Dydra's icy blue eyes slowly left the forest ground, her gaze traveled upward from his muddy boots, to his long legs, to his waist, his chest, his neck, before landing on his midnight eyes. He strongly glared at her with irritation in his eyes, which had the young witch break gaze and once again stare at the forest floor.
"Mmm." Leonard hummed as though confirming his suspicion. With quick movements, one of hands that was in his pocket, was pulled out and went straight to Dydra's chin. His warm fingers came into contact with her cold chin, and he grasped it tightly, lifting her head, his midnight eyes pierced into her ocean blue eyes and he asked.
"Who sent you?" His question was simple, straightforward. His voice appeared calm and low, but one could easily spot the authority and building irritation laced with it. He spoke as though the whole world was under his feet.
Dydra's brows drew close in confusion. W-what did he just ask her? Who sent her? What does he mean? Is this guy some kind of runaway and he thinks someone sent her after him?
"M-my lord, I know nothing of what you speak." She answered honestly with a confused look.
Leonard's eyes narrowed, and his ears listened to her heartbeat—it was steady. She was telling the truth. He withdrew his grip from her chin, placing his hand back in his pocket.
Dydra breathe a sigh of relief and she bowed again, turning around as an attempt to leave, but once again, he prevented that.
"State your business here." He ordered. She stopped in her tracks and turned, but not looking him in the eye. From the manner he spoke, the young witch knew this man was no ordinary person, and the faster she complied and remain obedient, the higher are her chances of leaving this forest with her head on her neck. But then, what is her business here? She couldn't possibly tell him she was running away from an aged but not so aged woman, who infiltrated her mind through witchcraft, making her gain the memories, she had locked away, of her late grandmother! She bit her lower lip and stumped her bare foot in annoyance. Things weren't just going her way, were they?
Her little action didn't go unnoticed by Leonard, who found it a little amusing. The corner of his lips pulled for a slight second, as he patiently awaited the girl's answer. From the way her heart skipped a beat when he questioned her, Leonard knew there was something bad attached to her presence being in the forest, by night time.
"I-I got lost....from my family." Dydra immediately bit her tongue as the words left her mouth. Lost from her family?! No one would believe that! What if he requested for a name, what would she tell him? She's from the Thelmond family? The family where the man of the house kicked her out a few days ago, and also tried to kill her, and after she lost consciousness she didn't know what happened to him as she woke up in a carriage, where a man tried to rape her, but he didn't success as hefty men rubbed the carriage just in time and she does not know if he was knocked out or killed. And she managed to escape by stealing a horse, but she was chased by—
"What is going on in your head....little fox?" Her thoughts were immediately shattered by the man in front of her, who had now leaned to her level, as he was really taller than her. She hadn't noticed as she was engrossed in her thoughts. Her breath immediately seized, and she made an attempt to leave, but there was something that played in his eyes, as though daring her to leave and see the consequences. And hold on, d-did he just call her..little fox? A frown settled on her face. She is not little and she is definitely not a fox.
Leonard watched the girl before him intensively, noticing as her expressions changes from the thoughts she had. It made him wonder what was going on in her little head. He noticed the look of displeasure she had from the little name he called her, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"What did you just call me?" She questioned, her voice sharp, with her icy blue eyes, looking more icy.
"Do you have problem with your little ears, little fox?" He taunted, seriously aware that she would be annoyed. And sure enough, she was.
The red-haired girl disliked the way her used "little" when addressing her. "I am not little, neither am I a fox. So, could you stop calling me that?"
She noticed him rise one of his brows, and he leaned back, his figure towering over her. And he gave a knowing look, which she didn't catch until she observed closely. He was pointing out the height difference between them. The young witch clenched her teeth, stumped her foot and glared at him.
Leonard seemed to be enjoying the way she glared at him and he pointed out. "Forgetting our places, now are we?"
Her glare suddenly seized and her eyes widened. H-he's part of the wealthy! She screamed in her head, as if just figuring it out. She bit her lower lip hard, and bowed her head deeply.
"My lord, forgive me!" What was she thinking?! Oh, she is digging her own grave, and it's big and wide!
A low chuckle escaped Leonard lips, which made Dydra's body tense, and she was about to completely lay on the muddy floor, when he suddenly asked.
"What happened to your shoes?" His gaze went to her little feet, covered with mud and a frown settled on his face. Why wasn't she with shoes? Is she being mistreated by the people she stay with? The thought alone broke a chain of rage within him, and he pressed his lips tightly in anger.
Dydra, after all this while, finally realized she had stormed out of the cottage without her boots due to anger. Why didn't she notice this sooner? Was she so blinded with rage that she forgot her boots?! And now was she going to give another lie to this man of class, who wouldn't mind his business and leave her be! She brainstormed hard.