Chapter 4 Chapitre 4

The sharp click of pen against paper echoed in the silent room. Sitting across from Draven , Lyana stared at the contract in front of her, her hands trembling slightly despite her efforts to appear impassive. The document, detailed and meticulously written, seemed to weigh a ton. Every word seemed a fetter, every line a chain that she could no longer break once she signed it.

"Read it again if you want. » Draven 's voice, low and tinged with impatience, broke the silence. He was sitting across from her, his piercing gaze fixed on her, as if he were trying to penetrate the slightest of her doubts.

"I've already read it," she replied dryly, her fingers tightening on the quill. She hated the way he made her feel so small, like she was just a pawn in a game she didn't even know the rules to.

Draven didn't respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, and an almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. "So, what are you waiting for? »

Lyana took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to throw the feather across the room. She had no choice. Her family had made it clear, and they knew that resistance would only make things worse. She signed quickly, as if doing it quickly would lessen the pain.

Draven took the contract, looking at it briefly before signing it too. "It's done," he said simply, putting down the pen with an almost cruel calm.

She looked at him, searching for any trace of emotion on his face, but there was nothing. No satisfaction, no joy, no anger. Just a disconcerting coldness.

"Is that all? » she asked, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

He raised an eyebrow, as if he found her question entertaining. "What were you waiting for? A ceremony? A party? It's just a contract, Lyana . Nothing more. »

His heart sank at these words. She knew their union was just a strategic alliance, but hearing it from him made the reality even more brutal.

As he got up to leave, she felt a surge of anger rise within her. "And to you, all this really has no meaning? Not even a semblance of humanity? »

He stopped, slowly turning towards her. His gaze was icy, but there was a spark, a shadow of emotion that she couldn't identify. "If you want a romantic relationship, Lyana , you're in the wrong fairy tale. Emotions have no place here. »

His words were like a slap in the face. He left the room without a backward glance, leaving her alone with a mixture of humiliation and frustration.

Later, as she explored the mansion once more, her mind tormented by Draven 's coldness and the weight of the contract, she came across a door she had not noticed before. It was different from the others: solid wood, with an imposing lock and carved designs that looked strangely familiar.

Lyana hesitated, but her curiosity took over. She turned the handle, surprised to find that the door was unlocked, and entered. The room was dark, lit only by the pale glow of the moon filtering through a narrow window.

The interior was strange, almost sinister. Shelves filled with old books, artifacts of all kinds and documents scattered on a desk. In the center of the room, a table covered with a black cloth caught his attention. She approached, gently lifting the fabric, to discover a series of strange objects: a dagger decorated with red stones, symbols she didn't understand etched into the metal.

A shiver ran down his spine. This room had nothing to do with the rest of the mansion. She exuded secrecy and danger. As she examined a notebook next to the dagger, she suddenly heard footsteps in the corridor.

His heart raced. She hastily put the notebook down and hid behind a shelf. The door opened slowly, and she immediately recognized the figure of Draven .

He entered, his gaze scanning the room as if sensing a presence. Lyana held her breath, praying she wouldn't be discovered. He approached the table, his fingers brushing the dagger, before whispering something she couldn't hear.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally left the room, closing the door behind him. Lyana came out of her hiding place, panting. What she had just seen raised more questions than she already had.

Back in her room, she sat on the bed, her mind racing. Who really was Draven Blackthorn ? And what was this mysterious room?

The next morning, during breakfast, she decided to confront him.

" Draven ," she began, struggling for words.

He looked up from his journal, his expression unreadable. " Yes  ? »

"What is in that room upstairs? The one with the carvings on the door. »

A flash flashed in his eyes, but he quickly recovered. "It's nothing that concerns you. »

She put down her coffee cup a little too forcefully, challenging him with her gaze. "Nothing that concerns me? I live here now, right? I have the right to know. »

He leaned back in his chair, an icy smile playing on his lips. "You are full of curiosity, Lyana . But know this: Some doors are closed for a reason. Open them, and you might not like what you find. »

His tone was a warning, but it only fueled his resolve.

The tension between them was palpable, each word exchanged like a dance on the razor's edge. Lyana felt that she was venturing into dangerous territory, but she could no longer turn back. She had to know.