Chapter 181: Talented Manipulator
"No one touched me." Samantha instinctively covered the slight scar with her palm, and her lashes fluttered briefly while trying to make up another excuse. "I was fondling one of the bloomed roses in the garden, and I accidentally scarred my skin with a hidden thorn. I.... Didn’t think you’d take such a miniscule matter that seriously."
"Oh miniscule, you call it miniscule?" Ivan arched an offensive eyebrow at her, his hardened gaze transfixed between the fresh scar and his little lamb’s face, and even when she tried to turn the conversation into a light joke, he still wasn’t smiling concerning how she had placed her sentence. "As long as it concerns you don’t ever expect me to take it lightly. I take every part of you just as seriously, now be a good little lamb and let me see for myself how deep it is, I still smell blood on you, did it make you bleed?"
"Ivan..."
Samantha called his name in protest the moment he tilted her chin up to get a better look. His worried eyes observed the scar with intent, and when he leaned in to get a closer view, it became a little clear that the scar was still a clean cut. Using his eyes to measure the length, he refused to believe this was caused by an ordinary thorn. Suspiciously, his eyes drifted to catch her troubled expression before she masked it in.
"I’m fine." He heard her say again, more assuringly this time around. "It will heal in a day or two, now do you need me to help you get ready? You’ll be having a meeting with the Ministers and Courtiers once they arrive, so you need to prepare." Using the conversation as a distraction, Samantha walked past Ivan to his wardrobe to pick out the royal attire that was made specially for official meetings. Somehow, she had managed to contain her tears and ease her heart, but for how long can she keep up with this pretense before he eventually finds out?
She hated lying to him, and she hated herself more for being unable to do a thing about it, but her brother’s life was on the line here. For someone who had managed to maneuver her way in the Palace without getting caught or suspected, Samantha knew she had tied herself into this dangerous game with Lady Agathe, and because of this, she can’t risk making any abrupt decision. Just thinking about their encounter made her heart clench in pain, but she stifled a cry and continued searching in order to buy herself more time.
Ivan’s concerned gaze lingered on the woman who was busy picking out a dress for him, and in no time, she brought out the exact attire that was needed for his meeting today. Samantha moved to his bed and carefully placed them on the surface before turning around to look at Ivan. His eyes searched her face, and although they were hints of exhaustion, she had schooled her expression quite well.
"I’ll set the tub quickly."
"Wait." Ivan called her back, and Samantha stopped in her steps to look at him. "The Courtiers haven’t arrived yet so there’s no need to rush it. It’s fine if you don’t want to explain the scar to me, I won’t force it out of you just yet, but you can at least tell me what happened between you and that perverted Nichole, and why you had him choking to death."