I jerk when I realize that I am staring at the account books again. I can't help it. There's been a lot of attempts in my life. That stranger. I don't even remember him, no matter how much I search Lyrica's memories. And yet, that potency of hatred…
"Lady Lyrica?"
I shift my attention to the scowling old man. He is the assistant that my father sent to teach me everything about holding a ball. Auction and bidding as well.
"Yeah, what is it?" I ask.
"It's dark already. Do you want to rest?"
"Hmmm," I mutter as I try to shift my attention back to him.
"I still think that you need to use your father's name if you are going to sell. Or your dead mother. Maybe create a story where Sir Jonathan buys pieces of jewelry to give to a woman he loves but can't marry. The ladies will buy it for a chance to get closer to him."
"What's wrong if the items we are going to sell are from me? Is it because I am racy? Or maybe it's because I have a terrible reputation?"
"Why would anyone spend a dime to have anything that you previously own?" he asks.
I look at him and see his animosity towards him. I stand up and back away from him. He has the same look as that man who attempted to kill me in the restaurant.
"Did I do something wrong to you?" I ask.
"None, my lady."
"Then why are you looking at me as if you'd like to kill me?"
"I am sorry, my lady." The anger disappears from his face. "I am just making a point."
Fear, anger, and disgust. I hate how I only get these three emotions from the people around me. Even Aiko is a mixture of those three. The only ones that I receive a different treatment from are Calais and Eliana. Is it because they are important characters in this story?
I take the account book and hug it to my chest. "Then let's continue tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll ask my father and my brother if I can use their names," I say, and hurriedly leave the room.
************************
The wind blows from behind me. It's late afternoon and the heat from the sun has become more than tolerable. I can hear the river on my left. The atmosphere is downcast and I can sense impending heavy rain. Even the hairs on my arms are standing at attention.
"We should return to Dunnett house now, Lyrica," Gavin advises. "Heavy Rain."
At least we agree on that. It really is about to rain but we are too far from Dunnett, so I suggest, "It's about to fall. We can stay here for the night."
Gavin looks around. My human ex-slaves are carrying their boxes of things into the house that we have chosen for them to stay in. I told the agency that I will rent it for now, but we plan to buy the entire house in the future, that is, if ever the auction becomes successful. We also provided food and other necessities for them to live comfortably while they fix their lives.
"We can't sleep here. It's dangerous," Gavin comments.
"Why? The house is sturdy enough to brave through a storm."
He rides towards me and whispers, "Night such as this can make men think of dark thoughts."
I shift my attention to him. I'm not even sure where he got the horse. It's probably from Dunnett's. I observe how his eyes are darting all around. He's masking his monster aura again, but somehow he seems anxious, as if he's expecting that someone will attack him at any moment.
"I will make sure I will blast you off my bed if ever you have those dark thoughts against me," I warn.
"Sensual thoughts," he says. "I think I should correct you."
I let my horse gallop to the barn behind the house. Gavin follows. Lately, he's like an obedient dog who follows me wherever. Maybe I should give him a pet name? I grin. I wonder how he'd react to that. A huge monster man with a cute name. That would be hilarious.
"I'm serious, Lyrica. The safest place for you has always been the Dunnett's. Nushi's protection can only last for a few days, or weeks. Besides, as you might have noticed, it has become weaker."
I chuckle. "These are previously my slaves, Gavin. If I can protect myself from you, I can definitely protect myself against them."
"It's exactly because they are ex-slaves that I am worried. They have nothing to lose, so they are more daring."
"Not these ones. They are too afraid of me to even think of attacking me."
I climb down and, after properly tying my horse, I remove its bridle and saddle before giving it food and water. I glance at Gavin, who is doing the same. Then my eyes shift to his hand. A few days have passed since he saved my life. His injury is already healing. It must have been because he is a monster that his recovery speed is fast.
After taking care of my horse, I lean on one of the wooden horse's stall and ask, "So, what are warlocks really?"
He looks at me, but he doesn't seem too keen to answer. "Just magic users."
"By channeling your goddess' magic?"
"Yes."
"Then warlocks are the same as witches and wizards?"
He frowns at me. "Witches and wizards practice watered down magic."
"In what aspect?"
"Warlocks are created for war, so the way we use our magic is more destructive than the wizards and witches who primarily use it for convenience."
"Are warlocks born out of warlocks? Or are you created?"
He scowls at me and remarks, "Byron will be very disappointed knowing that you also forgot about the different types of monsters."
"So, how do you become a warlock?" I ask, ignoring his criticism.
"Warlocks are usually born from warlocks. But some are created from other beings, too."
"From humans?"
"Some, as long as they can handle the pain. Mostly, only female humans survive it."
"And these created warlocks, are they also accepted by your goddess? Can they also borrow her magic?"
"That's correct."
"If you are a reject, how are you going to lead a Kingdom of monsters?"
"It's exactly that disconnect and uniqueness that will allow me to lead them," he answers.
Thunder booms and I flinch, then a deluge of rain falls. The way the rain meets the ground sounds as if heaven is angry. Gavin and I stare at each other as we quietly listen to the tumultuous weather outside.
"Want to sleep in the stable instead?" he asks, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips. "It will be a wild, wet and dirty night."
I look away. In reality, the heavy rain is making me antsy, add to that Gavin's infectious restlessness. Somehow, I am considering to really sleep here.
"If I tell you that you can sleep in my bed tonight, will you think twice about sleeping here?" I ask.
"If that's the case, then let's sleep inside!"
I groan. My uneasiness vanished in an instant. Did he just attempt to scare me just so he can sleep with me?! This f*ucking degenerate of a warlock!
"Now, let's get inside the house and sleep together," he says, passing by me and out of the stable.
He stops by the door. He takes something to shield us from the rain and then waves at me. It looks like an umbrella but is less sturdy. I stand beside him, waiting for him to start walking toward the house. Instead, he places his arms around my shoulders and pulls me closer to his body.
"To lessen your chance of getting wet," he says, winking at me. "I can't have you getting a fever if we are going to have sex later."
I let him this time and we walk towards the house.
Inside, the house is still bare. There is food and other stuff, but none of value. There are seven bedrooms in total. One huge room is on the first floor and six small rooms are on the second floor.
I take the one on the first floor. The room is almost empty save for a chair, a king-size bed, and a bench at the foot of it. Gavin follows me inside and lies down on the bed. There is a smile on his face as he pats the area next to him.
"Now, come here, my Lyrica."
"I was just kidding earlier, Gavin. I will not sleep with you."
"Come now, don't disappoint me," he says, patting the bed faster.
"No," I say. "I will take the couch instead."
"Lyrica, I need to sleep with you," he says. "It's safer for us to be together."
I think the same too, but the idea of his arms around me is annoying that I want to face the looming danger alone instead. Besides, if he's in the same bed as me, is he just going to sleep? Who knows what else he will do?
"Fine, I will sleep on the couch," he proposes, finally getting up from bed.
My mouth makes a small 'o', surprised that he's going to act like a gentleman this time.
"Unless you want me to sleep on the same bed?" he adds, his eyes raking all over my body.
I roll my eyes at him. Yeah, right. His perverseness will be a hard thing to cure. "Maybe you want to sleep outside instead?" I ask.
Another thunder booms around us. I jump in surprise. I see him rush towards me, but I raise my hands before he embraces me.
"Stay," I warn, as if I am talking to a dog. Then I point at the bench at the bottom of the bed and say, "Since I am smaller than you, I will use that. You can use the bed."
"My Lyrica is falling in love with me so bad that she's become very thoughtful."
I scowl at him and threaten, "Don't make me change my mind."