This bastard! Verena curses him in her mind, this is not a choice but a threat. What makes Verena angrier is that all this time he had been looking at her with a smile as if they are having a friendly conversation.
She knew she did not have much of a choice and he will not let her go until she forms the oath.
"I will form an oath but in return you need to form an oath that you will not harm me in any way kill me."
"That's natural" Silence in exchange for her safety.
A sense of relief envelops her heart, at last. It would be over after forming the deal, as for what he does after going out her room is none of her business. Now all she wants is her own safety and to send this person far away as possible.
Verena put her hand on his extended palm and a magic circle appear on the back of their hands. Another large magic circle appears under their feet, covering them in yellow light.
A tingling sensation crawl up from her hand and a warm feeling of magic spread throughout her body.
"You go first I don't know your name." Without names oath will be incomplete, "I, Ovidius, take the oath to not kill or harm Verena Anderson in any way."
Ovidius? She hasn't heard of any Ovidius in her circle. Since he was not after the money and looked wealthy, she thought he was from her circle but she had never heard of such name. Without surname it she is lost how to track him down.
She follows suit after getting his name. The magic circle on her hand disappears and the warm current dissipates.
If one of them ever dies the other magic circle will flash five times which means the binding is not in effect anymore.
Since the oath had been formed Verena expected him to leave but instead, he settles back in the armchair, "You can leave."
After getting the confidence that cannot harm her, her true personality can't be hidden anymore and she spoke without hesitation, "I want to sleep."
Ovidius glances at her before looking back at the screen, "I will leave after the movie finishes."
Verena's mouth falls open in disbelief. He is still in the mood to watch the movie? After few more attempts, she gave up and sat down with the intention of ignoring him.
She decided to treat him as an air and finish the movie. She is not scared, why should she leave first?
They watch the movie in silence. As the ending credits roll, Verena turns to look at him to only find the armchair empty.
Verena quickly walks towards the window and peeked outside but the curtain of heavy rain almost covered everything with no figure visible. She bolted the window tightly, switched off the screen and withdrew into her room.
As she laid on her bed tiredness swept in her body but her mind was full of all kinds of thoughts. Verena sighed, she might be not be able to sleep today.
Half an hour later, her chest was heaving up and down with rhythmic breaths. Her worries couldn't beat her desire to get her beauty sleep.
In the middle of the night, in a half-asleep state, Verena feels someone touching her forehead, she tries to open her eyes, but something warm and heavy covered her eyes, luring her back to sleep.
Once her breathing becomes stable the weight is lifted off her without her knowing.
In the dark, a pair of eyes stared at her for a few minutes before leaving.
Verena woke up at 8 am and did her usual routine, her mind still groggy from sleep. She went downstairs, everything was as usual except the hustle and bustle in the villa going in preparation for the banquet.
Verena almost believed last night never happened till she heard Claire's annoying, high-pitched voice reaches her ears, sweeping away last bit of sleepiness, asking her father what he is going to do with the thief.
Verena paused on stairs with some disbelief, what did she say? He was caught? Some doubts flashes in her mind. She unconsciously quickened her steps, maybe to find out the situation.
On entering the dining hall, she saw three people already seated on their respective seats. She doesn't rush to ask and quietly listens to Claire and Heimirich conversation.
"I will send him to the police. He managed to slip in while a guard was sleeping, I have fired him and made sure he could not work as guard again. These lazy people, what am I paying them for? Claire, Verena, have you both prepared your dresses? If you need more money, just ask me but there should not be mistakes at the banquet."
Verena concludes that Ovidius was caught with Heimirich's statement, she made an oath for nothing. She lost her interest in the topic and looked down at her nails uninterestingly while the servants brought out the food from the kitchen.
"I know, Dad."
Verena remains soundless, she was focused on the first part and did not heard his question.
Heimirich was already not in a good mood because of last night incident, his mood turned for worse on seeing Verena ignoring him, before he could say anything Claire rushes to reprehend Verena, taking this chance to act as a good daughter.
"Sister, dad is saying something."
Verena resists her urge to roll her eyes. Its early morning and all she thinks about is making her look bad in front of father. Verena is too lazy to pick a fight early in the morning.
She agreed before Heimirich could criticize her, "Hmm."
This banquet is important for her too, Verena wanted to use this banquet as a chance to establish herself.
As she and Claire both have joined the company a year ago, she needs to build network and connection to find bigger deals. To get on the boards of director and become successor of Red Kite.
"You two don't fight in front of others, especially, you, Verena."
"Yes," Though it will not change the reputation she had already earned.
She does not bother to explain she is not interested in fighting unless Claire or someone provokes her.
Regrettably, in the upper class she is known for her short temper and the impression of her sharp words are still vivid in the mind of these people.
With five years in the university coupling with her work experience, her words have toned down a lot but it still has the effect of causing high blood pressure in weak-hearted people.
Heimirich was not reassured with her unenthusiastic answer, maybe he felt it was not enough and instructed few more things they need to take care of.
In the middle, Claire and her eyes meet for a moment, Claire flashes her a smile but she turns her head away indifferently.
After breakfast, Verena and Claire went to the office in two separate cars.
They have stopped pretending at least in the office rumors about the rift between the two had become widespread. The successor of Red Kite could be only one of them. Heimirich had to suppress them since it is bad for the company image.
Verena and Claire are step-sisters. Claire was the result of Heimirich affair with Gianna while Verena's mother was pregnant, Verena had never tried to hide her disgust towards the mother and daughter.