Duke Alistair silently watched Azrael's back as he walked out of the drawing room and the large doors closed behind him. After a moment, he let out a tired sigh as his shoulders slumped slightly.
Ashelia huffed softly. "You must really be exhausted after all that, father," she told him. "The Archduke is certainly a handful…"
"You must be careful with him, Shelia." The Duke interrupted without turning to face her. "You realize he still has that strange interest in you, don't you?"
Ashelia pursed her lips. "...Yes, father."
He then faced her with worried eyes. "The only way he could have found you in that abandoned street is if he was following you. The Archduke is not the type to concoct plans in secluded places. So that is the only explanation."
A shiver went down Ashelia's spine at her father's words. The Archduke had been following her? Was that what happened in the forest too?
She nodded slowly. "I… I understand."
