Despite having a good intention, Lariette didn’t know Ruediger couldn’t sleep well throughout the night. Aside from being concerned with her condition, he also beca more aware of the space they shared.
Ruediger lay stiffly on the bed, his body rigid against the soft mattress. His crimson locks spilled on the pillow, revealing his tensed face.
Blinking, he quietly turned his head, looking at Lariette deeply sleeping by his side.
’She sleeps so well. Thank goodness.’
Lariette also laid on her back, her fever-flushed face facing the ceiling. She bundled her long hair into a high bun before going to sleep, feeling restless by the heat.
Under the blanket, her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
In the witching hours, the room was quiet, only to be broken occasionally by their soft breathing and rustling of the bedsheet. Outside, the breeze carried the faint echoes of the waves kissing the shore.
Smiling, Ruediger returned his gaze to the ceiling, his erald eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. Despite being tired from yesterday’s events, sleep eluded him as his mind was a storm of thoughts.
Declan promised to give results to them tomorrow, sothing Ruediger was hoping for.
If it was up to him, Ruediger wanted to join the interrogation and investigation. Still, he knew that he had to be careful with his movents.
If Declan didn’t give satisfying results after the investigation, Ruediger planned to take this matter into his own hands.
Was what happened purely a coincidence? Or, was there sothing sinister lurking behind?
’Those guys... Who are they, really?’
As the hours stretched on, Ruediger remained awake. He listened to the quiet cadence of Lariette’s breathing. He occasionally placed the back of his hand on her forehead, grateful for the heat lessening.
’I better brew the soup now.’
After making sure Lariette was fine as she slept, Ruediger left the room around five in the morning. He made his way to the kitchen downstairs instead of heading to the pantry.
Ruediger asked Lariette what she wanted for breakfast. The lady said she simply wished for a hearty chicken soup to be eaten with crusty bread.
Thus, a certain crimson-haired man was busy in the kitchen at the crack of dawn, intending to prepare soup for his feverish wife. All the ingredients were already prepared by the kitchen crew.
Hours passed by as the first ray of sunlight ushered the night away.
The dazzling sun hovered above the horizon, slowly rising to the sky. Streaks of violet, ruby and amber were cast on the sky, reflecting on the shimring surface of the ocean.
Lariette stirred awake, her body still heavy from the lingering fever. She slowly lifted her eyelids, her sight blurry before she gradually regained its clarity.
’...what ti is it?’
The room was so quiet, save for Lariette’s breathing and the rustling of the sheet. Turning her head, she looked at the table clock.
Eight-fifteen. It was still early.
Lariette diverted her chin to another side. Her sapphire eyes blearily looked at the empty chair by the bed before they shifted to the empty space by her side.
Ruediger was gone.
Lariette still rembered waking up at midnight, including her telling Ruediger to lie on the bed instead of sleeping on the chair. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed thus, she didn’t know whether he got so rest or not.
Extending her hand from the confines of the blanket, Lariette gently touched the space on the other side. The sheet felt cool to the touch, indicating Ruediger was long gone.
’Did he even sleep at all?’
Lariette pushed the thoughts aside for now. Dragging herself out of the bed, she headed to the washroom. Her steps were slow as her feet still hurt from the cuts.
Ruediger returned to the room right before Lariette stepped out of the washroom. Arching his brows, he looked at the empty bed.
"When did she wake up?" Ruediger glanced toward the washroom, hearing the click of the door before being opened, "Lettie."
Lariette erged from the washroom, her sapphire eyes colliding with Ruediger’s erald ones. Curling up her lips, she slowly walked toward him.
"Good morning, Eddy," said Lariette, her voice slightly raspy, "Did you even sleep, en?"
"Morning, Lettie. I slept quite a bit."
Ruediger replied, not daring to tell Lariette the truth. He rushed to her side, his eyes moving from her pale face to her hands.
"Did you remove your hand bandages?" asked Ruediger upon seeing the absence of the gauze around Lariette’s hands.
"It’s hard using the washroom with the bandages on," Lariette smiled sheepishly. She followed Ruediger to sit on the edge of the bed.
Once they were seated, Lariette showed her palms to Ruediger, "They don’t hurt much this morning. See, even the redness fades."
Ruediger carefully held the sides of Lariette’s hands, assessing the looks on her palms. His movent was spontaneous, driven by his concern for her.
When he finally realized, he simply smiled at himself.
"Yeah. Your hands look better," muttered Ruediger, his brows slightly furrowing, "Still, let’s put on the ointnt again. How about your feet? Do they still hurt badly?"
Lariette blankly stared at Ruediger’s face as he analyzed her palms. The heat of his touch gently crept into her skin as his palms enveloped the back of her hands.
"Still hurt..." Lariette replied, almost in a whisper, "W-well, it’s actually alright because I didn’t sprain my ankles or whatnot. I’m sure all will be better in a few days."
Ruediger let out a soft sigh, his lips curling up. He slowly let go of Lariette’s hands.
"I’ve made so chicken soup for you. You wanna eat it with bread, right? Let get them."
"Thank you, Eddy," Lariette nodded, her pale face had a slight tint of pink on her cheeks, "I’m hungry."
Ruediger simply smiled. He quickly hurried to the pantry. After brewing the soup, he brought a pot upstairs alongside so freshly baked bread.
When Ruediger returned with a food tray, Lariette was standing on the balcony with a shawl wrapping her shoulders. The cool, morning breeze tousled her hair as she stared at the sea.
"Taking a fresh air, I suppose."
Lariette glanced behind her shoulder, seeing Ruediger smiling at her as he put the tray on the table. The sunlight was reflected on his red hair, each strand shimred with hues of crimson and amber.
"Having a delicious bowl of chicken soup with this pretty scene, won’t it make the soup even more delicious?"
Lariette’s cheeky reply earned laughter from Ruediger. He pulled up a chair, gesturing at her to sit. She swiftly left the railing, her appetite soaring from the divine sll of the soup.
"You have guests," said Ruediger as he poured so hot tea into a cup, "Your brothers are already here. Mr. Declan seems to have news already."
"...so early?"
Lariette parted her lips, curiosity and awe flickering in her eyes. She didn’t expect that Declan and Rafael would co to this villa at such early hours.
Ruediger nodded, "I think it’s good news."
Lariette blinked. Those words stirred curiosity in her heart. She wondered what had Declan and Rafael had unearthed in less than a day.
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