The Bruswards Family House
Edward stood in his mother's abandoned garden, holding a glass of whiskey in one hand, the other clenched in a tight fist. He stared up at the night sky, his jaw tense, a storm brewing behind his eyes. "Dominic… going to be Duke?" he muttered under his breath. A flash of anger crossed his face as he downed the drink, gripping the glass so tightly it almost cracked. Complications ahead. "Once this house arrest is over, I'll handle him and that spoiled woman." His thoughts churned as footsteps broke the stillness of the garden.
A bodyguard approached, bowing his head respectfully. "Master Sylen…" he greeted, his voice low, careful not to disturb the fragile air around Edward.
Edward turned, raising a cold eyebrow. "What is it? Did you find anything in the mines?"
The bodyguard straightened, his expression one of restrained anxiety. "We searched thoroughly, but… there was nothing valuable, my lord. The mines are barren."
The news made Edward's grip on the glass falter, his fingers tightening until—crack. The glass shattered in his hand, shards cutting into his skin. Ignoring the pain, he glared at his subordinate. "What?!"
Blood trickled down his hand, but Edward didn't seem to notice. His mind spun. "No wonder Dominic didn't even bother fighting for that mine at the west. That bastard knew it was worthless and we lost that site to the Bayon family at the auction" Edward dropped the shattered remains, the pieces scattering on the ground, and began to walk away, his boots grinding the shards into the earth. "Get out of my sight," he spat, his voice venomous.
The guard hesitated, then spoke up nervously, "A woman is here to see you, Master Sylen… She said her name is Herna. She couldn't reveal much with Sarogath guards around."
Edward froze mid-stride, his bleeding hand clenching as he processed the name." Herna… alive? "His pulse quickened as he pieced together the implications. "After all this time… I can finally help her."
He didn't turn back, but his voice softened with a hint of urgency. "Tell her to meet me in my bedroom."
The guard nodded and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Edward to the dark solitude of the garden. He glanced down at his injured hand, smirking as he examined the blood trailing over his knuckles. "A temporary wound," he thought, "but soon enough, the real wounds will be inflicted on those who dared to cross me."
Meanwhile, Herna moved carefully through the grand halls of the Bruswards estate, her steps hushed, her face hidden under a scarf. Disguised to blend in, she clutched the fabric tightly around her head, her heart pounding as she slipped past the Sarogath guards patrolling the corridors. "So, the Bruswards are under house arrest? she thought, casting wary glances at the armed figures. Could they be planning to execute them, too?"
She kept her head down as she climbed the grand staircase, careful not to draw attention. When she reached Edward's bedroom door, she paused, taking a steadying breath before raising her hand to knock.
"Come in," came Edward's voice, calm yet edged with anticipation.
Steeling herself, Herna opened the door and stepped inside, quickly shutting it behind her. Edward was already watching her, his gaze intense, a faint, dangerous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
She took a step forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Edward…"
The Verdaselles Palace
Evangeline strode briskly down the hallway, clutching a brown envelope tightly in her hand, her expression a mix of frustration and determination. Her thoughts raced as she made her way to her bedroom. "He always manages to get the best of me. It's infuriating," she muttered to herself. "I agreed to go out with him tomorrow, and the week's nearly over… I need to get ready for the anniversary. But tonight… no. I'm not sleeping in his room tonight. I regret ever signing that ridiculous document."
With a deep breath, she opened the door to her bedroom, only to find Richard seated comfortably on the sofa, sipping tea, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to her turbulent mood.
"Ah, there you are…" Evangeline said, a hint of relief in her voice.
Richard looked up, his gaze softening as he saw her. "Good evening, Evangeline. I see you're finished for the night…" he began, setting his teacup down, but she cut him off.
"Yes, yes, I am. And right now, I just… I can't take this anymore." She sighed heavily and tossed the brown envelope onto the bed.
Richard's gaze traveled to her foot, noticing a faint bandage peeking out from under her gown. A flicker of concern crossed his face." Did he hurt her again?" he thought, but before he could ask, Evangeline moved toward him. Without hesitation, she perched herself on his lap, her head resting against his chest as she let out a tired sigh.
Without a word, Richard wrapped his arms around her, his hand brushing over hers in a gentle, reassuring touch. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her hand, letting her feel his silent support. After a moment, she pulled away, standing up with a small smile of gratitude.
"I need somewhere to cool off tonight. Do you know of a place?" she asked, her voice barely hiding a playful edge as she folded her arms.
Richard rose and gave a brief nod. "I have an idea," he said, watching her with a quiet affection that softened the tension in her shoulders.
Evangeline smirked, glancing toward the window with a determined glint in her eye. Good luck finding me in your bedroom tonight, Dominic… she thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction as she absentmindedly rubbed her hand along her arm.
Richard took a step closer, sensing her defiance but choosing not to comment. Instead, he offered her his arm. "Shall we?" he asked gently, and Evangeline, still smirking, took it, feeling a strange warmth spread through her and held his arm.
At a Fancy Bar in Verdaselles
Evangeline and Richard sat at the polished bar counter, the warm lighting casting a soft glow over them as the night buzzed with laughter and music. Evangeline took a long sip of her cocktail, her eyes wandering lazily over the crowd. She looked positively delighted, her cheeks flushed from the drink.
"Mmm… this is good!" she giggled, holding her glass up in admiration. "Richard, you didn't tell me there was a place with cocktails this nice… I'm definitely coming here more often!"
Richard chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he sipped from his small glass of vodka. "Funny how you seem to remember your cocktails better than your medications…"
Evangeline huffed playfully, taking another sip. "It's just a drink, Richard… and for the record, I'm not a child," she replied with mock seriousness, though the slight slur in her words gave her away.
Richard's eyes softened as he noticed the small bandage peeking out near her ankle. "Did he hurt you again?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Evangeline hesitated, then rolled her eyes, sipping her drink to avoid his gaze. "I… uh… fell," she said with a nervous laugh, trying to brush off the question. But Richard wasn't convinced; he narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold.
"Or was it Dominic?" he pressed, his jaw tightening slightly.
Evangeline sighed, exasperated. "He didn't hurt me, Richard. I stepped on some broken glass, and Dominic actually helped me bandage it up. You're overreacting."
Richard blinked, feeling a pang of guilt but still wary. "Overreacting? Or just trying to protect you from that man," he thought, but kept his silence as he watched her order another cocktail.
Evangeline waved down the bartender, paid for her drink, and eagerly took a sip. She slammed the bottle onto the counter, beaming as the music swirled around them. "Mmm… I love this drink," she announced, her voice full of childlike enthusiasm.
As the night wore on, her laughter grew louder, her movements looser, and soon she was resting her elbows on the counter, her cheeks pressed into her palms, her eyes shining with a playful sparkle. She laughed like a child, her cheeks flushed as she reached for her cocktail yet again, taking a small, dramatic sip.
Richard watched her with a soft smile, leaning back to take in the sight. "She's absolutely adorable when she's drunk," he mused. Her carefree laughter, her flushed cheeks, and the way she kept pressing her hands against her face made him chuckle under his breath. She was undeniably cute in this state, and he couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through him as he admired her.
"You're going to regret that last drink," he murmured, smiling as Evangeline gave him a wide, innocent grin, blissfully unaware of the slight wobble in her seat.
"Oh, hush, Richard!" she teased, batting her hand dismissively. She continued humming along with the music, her head bobbing in time as her eyes fluttered with drowsy amusement. And Richard, quietly entranced, simply let her enjoy the moment, savoring this rare glimpse of her uninhibited joy.
The Verdaselles Palace
Dominic strode down the hallway towards his bedroom, his face calm, though his mind entertained the idea that Evangeline had already snuck into his room, as she'd done before. Opening the door, he found a figure lying under the covers of his bed. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"She's already here... and fell asleep without waiting for me," he thought, shaking his head slightly.
Removing his jacket and hanging it neatly, he moved toward the bed with a light touch of amusement in his eyes. He reached down, gently brushing his fingers over what he thought was her hair. But there was no response. Frowning slightly, he pulled back the covers a little more, only to blink in confusion as he uncovered… a fabric doll with blonde hair.
He paused, processing the sight with a deadpan expression. The doll's blank stare met his own, and for a moment, his face took on an indifferent, almost comedic-like blankness, as if silently questioning the absurdity of it all. Without much reaction, he picked up the doll, turning it in his hands and noting the blonde hair and a little label stitched on its back.
"This girl…" he murmured, shaking his head as he placed the doll back on the bed.
Resigned, he left his room, closing the door behind him as he spotted Magdalene and a few servants in the hallway. Approaching them, he nodded slightly.
"Lady Magdalene, may I have a word?" he said, his voice calm but leaving little room for refusal. Magdalene nodded, dismissing the servants with a quick hand wave before following him down the hall.
They walked toward Evangeline's quarters, Dominic's pace steady and his expression unreadable. After a moment, he broke the silence. "Does Evangeline have an accounting book?" he asked, barely raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Master Dominic," Magdalene replied, her tone respectful but unsurprised. "She keeps detailed records of her personal purchases, separate from the family accounts."
Dominic gave a faint smile. "So she does…" he mused, almost to himself." I wonder how much she's spent on bullets because of me. A personal account book... how intriguing."
They reached Evangeline's bedroom door. Dominic knocked firmly, but no response came. With a slight tilt of her head, Magdalene knocked and called out, "Good evening, my lady. It's Magdalene."
But silence answered. Dominic and Magdalene exchanged glances before Dominic opened the door without further hesitation, and they stepped inside.
The room was empty—clothes were tossed on the bed, her jewelry box half-open on the dressing table, and her closet door slightly ajar. Dominic's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene.
"Did she go somewhere?" he muttered, more to himself than to Magdalene, who began scanning the room for clues. Spying the accounting book on a side table, she picked it up and handed it to him.
Dominic opened it, flipping through the pages with detached curiosity. He read over her listed expenses, pausing on one particular category with a faintly raised brow: bullets, jewels, gemstones, and, predictably, guns, then the doll which was recent. His eyes flickered with brief amusement, though he didn't let it break his neutral expression.
"She certainly lives up to the word spoiled," he noted dryly, closing the book and handing it back to Magdalene. He turned to leave, hands slipping into his pockets.
"I'll study it later," he said, "but first I need to find her. Any idea where she went? And it seems Richard isn't here either."
"Have you checked the Eastward Wing?" Magdalene suggested. She raised an eyebrow knowingly, as if daring him to comment on Evangeline's particular dislike of him intruding on that part of the palace.
Dominic gave a low chuckle, turning slightly to look back at her. "She banned me from it. Not a surprise, Just because I took something 'precious' to her there. Like an old jewel, given her habits…" His tone was calm, almost bored, but Magdalene's lack of surprise only made him shake his head slightly in mild amusement.
"Speaking of jewels…" Dominic murmured, striding over to the dressing table. His gaze lingered on the half-open jewelry box, and he calmly closed it, his fingers brushing lightly over its polished surface.
"She must have gone somewhere with Richard," he continued, glancing around the slightly disheveled room. The bed was scattered with dresses, a sight that caught Magdalene's attention as she moved closer, taking in the evidence of Evangeline's hurried departure.
Dominic's gaze sharpened. "I need to find out where she went with Richard at this hour," he said, his tone more resolved than concerned.
He crossed the room with a purposeful stride, opening the door and stepping out without another word, leaving Magdalene to process the scene in silence. She stood there a moment longer, her gaze lingering on the jewelry box and the dresses draped over the bed.
Dominic stepped outside, scanning the palace grounds with an indifferent expression as he noted a missing automobile from the parking lot. He turned his gaze away from the empty spot, hardly fazed, when one of the guards approached him with a slight bow.
"Good evening, Master Dominic," the guard greeted respectfully.
Without much change in his tone, Dominic asked, "Where's my wife, and did she mention where she was headed?"
"She mentioned going to a bar, sir," the guard replied, a bit uncertain. "Mr. Richard accompanied her. I tried to ask why she'd leave at this hour, but she didn't answer."
Dominic raised an eyebrow, his expression remaining unreadable as he processed the information. "Alright," he responded flatly. "I'll go find her. She has a lot of work to attend to." His voice was calm but carried a hint of impatience.
He gestured for the guard to retrieve the keys to the other car. "Get me the keys."
The guard nodded quickly, bowing once more before hurrying back toward the palace to fetch the keys. As he waited, Dominic's gaze drifted indifferently over the courtyard, the slight chill in the air barely registering as he prepared to retrieve Evangeline.