Chapter 44: Ride

"I can’t quite understand why you’re refusing to join my family for breakfast," Nikolai said idly, his gaze fixed on Ophelia. She sat in a chair next to the bed, savoring a piece of steak drenched in a rich, flavorful sauce. She had bathed earlier and now wore a loose shirt and pants. Unlike the previous day, she had let her hair fall freely, giving it a tousled appearance. Nikolai watched her with a mixture of fascination and hunger, his attention riveted to her as she enjoyed her meal. If only his focus was solely on the food; that would have been quite normal, but his thoughts were otherwise preoccupied. "You really want to die," she responded, licking the sauce from her lips. Her tone was light, but the comment was underscored by a sense of genuine exasperation. Nikolai stifled a groan and looked away briefly before turning back to face her. "You’re already killing me," he muttered under his breath, his lips twitching in response to the innocent, almost adorable expression she g