Sophie batted her eyes when she heard the duke's blunt words uttered in such a casual tone. She didn't know him well enough to understand if he was just teasing her or if he was serious.
If he was indeed interested in her… it wouldn't be the first time. How should Sophie respond to him then?
"Your grace, you have a nice sense of humor…" Finally, Sophie decided to smile so sweetly and speak tactfully. "I am just a lowly peasant. I am honored to be offered a job here and I am looking forward to doing my best to serve you."
Leland sensed Sophie's discomfort and decided not to prolong the discussion. He could tell she was not ready for anything remotely close to having another man being interested in her, and he didn't blame her. He would actually feel disappointed if she did.
Even though Leland hated the fact that she had mated with another man, but he accepted that she was a loyal woman and didn't want to open her heart to another male right away.
That's fine too. He had all the time in the world.
"I am done. Feel free to continue with your breakfast, Miss Hansley. I need to leave you be and do some work," Leland rose from his chair and nodded at Sophie before he left the banquet hall.
This made Sophie feel slightly relieved. She got up from her seat quickly and showed her respect to the duke until the masked man disappeared from sight.
After Duke Romanov was gone, Sophie finished her breakfast as soon as possible. Even though she didn't really have an appetite, she forced herself to eat a lot so her baby would receive nutrition.
***
After finishing her breakfast, Sophie returned to her room and was escorted by one of the maids. Without Leland's explanation of what Sophie was supposed to do, she had nothing to do but follow his orders.
However, Sophie didn't want to sit still and do nothing. It felt wrong to only wait and expect a person to come looking for her again. When Sophie didn't do anything and just waited for Nicholas… didn't he leave and never return?
A painful smile crossed her lips. It was an irrational thing to consider. However, it was the same thing for her parents as well. Whenever the little Sophie played in Hauntingen, she waited until her parents called for her before heading back to Blackwoods.
If Sophie had returned earlier and decided to be a child who didn't need to wait to be encouraged to go home, would she have seen her parents before they died?
There were a lot of regrets in her heart. Each one of them was a little wound that helped shape Sophie's actions today.
She looked at the maid in front of her and asked, "Is there anything I can do to help around the castle? I know Duke Romanov told me to stay in my room, but he didn't say anything about meeting with me again."
"Please just stay here and listen to what Al…" the female lycan bit her tongue from saying Alpha. "—Duke Romanov has asked from you. You do not need to lift a hand at all unless he specifically asks for it."
The female lycan, Dinah, stood in front of Sophie and did not understand what was so special about this woman that led to their Alpha Leland to mark her as his mate. Sophie didn't even seem to know anything about the mark either.
Sophie could sense the gaze of the woman not liking her. It was a thing that she had experienced countless times over with both Lucia and Valerie.
When Sophie first arrived in their household, they first pretended to tolerate her but then reared their ugly personalities in just a few months.
"I see, then thank you so much for bringing me here." Sophie thanked the lycan in front of her with a bright smile. Unlike her two cousins, however, it was in Sophie's interest to get along with the people in the castle.
Dinah bit back down a scowl. This woman was marked by their Alpha and he already told his pack members openly during breakfast earlier that he was interested in Sophie, his statement was directed at his people as much as it was at Sophie. So, Dinah knew she had to watch her language and behavior in front of Sophie.
She bowed down her head. "I am only doing what has been required of me. I will take my leave and return to my duties."
"I am looking forward to seeing you here again. Thank you, Dinah." If Sophie was going to stay here then she didn't want any kind of bad blood at all. It was best to actually make friends.
Dinah hesitated and looked over her shoulder. "If… if you wish for anything within this castle or have any questions, then please do not hesitate to call for me. I believe Lord Ariam will want us to take care of you while you do not still have duties, yes?"
The truth was that Dinah wanted to take advantage of Sophie's kindness.
If this was their Alpha's woman then it would be beneficial for Dinah to become close to her since Sophie would later become their Luna.It would help Dinah become a more esteemed member of their pack. A Luna was the one who assisted and supported their Alpha.
Unaware of the thoughts in the maid's head, Sophie brightened up and reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Then I hope that you can stay here with me and help me understand how and what things you do here in the castle?"
Dinah blinked but then smiled and nodded. "It would be my pleasure to help you understand the roles of each member in this p… in this particular house of nobility, Lady Sophie."
"Sophie. I am not of noble blood." Sophie corrected the maidservant.
"Sophie," Dinah repeated and slowly nodded. "I will call you by name then… as for your questions, I will answer all of them to the best of my ability."
"Thank you." Sophie smiled. She wanted to learn more about how everything worked and if her guess about Duke Romanov's personality was correct. "We should take a seat, then, because I have a lot of questions."
"I'll stay here for as long as you like or when Lord Ariam arrives," Dinah said. She wanted to skip training anyway. Most of the members of the pack liked to stay fit for combat and attacks.
The two women would go to a table inside of Sophie's room and sit down on opposite sides of each other. Both of them wanted something from each other and would do their best to find something useful from interacting with one another.
Sophie would come to learn that the duties of the employees of Duke Romanov were not exactly as strict as that of Aunt Helga who ruled their manor with an iron fist.
Nobody really cleaned much except for what was necessary. Most of them were only pretending to be maids and servants and were instead actually the greatest warriors in their pack.
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