Chapter 90 [Jealousy]
Perhaps because of Fernando's reminder, Mela subconsciously began to pay attention to Lex's movements.
The fourth day passed, and Lex still hadn't shown up.
Five days passed, and Lex still hadn't shown up.
For some reason, Mela felt that something was wrong.
Even after hearing what she had asked Fernando to relay, Lex didn't seem to be discouraged.
At the very least, they shouldn't completely hide their faces.
However, when Mela realized what she was thinking, she suddenly stopped and stood there in a daze for a long time.
She was the one who knew Lex's feelings but refused to agree, and she was even the one who deliberately asked Fernando to pass on those words. However, when Lex stopped appearing as she wished, she actually began to wonder why he didn't show up.
Even Mela herself now felt that she was being a bit too unreasonable.
"Miss Mela, the kitchen made some delicious apple pie today. Would you like a slice for your afternoon tea?"
When the young maid passing by saw Mela, a lovely smile immediately appeared on her round face, and she greeted her cheerfully.
After spending these few days together, the servants in the mansion discovered that their distinguished guest, Mela, was actually very easy to serve and would almost never make unreasonable demands or deliberately make things difficult for them.
Therefore, the younger servants were very happy to interact with Mela and would often make a few witty jokes with her.
"Apple pie? Sure, then could you please go to the kitchen, cut me a piece, and bring it to my room?"
Mela smiled and waved to the maid, then walked through another corridor and returned to her room on the third floor first.
A moment later, there was a knock on the door, and a maid came in carrying a tray. The sweet and soft aroma of apple pie instantly filled the entire room.
The thoughtful maid even poured Mela a cup of black tea before carrying the tray out.
As soon as the maid left, before Mela could even react, Silas swooped down and eagerly grabbed a silver knife, cut off a small piece, and put it in his mouth.
Silas chewed and commented, "They're both apple pies, but Lex's seems to taste a bit better."
"Yeah?"
Mela, however, felt that apart from the fact that the cook in the manor was particularly generous with the sugar, making the apple pie a bit too sweet, the taste wasn't that bad.
“Wait a minute,” Silas suddenly called out as if he had remembered something, staring at Mela with an incredulous look, “Didn’t you say you liked it when Lex toasted the edges of the pie crust until they were crispy, that it tasted better that way?”
Silas remembered Mella's pickiness very clearly.
Later, whenever Lex made apple pie, Mela would squat beside him and keep saying, "I want the crispy crust, I want the crispy crust..."
Silas found it incredibly annoying.
But now that it sees Mela enjoying the soft, toasted crust, it wonders if it was deliberately messing with Lex back then.
“How could that be?” Mela refused to admit it.
She really didn't mean to mess with Lex.
However, given the many bad things Mela has done, Silas is no longer foolish enough to trust her.
Seeing this, Mela gave a soft snort and suddenly lost interest in eating the apple pie.
She sat to one side, propping her face up with her hands, staring blankly at a point in the air.
"Mera, what are you thinking about?"
Seeing that Mela was ignoring him, Silas swallowed the food in his mouth and clung to her.
"I'm wondering if I'm being a little too greedy," Mela replied lazily.
They want a beautiful little bird, but refuse the fancy birdcage that comes with it.
"Huh, is there ever a time when you're not greedy?" Silas couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
"What did you say?" Mela immediately gave Silas a threatening look.
She can criticize her own faults, but she won't allow others to say that she actually has any faults.
However, perhaps it was the experiences of these past few days that gave Silas confidence. Even if it might anger Mela, Silas still stubbornly said, "I said, Mela is the most greedy witch, but so what? Anyway, we won't look down on you."
If, if Mela wanted the wealth that Silas had painstakingly accumulated over the years, Silas might grit his teeth, close his eyes, and agree.
As long as Mela is happy.
Although Silas didn't know what had happened to Mela, it could sense that there seemed to be something beneath Mela's smile these past few days, some thoughts she didn't want it to know.
Silas was anxious, and even at the risk of being punished by Mela, it deliberately provoked Mela to get angry.
Anyway, no matter what happens, as long as I vent my bad mood, it'll be fine, right? Silas thought uncertainly.
However, when he actually saw Mela's hand reach out, Silas couldn't help but close his eyes, his mind constantly repeating "It's over, it's over, it's over."
Would Mela actually try to beat it up for the first time ever? Surely not?
To Silas's surprise, Mela simply grabbed it and rubbed it vigorously, touching its head and the soft fur on its chest.
“You’re right, I’m just that greedy, so I want to bring the beautiful little bird home, but I also want to get rid of the annoying birdcage,” Mela said with a smile.
"What little bird? You've fallen for another bird behind my back?" Silas was confused, but that didn't stop it from firmly objecting, "No! I won't allow it! You can only have me as your bird!"
In the end, Mela could only barely appease Silas by assuring him that she wasn't talking about a real bird.
*
That night, hearing light footsteps in the corridor, Mela, who had been lying in bed but hadn't fallen asleep, got out of bed and threw off the covers.
She opened the door, intending to call out to Chelge and talk to him about Lex.
But then, unexpectedly, he met the gaze of the real Lex.
"Lex, what are you doing here?" Mela looked at Lex strangely, who was standing in the corridor holding a candlestick and had no servants behind him.
Logically speaking, even at this late hour, given Lex's status, it's impossible that he wouldn't have servants by his side at all times, unless it was Lex's intention to have them.
“I’ve come to see Cherk.” Lex remained as calm and composed as ever, his expression revealing no flaws.
“What a coincidence, I’m also looking for Cherk. Let’s go together.” Mela seemed to believe Lex’s words. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and, without giving Lex a chance to react, walked to the next room and knocked three times.
No one responded.
“Huh, it seems Cherge isn’t in his room?” Mela turned around, staring at Lex with a half-smile, as if waiting for him to give a reasonable explanation.
"..."
Lex paused for a moment.
The three flames on the candlestick flickered slightly in the breeze.
"Hmm? You don't even know where Cherk went? That's really strange."
At the same time, Mela had to pretend to be confused while pressing for answers.
That little bit of time was enough for her to realize what had happened.
But Mela insisted on hearing Lex admit it himself.
"...What do you need Cherk for? He's staying at the palace tonight and probably won't be able to see you until tomorrow."
Lex finally spoke, but he didn't reveal any discomfort at being caught lying.
"Just tonight?" Mela didn't believe it.
Aside from the night she saw Cherge and Fernandez return together, and the night Cherge first came to greet her, Mela reasonably suspected that the person sleeping in the room next to her these days was most likely not Cherge.
No, that's not right. This house has hundreds of rooms. Even if Cherk comes back, he might not actually live next door to her.
"So, arranging for me to be alone on the third floor was actually something you did on purpose from the beginning, wasn't it?" Following the clues, Mela finally realized everything.
However, Mela didn't understand why Lex would do that.
He could have simply come to see her openly and honestly.
Yes, why? Even Lex himself found this action inexplicable.
Until he had enough leverage to convince Mela to stay, Lex would rather come from the palace late every night, push open the door to the room next to Mela's, sit in an armchair, and gaze at the moon outside the window in a daze.
Just a wall away, Mela was sleeping soundly on a soft bed, her breathing shallow and light. Occasionally, she would frown or bite her lip in dissatisfaction because of the scenes in her dreams.
Or, it might utter a few incoherent babbling words.
The nights they spent together in the cabin were enough for Lex to imagine what Mela looked like when she was asleep.
Lex stared at the veil of silvery moonlight that seemed to flow out of nowhere, unable to control his jealousy, jealous that it could shine on Mela and then naturally flow into Mela's dreams.
Unthinkable thoughts grew wildly, and Lex hoped that he could even appear in Mela's dreams.
Perhaps, in such a dreamlike place, Mela would be a little more lenient with him, instead of trying to leave him again and again.
Of course, Lex could never voice these twisted thoughts, so silence remained between him and Mela.
"Lex".
Finally, Mela broke the strange silence and called Lex's name.
“Hmm,” Lex responded with a low groan.
"I'm closing my eyes. Do you want to make up for the regrets of the past?"
With that, Mela closed her eyes.
Anyone else might be confused by Mela's words, but Lex was standing in front of her. How could he not know that Mela was referring to the kiss he missed on the eve of his departure from the Dark Forest because of his restraint?
At that moment, Mela deliberately closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, but in reality, she pricked up her ears to listen to Lex's approaching footsteps and feel his breathing getting closer.
Mela felt her lips being bitten.
No, perhaps "bite" isn't quite the right word, because she didn't feel any pain.
Lex was clearly just gently sucking on her lips.
Mela's hands unconsciously rested on Lex's shoulders.
Otherwise, she worried that she would collapse to the ground from exhaustion at any moment.
Seemingly sensing Mela's worry, Lex reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, providing her with strong support and preventing her from having any chance to escape.
After a while, Mela gestured for Lex to let go; her lips were almost swollen.
Lex granted Mela's wish and released her, but his hand remained firmly clasped around hers, refusing to let go.
“Lex.” Mela turned her head, leaned on Lex’s shoulder, and whispered his name in his ear.
"Between the palace and the cabin, I prefer living in the cabin."
Therefore, it's impossible for her to stay for Lex.
“Hmm,” Lex responded softly, as if a drop of dew had slid off a leaf, making a barely audible sound.
He understood.
He always understood.
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