"What's going on?!"
"Stop them!"
Claire and her maid's shouts were drowned out by the sound of two swords colliding.
The earlier 'hot' knight was now engaged in a sword fight with a 4-circled mage.
Claire didn't even realize what had happened, all she knew was that she heard a growl from the 4-circled guard, before he jumped at 'hot knight' with his sword unsheathed.
The knight deflected the sword with his own and then gazed at the guard coldly.
"Stop it!" Claire shouted again, not wanting bloodshed when they were so close to the town she dreamed about.
Barely 10 minutes of distance was left.
"Miss, this person is an intruder, he killed my man and disguised himself among us!" the guard shouted before swinging his sword again.
Arlott casually parried the sword and suddenly, mana began to swirl in his left hand.
"Mana bullet." Arlott flicked his left arm, causing a small densely packed bullet of mana to fly at the guard with impeccable accuracy.
"Child play." the guard waved his arm and shrugged off the incoming bullet.
"You're wrong. That was a fool's play." Arlott grinned and with a burst of mana on his feet, he dashed at the guard and swung.
The guard stumbled backwards but managed to parry the sword, glaring at Arlott.
Dirty play.
"So you are one of those, huh?"
"Indeed. I am an assassin." Arlott chuckled darkly, his laughter giving creeps to Claire.
'I was wrong… he wasn't hot… he was dark and evil…' she inched away from Arlott.
But alas, it was too late.
Arlott was already beside her carriage and the guard was thrown off his footing, making him a little slower than Arlott.
There was another mana burst, and blood dripped down Arlott's sword.
"Move another step, and she dies."
With his sword pressed against Claire's thin neck, cutting it slightly to draw some blood, Arlott warned.
The guard froze and gritted his teeth, "You wouldn't dare. She is the daughter of the biggest merchant organization in the Zordian Duchy,"
'And I am the man who killed the duke of that duchy.' Arlott breathed a cold scoff.
In his arms was one of the richest ladies in the Zordian Duchy, her breath hitching and her eyes winced in pain.
She didn't dare to make a single sound, but Arlott could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
She was scared. She was frightened.
'She is vulnerable.' Arlott thought.
"Don't be scared, young miss." he said, "I won't hurt you."
But his deep and cold voice only made Claire even more nervous.
"I will drop my sword, let her go!" the guard shouted, but Arlott tuned him out.
He traced the curve of Claire's cheek and increased the temperature of his voice, adding to the seduction he learnt from the Red Flower Clan.
"Don't worry, lady Claire. I have a deal which is mutually beneficial."
Claire's breath hitched as she felt his cold hands on her cheeks, it felt uncomfortable and made her shiver.
But strangely, those shivers made her feel breathless and weak.
"What deal?" she coughed out.
The sword on her neck was loosened and Arlott gently wiped off the blood with his finger.
"You are the heir of the biggest merchant in Zordia." Arlott said, "What better way to expand the trade other than to make it between two duchies?"
After getting no response, he continued.
"Haven't you thought of it already, my lady? You know the benefits of becoming the duchess, don't you?"
"...I do," Claire replied, panting.
She could feel the movements of her maid, workers, and guards all around her. But none of them dared to do a thing.
After all, how could they when Arlott was holding a sword to Claire's neck?
"Then my offer is simple, my lady. Take me to Plethora and I will make you the duchess." Arlott traced her jaw, making her look up in his blue-tinted eyes.
"H-How can I trust you? It could be a fake, a trick."
"I am afraid, you just need to have some trust in me, my lady." Arlott took his hand off her face and then looked into her eyes.
His sword was still pressed on her neck, but not cutting into it… yet.
It all depended on her answer, after all.
He was prepared to cut that flimsy neck of hers, it was thin, weak, and in his grasp. But it would make things harder, he would need to fight her guards surrounding him.
But if she agrees, it was the best-case scenario.
She could assist him in meeting Duke Paxley, she would be an easy ticket inside the town. And she was a noble, which was a useful connection to have.
"Hah…" tears filled her eyes and she looked at him, feeling wronged, "You will kill me if I don't agree."
"That's a given," Arlott said.
"What if I just agree on the surface and betray you?" Claire asked and Arlott fell in a thought.
After half a minute, he replied,
"It depends. I can even sneak into Plethora by myself if I need to." he said, "The amount of work will differ. Currently, the easiest method is to sneak with you and then do my work, but if you deny…"
He took a short break and chuckled.
"If you deny, the next best method is to kill all of you and go inside saying I am here to deliver your body to your love, the duke's son."
Hearing his cold-hearted plan, chills ran down Claire's spine.
She nodded like a hen-pecking chicken.
"I agree, I agree to your truce. Please, please don't kill me!"
"I prefer that." Arlott smiled, though his face was hidden by the helmet. And that was a good thing since Arlott knew he might get recognized without a helmet.
Most of the Zordian soldiers must already be on their way to hunt him and Emily down since he kidnapped her.
Claire, being from Zordia, might recognize Arlott as well, and that would slow his plans down.
'Keeping the mystery identity is better.' Arlott nodded and then moved a little away from Claire, but still keeping his sword on her neck.
"Tell them about the truce, my lady."
"Ah…" Claire coughed, "Sir…?"
"Arl- Arles. Charles." Arlott quickly made up a name on the spot.
Claire nodded, "Sir Charles will be travelling with us. He is an experienced knight and I believe he will be a great addition to the team.
I am making him my personal guard."