Chương 25: 24: Runaway With Me
Beta'd by SnowyEgrett
Drystan glided through the corridor towards Eleni's room with purpose in her steps, he was, after all, a man on mission.
In front of the door to the to-be bride's room, Drystan paused, a little hesitantion in his actions.
Was tearing away a young lady from her family a good idea?
In order to escape from this marriage, did she have to run away like this? He wondered uneasily. Was it right for them to do this just so that she could escaped the brunt of what was to come?
But it was no time for hesitation, Adrastus was off to the hall to create a nice distraction, the carriage was ready outside the estate, Drystan himself was disguised as a woman despite his discomfort, Eleni was, however, morosely awaiting her imprisonment as a married woman.
It was truly no time for hesitation. He couldn't put her — an innocent lady's — life at stake just for the sake of his vengeance.
No matter how vengeful Drystan was, he still had a vague sense of right or wrong at least.
Drystan shook his head in an effort to dispel his noisy thoughts and decisively knocked on the door thrice.
“Who is it?“ Eleni's gloomy voice asked from beyond the door.
“Seamstress, My Lady,” Drystan answered in a soft, deliberately high-pitched voice. “I've come to confirm the measurements.“
“But the measurements were already taken?“ Drystan could hear the frown in Eleni's voice as she made no more effort to conceal her dismay to the upcoming wedding.
“My Lady...“
“Alright,” Eleni sighed, her steps sounding closer to the door. “Come on in,” she said as she opened the door and stepped aside only to freeze, having caught the sight of Drystan.
“Who are you?“ She asked warily as she attempted to block the entrance.
Fortunately, Drystan was faster than her. Swiftly moving into the room, he closed the door behind him and placed a dainty finger on his red lips.
“Shh...“ He hushed the young lady.
Eleni stepped back as she looked at him with vigilance. “Who are you?“ She repeated herself. “I warn you, if you are here to rob me, you have no chance.“ She held the candle holder threateningly.
Drystan stepped back, holding his hands in a gesture of surrender and then he carefully removed the hat from his head.
“It's me,” he sighed in relief. Having removed the hat, he felt much more comfortable.
Eleni gasped, looking at him in disbelief.
For a split second, Drystan was tempted to cover himself from her gaze.
“Sir Drystan Meyer?“ She asked incredulously. “What... What is this? Why are you... In this attire?“
Drystan forced down the embarrassment he was feeling as he nodded and took a deep breath.
“Look, Lady Eleni,” he started observing the lady in front of him. “I have come to take you away from here.“
“What?!“
“Keep your voice low!“
“Sorry, what??“
Drystan massaged his forehead with a gloved hand. “Don't worry, Lady,” he said, hoping to provide her some sort of reassurance. “I've already discussed this with your cousin.“
“Cousin Adrastus approves?!“ Eleni whispered in shock.
“Indeed he does,” Drystan took a deep breath. “So I have come to take you away with me...“ He paused, observing the hesitance on her face. “... Or would you rather marry that walrus of a man?“
“But...“ Eleni said slowly. “What about my family? And where do I go after I run away with you? Since I'm fully aware that you have no unbecoming thoughts towards me.“
Drystan nodded gratefully. “It's a relief that you know,” he sighed, stepping closer to her, he tentatively reached out and held her hands. “I... I know that you have feelings for Martin.“
Eleni's hands shook as she looked down. “I, I do,” she whispered. “But what does it have anything to do with my running away?“
Drystan shook his head slowly, a small smile blooming on his red lips.
“If you come with me, Eleni, you will marry or rather elope with him,” he explained calmly. “Martin, he will be there at the Church where I am taking you. Don't worry—” Eleni's brows creased. “—Adrastus will be there, overseeing this entire process.“
“But,” Eleni whispered, looking at him for reassurance as she gave his hands a little squeeze. “Does— will Martin want to marry me?“
“Will he want to marry you, you ask?“ Drystan shook his head his voice tinged with amusement. “That bloke is insanely head over heels for you. And you know that too.“
Eleni blushed at his words. “I... I am not sure.“
“Well,” Drystan shrugged. “We still have time before we actually reach there, if we run away right now. So, are you up for it?“ He asked, squeezing her hands as an offer of comfort.
Eleni breathed in and out, slowly closing her eyes. She looked at him, her calm gaze boring into his face.
“Let's do it,” she nodded stiffly. “But if we do this, my family will disown me.“
Drystan smirked away from her view. Letting go of her hands, he quickly tied up a knapsack for her and grimaced on seeing a corset.
“Do yourself and me a favour by not wearing this, yeah?“ He made a face at the corset. “Rather, I advise you to wear something comfortable to run with. It's going to be one hell of an escape.“ He tilted his head to her.
“What?“ He blurted at the look he received form her.
“You are wearing a corset,” she pointed out, looking unsure of what to do.
Drystan snorted derisively. “Whatever,” he said. “What are you doing standing there so awkwardly? Change into something comfortable!“
“Right!“ Eleni nodded, springing into action as she grabbed a riding skirt, a pair of drawers (don't ask how Drystan knew about them) and a blouse in her hands and went to get changed.
From behind the privacy screen, she commented. “I'm going to be disowned, aren't I?“
Drystan tied the knapsack securely and took out a long rope. As he began to tie a firm knot on the window's handle, he drawled. “Correct. You are going to be disowned, but what is a little disownment to a lifetime of freedom and peace?“
“True,” Eleni agreed. “I have never liked this aristocratic life in the first place.“
Drystan shook his head with a chuckle. “I know.“ Tugging the rope to test it's strength he called out. “Are you done? We have exactly forty minutes left to escape without notice. That's as long as Adrastus can stall for time before they notice your absence.“
He turned his head to have a look in her direction and saw Eleni emerge from behind the screen, not really noticing the lady at first, he almost got a whiplash from the double-take he did later.
“Oh.“ Drystan's eyebrows flew up.
The cream coloured puffy sleeved button down paired with brown trousers fit on her petite frame perfectly enough for it to be a good experience for her to sprint.
Nodding as a show of his approval, Drystan smiled at her. “Now, do you have shoes?“
“Yes,” Eleni nodded in response. “They are cousin's old ones. They fit me nicely.“
Drystan tilted his head to the side, his eyes glimmering with curiousity as he focused on the task at hand.
“Alright, so now,” he stated coolly, standing on the window sill whilst wearing a pair of heels. “I'll jump over and you will follow after I'm down, understood?“
Eleni nodded. Drystan hummed, grasping the rope in his bare hands, he jumped over. He started climbing slowly down the wall.
Eleni leaned out of the window to look at her cousin's accomplice as he gracefully scaled down the wall, his feline like elegance never wanning.
The second his foot touched the ground, Drystan deftly motioned Eleni to climb down as well.
Since it was the first time the lady of noble birth had done something like this, she was a little slow.
When she'd safety reached on the ground, Drystan looked at her appreciatively for her courage, before turning around and zooming towards the exit Adrastus had cleared for them.
“Thirty minutes before everyone starts noticing that something's off,” he declared as the two of them sprinted across the estate ground. “Hurry up, we have to get away from here before that happens.“
“I know!“ Eleni answered while running alongside him.
Drystan nodded, hard look in his eyes as he ran with his dress fluttering in the wind created by his movements.
Reaching out to fix the hat, he realised that the hat was missing.
“Jesus! The hat!“
“I have it!“ Eleni exclaimed, waving it the hat in her hand to him when he turned around to have a look.
“Thank goodness,” he sighed in relief. “There's the carriage.“
Yo reaching the outside of the rear gate Drystan stopped in front of the carriage, helped Eleni get in and then leveled the coach man with a formidable glare.
“Please,” he started. “I think it would be better for you to leave to avoid getting involved in this. And,” he paused, scrutinizing the coach man's face. “Not a word of this should leave your mouth or else...“ He warned, dragging a slender fingers across his throat in a slitting motion. “I'm sure you understand.“
The coach man bowed his head and nodded before walking away.
“Good,” Drystan muttered, climbing into the coach man's place, he whipped the horse into action. “Here goes nothing.“
As the carrige sped away, leaving the estate behind as it shrank from the view, Drystan couldn't help the restlessness and dull, unfamiliar ache that bubbled in his heart.
He turned his head and focused on the road ahead.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he prayed.
'God, keep him safe. Let me see him at the Temperance soon.'
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Author has something to say:
Adrastus (bored drawl): Aaaand so, my future boyfriend and cousin ran away together!
[/Smile/]
Drystan (sweating): I am literally helping her marry her crush!
Eleni (nervously): Ye... Yeah!
Adrastus (raising an eyebrow): Obviously.
[/Smile/]
Author (sweating): And so, Drystan and Eleni had their happily ever—
Adrastus (sharpening his sword): Do you dare continue?
Author: No... [There's nothing to live for.jpg]
+ The chapter has been edited (I know it's late hehe) and I also changed Church of Providence to Church of Temperance.
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