The two maids, thought Ian to himself.

“That I know, I will make sure they see their punishment.” he breathed the words and lifted her chin to continue, “But that wasn’t what I was questioning. Why are you looking very sad, puppy? Was it because of the two maids?” if it was then she shouldn’t be because soon those two would meet what humans would called as the end of their fate.

With his hand was still over her chin, Elise slowly nodded. Her heart was loud but that was not all it was. When she breath out she could see Ian’s black hair that was kept long on the sides flew from her breaths and pursed her lips. “Yes, master Ian I’m sorry the handkerchief you have to me was also torn apart by Nancy. Even though you have given the kerchief for me to keep.” her brows sloped down at the end of her words.

When Elise first receive the kerchief of Ian, it wasn’t a question of how happy she was. Her heart felt elevated and she thought to keep the kerchief clean before returning it back to Ian. Unfortunately, before she could it was torn by Nancy and Lena.

“So you were worried about the kerchief.” he whispered and when she felt his hand leaving her chin, Elise shifted her face down but her blue eyes still stayed over his captivating gaze.

“That is fine, a kerchief or two, I have many more than that. What is important is that you shouldn’t be harmed.” Hearing his words, Elise widened her smile. That Lord was worried for her, and her expression showed how much she was delighted with his worries. Ian took two steps behind and Elise took a step forward when suddenly Ian turned her back which made her stop her feet.

“I smell blood. Did you hurt yourself anywhere, puppy?” asked Ian and Elise shook her head at first as she didn’t feel any pain everywhere on her body when she suddenly felt a pain on her knees and bend down.

“Your knees.” he commented. “When did you hurt yourself?”

“It must have been when I fell down there was a tree branch near me.” replied Elise as she recalled the scene. Then Elise saw him took steps to the cushioned seat which was long and red in color, his hand patting the empty seat as if to beckoned her to say, “Come here.”

“But-“

“Come here, puppy.” He ordered.

Elise without a question strolled over to take a seat at the place he patted at and once she did, Ian bent his knees down and looked up to add, “I can’t see your wounds well. Lift your skirt to your knees.”

Elise held her hand on the air. Her eyes looking at him as if she hadn’t heard his words but clearly she had heard his words. She felt a hitch on her heart, her lips pursed and her throat bobbed. Whether it was because the situation or the fact that Ian was kneeling in front of her whilst asking her to lift her skirt everything made her heartbeat loud and her breaths hard to catch properly.

“It’s fine Master Ian, I will get treated myself.” replied Elise, her heart wasn’t ready for this!

“You don’t have to be reserved it is my own choice to wanting to treat you. You surely do not mind me seeing the wound on your knees, would you?” he asked with a voice that Elise felt to be rather daunting. “I could use my magic to heal you but small wounds are better to be treated naturally and also there is concern if a splinter stayed on your skin.”

Seeing his handsome face up close and his beautiful crimson eyes created a deep shadow of pink over her cheeks down to the back of her neck.

“No. But as an unmarried girl I shouldn’t show my bare legs to anyone.” she replied her eyes showed the panic that arose on her lips. It wasn’t a bad panic but she couldn’t keep calm about pulling her skirt in front of the man she love. There was a slightly happy feeling which she didn’t know whether it was alright for her to be happy with his kindness but at the same time there was the nervousness.

“I promise I wouldn’t touch anywhere inappropriate. I keep my hand to myself. Do you belief me?”

“I do but I’m nervous, I have never shown anyone my legs before,” she confessed which made him to chuckle.

“Of course I know that.” He knew far better than anyone of how pure Elise was and got she wouldn’t show her bare legs to anyone. Elise pulled her skirt to her knees, folding it a little above her knees. Ian knew he was being a little mean, giving her choices that she couldn’t reject but some times when one loves a person there were the feeling of wanting to be slightly mean to the person they love. But unlike the fools who only know how to be mean, he was different and he would make sure to see that his mean action also brought her the love she deserved to.

He enjoyed the view of her expression blushing to crimson where her eyes didn’t dare to look at what expression he made as she folded her skirt. She had only folded her skirt but there was the feeling inside her that felt like she was doing a very naughty thing.

She recalled of how her mother, Mrs. Scott telling her not to ever show her legs in front of men but here she was crossing the line her mother told her not to do.

“It’s bleeding more than I thought.” commented Ian seeing how her white stocking was colored in red pool around her knees. “We should get it treated to stop the bleeding. Wait here.” Ian stood up to the farthest right corner of the room and took the first aid kit he had kept for years which he never knew would ever come to be useful in the situation.

When he went back and moved to his earliest spot, he took her right ankle. Elise who didn’t expect he would touch her ankle felt the warmth of his hand transferring over her. She felt her insides tickle in the taut atmosphere regardless she didn’t let a sound of from her lips.

He pulled the straps of her shoes one under the metal hold and glide her soles off from her shoes to  then place the shoes aside. Her blue eyes stayed at his nimble movement seeming comfortable on his own pace and Ian could sense her eyes staring back at him like water dew.