Chapter six: A man obsessed with his own name...

The golden rays of the morning sun found their way onto the beautiful and defenseless face that still wandered in dreams.

Yuki opened her eyes immediately the brilliant rays reached her face. She sluggishly brought her hand over her eyes to shield them from the morning's brilliance.

Slowly, she rose and sat up, yawning for a long stretch of time before her eyes would unwillingly flare open. She had had a good sleep; her gleaming skin was proof of that.

 Yuki's lips spread into a bright smile as she stretched her limps. "When was the last time I slept so well?" Yuki muttered to herself contently.

 Now, sitting in the bed, Yuki finally found herself scanning her environment. Her bright blue eyes gradually dimmed and narrowed as they moved from one corner of the room to another. She stared blankly at the unfamiliar room. The unfamiliar bed. And then, finally, the very familiar face of the man whose eyes were fix on the pages of a book and who was sitting in a sofa not so far from her.

She froze, as if she wasn't already, when the events from the day before began surfacing in her mind. Yuki's mouth slowly parted from each other in disbelief while she stared at nothing in specific. God, please let this be a dream, she found her atheist-self praying.

"Good morning to you," Kaithenn greeted courteously. With graceful gesture, he closed the leather-bound book in his hand, an action that caused a soft thud to echo through the quiet room. His long hair cascaded down his back as he rose from his seated position with fluid elegance. Escorted by subtle movements, he reached up and gently removed his glasses.

Receiving no response for his greeting, Kaithenn lifted his eyes from the folded frames of his glasses and looked at the dazed girl. He tucked the glasses into his pocket and neared the bed. When he reached the girl's side, he stooped and stared into her thoughtless face.

"You appear well. Do you care for a meal?" Kaithenn asked politely and straightened his back nobly.

"Yes," Yuki blurted out without any thought. Her cheeks grew pink the moment Kaithenn closed in on her. His closeness did not help her state of mind!

After studying the girl for a brief moment, Kaithenn turned and left the room.

Still stuck in her head and the bed, Yuki's heartbeat started accelerating the moment Kaithenn's frame existed the door. It was as if the lack of his presence made Yuki more self-aware or as if when in his presence, her anxiety could not surface.

Either way, as soon as she was left on her own, Yuki finally grasped the depth of the situation in which she found herself.

She had entered Beicheden. She had spent the night at a man's house; a noble man no less. She had stayed out all night. She has had her face exposed, and to someone who was acquainted to Yuki Adlerian. Could this be a sign of her nearing doom?

"Ahem. Miss?" A voice intruded Yuki's thought. She shifted her eyes and looked in the direction of the speaker. Beside the bed, now stood a petite middle-aged woman. She wore a homely expression as she stared back at Yuki.

"Master asked me to get you ready for breakfast… Excuse me," the woman neared Yuki and pulled aside her cover. She also assisted the confused girl out of the bed by gently yanking her.

After Yuki took her bath, the woman helped her in combing her hair and even getting her into a lovely blue dress she had prepared forehand. To Yuki's amazement, the dress was a perfect fit, it was as if it was made for her.

When Yuki stood before the full-length mirror that the woman ushered her to, she was visibly taken aback. "You look magnificent, Miss," the woman complimented. Yuki stared at a side of herself she had never seen before. She looked beautiful and innocent; she hated it.

As the woman led Yuki out of the room, down several stairs and towards the dining room, she noticed just how colossal and grand the structure was. She wondered if all the Beichans live in such large mansions?

After a while, the woman stopped before a large door and asked Yuki to go in. Yuki hesitated briefly before opening the door and entering.

Immediately after she entered, she was greeted by Kaithenn's intense gaze. She could not return his stare for many reasons.

Kaithenn got up from his seat and pulled another for Yuki. She got into the chair still looking everywhere but the man's face.

"I did not know what you liked to eat and what you didn't, pardon me if your preference is not here," Kaithenn said politely.

Yuki looked around the table and noticed all kinds of food on it; but there was only them on the table. "I am not picky," Yuki responded with a low voice.

"Alright. Then eat a lot, you exerted too much energy yesterday."

Yuki finally looked at him. He did not wear any discernible expressions on his face as usual. His black eyes beheld her own unwaveringly, causing Yuki to look back down as the hazy images of their intimacy from the night before came to mind. Her face flushed.

While Yuki ate as quickly as she could, so she could finally get an excuse to leave that place, she did not realize that Kaithenn's eyes were fixed on her the entire time as he sipped on a cup of tea.

"I expected you to express a little curiosity regarding my identity, in gratitude to my service to you. Should I interpret your lack of interest as a normal conduct towards people you have your way with?"

Yuki choked on the food that was in her mouth and coughed profusely when Kaithenn's words were perceived by her. He handed her a glass of water and a napkin which Yuki received with caution and discomfort.

"I-I wanted to, I thought talking after the meal will be the best idea, forgive me if I gave you the wrong impression," Yuki said after calming down. She had completely forgotten the characteristics of the guise she was supposed to be wearing at that moment.

The masked raven was arrogant and prideful. She was a woman that had little regard for men; whoever they may be. She was a composed woman. A mature woman. A charming woman. The masked raven was an unforgettable woman. But now that her mask was nowhere in sight, now that she was looking so pure and innocent, was she still the masked raven?

Kaithenn smiled slightly and took a sip of his tea. He lifted and placed aside a few locks of his hair that had shifted out of place when he offered the girl a napkin.

After she finished her meal, Yuki courteously wiped her lips, cleared her throat, stood and rendered a bow to Kaithenn, "I am very sorry for yesterday. And thank you for helping me with dealing w-with…that," Yuki apologized while still refusing to look at Kaithenn. Her face was pink from the embarrassment.

"I did not know that was another way to ask for someone's name?"

"I wanted to apologize first, Sir," Yuki said politely while trying very hard to remain composed. Was she overthinking it or was he especially interested in having her know his name.

"May I know your name, Sir?" Yuki finally asked, her eyes fixed on Kaithenn's shiny shoes.

"Kaithenn Valthanae," Kaithenn said, his eyes intently gazing at Yuki who only nodded politely after he said his name.

"Say it," Kaithenn commanded.

Yuki's discomfort morphed into utter confusion. Her expression did well to protrude her state of mind. "Sir?"

"My name; repeat it," Kaithenn stated while holding Yuki's confused gaze.

"Sorry?" Yuki's brows raised even further.

Kaithenn did not repeat himself, instead, he tilted his head, his gaze intensifying as he looked into Yuki's eyes.

Seeing her confused expression in the mesmerizing blacks, Yuki found her composure and corrected her countenance.

"Sir-

"Without honorifics," Kaithenn interrupted the girl, then blinked for the first time since she came into the dining room.

Fuck! Yuki cussed inwardly while maintaining a courteous smile. He was definitely obsessed with his name!

"Kaithenn Valthanae," Yuki mentioned, softly.

As soon as Yuki said his name, Kaithenn's drab expression faltered. His eyebrows which was straight and stern, now curved slightly, softening the lines of his forehead. His lips, once pressed into a firm line, parted ever so slightly, revealing a hint of vulnerability. Finally, the corners of his mouth twitched, hesitated, and then, like the first rays of dawn breaking over the horizon, a gentle smile spread across his face.

Ahhh! Yuki's heart skipped a beat as she gawked at Kaithenn. He isn't human, is he? Yuki found herself thinking as she beheld his beautiful smile.