Dresses?

VALEK stood with a set of folded clothing hung on his arm. He seemed reluctant, but he'd eventually knock on the wooden door. No response came. He tried again, but still nothing. 

There was no other choice than to open the door and walk in, and when he did, he'd come to a stop, his red eyes halting at the edge of the bed. Eira knelt there on the warm floor with her head thrown back against the bed, fast asleep. 

He did not want to imagine how much she had eaten because she was drooling and it appeared she had fallen asleep, possibly while staring at the ceiling. 

A soft breath fled his nose, and he dropped the clothing on the couch, then walked over to her. He squatted and began to stare at her face, everywhere suddenly going quiet to him. The matching sounds of the maid's feet were no more. 

More or less, he hadn't exactly paid attention to her face, but taking a close look now, he'd noticed that her white lashes were longer than they usually should be. However, due to its color, it was hard to notice from a distance unless one paid deep attention. 

"Mourean," he whispered her name.

The girl didn't wake up.  

He tucked the strands of her hair that were over her face behind her ear and drew a deep breath. What was he even doing there? He should leave, he was a gentleman after all. It was not okay in any sense for him to be in there, lingering. It did not matter if she slept on the floor or not, it had nothing to do with him. 

If she were to wake up to him there, heaven knows what she would assume. 

His eyes flickered hesitantly, and he stood up, turning around to leave. However, at the door, he halted, changing his mind. He walked back to her, lifted her into his arms, and laid her carefully on the bed. He peeled the sheet over her and stepped back to leave, but the heavy sound of something falling made him stop. 

Eira had rolled off the bed. And the man was too stunned to speak, standing and peering at her unconscious body. 

How unladylike could she be to have such a terrible sleeping habit? Falling asleep on the floor, rolling off the bed—what's next? 

"I will twist his guts if it's the last thing I do!"  

He jolted, his eyes wide with shock. Oh! She sleeptalks. Ha… right…

"I will murder you if you get in my way and shove your captain role into your dirty grave," Eira continued. 

"Oh." Valek grimaced. She was dreaming of him.  

He gathered her off the floor and laid her on the bed. Then he walked over to the sofa and sat down, his legs crossed and a fisted hand supporting his tilted head. He watched her, his eyes trying to read her like she was some sort of interesting page he'd turn and revisit. 

"Into your dirty grave, captain," she murmured, pointing a finger to the ceiling. 

Right..

The captain raised his brows and something akin to bafflement flashed in his eyes for a second before they vanished, immediately masked by his blank expression. 

Should he leave? "She might fall again." He grabbed a book and flipped it open to keep himself busy. He would leave by morning before she woke up. 

And he did leave. 

Eira had woken up the very next morning to find no one in the room except her. Her nose twitched, and she sniffed deeply. "Was someone in here?" She could smell a very pleasant perfume. And it sort of smelled familiar. She just wasn't sure on whom she'd perceived it. 

"Good morning, miss." 

She turned her head. 

It was a woman, quite slender, dressed in a black ankle-length dress and a white apron with a white bonnet containing her hair. She seemed to be in her late thirties, with light wrinkles here and there. 

"Did you sleep well?" The servant approached the windows and pulled the knot, drawing the curtains apart. 

She sat up on her bottom and wiggled slightly at the pain she felt on the side of her belly. "Who are you?" she asked.  

The maid bowed. "Elizabeth Mou," she said, rising with a polite smile. "I am your personal servant."

"Eira Mourean," she introduced before Elizabeth could ask, and swung herself off the bed down to her feet on the floor. "Is something going on?" 

Elizabeth shook her head. "Not at all. I'm here to help you wash." She walked her into the bath chamber, stripped her of her nightdress, and helped her into the tub filled with warm water. 

"What is this smell?" Eira asked, curious. 

"It's the petals, miss," Elizabeth said. "Do you like it?" 

She nodded with a smile and picked up one of the red petals. "I do," she mumbled, inhaling the fragrance.

By thirty minutes more, they were completely done, and Eira now stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself. 

"Elizabeth." 

"Yes, my lady." Elizabeth curtsied. 

"D-dresses?" she asked, glancing at her through the mirror with watery eyes. "What about dresses?"

"I—well, miss, I am just..." Elizabeth stuttered. She was not sure of what to say. The attire she had on was what was delivered. Which made sense, considering she was the captain's second butler. 

"This is evil." Eira sniffled and peered hard at the attire. It consisted of a well-tailored dark tailcoat above a white shirt that was tucked into her black pants. Her feet were covered with polished buckled shoes. 

"M-miss, look into the bright side, it looks good on you." 

"I look like a boy!" She shot the woman a glare and turned to storm out of the room. 

"Approve of the letter sent by the king." It was Valek. "I will pay a visit to the royal manor and—"

"My lord!" Eira shouted at the sight of him and threw herself onto him. The captain caught her by the armpits and stared down at her with widened eyes. 

"I—what are you doing?" 

"Is this to spite me?" 

He was confused. 

"What are you talking about?"