To His Hell and Back-Chapter 112: A Little Gift

Though embarrassed by what had happened, Arabella managed to pull herself back on her feet after the first hour of waking up. She looked at Cassius and also wondered why his body was warm. She had touched Minister Rueben’s hands though not willingly and also Princess Marissa’s. Their hands and skin was cold, deadly cold. It was the type of cold from someone who had spent their time far too long outside the wintery day.

But unlike them, Cassius was warm blooded, not very vampiric of him.

Yes. That’s why she had climbed or even touch him- not her fault, not her fault. Even if he had wanted to kick her from the bed, he could but the fact he didn’t must have meant that somewhere he had enjoyed it.

With that thought, she eyed him with narrowed look, cursing in her head as she knew he must have allowed it to happen because he wanted to enjoy seeing her flustered.

"Glare at me like I stole your food and we might have to change today’s plan," Cassius who was dressing himself in the crimson tunic didn’t have to look back to know that his birdie was trying to curse him by her green eyes.

Her heart flipped and she questioned, "Do you have eyes on your back?"

"I have eyes everywhere," Cassius answered, turning around, "Come here."

Arabella was confused but she knew she should follow his orders. Despite anything, he is still her owner. Her feet padded down the cold ground and somehow she felt that the floor was a little too sticky and slippery. She didn’t remember last night that the floor was this dirty and considering the many number of servants, this shouldn’t have happened.

As she wondered about it, Cassius who noticed her gaze sighed, "Do you want to keep me waiting for so long?" freёwebnoѵel.com

"I’m walking," she sang out, ignoring the stickiness and making her way toward him. She stood in front of him as he then pushed her in front of the mirror. She was startled by the sudden pull and her own reflection that her eyes widened three times its size.

She knew she was always on the shorter side of height’s spectrum. She was not only small, she was also thin. Her sister was taller than her with a fuller figure, but she never thought that she was too small or too tiny. Only now that she stood in front of Cassius did she understood how towering he was.

His arms could easily rest on her shoulders. His head was a head away from hers. Not only was this vampire annoyingly taller than her, his face and big stature was enough to make her no less than a rabbit in front of the mighty Lion.

If he wanted to, it must be easy to crush her to death.

At that thought, she gulped and Cassius from the reflection let out a chuckle that immediately made her frown. She stared at him from the mirror, deep to his crimson eyes, "Why are you laughing?"

"No reason, I can laugh whenever I want right? Or are you jealous that I will be laughing for someone else birdie? If that’s the case, don’t worry I don’t find anyone as entertaining as-"

"I think you are still sleepy, Your Highness," Arabella puckered her lips, and sulked while Cassius tapped her head lightly.

"Fine, fine, you sulk too easily like a child," Cassius stepped aside as he pulled the box in the velvet cover from the wooden table beside them, "I even brought you a gift that I had thoughtfully prepared for you, knowing that this is the day where you will be reunited with your sister again."

She gave him a stink eye from the side of her eyes, watching his behavior and wondering if he could even hear to his own words.

But her attitude quickly faded as he gave her the velvet box that smelled like an expensive perfume. Curious she pulled the silk ribbon tying the box together and with just one tug, she was able to open the box almost immediately.

Inside was a gown, clean and clearly chosen from the best fabric. The touch of the dress was smooth when she drew her finger over it, the intricate needle work and although it was a simple dress for a day to day use, this was a beautiful pale blue dress that she could wear almost every day.

"But why?" Arabella asked, her gaze flickering between the elaborate dress and Cassius’s hands as he plucked it from the box she held. Without a word, he lifted it and draped it over her, the fabric cascading down her frame as he adjusted it against her shoulders, examining the fit.

The dress was exquisite—far too fine to be a last-minute purchase. A delicate lace ribbon cinched the waist, and just looking at it made her lips twitch into an involuntary smile.

Cassius, of course, was unmoved. "So you wouldn’t be mistaken for a brothel worker," he replied smoothly, placing the dress into her hands as if the matter was settled.

Arabella’s eyes snapped to his reflection in the mirror, their gazes locking. Liar.

This dress wasn’t hastily acquired. It hadn’t been picked out the night before as a casual afterthought. It had been made for her, stitched and tailored with the kind of precision that took days or maybe even weeks. A quiet effort he clearly had no intention of admitting. And that made her grin.

"Only that?" she challenged, raising an eyebrow. "For something supposedly thrown together at the last minute, it’s suspiciously well-fitted. Oh, I see. Are you planning to snatch it away after tonight? Will you strip me of it the moment I take a step out of line?"

Cassius tilted his chin, feigning contemplation. "Should I?"

Arabella swallowed. "It was just a jest, Your Highness," she mumbled quickly, before adding, "Besides, even without this dress, I doubt anyone would mistake me for a brothel worker. I’m always walking beside you, after all."

Cassius let out a long-suffering sigh, shaking his head. He knew her well enough to tell she wouldn’t let this go until he admitted the truth. Instead, he opted for half-truths, his lips curling in amusement.

"If your sister sees you in rags, she’ll be upset. Then you’ll be upset," he pointed, "Then you’ll sulk. And in your sulking, perhaps you’ll decide to relive last night’s horror, rolling around and kicking me in your sleep like a wild beast in the making—"

"Alright, alright!" Arabella cut him off, heat rushing to her face.

Cassius smirked, victorious. He then walked over and finished wearing his black coat, "Now off you go and change, then we could quickly see your sister."

She saw as Cassius made his way toward the door, ready to leave first. At first she hesitated but seeing him about to leave she yelled, "Wait!"

Cassius turned his face slightly, "You hate the color of the dress as I guess?"

"What? No, I like the blue, no it’s not about that," she held her hands together and looked at it only to finally look up and bite her lower lips and pushed herself to speak finally, "Thank you."

Cassius blinked, seeing the frail girl with the white linen dress. Her smile was sincere, her green eyes filled with a sense of gratefulness, while her reddish brown hair glow as the sun behind her stretched.

The sunlight was far too strong, so much so that he felt the need to look away but as Arabella stood there, he couldn’t bring himself to look away even if his eyes felt pricked by the light.

"You’re welcome," he answered her and seeing her cheeks turning pink as she smiled, he thought he could buy a few more dress to see the smile. It wasn’t all bad.