บท 84: Kitten in a Wolves Den
Meanwhile, at the Bar in Verdaselles
Evangeline was indulging in more cocktails, clearly intoxicated. The bartender looked shocked as he watched her down yet another drink. "Richard, I can't get enough of this delicious cocktail!" she exclaimed, raising the glass to her lips. Just as she was about to take a sip, Richard intervened, snatching the drink from her hand.
"That's enough," he said firmly. "You have a lot of work to do tomorrow." Evangeline rolled her eyes, hiccuping slightly. "I'm not drunk; I'm fine!" she insisted, though her swaying movements contradicted her words.
Richard shook his head, his gaze drifting to a nearby table where a group of men were deep in conversation. "Dominic has revoked the traditions of the hotel and didn't invite my family to the anniversary," one man declared, his voice dripping with contempt. "He's just as cunning as Victor Brusward. He thinks we can't do whatever we want to him."
His friend chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, I heard his wife is beautiful and doesn't like him. Perhaps we could take her, and she might agree to help us."
The first man smacked his friend on the head. "You don't value your life, do you? Do you want to end up like the Vorenforth family? Or lose a limb like Khardis Khardes?" The man who had struck his friend rolled his eyes, irritated. "Let's talk about how to remove the shame from our names and deal with the Sarogaths family. Royal or not, I don't care."
Evangeline clenched her fists, her heart racing as she listened to their conversation. "I'm furious that I couldn't get an invitation to this anniversary! How can they be so shameless? After my grandfather helped Azielle manage that hotel and grow it, they show no respect for our efforts," the first man continued, his hand tightening around his cup.
"Tch. Just because they're doing better, they revoked everything. But I do have a plan... We'll call the other six families now that Vorenforth is off the list...and ^^,^^^… pauses …≠≠≠… %%%%… ~~~> % ~ % …and ##."" He leaned in closer to his friend, whispering conspiratorially.
Evangeline's fists tightened further. "Grandmother was right; they have a feud with the families, especially the Vorenforths. Dominic asked me to sign the documents, and even though I didn't, he went ahead with it anyway. If we don't teach these people a lesson, they'll face the consequences," she thought, standing up with determination. She began to walk toward their table, but Richard quickly grabbed her hand.
"Where are you going? They're dangerous!" he warned, concern etched on his face.
Evangeline smacked his hand away, her expression defiant. "I'll be fine. I can't just stand by and watch these people stab us in the back. Call for backup and wait for me," she said, staggering slightly as she grabbed her cocktail and headed toward the men, doing her best to hide her drunkenness. "I'm sure Dominic would be happy to see me helping him expose these people. I'll make that wicked face cry," she thought with a smirk.
"Hello there," she said, her voice drawing their attention. The men turned to her, instantly captivated by her beauty, their lustful gazes sweeping over her. "I heard you laughing and discussing how to bring Evangeline Sarogath down. I'm just traveling from abroad, and my family has been assisting one of the families in building their hotel. What a shame that they could get on their nerves! The audacity!" She placed her hand on her waist, leaning in slightly to emphasize her curves.
"Ah, so you're interested in business. Have a seat," one of the men said, motioning for her to join them. Evangeline sat down beside one of the men, folding her arms in a show of confidence.
"So, I'm curious: from what family do you come?" he asked, and Evangeline felt a jolt of panic but managed to mask her emotions. "The Selding family," she replied, watching as their expressions shifted to surprise.
"Really? The Selding family is a large stakeholder; they wouldn't dare provoke such a family," one man chuckled, clearly intrigued.
"The Selding family has followed the ways of the Brusward family, but it's quite surprising to see a family member in this fancy bar. You have good taste. Perhaps they're harboring a grudge against the Sarogaths family?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied her.
Evangeline crossed her legs, her posture casual despite her racing heart. "Well, of course! They've held grudges against the Sarogaths family because of Azielle's position as Viceroy at the time. Everyone knows the story—the Sarogaths family has been strong in the monarchy for many years," she replied, her voice steady as she clenched her hands around the fabric of her dress, trying to keep her composure while the men stared at her lustfully.
"Of course, everyone knows about that. What a coincidence! I heard the Selding family was coming to join the meeting, but they brought a woman to get the letter. It seems like they couldn't wait to hear our plans," one man laughed, his eyes glinting with malicious intent.
Richard, observing from a distance, felt a surge of anger and protectiveness as he clenched his fists. He couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Evangeline was taken aback by the man's words. "So, one of them is coming today... I could take advantage of this," she thought, a slight, sinister smile creeping onto her face.
"So tell me, do you have the letter? I could send it to my family," she asked, her tone deceptively sweet. The second man smiled at her, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"You're quite the intelligent and beautiful lady, good for business. Let me make you a proposal," he said, leaning closer. "After I give you this letter, you should tell the head of the Selding Family to form a marriage alliance with my family. How about that? Are you interested?" He reached out, caressing her shoulder, his fingers brushing against her collarbone. Evangeline fought back the irritation surging within her as she endured his unwelcome touch.
"Well, I guess the heavens blessed me by putting a member of the Seldings in front of me—quite the jackpot. She dresses expensively, and now a marriage alliance. But I also want a taste of this woman; she has pretty legs," he thought, his gaze lingering on the slit of her dress that exposed her thigh. Without warning, he grabbed her arm, a smirk forming on his lips.
"This isn't the best place to talk. Why don't we go to my place, Lady Selding? This is such an important topic, and I could give you the letter there," he suggested, his voice dripping with entitlement as he glanced at the brown envelope on the table.
Richard, watching from a distance, scoffed in disgust, clenching his fists tightly. The sight of Evangeline being harassed sent a wave of anger through him, and he could feel the tension building in the air. "Not on my watch," he thought, preparing to intervene before things escalated further.
Evangeline noticed Richard's expression and felt a flicker of hope. "Let go of me!," she snapped, her mind racing as she plotted her next move.
Dominic drove the automobile at breakneck speed, searching each bar he passed for any sign of Evangeline. Frustration simmered within him as he noted the absence of both her and the Sarogath automobile. "This girl is quite a lot of work," he thought, gripping the wheel tightly.
As he navigated through the crowded streets, he made a sharp turn, causing another driver to almost lose their balance. The driver cursed at him from behind, but Dominic paid no mind to the complaints. His focus remained solely on the task at hand.
After several more minutes of searching, he finally spotted a familiar shape parked outside a bar—a Sarogath automobile. "She could be here," he thought, narrowing his eyes in determination.
He parked his car hastily, the tires screeching against the pavement, and stepped out, scanning the entrance of the bar. The late evening air was thick with tension as he approached the door, ready to confront whatever he might find inside.
At the Bar
Eric grabbed Evangeline by the arm, forcing her to stand. "It appears you have a lot of questions for me," he said with a smirk. "This place isn't quite suitable for the both of us. Anything that happens, I, Eric Hawrick, will take responsibility for it and sort out marriage plans between our families." He chuckled, his eyes glinting with ill intent.
Evangeline glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes. "Is this how you treat a member of the Selding family? How shameful! Let go of me!" she demanded, trying to pull away. He only laughed, his grip tightening.
"Let's go somewhere private and stop playing hard to get. It's really improper for a noble lady like you," he replied, dragging her closer and wrapping his arm around her waist, his hand brushing against her breast.
Suddenly, a flash of movement caught her eye as Richard appeared, fists clenched and face set in determination. He lunged forward and punched Eric squarely in the jaw, sending him reeling backward. Blood splattered across Evangeline's face as she watched Richard's cold, unwavering gaze. Eric crashed into a nearby table, the wood splintering under the impact, and fell to the floor, bleeding from his ear and nose while groaning in pain.
As Richard stood his ground, he locked eyes with Eric, who sneered with arrogance. "You think you can protect her? You're outnumbered," Eric taunted, motioning to his two friends who flanked him, each looking eager for a fight.
Evangeline felt a surge of adrenaline as she prepared for the impending chaos. "Richard, be careful!" she warned, stepping back to create space.
Eric lunged first, throwing a wild punch aimed at Richard's jaw. Richard sidestepped with ease, letting Eric stumble past him. With a quick pivot, Richard retaliated, delivering a sharp uppercut that caught Eric squarely on the chin. Eric staggered backward, momentarily dazed.
"Is that all you've got?" Richard growled, his fists clenched and ready for more.
Eric's friends, seeing their leader on the back foot, charged in unison. One of them swung a fist at Richard, who ducked and dodged the blow, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it behind his back. With a swift motion, Richard kicked the man's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.
The second friend rushed in, trying to tackle Richard from the side. Richard anticipated the move, sidestepping and using the man's momentum against him. He shoved him hard, causing him to collide with a nearby table, which splintered under the impact.
Evangeline watched, heart racing, as Richard fought with the skill and precision of someone who had been in many scrapes before. Just then, Eric, regaining his footing, charged at Richard with a wild punch. Richard dodged again, but this time, Eric connected with a glancing blow to Richard's side, making him grunt in pain
The other customers watched the scene unfold in stunned silence, whispers rippling through the bar. Evangeline clenched her fists, her eyes darting to the brown envelope on the table. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly grabbed it.
Eric, sensing her movement, shouted to his friends, "Stop her!" Two of his companions charged toward her, but Richard was quicker. With a fierce determination, he stepped forward, grabbing the heads of both attackers and smashing them together. Blood erupted from their noses and mouths as they collapsed, unconscious on the floor.
Richard grabbed Eric and punched him on the face again and kicked him on the stomach sending him across a barstool as it clattered away ,Eric groaned with blood across his mouth and held his stomach glaring at him and couldn't bear the pain anymore he collapsed.
The sight of the blood made the female customers scream, their faces pale with shock.
Evangeline, heart racing, called out for the manager, her voice firm despite the chaos. "We need to settle this!" She pulled out a checkbook from her bag and quickly wrote a check to cover the damages, her hands steady even amidst the turmoil.
Richard turned to her, still breathing heavily, his fists unclenching. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern etching his features.
"I am now," she replied, her voice resolute. "But we need to leave. Things will only get worse, and the police will be involved. We've gotten their secret; let's get out of here."
She grabbed Richard's arm and steered him toward the exit, urgency propelling them forward. As they stepped outside, Dominic watched from a dark corner of the bar, his expression hidden behind a mask. He sipped from the drink in his hand, contemplating the unfolding drama with a mix of intrigue and concern. The tension in the air was hinted far from over.
Outside the Bar
"I told you to call for backup! Why didn't you do anything?!" Evangeline scolded Richard, her words slurred as she swayed slightly on her feet. Richard breathed heavily, frustration etched on his face.
"That guy was never planning on telling you anything," he replied, his voice steady despite the tension. "Even if you lied to them, they wouldn't care about your status. It's obvious what they want to do to you, so me dealing with them doesn't require calling for backup."
Evangeline staggered again, and Richard instinctively steadied her by gripping her shoulder. "Your actions were reckless," he continued, concern creeping into his tone. "You've gotten the evidence; that's enough. I know it was important, but you don't have to endanger yourself like that."
She lowered her head, clutching the envelope tightly against her chest, her back hunched in distress. "That's because I trust you..." she murmured, surprising Richard.
"Don't forget, I hired you as my bodyguard. You have a lot of privileges in my palace. I even let you sleep on my bed. The way you stood up for me… whenever I'm in danger, it's your duty to protect me from harm. That's why I did what I did—I'm also protecting my family. They have suffered enough; I can't let them go through that again." Her voice grew more frantic, the weight of her words crashing over her like a wave. "And every time you look upset, you hide it from me. I understand that. Even if everyone calls you my lover, did you forget that I hired you to do one simple job? I could ask you to leave at any time."
As she held his face with both hands, her gaze locked onto his, the brown envelope and her bag slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground between them. "Don't forget who you truly are, and what I am, and what we are..." she said, her chuckle tinged with an unsettling insanity, a stark contrast to her usual composure.
"When I was introduced to Dominic, I was clueless. Everyone abandoned me, including my grandmother. I called Magdalene to hire a bodyguard before my wedding. I didn't care how ruthless he was, as long as he was there to protect me—no matter what it took, even if it meant getting into bed with me." She thought as pulled Richard closer, her breath hitching with desperation "Because of Magdalene's connections, I didn't care what anyone would say. When I got married, I lived freely with my bodyguard…"
As she leaned in, their lips touched briefly, a moment of connection that seemed to suspend the chaos around them. In that fragile instant, the weight of their circumstances hung in the air, leaving Richard both worried for her safety and indifferent to her drunken confession.
"Your job is to protect me from harm, and that includes that bastard Dominic Brusward," Evangeline said, her voice slurred yet commanding. "Just like Dominic pretends to be my husband in this family, you're pretending to be my lover. We have our goals and intentions, and being accompanied by a bodyguard is the only way to relieve my pain. I don't care what people criticize me for; I've realized that my grandmother's love and every other affection I received in that house were not genuine. I don't even know if Magdalene loves me as my lady-in-waiting and head maid." She cackled slightly, her laughter tinged with madness. "But it was a pleasure for us to be lovers. You're merely a contract, agreed upon under my supervision by Magdalene. Nothing is genuine in my family; it's all in the past now."
She smirked at Richard, who stood silent, watching her unravel.
"She's drunk, and her mental illness is surfacing," he thought, concern flooding his mind as she laughed, staggering against the wall.
"We're just faking relationships to get what we want, Richard," she said, her eyes glinting with a manic energy.
In a sudden movement, Richard pinned her against the wall, his expression a mixture of frustration and longing. "I'm aware of that, Evangeline, but I do care for you. When we first met, I stayed by your side, and you did everything for me without a single complaint. You were a good partner; your arms were the best place to be. I always thought about you... because I'm in love with you."
Evangeline chuckled, surprised by his confession but indifferent. "Oh, don't get carried away. I didn't forget any of that. I appreciate what you did for me, but there's been an unexpected shift in our relationship since I started training with Dominic, if you've noticed. That's proof that we're doing all of this for show."
Her words cut deep, and Richard braced himself for the blow, expecting her sharpness.
"I didn't expect you to open up about your feelings, nor did I expect to open up to you. But you likely won't like what I have to say. Unlike before, you get upset when people criticize me or when Dominic harms me—just like those nobodies at the bar. I'm warning you; you're an inch away from crossing the line, and you should understand that by now." She leaned closer, her breath heavy with alcohol. "I saw the way you looked at the wedding ring on my finger that day, and I didn't say a word. So don't get carried away with your feelings. I don't have feelings for you. I'm close to you because I hired you to do your job. As a lady of my status, I have nothing for you."
Her words grew colder, each syllable a sting that left Richard reeling. He clenched his fists, hiding his hurt, and bowed his head. "I'll do as you wish..."
She smirked at him, hiccuping lightly, a mix of arrogance and drunkenness in her demeanor. "Good then... Let's get home, and I'll send this to Dominic."
With that, she picked up her bag and the brown envelope, staggering as she walked away, clutching them to her chest like a shield.
Richard watched her retreating figure, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. Each step she took felt like a reminder of his place in her life—a mere protector, an accessory to her noble façade. The flickering light of the bar cast shadows on his face, mirroring the turmoil within him.
As she stumbled further away, he felt the sting of her rejection settle deep within him, an aching reminder of the chasm between them.
Evangeline stumbled forward and bumped into someone, her eyes locking onto the familiar figure before her. Richard stood frozen, taking in the sight of a man wearing an eye mask that concealed his identity.
"Dominic? What is he doing here..." Richard thought, the name echoing in his mind as Evangeline raised her head. Recognition flickered in her eyes, widening in surprise. "Frederick... is that you?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and hope.
Before she could process the situation further, Dominic swiftly grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer. In a swift motion, he covered her nose with a handkerchief. Evangeline's surprise quickly turned to panic as she struggled to break free, but the effects of the drug soon took hold. Her resistance faded, and she fell unconscious in his arms.
Dominic secured her limp body, holding her bag and the envelope in his other hand. He glanced over at Richard, who remained rooted to the spot, grappling with the unfolding chaos.
Richard's heart raced, and he clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in frustration. "I have to ask her for permission to go to the Eastward and check the jewelry inventory," he thought, his mind racing with the urgency of the situation. "That necklace needs to be found."
He watched helplessly as Dominic carried Evangeline away, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness. The masked figure turned away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows, leaving Richard standing alone with his conflicting emotions and the weight of unspoken words.
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