Chapter 28: In His Room

“How’s my princess doing?” Edward asked through the phone. Finally, he was able to get in touch with Reiner. He couldn’t find an opportunity to meet Natalia and it was making him anxious.

“She’s fine. The argument she had with Lucien seems to have died down. If things go well, she should be free to leave the house soon,” Reiner replied without any emotions.

“I highly doubt that. You don’t know my brother as well as I do. If he could, he’ll keep her under lock and chains with him forever in that house,” Edward stated coldly. Nothing that seems to go well is necessarily going well. Calm water may be calm only on the surface.

“What is the purpose of this call?” Reiner asked. He wanted to get to the point immediately.

“I heard Natalia went to see Doctor Greta. What did she have to say about Natalia’s case?” Edward asked.

“How did you know that?” Reiner asked back. Edward seems to know about everything that is going on.

“Walls have eyes and doors have ears. I actually know Doctor Greta personally. We’ve met a couple of times at conferences and such. Lucien is not the only one who knows her. However, as protocol calls for, she is unable to reveal details of her patient’s case. I know that well, so I won’t bother her by asking,” Edward explained quickly. It was clear that his patience was wearing thin.

“Natalia told the doctor about her dream of getting lost and scared in a dark and rainy forest. Doctor Greta believes that her dream could be remnants of a real traumatic event that actually happened, but her brain has chosen to forget. Something someone said or a place she has been to recently could have triggered her memory of it,” Reiner summarized the session.

“I see...” Edward replied in a low voice. His brain was already racing ahead to think of his next move.

“Let me ask you directly. You know the truth behind Natalia’s dream, don’t you? The place she’s been to recently ... the things someone said, you took her somewhere and said something to her, didn’t you?” Reiner asked with clear concern in his voice.

“Maybe. Until she tells me directly, I won’t know for sure,” Edward replied levelly.

“I don’t know what you have to gain from this, but you are putting Natalia through another trauma and so much pain...” Reiner said with a clear edge in his voice.

“How about we both do our best for Natalia. I might hurt her for her own good, but you’ll be there to comfort her, right?” Edward replied without any worry before ending the call.

... Hmm ... how should I go about this? I’ve been standing in the main hallway of the house for a while now as I gathered my courage and wits. A couple of maids have walked past me already and I still couldn’t gather enough courage to ask them what I wanted to ask. Ok ... I will definitely ask the next maid that walks pass me.

Here she comes! I think she is new and still quite junior. Perhaps this is just my luck!

“Hi there!” I greeted her awkwardly as I stepped into her path.

“Oh ... good afternoon, Miss Natalia. How may I help you?” the young maid asked me. She must be around my age or just slightly older. She’s young compared to the other more senior maids we had in the mansion.

“I was wondering if you could ... tell me where Reiner’s room is?” I asked her. Finally, I was able to spit it out.

Immediately after those words left my mouth, the young maid gave me a very puzzled and suspicious look. No surprise there, why would the Lady of the house be asking where her butler’s bedroom is? And asking a random maid on top of that ... I guess it’s obvious why I’m asking her. It’s because I could ask Reiner a million times and he would never tell me! So, I didn’t even bother.

“Umm ... Miss Natalia. If you would like, I could let Mr. Reiner know that you would like to see him in your room?” She finally replied in a timid voice. This is going to be harder than I thought hmm...

“Actually, there’s something I want to personally give to him and thought it would be more efficient if I went there directly...” I explained to her.

“Umm ... I guess if that’s the case then...” she murmured softly before giving in and provided me the location of Reiner’s room.

This is slightly ridiculous. How can all members of the female maid population of this mansion know where his room is but I, the lady he’s supposed to be serving, cannot know? This is driving me insane.

... I stood in front of the door to Reiner’s room. Now that I’m here I don’t know why I’m here. I mean, if I wanted to see him, I could just call for him to meet me in my room or any parts of the mansion. I’m not even sure if he’s in his room right now. Maybe, I should just leave?

I was still stuck in my own thoughts when suddenly the door to Reiner’s room opened.

“Natalia? Why are you here?” Reiner asked with one eyebrow raised. Ok, braincells, now is the time for you to think up some smart excuse...

“Umm ... I asked one of the maids where your room is,” I replied reflexively. No! that was not what I was supposed to say.

“And ... why did you go asking around for where my room is?” Reiner asked in a lighter tone now, amusement clear in his twinkling blue eyes.

“Because ... you probably wouldn’t tell me no matter how many times I asked...” I replied with a slight pout. It’s hard not to be honest with him when Reiner is so sincere.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t have told you. There is no need for you to know where my room is. If you need me, you can just call,’ Reiner replied, and I knew that logically he was right.

“Well, there seems to be a need for all the maids in the mansion to know where you room is. How come I’m the only one without the need to know?” I countered. I had my logic too.

Reiner sighed loudly as he seemed to have given up.

“Now that you know where my room is, what are you going to do with that information? By the way, all the maids know where my room is so that they can find me in case of emergencies and I’m not picking up my phone. They don’t know where my room is so that they can come inside and play,” Reiner questioned with challenge in his voice. Hmm ... so he’s clearly not going to let me in.

I guess the fact that he wouldn’t let me in made me more curious about what his room is like. I just want to see more of his private space to learn more about his on a more ... personal level? After all, they say that you can learn a lot about the personality of a person by taking a look at his or her room.

“Hahaha! You’re so on guard around me now. Don’t worry, I’ll give up for now, but in no time at all, you’ll willingly let me inside your room...” I stated with certainty, a smile on my lips. The one who will win this challenge will be me. You’ll be letting me inside in no time ... I had no idea when I said that that the time would come much sooner than I thought and for a very different reason...

“R! ... R! ... Reiner!” I yelled his name so loudly that my throat hurts as I pounded hard on his door. My hands hurt from the effort of my pounding, but nothing beats the throbbing pain in my head. I don’t remember how I got here but if he doesn’t open this door soon ... they’re going to get me! They’re going to find me! My body was wet with sweat and my face was wet with tears. Please, you have to open the door!

“Natalia...” Reiner whispered in shock when he saw me standing in front of his door.

The moment I saw him, I threw myself into his arms as I hugged him tightly to me.

“Help me ... R...” I sobbed into his hard chest. My voice was so cracked that I could barely recognize that as my own voice. I was panting hard and finding it difficult to speak and stay on my feet.