Belle had mixed emotions that she had been containing in her little chest for quite some days now. To be pushed to meet a suitor by the man who she had harbored underlying feelings, she awkwardly smiled.

"I am in no mood to meet Mr. Edmond's son. I don't even know them well," said Belle beginning to walk in the corridor who was being followed by Lucas.

"Isn't that the whole point of going to have lunch so that you can meet and get to know them. You don't plan to live alone in this mansion all your life, do you, milady?" asked Lucas.

She turned her head to look at him as she walked, "I have you and the others here. How is it alone?" she questioned him.

"It is one of your mother's wishes before she died. If not yours, do it for her sake," he said overlooking what she just said and Belle noticed it. She wondered if he planned to leave her side one day and the thought made her sad.

Stopping her feet from walking any further, she turned to look at him, "What if I said I like someone. Is that a good reason enough to not go?"

"He must be from a renowned family if it is you have shown an interest in him," stated Lucas, "Did you speak to your parents about it? Perhaps we can ask your aunt to accompany you."

"No," Belle pursed her lips.

"No?" Lucas titled his head in question.

She stared into his black eyes that never wavered. She wondered what would move a cold heart like his. Belle had her own pride but there was also her heart that was ready to push aside the pride to let him know about her feelings. After all, a servant never made a move because of their position they were in.

"He might not be someone of the same status but he is someone I have liked and would want nothing but to spend my life with him. I have been meaning to ask-"

"Miss Belle," Lucas interrupted her, "I think it is better you don't finish that sentence," he offered her a polite smile.

Belle frowned, "Why not?" she asked him.

"Because I know exactly what you want to say and I would ask you not to speak about it for your own sake this time," the silence around her started to numb her along with the response he gave to her questions.

She tried to keep her still as she tried to understand and decipher the words he spoke to her. At one moment her heart shuddered at the thought and knowledge of him knowing about her growing fondness for him but at the same time, he had stopped her from speaking any more than what she had said right now.

"You should go to sleep, Miss Belle. The invitation-"

"Do you know who I like?" Belle asked him. Her eyes looked at him anxiously, demanding an answer from him.

"Yes," came the indifference in his voice and it broke her heart, "The reply to the invitation was sent by your mother herself when they had invited you and her, therefore the Edmond's will be expecting your arrival at their residence."

Belle was hurt by the way he continued to push her in going to meet Edmonds. The feelings she had tried to convey through words, he had brushed it away like it were nothing. She didn't know when he found out about it and she was slightly embarrassed by the thought of her obvious emotions but it wasn't Belle's fault that she couldn't hide. Lucas was just good when it came to reading people. Her hands clutched together in fists next to her sides.

"Is that all?" she asked him.

He bowed his head, "Yes, milady."

Belle stared at him for two more seconds and turned around to hear him wish her a night which she didn't return.

Lucas stood there watching her walk through the corridor alone ahead of him and to take the stairs.

Belle didn't stop her feet and by the time she got into her room, Barron who was seated on the bed noticed the girl was back, "I heard the shadows-" he was greeted with the door being shut loudly before being locked, "That's one way to close the door."

She stood facing the door, her hand on the surface of the wood which she slowly let go. When she did turn around Barron noticed she looked sad and low spirited. She had been crying a lot since her parents had died but this morning she appeared to be doing better. He was the reaper who wasn't comfortable with tears. He wondered what had her crying, it was surely that shitty reaper, thought Barron to himself.

Belle got on the bed and pulled the pillow close to holding it in her arms.

"He must have said something! You are the only one who speaks to me and that butler made you sad," Barron grumbled, "I am never nice but one day when I put him in the doll, you can take your revenge on him too."

When the time of morning arrived, Belle was still upset with the way things had gone about. She had been very careful in not letting him know about it but he found it before she could tell it to him herself. When she tried to speak he had cut her off, ignoring whatever she had to say as if to let her know that he wasn't interested in it.

Was it because he saw her as a child? Or was it because of their status? Maybe he didn't see her as a woman.

After getting ready, she went down to see the butler who was waiting for her at the end of the stairs. He bowed and greeted her like their short conversation last night never took place, "Good morning, Miss Belle. Did you have a good sleep?"

How was she supposed to make him look at her? asked Belle to herself.