Chapter 31: Something Spoken, Something Felt
Lilia fell silent. She hadn't known Zethan had no parents. If she had, she wouldn't have brought it up so carelessly. Her face paled as she stammered, "Oh my... I'm so sorry about that. I had no idea."
Zethan immediately interrupted, his tone cool and indifferent. "It's fine, Loris. They've been gone a long time."
The nonchalance in his voice made her hesitate. She turned to him, studying his face, searching for any hint of emotion. There was no trace of pain or sorrow—just the same unreadable, cold gaze he always carried. It made her chest tighten. How could he be so unaffected?
Still, she couldn't help herself. The words spilled out before she could stop them.
"No, it's not," she blurted out. "It might seem that way, but I know... deep down... the loneliness—"
She bit her lower lip, mortified. What was she thinking, saying something so presumptuous? It felt as though she were peeling back a wound he hadn't offered to show. Her fingers curled tightly in her lap as she clamped her lips shut, her thoughts racing. How could she be so thoughtless?
And then she heard it—a laugh. Zethan's laugh.
It wasn't loud or mocking but a low, slow chuckle, tinged with an amused edge. It took her completely by surprise. She blinked, her mind scrambling to understand, when his hand moved, gently tilting her chin toward him.
His touch was firm but not rough, his fingers light against her skin. It wasn't the first time he'd done this, yet every time it caught her off guard.
It was then Lilia realized, with a jolt, that she was still sitting on his lap. Her face flushed crimson, the heat spreading all the way down her neck. Her earlier words echoed in her mind, guilt swelling in her chest. If only she'd known about his parents, she wouldn't have said anything so careless.
Acting on instinct, she reached for his hand, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against his palm. Slowly, she began tracing an invisible circle on his skin, her movements tentative, almost hesitant.