My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 29

I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned in bed, hearing the overwhelming beating of my own heart. I kept thinking about why my words made Sariel so angry, and more importantly, was he still angry at me for asking that stupid question? I hoped not. The relationship between him and me was fragile even without any additional conflicts. Thankfully, Gabriel seemed to be less prejudiced against me. It would only make my job much harder…

I got up as if I hadn't slept at all. I splashed cold water on my face over a hundred times before I started to resemble a human being, and not that I resembled any attractive inhuman before doing it. I was only a beginner when it came to cosmetics and make-up. In my twenty-five years of living, I didn't really have time to care about my looks. I was a fast learner. I had the full theory, but experience and skills were completely different stories. I stood in front of the mirror trying to fix my lashes so they wouldn't resemble insect feet. Fortunately, Martha came in just in time to give me a hand.

"You should be thankful that your skin doesn't require much make-up. You are lovely as you are." She smiled as she gently tapped a bit of loose powder on my cheeks.

"Not today… I got up looking like I had escaped from the remake of the Night of the Living Dead," I scoffed at myself.

"Tough night? What happened?" Martha seemed deeply concerned.

"Well, the Duke got angry with me yesterday. Maybe I shouldn't even mention that I've found out about the human he loved and how it all ended. I made foolish assumptions and apparently said a little too much." I smiled awkwardly.

"Maybe it's because you resemble her…" Martha muttered under her breath, but I heard her quite well.

"What did you say?" I asked, gazing into her eyes.

"Nothing…" She tried to dissuade me from the topic.

"Oh, come on! Who do I resemble?" I was going to make her talk no matter what.

Martha sighed and raised her hands in surrender, "Laura, you resemble Laura, the human whom the Duke loved," she claimed, cautiously looking me up and down.

I gasped. All the scenes with Sariel ran through my mind. I smiled bitterly.

"That would explain a lot. I foolishly believed that there was something within me that he found attractive, but I guess I am merely a poor reflection of his tragic love."

"Please don't say that!" Martha consoled me, "The Duke wouldn't keep you in the castle because of sentiment. He is too cruel for that…" She realized she overdid it with honesty and quickly covered her mouth.

I chuckled. I had to admit that the last argument was something I decided to hold on to. As stupid as it was, I could feel more at ease if it turned out that he didn't treat me as a walking-talking image of his dead fiancé.

I shook off the thoughts about Sariel and decided to focus on work. I put on a stylish overcoat, grabbed my purse, and walked out into the corridor. Then a sudden thought crossed my mind…

"The Duke… Is he at the castle?" The last thing I wanted was to run into him before work.

"No," Martha replied at once, "He left before dawn today. He took Mr. Gotha with him, and they both left in a hurry."

I wondered what was so urgent to make them leave… for a second. Then I made a quick resolution in my mind not to dwell on anything else except for my job. I was relieved that I wouldn't have to find out firsthand if Sariel was still mad at me. It was enough that I knew that I would meet him later, after work, when I would testify in front of the Great Council.