The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Be More Gentle

Housekeeping was an easy task, especially since Oriana’s job only covered making sure a single bedchamber was clean enough for her master’s satisfaction. Not to mention, her master would only come back to his chamber to sleep and bathe. There was little reason for the chamber to turn dirty in the first place.

Making the bed, sweeping the floor, cleaning the carpet, wiping the furniture, replacing the candles and changing the flowers on the vases, these kinds of simple tasks would take about an hour or two to do.

At this moment, Oriana was finished with her chores, and there was nothing left for her to do after Arlan disappeared without leaving an errand or order for her.

She was wondering how to spend the rest of her day. The plans she made yesterday...

’Luke! Right, I haven’t seen Luke since I started working for the Ahrens. I wonder how he is. We can eat our midday meal together.’

Oriana went to the rear part of the main mansion and witnessed a bustling site of laborers at work.

From what she overheard from Ken, the Count ordered for the annex to be expanded as soon as possible, adding a new building, two more floors and another twenty rooms, thus the current construction. With the current manpower, it would probably take at least three months to half a year to finish.

The renovation on the exterior part was yet to be even half-completed. Oriana could see people installing glass on the windows, some men precariously hanging on ropes on the facade to arrange the fixtures.

When she reached the entrance of the building, she came across Ken outside.

The man waved at her, a hammer in hand. "Orian, look at you! I almost did not recognize you in your uniform. How are you?"

"I am good, Ken."

Ken observed the youth clad in a black-and-white attendant uniform. "It’s been just two days since I last saw you but it feels like more time has passed."

"I feel the same, Ken. Where is Luke?"

"He is inside. I think you can see him in the fourth room to your right as soon as you enter."

"Thanks! I will go meet him."

Ken nodded and Oriana went inside the building where she found Luke working on the interiors all by himself. His back facing her, he was fixing a piece of wood on what appeared to be a framework for a staircase.

Oriana observed the guy engrossed with his task. A twinkle appeared in her eyes. ’Let’s have some fun.’

She walked slowly and was about to scare him by making an animal-like roar, but just as she was about to pounce, Luke happened to turn around at the same time. Her mouth, which was in a large ’o’ shape made no sound, her hands raised like cute claws over her head.

The intensity in those dark eyes seemingly made her entire body freeze.

Equally stunned, Luke stared at that cute form, unable to move a single muscle. He could not move his gaze away from her. He even forgot to breathe.

Seeing the fiery way he looked at her, her body shuddered. She did not know why, but she felt an odd sense of guilt. She lowered her hands and closed her mouth, clearing her throat awkwardly, "I, uhm, I was just trying to—"

"What are you doing here?" she heard him ask in a hoarse voice.

"I came to meet you, of course."

Something flashed in those dark eyes, but their owner turned around and resumed his work, intending to ignore his playful visitor.

Oriana forced a smile on her face as she walked around Luke, admiring his work. "When is your break? Do you want to eat together?"

"Don’t you have work to do?"

Oriana heard sarcasm in his tone, and only then did she remember that her friend was against her working for the Ahrens. "Luke, why are you mad again? I have a reason why I started working here."

"The pay must be really good."

"It is, but that is not the reason I’m here."

"Whatever it is, you got what you want."

"Luke, I know you didn’t want me to work for a noble family but you need to listen to me first."

He pointedly ignored her and said nothing.

Regardless of Oriana’s goal or ambition, Luke had no right to dictate her actions. She was someone with her own mind, and Luke knew that—and that was also the reason why he was frustrated.

Noble families were arrogant people obsessed with reputation that commoners like Oriana and Luke were more likely to suffer under their whims.

Luke didn’t want Oriana to work here because he didn’t trust the Ahrens. In the first place, why would a count household allow a fifteen-year-old youth to be hired as a servant? She was without prior work experience, and there were no recommendations and background checks done on her either.

Was it for Oriana’s pretty face?