A man dressed in a maroon suit and gold accessories steps inside. A black cloak covers his shoulders, clasped with a gold pin at the base of his neck. His dark maroon pants look thin and light, but if Everscent were to run her fingers along the fabric, she would be surprised by how soft it is. Everything on his person looks out of place in the gloomy cement room. One of his hands is in his pants pocket, the other hanging loosely at his side. Black hair is styled back, thick brows narrowed, but she can see the sparkle in the High Lord's brown eyes.
Another crazy old man.
She swallows and diverts her gaze back towards her father. She can handle her father's disappointment, but anyone would cower beneath any High Lord's glare. Plus, knowing him on a personal level makes this all awkward. She lightly scratches at the arms of her chair with a single finger nail. Would it be appropriate to ask them to take the neutralizer cuffs off, now?
The metal door is loud as it clicks shut behind him. Definitely not. Everscent presses her lips together.
"You were just like your father at that age." High Lord Bynard chuckles, all the tension in his shoulders easing as he flashes a wide smile. He comes to stand behind Versances left shoulder, the overhead light gleaming over his sharp features. "Your mother, I imagine, is having a proper fit right now."
Ever clenches her jaw and diverts her gaze away from the two men and down at the metal table. "I wouldn't know." Everscent mutters. She mentally shakes off her sudden nerves and tilts her head up to give the noble man a tight smile. Her eyes dart to her father's before returning to the High Lord, "She isn't here."
"Hmm, no she isn't." He agrees. He pulls his hand out of his pocket and waves it at her, the few gold rings on his fingers glistening, "Stop pouting, Ever." His smile drops in an instant and the cold aura from before is back, "Sit up straight when I'm in the room, speaking to you. Honestly, I don't mind your shit personality when we're on family time, but you've managed to drag me all the way here and interrupt my sleep."
When Ever doesn't move, the High Lord swats the back of her head, the metal of his rings scratching her skin.
"Oh, shit, okay!" She jumps and straightens her back. She pushes her hair back so she can be properly seen.
"Open your inventory, Everscent." Lord Byron demands.
Her nostrils flare and her eyes widen. She was waiting for him to say this. Why can't they just trust her? Why must he go so far as to invade her privacy? She slouches in defeat, because this is no one's fault but her own. She knew the consequences of her actions and she did it anyway. She bites her lip and glances at her father. Dragon gods, this is going to be so embarrassing. . .
"He won't be able to see it." Lord Byron chuckles, trying to ease her. "Only me. I promise."
As if that makes it any better. It doesn't matter who sees it, the fact that they are is unnerving enough. Her face flushes a deep shade of red as she pulls her inventory window up. She keeps her eyes on her father, making sure he really can't see it.
She can't look the High Lord in the face, not while he can see. . . That.
The High Lord pauses, the tips of his ears burning. He clears his throat as he quickly scans the rest of the contents in her inventory.
"You truly do not have it." He murmurs.
Not wasting a second, Everscent closes her window and avoids looking his way.
The High Lord sighs, the tightness around his eyes easing as he glances at Versance. He gives a light shake of his head and then turns to his daughter. "Very well then. The King will not be happy."
Everscent stiffens, her eyes widening as she gapes at him. "The King?" Her voice is faint in the small room. The King is the owner of the item? Yikes, she definitely dodged a bullet after all!
Good luck, you bastard thief, you have the King of all people coming after you.
"Yes, our King." Lord Byron answers. "Do you know how lucky you are that Mr. Guanzuelo called me and not his highness?"
She pales and leans back against her chair, her gaze darting to her father. His face is grim, his arms crossed over his chest. She's starting to regret ever doing this. She could have been executed, huh?
"I'm keeping this quiet." Lord Byron continues, "Do you understand? If this gets to the King, he may very well have your head."
Everscent swallows as twists her hands against the cuffs. She wishes she can slink into the shadows and pretend this never happened.
"I didn't know it was-" She begins, her voice small and shaky as she looks between them.
"No one does," Byron cuts her off with a snap. "That's the point." He shakes his head, and pinches the bridge of his nose, "Speak of this to no one." He drops his hand to glare at her. She bites the inside of her cheek and looks away. "As far as everyone else will be concerned, someone stole it. And no one knows who."
And he's not wrong, well, as far as Everscent is concerned.
"Take your daughter home, Versance." Lord Byron steps away and opens the door. The hall is empty, Mr. Guan is nowhere to be seen. There's a shuffle that draws everyone's attention. Everscent watches as Xavier stands up and with his claws clicking against the floor, exists the room.
"I'm sorry." Everscent says as the neutralizer cuffs flick open. She pulls her wrists to her chest and rubs at the raw skin. She stands up, and dares to look the High Lord in the face. "Truly."
He softens his face and gives a nod of acknowledgement. "I hope you are miserable with whatever your father punishes you with." Then he flashes a mean smile.
As Everscent follows her father out, she promises herself to never go underwear shopping before a heist job.