A Shift in Tone

Lucinda was the first to voice her disapproval.

"But Cousin!" Lucinda cried out. "Are you not going to do anything? Look at him! Look at her! Their clothes are practically already off! Any second later and they would've already been―"

She took a step forward, but with one warning glare from Orion, Lucinda remained rooted to her spot. Her words were stuffed right back into her throat, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion.

Orion Elsher had never looked at her with such ferocity in his eyes before. For all her life, Lucinda could only remember her older cousin bending to her every whim and request. He had pampered her for much of his life. Even when he was away at the war front, he would always return with gifts for her. She was the younger sister he never had.

But now… Now he was staring at her as though he would skin her alive if there was one more word from her.

Lucinda wasn't the only one. Everyone else wore similar expressions of surprise, including Soleia. When Orion turned his gaze back onto her, she stepped back, her hand still outstretched to guard herself against Orion in whatever little way she could. Likewise, he pressed forward, the distance between them neither increasing nor decreasing.

"Well?" Orion barked out. "Do you require my assistance or not? Or do you plan for Ralph to suffocate in the snow?"

Soleia swallowed. She stepped aside, making sure to keep ample distance between her and Orion, watching carefully as he stepped toward Ralph. 

The snow crunched beneath his boot as he leaned down and helped his friend up. With one of Ralph's arms over his shoulder, Orion supported his body weight, hauling Ralph back up onto his feet. The latter muttered incoherently, his eyes fluttering open and close. 

"Orion…"

The sweet, dulcet voice that belonged to Elowyn stopped Orion before he could walk any further. He turned back, clear bright eyes darkening momentarily as his gaze found her. She wormed forward, tugging the shawl she wore tighter around her body.

It was obvious that they were already preparing for bed. Elowyn was dressed in nothing more than a thin gown, the shawl carelessly draped over her body in a poor attempt to keep warm. She was shivering, the picture of fragility, her cheeks and the tip of her nose reddened by the cold.

"Come here, my dear," Elisa immediately said, gently holding Elowyn. "It's cold. Don't step onto the snow. We have to be careful of your health― if not for yourself, then for your baby."

Elowyn merely turned and smiled at the older woman. "It's alright, Mother," she said. "There's something I must say to Orion."

Soleia's eyes squinted, examining the thin fabric Elowyn donned. 

The moon's silvery rays bathed them in a bluish light. However, even so, Elowyn almost seemed to glow in an otherworldly manner. Her pale skin glistened under the moonlight, and the collar of her gown, low enough to showcase a bit of her cleavage if it hadn't been for her shawl, had a purple hue to it.

"My mother is right," Orion said, his voice firm. "Wait for me in our chambers, Elowyn. I'll return shortly. Whatever you have to say, we can discuss it later."

"I'll come with you―"

"No."

Elowyn stepped back, her hand placed against her chest in her state of shock. Her lips were slightly parted as she stared at Orion as though he had transformed into a beast right before her eyes.

Realizing that his tone had been a little harsh, Orion pursed his lips and exhaled.

"No," he repeated, this time, gentler. "The night is cold. Wait for me where it's warm." He added after a moment's pause. "I'll be with you soon, I promise."

Then, without waiting for Elowyn to reply, Orion turned and left. Ralph let out a low groan, his arm flailing to the side, causing Elownyn to stumble back, undignified. Soleia bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud at the furious glare in her eyes. 

It was petty, but Soleia never claimed to be a saintess. Instead, she simply gathered her skirts and followed after them, while Lily followed in her footsteps.

In no time at all, Orion had dragged Ralph to his own quarters, unceremoniously dumping him on his bed. Ralph let out a pained wheeze as his head hit the pillow with a dull thud, his limbs splayed wide open on his bed. 

"Be careful with him!" Soleia scolded. This was his best friend, and Orion was treating him as though he was no better than a sack of potatoes. She frowned as she glanced more closely at Ralph's condition. 

The snow should have helped, but there was still a ruddy flush on his cheeks. His eyes were hazy and unfocused, and he continued to blink blearily in Orion's direction, as though he didn't understand who he was looking at.

She didn't dare to look below his belt. Orion had no such qualms; thankfully his friend seemed to have his lower half in order. 

"Whuh? Where am I?" Ralph asked, sniffling weakly. 

"You're in your quarters," Soleia replied worriedly, holding a hand to his forehead. He was still too warm. "Don't you recognize it?"

"...No?" Ralph blinked slowly as a dopey smile crossed his face. "But it makes me happy that a beautiful woman cares so much about me―"

He tried to reach for Soleia's hand, but Orion tugged the offending limb away. A frisson of clarity burst through his veins, followed by the rolling aftertaste of jealousy. This was his best friend. How could Soleia touch him so casually? She was his wife―

"Don't touch me," Soleia hissed. She twisted her hand from his hold and stepped away from him warningly. 

Orion was surprised by the vitriol in her eyes, and at the new purple bruise on her face. 

In the depths of his mind, he recalled faint blurry visions of someone's hand reaching for her cheeks. Instinctively, he raised a hand up, only for Soleia to flinch.

"Orion, what are you doing?" Ralph asked warningly. 

'Who would dare do such a thing to her?' Orion wondered. His mother? His cousin? 

"What happened to your face?"