Chapter 5

“I’ll be taking my bride-to-be as an advance payment.”

“That thing…Mister, it is still a few days before Veta turns an adult and be able to debut in society, must she go now?” The baroness, who was also surprised, didn’t expect Louie Gautbert to take interest in Veta this early.

Their last conversation is that after Veta turned eighteen and debuted in the society again is when they will make the announcement of the engagement, so that after she inherits the title of the countess, she will be married into the Gautbert house, making Louie the new Count of Le Blanchet.

“It is just mere formality, in other houses the bride also moves into the house of her fiance in order to learn management and internal affairs.” Listening to every word he utters, a chill runs on Veta’s spine, before her, she has confirmed that her aunt and only family has decided to sell her off to this man.

“What are you talking about? This is illegal and if this reaches the palace you will not be able to escape the punishment!” Veta argued to them, even though early marriages is a norm in the nobility, to force the bride who has not yet debuted into the society without the authorities approval is a crime. 

Thus, those families who often dealt with the same situation to save the family’s fortune often chose the eldest child, in the case that the lady of the household is still a minor, they would file an early request in the pretense that the child will be taught and tutored from the other party’s household. 

In Veta’s situation it is not a plausible reason as she will soon debut and the current status of the Le Blanchet is not enough. Even though Veta isn’t the heir, she was able to learn alongside her younger brother as she will be assisting him before he solely inherits the title of count. Recalling the memories of her late brother made a bitter taste in her mouth. Looking at the stand in the family who’s facade has been blown up, she gathered all her courage to face them.

“I will not let you rule over my life, I am the only one who will inherit the county and no one else.”  Her eyes that burn with determination have taken aback the Rhodes couple. However, a sarcastic laugh reverberated over the mansion as Gautbert didn't take her seriously.

“ Such a naive child.”  Shaking his head, he looked at her in a very malicious manner, it didn’t hide his mischievous intention and a shiver ran down her spine. Despite being skinny and lacking expensive dresses and make up to doll her up, she still has a beautiful face that can touch the inner instinct of any man. 

“Seems like she is still growing, but it's not bad.”  Gautbert took interest in Veta, as he laid his eyes on her skinny body to her bosom and her annoyed face.

“A fallen household with no patriarch, not even a penny that can maintain this enormous mansion and could not feed its servants, the county of Le Blanchet has long been gone little lady!” His words hit her hard, it was the bitter truth that the household that she has been trying to hold on has crumbled into dust when her family died in the carriage accident. A young girl like her, sheltered and only knows the academy and her household as her whole world, cannot stand alone. Just like any other fallen noble, the only recourse is to be married in a higher family of status that can bear the Le Blanchet.

“Alright enough with this, I must go on my way now.”  Gautbert bid to the Rhodes couple and signaled his manservant to bring Veta along.

“ W-wait Mister Gautbert!”  Baroness Gracia called, and she seems to have hesitated on sending Veta away.

“ What is it again? I have already wasted my time here.” It was clear that he got the upperhand even though he is a commoner, this also hurts the pride of Gracia who is still of noble birth from the count family.

“I implore mister Gautbert, that it is still a few days before my niece turns adult, I'm afraid that if word that she has been taken to the betrothed household, even though it is already agreed by both parties, there is still no official approval from the royal palace.” 

“My, my, baroness Rhodes, is it really coming from yourself?” He mockingly held his head high and looked down at the worried baroness, even though the house has been in trouble, she is still adorned with riches, the jewelries, perfume and even the dress and shoes that are in trend.

“ You have benefitted much from the agreement, so I think you can handle such a small matter from coming out.”  It was a threat that the baroness must take responsibility.

“  Then, I’ll just see the both of you for the officiating day of this marriage agreement.” He turned around and left the emptied household, Veta kept on screaming to struggle from the manservants who held her.

“ L-let me go! I am not coming with you!” 

“ Sister Veta!” Moreau who has been watching from the second from run down to the stairs but he was caught by the servants and prevented from following through.

“ No! Let g- aghh!” Thrown into the carriage Veta hit her elbow and the pain ease through her she cried and complained. When she looks up, the hated face of the man is looking down on her.She never felt so insulted in her life, and made a jump to get out of the carriage but was hit behind the head and lost consciousness.

“Such a wench! Wasting too much of my time!” Annoyed at the hard trouble of putting the young lady in the carriage.

The rattling sound of the carriage and her head hitting the wall as the route is a bit rough, it brought back Veta to her senses and jumped a scare out of her when she realized she had fallen unconscious inside with the man who was forced to bring her.

“I’m telling you not to do anything funny.” It was an actual threat.

“You’re hideous! Let me go!” her hands were clumsily tied by a handkerchief, though her feet were freed, it was a motive to immobilize her, just like how she struggled against the servants, Gautbert must be afraid that she might fight him in the carriage that he decided to tie her hands down.

“What benefit will you gain from getting a scrawny girl like me? Just let me go!”

 “Poor lady… You really doesn’t know your worth.” Veta looked at him with a piercing gaze.

“Yes, those eyes are just like your father’s. It was full of anger and emotion.” She felt stunned as he mentioned her father.

“If only your mother didn’t show up and accepted the marriage, things would have been different.”

It confuses her and the reason Gautbert was talking about her parents.

“You see, when you are conceived, the engagement fastens and they get married even before my plans take place.”

“A-are you still sane? What are you talking about?”

With eyes that are full of hatred, Gautbert showed a pained expression which she couldn’t fathom even in her dreams.

“It was all your fault, that your parents died!”

A loud thud hit the carriage and the coachmen screamed, both Veta and Gautbert looked at the window, a minute of silence and they once again heard the others in panic.

“What!?”

“Lord! Please run away! Demons are attacking!

“Demons are supposed to be at the borders, how the hell are they attacking us!” Panic Gautbert reached out from below the seat of the carriage revealing a foreign looking black slender steel with a handle. As Gautbert opened the carriage door and aimed at the demon who's attacking one of his guards , a loud blast resonated as he pulled the trigger.

It was an illegal weapon in the kingdom.

She is in much more danger as these items can occur in the black market. However, it was no time for her to think much about it, different kinds of demons are lurking in their convoy and the guards who seem to be ordinary mercenaries are finding it hard to disperse them. Veta carefully opened the other side of the carriage and ran into the forest.

Gautbert was surprised and angered, ‘You wench get back here!”

He should be worrying about how to escape the demons, why would he care about a girl who is food to the bigger demons inside the forest is what Veta has in mind. Running with one bare foot and scratches from the tree branches, another blast was heard.

She paused, and felt a numbing pain saw that her left arm started to bleed.

She was shot!