman from the winter out in the streets? 

It was too strange.

However, Sophie didn't know of any other reason for the duke to save her unless he suddenly took a liking to her or wanted something else. She thought about how the situation was dangerous and risky. What did he want from her?

"I have saved your life because anyone else would do the same," Leland said. "Unbelievable it may be, but I am not a harsh man. I for one cannot understand why the others in Hastings have refused to give you shelter. Are their hearts frozen?"

Sophie didn't know what to say but then shook her head. "Welcoming a stranger into your house is a dangerous endeavor, Lord Romanov. Even a woman like me could still kill someone in their sleep."

Leland chuckled at the answer and wished he could face her. However, he didn't wish to reveal himself or act too close with her when the two of them had barely met. Sophie didn't even recognize him.

Nor did Leland have any intentions of doing so. At least not while he hadn't accomplished his mission yet, he still needed to overthrow the kingdom and this was not how he wished to introduce himself. 

"You speak with a sharp tongue, Miss," Leland said with an amused smirk. "What is your name and what caused you to travel during winter's storm? Do you not have a shelter or home to shield you from the cold?"

Sophie's expression dimmed slightly at the remark. 

Memories of cold nights with Nicholas filled her mind and she slowly shook her head. "No, I do not have a home to return to. I am unsure if you've seen what I carried in my hands, Lord Romanov, from last night."

"Trinkets and stones, I believe? They are on the dresser and are currently untouched." Leland answered. He never cared for precious gemstones at all and didn't think that Sophie was either.

Sophie's gaze immediately lifted and before she knew it, she already moved out from her bed and rushed for the dresser. Her heart was pounding and she searched for Nicholas' ring and gratefully found it.

She held the ring to her chest and closed her eyes, sighing in relief.

When Sophie opened her eyes, the Duke was already standing behind her with his arms crossed. Leland wasn't actually displeased with her, but he didn't understand her attachment at all to what was in her hand.

If Sophie actually liked things like this, then he would find a way to decorate her room with crystals far more beautiful than what was on the dresser now. However, for now, Leland clicked his tongue and was annoyed at the distraction.

"I believe you have forgotten something, Miss." 

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From Missrealitybites:

What do you think Sophie has forgotten?