Nighttime Encounters - Chapter 26

Kaiden stared into the woman’s eyes, as if trying to penetrate her very soul. Swiftly, as if avoiding Kaiden’s gaze, the woman lowered her eyes.

Her crimson lips parted weakly, releasing a faint sigh. “Oh, that…” Her fluttering eyelashes trembled pitifully.

“You shouldn’t touch others’ belongings without permission.”

“I was trying to place the food near Master’s vicinity. Because of this.”

Despite her faltering explanation, the woman tightly clutched the ribbon, while still trying to justify herself. Kaiden’s grip tightened involuntarily.

“It shouldn’t be pressed against the bowl, it could spill food, and I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable eating, so I was just trying to move it to the side.”

Kaiden sighed softly, sensing a slight tremble from the hand he touched. “I appreciate your concern, but now, please return it. It’s important.”

After hesitating for a moment, the woman slowly pulled her hand away from Kaiden’s grip. Her palm was pale without a trace of blood due to how tightly he had held it. It made him see the purple ribbon wrapped in her palm all the more clearly.

Its color resembled her eyes.

Kaiden picked up the ribbon, which looked eerily like her, with his other hand. As his intense gaze fixed on it, the woman ventured to add one more thing.

“Young master. This ribbon seems quite worn out. Would you like me to throw it away?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“It’s a crucial piece of evidence for an investigation,” he explained coldly.

Kaiden released the woman’s hand. Then, he neatly folded the ribbon with his large hands and placed it inside his jacket pocket. His gaze inadvertently drifted towards the woman’s hand.

Did I overreact?

The woman’s small hand was tinged red. She was just trying to lay out the food. The sight of her hand, so clearly marked, made him feel uneasy and somewhat guilty.

With a softened heart, Kaiden impulsively said, “Please leave the food. I’ll eat it later if time permits.”

At Kaiden’s begrudging permission, the woman’s face brightened. “Really?”

“However, you don’t have to go through this trouble next time.”

Seemingly relieved by just that, the woman vigorously nodded her head. “Yes, yes. Thank you for understanding. I won’t come back again.”

Bowing slightly in thanks, she swiftly turned to leave. While she had hesitated greatly when coming in, her departure was rather swift—like a startled bird taking off.

Kaiden’s eyes grew fierce as he stared at the bouncing platinum hair.

As she reached for the door handle to open it, Kaiden suddenly called out to her. “Just a moment.”

She looked back at Kaiden, visibly surprised. “Yes?”

Her questioning violet eyes sparkled brightly, filled with curiosity. However, as Kaiden and the woman locked eyes, she lowered her gaze as if concealing a jewel.

Finding her strangely intrusive, Kaiden furrowed his brow and asked, “By any chance, what’s your name?”

After a moment’s thought, the woman cautiously replied. A clear, melodious sound akin to a bluebird flowed from her crimson lips. “It’s Rosiana.”

“Rosiana?”

“Yes. My friends call me Rosia, too.”

“Rosiana.”

Rolling the name off his tongue, Kaiden quickly scanned the ledger in his head, trying to recall if this lingering taste in his mouth meant anything.

“I see.”

There was no mention of Rosiana in the ledgers. So, it seemed not.

It was an absurd and baseless assumption. To think such things just because of violet eyes and a purple hair tie. For a moment, Kaiden allowed himself a self-deprecating smile at the absurdity of his imagination. It was clear that thinking too much about Trinity had clouded his rational judgment. A timid and naive girl juxtaposed with the agile and feisty Trinity—they were polar opposites.

As Kaiden was lost in thought, Rosiana’s clear voice reached his ears. “Oh, Mr. Kaiden.”