For three days, Eula and her companions had been hiding in a small, quiet town in Aquitaine. They stayed in a modest, old house for rent far from the luxuries she once knew. The walls were thin, the beds creaked, and the faint smell of dampness lingered in the air. But none of that mattered. This place was safe—or so she hoped.
They were waiting for fake passports that a trusted dealer had promised to deliver in four days. Each passing day, however, heightened Eula's anxiety.
Meanwhile, Hao seemed oblivious to the danger surrounding them. For the first time in his young life, he was free to play like a normal child. He ran around with a group of local kids, kicking a ball in the dirt, laughing without a care in the world. His clothes were smudged with mud, his knees scraped, but he didn't seem to mind.
Eula watched him from the window, her heart aching with a bittersweet mix of joy and fear. It warmed her to see her son happy, but the fear of losing this fleeting peace consumed her.
"He likes it here," Layla, her loyal maid, said softly as she set down a steaming cup of tea on the small wooden table by Eula's side. "He finally gets to be a child."
Eula forced a weak smile but said nothing. Her gaze remained fixed on Hao.
"Madame, don't worry," Layla continued, trying to reassure her. "The dealer is reliable. The passports will be here tomorrow, just as promised."
"I'm scared, Layla," Eula admitted, her voice trembling. "The longer we stay here, the greater the chance Haoran will find us."
"We're in Toheyama territory," Alfred, the elderly driver, interjected from his seat by the door. He kept a watchful eye on the hallway, his posture tense. "No matter how powerful your husband is, he wouldn't dare trespass here without permission."
"It's not just myself I'm worried about, Alfred," Eula replied, turning to him with teary eyes. "I'm terrified for all of you. You're risking your lives to help us. I don't—"
"Shhh." Marie reached over and placed a gentle hand on Eula's. "Don't think about that, Madame. We've made our choice. We know what might happen if Haoran catches us, and we're prepared."
Marie's voice was calm but resolute. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, not of fear but of conviction. "Your family saved us. When no one in France would take us in after we fled Germany, it was the LaCroix estate that welcomed us. You gave us work, safety, and a home. You gave us a life of dignity when we had nothing. If we have to repay that debt with our lives, so be it. We regret nothing."
Eula's throat tightened. She felt a wave of gratitude and guilt wash over her, rendering her speechless. She didn't know how to express the depth of her appreciation for these people who had become more than just servants—they were her family now.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," Eula whispered, her voice breaking.
"You don't have to know," Alfred said, his tone steady. "Just focus on getting yourself and the young master out of this. That's all that matters."
Eula nodded, but her mind raced. She couldn't go back to the LaCroix estate; that would be the first place Haoran would search. She had already brought enough misfortune to her family simply by catching Haoran's attention all those years ago.
She glanced out the window again, watching Hao laugh as he tumbled into the dirt, his face lighting up with pure, innocent joy.
I won't let him take this away from you, she thought fiercely. I will get you out of this, no matter what it costs me.
It was midnight, but Eula couldn't sleep. The soft hum of the night outside did little to soothe her restless mind. Beside her, Hao lay sound asleep, his small chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, exhausted from playing all day. She reached over to brush a strand of hair from his forehead, her heart aching at the sight of his peaceful face.
Careful not to wake him, Eula slipped out of bed and padded quietly into the small, rustic kitchen. The dim glow of an antique oil lamp illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the wooden walls. She set about making herself a cup of tea, hoping it would calm her nerves.
As she poured the hot water into her cup, a chill ran down her spine. She hadn't heard any footsteps, but a faint, unfamiliar scent filled the air—sultry and sharp, like leather and roses. She froze, her hand trembling slightly.
Slowly, she turned toward the dining table, her breath catching as she saw a woman sitting there, bathed in the lamp's faint light. The woman was strikingly beautiful, her red and black leather ensemble hugging her figure like armor. Her presence was both mesmerizing and menacing, her beauty tinged with danger.
"Who are you?" Eula whispered, her voice barely audible, fear evident in her tone. She glanced toward the hallway, praying Hao and the others would stay asleep.
The woman didn't move from her seat. She simply regarded Eula with a calm, almost amused expression, her lips curling into a small smile. "Katarina," she said, her voice smooth, almost melodic.
Eula's heart raced. This woman wasn't from Haoran's circle; she was certain of it. If she were, she wouldn't be sitting calmly. She'd already have dragged Eula and Hao out by now.
"I don't think you're one of my husband's people," Eula said cautiously, her voice shaking despite her effort to steady it.
"I'm not," Katarina replied, her smile widening. "But we're not so different, you and I." Her eyes gleamed with curiosity, but there was no warmth in them. "I, too, hold a unique position of power. You see, I am the mistress of the Toheyama clan."
Eula's stomach dropped. The Toheyamas were no less dangerous than the Azakuras. In some ways, they were even more unpredictable. "What can I do for you?" Eula asked, her hands beginning to sweat despite the cool night air.
"You've brought chaos into my territory," Katarina said, her voice light but her gaze razor-sharp.
Eula swallowed hard. "We'll be leaving before the day is over," she assured her. "We never meant to cause any trouble."
Katarina tilted her head, her smile never faltering. "It doesn't matter. The chaos is already here."
"Please," Eula pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. "Just look the other way."
Before Katarina could respond, Alfred burst into the room, followed closely by Marie and Layla. "Mistress, you have to run—" he started, but he didn't finish.
In a blur of motion too fast for Eula to process, Katarina moved. By the time Eula registered what had happened, all three of her loyal companions lay crumpled on the floor, groaning in pain but alive.
"I'll give you two choices," Katarina said, straightening her outfit, which hadn't even been ruffled in the scuffle. "You and your son come with me willingly, and I let these people live. Or, my men will drag all of you to me. Either way, you're coming with me."
Eula knelt beside Marie, her hands trembling as she held the older woman's face. "Please, let her go," Marie croaked, her voice weak. "Mistress, save yourself and the young master."
Katarina crouched slightly, tilting her head as if inspecting Marie. "No hard feelings," she said with a small shrug. "I'm simply doing what you're doing—protecting my family."
Eula's fear turned into anger, and she forced herself to stand. "Are you really that scared of my husband?" she demanded, her voice firm despite her trembling hands.
Katarina's smile turned cold. "Scared of him? Oh, please," she scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Your husband is a brute, not a threat to me. But I can use you to get something I want from him." She leaned in closer, her eyes locking with Eula's. "Honesty is a virtue, isn't it?"
Eula's jaw clenched. "The Toheyamas are supposed to be righteous. And yet here you are, sacrificing me and my son for your own gain."
Katarina straightened, her smile returning, but this time it didn't reach her eyes. "Let's be honest with each other, Madame. You entered my territory knowing the risks. By being here, you've put my clan at risk of war with your husband. Aren't you sacrificing us as well?"
Eula had no response. She glanced down at Alfred, Marie, and Layla, all of whom were watching her with pleading eyes. Her throat tightened, and she felt the weight of their lives pressing down on her.
Katarina's voice broke through her thoughts. "So, what will it be, Eula? Will you come with me willingly, or shall we do this the hard way?"