Second Female Leads' Playbook

|Future|

"You're really not my master?" Arina asked while making her move on the chessboard. 

"At times like this, I really wonder what's between your ears," he drawled sardonically. "If I am really your master, do you think you can get away with hitting me or bossing me around?"

He did have a valid point, Arina thought. Even though Carlisle was always teasing her with his sharp tongue, he really was very patient with her. No matter what she wanted, even without her mentioning, he would give it to her. He sometimes smiled gently at her, not the fake gentle ones, but the real ones which made her felt... loved? She shook her head, what was she thinking. There was only one reason why he treated her this way. 

"If I am not your pet bird, why are you treating me so well?" 

His hand froze midway, holding a marble piece on top of the chess board. 

"Why are you suddenly asking so many questions? Do I have to explain everything to you?" he asked with a half smile and shrugged nonchalantly. 

See, he hadn't changed at all. 

Then he added, "If I don't want to treat someone well, no one can make me." He finally made his move. "And vice versa." 

Arina lowered her eyes to avoid his piercing gaze. Why was he always like this? Saying things that could speed her heart up. That could make her blush, Arina thought. 

After the chess match, the two of them rested underneath the huge peach tree. It was a perfect afternoon, with clear blue sky and gentle breeze. Slowly, the two of them fell asleep in this leisure afternoon. Arina's head lying on Carlisle's shoulder. 

When it seemed like both of them were sound asleep, Arina opened her eyes. Her eyes shone with her usual calm and intelligence. Her hand gingerly touched Carlisle's. 

"Guilt can't tie down people. You belong to greater things, discard me, like you're supposed to," Arina muttered with melancholy. She lowered her hand again and returned to lying her head on Carlisle's shoulder. Like what happened before was just a mirage in the desert. 

She closed her eyes. But why... why was she still stealing his warmth like a thief? Just a while, she thought. Let her stay greedy for some more time. With this thought, she slowly drifted to sleep. 

As soon as her breathing became deep and regular, Carlisle opened his eyes, not an ounce of sleepiness was found inside. He tapped his finger on Arina's forehead lightly. 

"You're such a bad liar," Carlisle said with a half smile. "And it's not because of guilt, you stupid bird." 

He wrapped Arina's hair around his finger and said softy, "I will wait for you." 

He would wait for her to forgive him. Even if it took forever. 

It's his punishment. 

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Special chapter

After the great battle with Ralph, Arina accompanied Carlisle back to Ivory Manor, her home for twenty years. Carlisle was officially named the heir of the Duke. Now that Ralph was in disgrace, the Duke of Cregan happily named the son he thought he preferred more as the heir. Carlisle had won. He had won in this power struggle.

Ever since Arina had returned, Carlisle had treated her very well. Arina knew better, it's because of guilt. But how long could guilt last? A week? A month? When she was in need again, she would be used as a tool again. Everything for the master. Arina knew it's her job, a job passed down to her from her family. If her family could do that, why couldn't she? She should not be complaining. What's the difference between her family and her?

Arina knew it's because of her feelings for her master. Feelings she knew she should not hold. She wish Carlisle would treated her as his equal, not a tool. But that would never happen. Arina knew she was reaching her limit. The repercussion and the feelings she held inside her heart had been eating her inside out, shattering her mind bit by bit. She would lose her mind sooner or later.

Very soon, she would turn into a beast. A bird with no human thoughts. A beast who had the appearance of a girl. Arina was determined to save the last piece of dignity she had. She would not let that be the last image of her in Carlisle's mind. Let's escape, Arina had thought. Escape before she had fully lost her mind, before she became a crazy woman in Carlisle's mind. Left when she was still the girl who stole important information for him, the girl who helped him won the power struggle with Ralph.

She had carefully planned her escape. One could not leave Ivory Manor without the permission of higher ups. Arina could only plan her escape in secret. She had hired a retired chef in Ivory Manor with all her savings. She then sneaked into the store room to steal a power suppressing shackle. Everything went surprisingly well, maybe fate wanted her to escape too. 

"Arina you seem to be in a good mood today," Carlisle had asked on the day of her escape. 

"You think so?" she had smiled mysteriously as she took in the handsome lord in front of her. "I have an intuition that some exciting is coming up next." 

"Something exciting? I sure am anticipating," Carlisle had replied with a smirk. A reply he had regretted on the next day when only an empty room was left for him. 

Arina laughed for the first time in ages. "Yes, something exciting. Both for you and me." 

Maybe by escaping Ivory Manor, she would finally be set free of her trapped life inside this gilded cage. Maybe then she would no longer be treated as a tool. But as someone to be remembered, a girl who was once useful to the Manor. What an ironic fate, Arina had chuckled when her escape plan proceeded smoothly, she was finally set free when she lost her mind. At least she would be happy and free as a bird. 

Farewell Carlisle.