Chapter 13

Chapter 13

After arriving at Troy's house, I headed straight to the bathroom to freshen up, feeling a sense of unease between us as we remained silent. My mind was filled with questions about how Troy knew I was in the area, especially considering the many job opportunities in Tyreese. As I showered, memories of the earlier events flooded back, and I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Troy hadn't intervened.

Once I was done, I changed into the pajamas and shirt Troy had given me, only to find him setting the table for dinner. I was surprised by his sudden kindness, as he typically ordered me to prepare meals.

Why is he so nice all of a sudden? Is it because of what happened earlier? Is he worried about me? I swallowed hard. Why am I assuming things again? Elisaria don't start again!

"How could a bad wind pass through you and you are the one who prepared our dinner tonight?" I said as if everything is back to normal. He sat in front of me and raised an eyebrow at me. I just noticed that his hair is also wet. Maybe he also took a shower from his room's bathroom. I can smell his manly scent. I don't know why it smells so good to me.

"What if I won’t let you eat now?" he answered. I blinked and quickly sat in front of him.

"I was just joking!" I said quickly and took the rice to put on my plate.

We ate in silence, the tension between us palpable, making me eager to break it with conversation.

"How did you know I was there?" I inquired. He remained unfazed by my question, carrying on with his meal as if it were insignificant.

"I saw you enter that building," he replied nonchalantly, continuing to chew his food. Dissatisfied with his answer, I furrowed my brow. I sensed he was hiding something, and I wanted to uncover the truth.

"And why were you there?" I pressed, curiosity getting the best of me.

"I was just passing by," he stated bluntly. I clenched my teeth, knowing he was lying.

"But why did you enter that office at that specific moment—" I started, only to be cut off.

"Shouldn't you just be grateful that I was there to keep you safe?" His icy tone caught me off guard. His once playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by cold, piercing eyes. Why was he suddenly acting this way?

"I was simply asking out of curiosity! I deserve to know! Yes, I appreciate your help, but I want to understand how you knew where I was!" I persisted.

"If I had known you would react like this even after I rescued you, I would have thought twice about it," he retorted coldly. I scowled, puzzled by his reaction.

"Why is this such a big deal for you? I am only curious, or maybe you are hiding something—" I started again, only to be silenced by his authoritative tone.

"One more word and you're out of this table," he warned sternly. I fell silent, biting my tongue to hold back any further comments. I couldn't comprehend why he was acting this way when all I wanted was an explanation for his knowledge of my whereabouts.

I remained silent, focusing on my meal. I was taken aback when Troy abruptly stood up and cleared his dishes.

"You can wash the dishes. I'm going to bed," he instructed before leaving. As he headed towards his room, I felt him pause. Turning to face him, I wondered what was on his mind.

He placed a piece of paper on the table beside my glass of water, catching my attention. With a puzzled expression, I looked at the paper.

"Visit that place and apply for a job at that shop," he directed, leaving me stunned. Quickly picking up the paper, I read the address and the name of a hardware store listed. Hurriedly, I stood up to confront Troy as he made his way into his room.

"Why are you helping me now?" I inquired. He paused, his hand on the doorknob of his room, before responding, "I already told you, as long as you are under my roof and my rules, you are my responsibility." With that, he entered his room and closed the door slowly. I sighed, studying the piece of paper in my hand. I wasn't sure if I should feel grateful or offended, but I knew I had no choice but to accept it to prevent a similar situation from occurring again.

This experience was a lesson for me, one that I was determined not to repeat. Despite being a princess in my kingdom, where I was constantly protected and shielded, I realized that in the world of Tyreese, I was still vulnerable and in need of help to survive. Unfortunately, it was Troy's assistance that I needed the most.

The next day, Troy was not home anymore, likely at work, so I prepared to go to the address he had provided. Upon arriving at the hardware shop, I was impressed with the facilities and the friendly staff. Despite the dust and noise from the construction site nearby, everything seemed fine. I applied for a job and was pleasantly surprised when the manager informed me that I could start the following day. I was so shocked and grateful that I was left speechless.

I feel like it's even happier than when I won my first fencing match against my brother Alpha Phoenix!

I was so happy that when I was walking out of the shop, I didn't notice a tall man in front of me so I accidentally bumped into his stiff arm.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—”

"Smiling alone will make you look stupid, you know,"

Wait... what? I know that voice!

I quickly looked up and my jaw almost dropped when I saw Troy's grinning and mocking face clearly in front of me! Wait... what is he doing here? I immediately looked down at his clothes and noticed that his clothes were the same as those who worked there at the construction site. Wait... don't tell me... he works here?!

"You... work here?" I asked, shocked. His brows arched mockingly.

"Where else?" he said.

Then… I’m gonna work with him?! Is this some joke or something? Damn it!