The black, shiny carriage did not intend to stop, but it did come to a halt in front of the young woman who stood close by, her eyes blazing with anger.
Madeline's mouth hung open as she stared at the black carriage. At first, its uniqueness captured her attention because she had never seen anything like it before. However, what had just happened made her overlook the carriage.
Her dress was now stained with dirty water that had been splashed on her. The carriage indeed stopped right in front of her, but instead of someone stepping out to apologize, nobody emerged, leaving Madeline standing there with a face full of rage.
"I'm in my calm moment," Madeline took a deep breath as she muttered to herself, "I will not engage in any fight with anyone."
Just as she was muttering to herself, the horseman, a man who did not look at all like a horseman - short, potbellied, and grey-haired, as she had read in books - he was more like an angel ascending from heaven, resembling those talked about by priests.
His hair was pure white, his skin pale, and his eyes like soft, slippery green leaves. It was hard not to get caught up in those hazel gazes. He smiled, and it was so warm that it almost melted her heart, quenching her raging anger that would soon evaporate.
"Oh, dear lady," even his voice was like a sweet melody, deeply rich like a male opera singer's, "Forgive my manners; I do not mean for that," he pointed at her dress. Madeline found herself smiling, all of the rage inside of her indeed melted, with a face so innocent and a smile so warm that one would not even think of being angry with him for so long.
"Oh no, it is not your fault," she slightly bowed her head and flashed him a smile; she had not stopped smiling since setting her eyes on him. How could someone look like a godly being living on earth?
"We have to change that dress," he tilted his head and held his chin, deep in thought. "I'm sure my master wouldn't mind that."
"Your... master?" Oh! He was the horseman; he was definitely serving under someone. With his appearance and the way he spoke, his well-fitted petticoat, shirt, and shoes, one could mistake him for a noble. How could a horseman look this good-looking?
"Yes, my master is in the carriage. Please come inside while I take you to a fine shop to get you a new dress," he said politely.
Madeline's mouth opened even wider. This man is inviting her into this fine carriage just to change her clothes. Would there even be a need for that? She was going to work, and obviously, this dress she was wearing would still get dirty.This man's kind gesture was enough to forgive him for what he did.
"Sebastian," she heard an even deeper and more intimidating voice come from inside the carriage.
Without even seeing the person inside, she had already feared him. Who could his master be and what must he look like?
"Yes, Master," the horseman hurried to the carriage and opened the door slightly. Madeline was dying to know who it was, but where she stood would not allow her to see into the carriage; all she was greeted with was the door.
"Why have you stopped?" Being close enough enabled her to hear his voice clearly, a voice that brought fear to her.
She was surprised at the calmness on Sebastian's face, because hearing his master's voice alone was giving her goosebumps when she hadn't even met him.
"I have spilled dirty water on a lady's dress," Sebastian bowed, then turned to Madeline, "A fine lady's dress."
Madeline bit her lip and looked away. The way he stared at her and how he called her a fine lady, when everyone thought she wasn't even fit to be called a lady, caused her heart to skip.
"Get the carriage moving, I do not have time to stay here," the cold voice of his master surprised Madeline.
Yes, it might not be their fault that her dress got stained, but regardless, it was still their carriage that caused it. For the first time, she saw a frown etched on Sebastian's face.
"Master, but..."
"Do not waste my time, Sebastian. I have something to attend to and won't be here while you try to help a slave girl."
Those words, despite his intimidating voice, caused Madeline's eyes to shoot with anger. How could he call her a slave? A slave is someone who relies on a master, who feeds from another. Despite the hardships in their home, they fed from their own sweat; they were content with what they had.
Who was this man, despite his wealth, to have the guts to call her a slave? Madeline walked toward the carriage.
As she did so, Sebastian shot her a surprised look, then his eyes turned into a warning, as if telling her to step back. But it was already too late. Before Sebastian could stop her, the furious lady was already standing in front of the opened carriage.
Raising her head, she noticed how dark the carriage was, prompting her to move even closer before she identified who was seated there.
The moment she laid eyes on him, all the anger she had brought with her dissipated. The fury faded away, leaving her unable to even stand properly on her toes. She could have heeded her instinct when she heard his intimidating voice, as seeing his face felt like confronting the devil face to face.
The man's presence burned with a warning that she should not approach any closer, even though he had not spoken a word to her.
She could sense the intensity of his gaze, ready to consume her world in flames. He remained calm, with dark and narrowed eyes, lips that she knew she should not have gazed upon.
As she locked eyes with his heartshaped lips, slightly parted, she found herself speechless.
Clad in a black tunic, cloak, and boots, he was completely shrouded except for his face, which now fixed a penetrating stare upon her.
If Sebastian was an angel, then this man must be the devil. His hair appeared as if it were wet, slipping across his face with some strands staying in place while the rest was neatly trimmed at the back.
Madeline had never seen anyone exude such a dangerous and intimidating aura while also being undeniably handsome, so handsome that one would wish for him to marry their daughter.
Clearing her throat, Madeline searched for the right words to say, wondering how someone like Sebastian could end up with this man whose mere gaze had the power to frighten someone.
His eyes shifted to the stain on her dress, a sigh escaping his lips before he threw his head back, stating, "You must forgive my horseman, but I do not have time to waste."
Madeline's mouth opened in surprise as she gazed at him, when he looked back at her, she nodded and took a few steps back.
Sebastian stepped forward to close the carriage door, offering Madeline an apologetic look. "Please forgive my master and forgive me as well for the dress," he said with a small smile. "I hope we meet again, young lady."
As the black carriage rode off, Madeline let out a snort, finally releasing the anger now that the carriage and that intimidating man were no longer before her.
If it weren't for the horseman, she would have... She bit her lip, realizing that of course she still wouldn't have done anything; that intimidating man had taken away her voice.
She walked away when she noticed people beginning to stare at her, some looking towards the road where the carriage had left, probably wondering who he was, just like she was wondering as well.