“You never loved me, did you?” -- Pick a ship >:)
After an eternity away from this blog and writing in general, I want to get back to answering asks. I’m very rusty so I apologise for the terrible quality @labyrinthofleah
"You never did love me, did you?" Leah x Jan
He heard the door slowly creak open, his first thought being that he would have to have one of the servants oil the hinges once tonight's ball had come to a close. He also knew that the ungainly yet demure footsteps that followed could only belong to one person. The one he cared about more than anything in the world.
But he didn't turn around. Instead he continued to polish the silver teapot that sat on the table in front of him a little too vigorously.
Leah waited for what felt like an eternity fiddling nervously with the row of diamonds that sat just below her collarbone all the while, before her soft voice finally broke the silence.
"You'll wear it away if you keep polishing the same spot."
The butler's tailcoat fluttered slightly as he swiftly turned. His neutral expression faltering for a brief second when he caught sight of the red wine splattered across her dress and the tiny wisps of hair sticking out from her once immaculate bun. Before she could notice, he quickly composed himself and gave the bedraggled noblewoman an elegant bow.
"My lady."
"Jan." Slipping out of her skyscraper heels Leah padded towards him, her feet sinking into the thick pile carpet with each step she took. "You know I hate it when you're so formal with me. There's no need when we're alone."
He took off his white gloves and laced his calloused fingers through hers, the smile that played on his lips vanishing almost instantly. Jan couldn't afford to let his heart rule his head. He had to do the right thing leaving him no choice but to cut ties with the most beautiful woman in Dres Van. He wanted the best for her and he knew that life with a lowly butler wasn't it.
"Leah, we can't do this anymore. We shouldn't be together."
She could only frown as he pulled his hand away, a stifling silence filling the room once more.
After several minutes she looked up at the man towering above her, warm brown eyes brimming with tears.
"I don't understand. Why?"
Jan's handsome features hardened as he spoke, his deep voice devoid of any emotion.
"We don't belong together. It's that simple."
She couldn't believe he could be so cold. After everything they had been through, all the risks they had taken to spend every moment they could with one another, however fleeting they may have been. Now he was treating her like she meant nothing to him at all.
Without another word he turned his attention back to the tea set not bothering to slip his gloves on this time. Prince Joshua would have something to say about the unsightly fingerprints covering his best silver when Jan served him tomorrow. But he couldn't bear to look at his beloved any longer. If he did, he would wrap his arms around her and never let her go.
It was impossible for her to hold back the tears that had been threatening to fall, jet black trails of mascara running down her cheeks. "You never did love me, did you?"
Jan swore he felt his heart shatter into a thousand pieces as those words fell from her lips. Didn't she know just how precious she was to him? But if he truly cared for her he had to let her go. She needed to find someone who deserved her and as far as he was concerned that would never be him.
He remained stoic not daring to stop her when she fled the room, still bare foot. Once the sound of her heart wrenching sobs faded completely he whispered,
"Ich werde dich immer lieben."
