The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 197: A Hidden Thorn

Chapter 197: A Hidden Thorn

"Are you sure this is the same flower?" Madeline asked the equally clueless Ethan as they checked on the flower vase the next morning. Their blank gazes stared intensely at it, yet none of them were able to explain the miracle of the half-dead flower returning to life. Not only did it grow to be healthy, but the once red rose was now a spotless white, and it filled Madeline’s head with endless suspicion.

"Did someone make a transplant?" With her brows knitted dubiously, she picked up the flower vase to inspect if anyone else had laid a hand on it when they left. Noticing little Ethan’s gaze turning despondent as he also wanted to take a peek, Madeline went on her knees so Ethan could also have a proper look at his flower.

"It’s white." Ethan commented as he touched the petal with a finger, and Madeline nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes, but a flower doesn’t grow overnight. It takes days. Hmmn.... Someone must have touched our flower last night. Should we investigate?"

As she inspected the flower including the vase itself, a certain someone watched her from the glass window outside. Amade was helping Cassian tend to the horses of his carriage, but the young lad immediately got distracted when he spotted Madeline and Ethan having what looked like an interesting conversation from the window.

After the intense dream he had about Madeline, Cassian had been asking himself non-stop about what he really wanted from her, and before he went to bed, he came to the final conclusion that he didn’t just need her body, but he needed her soul, heart, her loyalty, her attention, her love and everything that had to do with her.

Apparently, Madeline was the only woman who succeeded in making his heart race in excitement, fear and worry. Even when he got locked up in the cell, his thoughts only ever revolved around her, and it got worse after that dream.

"Look at what you’ve done to me." He whispered with a hint of longing, his pining gaze glued to the young woman inside.

Noticing Cassian’s stolen attention, Amade clapped his shoulder, gaining the young lad’s concentration back as he instinctively moved away from the window, despite knowing he had already been caught.

"Lord Cassian, when are you going to tell her?" Amade asked as he continued to tend to the horses, watching them munch contentedly on the hays, and Cassian looked visibly lost.

"Hmm?"

"You’ve been staring at her for more than ten minutes, the love in your eyes cannot be misjudged. Sigh... I wonder what happened to the bold men of our days. If you really love her, then tell her and stop killing yourself on the inside." Amade passed on his advice, not liking the walls Cassian kept building around himself.

"I accept that I may have fallen in love with her without realizing it, but saying it? What if I scare her off or make her feel awkward?" He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back away from his face. "There were times when I believed confessing feelings wasn’t the hard part, I always believed falling in love was the hardest part, but when I look at her, everything just..... it’s frustrating that I can’t bring myself to say it, and even if I find the courage to, will she accept it?"

Amade chuckled softly at his slight panic of Madeline refusing his love for her. He nearly made the mistake of calling Cassian cute due to his anxious demeanor. Unknown to Cassian, he looked even cuter whenever he bit his bottom lip with his eyes lowered like a sulking child.

"Ah, young love." Amade mused, before shaking his head. "If you’re sure of your feelings, I think the best thing to do is be honest with her about it. Tell the lady how you feel about her personally, cause it won’t be fair to the both of you if you keep it bottled within you forever, but yes, don’t put any pressure on her. Once you’ve told her exactly how much you love her, give her some time to process her own feelings, and be there for her when she’s ready."

Amade stroked the horses Mane, "Women can be complicating, my wife made me wait a whole week before giving in and accepting my proposal. The best you can do is be patient with her, and don’t rush her. Lady Madeline is a good woman, I’m sure she’ll understand."

Cassian nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implication of Amade’s advice. He couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if he did tell Madeline how he genuinely felt for her, would she really feel the same way for him? She would, wouldn’t she?

"We’ll see," he murmured more to himself than to Amade.

"Love is a tricky business, but it’s worth the risk." Amade added humorously, and Cassian couldn’t deny.

Since he couldn’t predict the course of the future or what would be in store for them, Cassian felt it’d be better to tell Madeline how he truly felt for her. No more beating around the bush, and if she does end up refusing, then.... He’ll keep trying till she says yes, afterall, she clearly has nowhere to run since they’re legally bound by their marriage.

Stealing a glance at the window again, Madeline and Ethan were still there, and the flower vase had been placed in their middle. Presently, Madeline looked no different from a bright child as she conversed with Ethan who kept touching the petals with delight.

Amade’s wife suddenly joined them, uttering something about breakfast to the two of them, and Ethan, who’s eyes lit up at the mention of food, instantly scurried off to the dining room, eliciting a laugh from Madeline and his Mother.

"Come." She wanted to usher Madeline to the dining room, but Madeline insisted she’d join them after placing the vase back on the window sill. Ethan’s mother didn’t say anything further and quickly left to set the tables.

Madeline rose to her feet and placed the vase back on the window sill. Her eyes still studied the flower, speculating on its mystifying change, and when she ran a finger across the stem, a hidden thorn pierced through her index finger, making her wince in pain as she withdrew her finger.

"Ouch!!"

Hearing Madeline hiss out in pain, Cassian’s alarmed gaze immediately snapped in her direction. "Maddie?"

Madeline, who felt the quick sting in the flesh of her finger, tried to soothe the pain by blowing air into it, but she stopped in obvious startlement when Cassian grabbed hold of her index finger from nowhere, his worried eyes staring at the blood that escaped from where the thorn had pierced her.

"Are you alright? What were you doing touching the flower like that? You’ve gone and hurt yourself!"

"I’m fine." Madeline tried to assure him in a soft tone, but Cassian ignored her words as his eyes landed on Nathan who was stepping into the living room.

"Nathan, where do you normally keep the ointment cream for small cuts?"

"I’m fine, seriously...I" Madeline’s tone trailed off when her eyes landed on the vase to see the once blooming flowers had withered and shriveled to nothingness.

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A/N: This bonus Chapter is dedicated to Ariana_Sawyer, Bound_Reader and Beauty_San, thank you for the Golden Tickets!! ♡♡