Chapter 254 Unexpected invitation

Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Unexpected invitation

After dinner, Daisy excused herself with a polite gesture and headed upstairs towards her room. She had spent quite some time with Mateo earlier, helping him with his studies and now she wanted to freshen up and prepare a few things for the following day.

Alessio remained seated for a little longer, finishing the water in his glass while listening to Rafael and Eva discussing something across the table. His attention, however, wasn’t entirely on their conversation. Every now and then, his gaze would drift towards the staircase through which Daisy had disappeared.

He placed his glass down, pushed his chair back and stood.

A few seconds later, he followed her.

He hadn’t planned to.

At least, that was what he told himself.

There had been no particular reason to leave the dining room so soon. He could have stayed with his siblings, perhaps listened to Rafael’s plans or discussed a few things with him. Instead, he found himself walking upstairs, his hands resting casually in his pockets as he followed the familiar corridor.

Daisy was just reaching the hallway leading towards her room when she noticed someone approaching from behind. She turned, her expression changing slightly when she saw him.

Alessio slowed his steps.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

He looked at her, trying to find a reasonable excuse for approaching her. There were several things he could have asked. He could have mentioned her apartment renovation, asked whether she had everything prepared for tomorrow’s outing, or simply reminded her not to stay up too late.

But none of those things seemed particularly necessary.

He had simply wanted to spend a little more time with her.

And admitting that to himself was already becoming rather troublesome.

"Today is a full moon," he finally said, his voice calm.

Daisy blinked and glanced towards the large windows at the end of the corridor. Through the glass, the moon was clearly visible against the dark evening sky, its silvery glow spreading across the surrounding trees.

She looked back at him.

Alessio cleared his throat slightly, adjusting his posture.

"My room has a beautiful view from the balcony." He paused for a moment, keeping his expression composed. "Would you like to have a cup of hot chocolate?"

Daisy looked at him with visible surprise.

It wasn’t that he had never invited her into his room before, but lately, he had been rather careful about maintaining a certain distance. His behaviour had become noticeably more reserved, and even their casual conversations had grown shorter.

So the invitation was a little unexpected.

Alessio, meanwhile, was beginning to wonder whether he had made it sound strange.

Perhaps he should have asked more casually. Perhaps mentioning the full moon before offering hot chocolate had been an unnecessarily elaborate way of inviting someone for a drink.

He watched her expression, trying not to appear too eager.

She might be tired. She might have things to prepare for tomorrow. Perhaps she simply wanted to return to her room and rest.

He had already begun preparing himself for a polite refusal when Daisy’s lips curved into a small smile.

"Sure..." she mouthed silently.

For a brief moment, Alessio almost forgot to respond.

He quickly composed himself and nodded.

"All right."

His expression remained perfectly ordinary, but the quiet satisfaction inside him was rather difficult to conceal from himself.

He took out his phone and sent a quick message to the household staff, asking them to prepare two cups of hot chocolate and bring them to his bedroom. He also requested something small to accompany the drinks, perhaps a few biscuits or chocolates.

After putting his phone away, he turned towards the door and unlocked it.

"Come in."

Daisy followed him inside.

As she stepped through the doorway, Alessio instinctively placed his hand lightly against the middle of her back, guiding her further into the room.

He only became aware of his hand when she was already inside.

He withdrew it naturally, pretending nothing had happened.

Daisy didn’t seem to notice. Her attention had already shifted towards the spacious room and she was looking around with quiet curiosity.

Alessio closed the door behind them.

His bedroom was considerably spacious, decorated in a combination of white, charcoal, and deep grey. The overall design was minimal and uncluttered, reflecting his preference for sophisticated surroundings without unnecessary decoration.

A large king-sized bed occupied the central portion of the room, dressed in white sheets and several neatly arranged pillows. The dark upholstered headboard extended across the wall behind it, complementing the charcoal-grey bedside tables on either side. Each table held a modern lamp that cast a warm, gentle glow, softening the otherwise cool appearance of the room.

A comfortable seating area occupied one corner, consisting of a dark grey sofa, a low coffee table, and a floor lamp beside it. A few decorative pieces were arranged neatly on the shelves, while a large painting hung above the seating area. Everything appeared carefully selected and placed, with no unnecessary clutter.

The room was unmistakably masculine, elegant, and orderly.

Daisy looked around, taking in the details.

Her gaze briefly travelled towards the large bed before moving to the seating area and the floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to the balcony.

Alessio watched her for a moment.

"Something interesting?" he asked.

Daisy turned towards him and shook her head with a small smile.

He nodded, then gestured towards the glass doors.

"The balcony is this way."

He walked ahead, and Daisy followed him.

Alessio reached for the handle and pulled the glass doors open.

A gentle night breeze immediately entered the room, causing the long curtains to sway slightly. The cool air carried the faint fragrance of the garden below, along with the earthy freshness of the trees after the evening’s moisture.

Beyond the balcony, the full moon hung high in the dark sky.

Its pale silver light spread across the distant landscape garden and the surrounding forest, illuminating the rooftops and treetops of the estate. The carefully maintained lawns below appeared almost silver beneath the moonlight, while the winding stone pathways disappeared between the shadows of the trees.

A few garden lamps remained lit, their warm golden glow creating a beautiful contrast against the cool blue tones of the night.

Farther away, the forest stretched towards the horizon, its tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. The sky was unusually clear, allowing the moon to shine without interruption. A few scattered clouds floated at a distance, their edges faintly illuminated by the moonlight.

It was a beautiful view, especially on a clear night like this.

Daisy stepped outside.