The day has come.Today, Jack Black will be visiting the south for the first time since eternity.And it was the first time, the northern mafia boss gets welcomed by the south leader: the Knightly Master.Since the very early moments of the morning, Charlotte woke up. Martha and the other maids prepared her for the big day. It was chilly and Charlotte didn't resist feeling awkward and painful.Today she has to meet that monster Jack, who was behind her and Carl's tragedy. Plus, she should act like a little cute princess. Yesterday, Claude talked with both of them, her and Carl, alone. He asked for their sincere feelings and ask them not to push themselves too much. If they feel uncomfortable about meeting Jack. They have the choice not to attend the masquerade ball. But since Flora asked them long before to never leave Claude alone, each one of them declined the generous offer.Charlotte sighed. She must stand strong. She knows Jack can do nothing to her with Claude by her side. Stil
Claude was in his department. He needed to calm his head for a while before getting into this shit.Jack's last words were still ringing in his ear: "We will meet by the grave of the woman who unites us"That sick man.He was not kidding.Flora made no appearance, yet. Vlad, either. It was clear that something is going wrong. It was a month since Flora's departure. Today should be the day she comes back or at least reappear.Claude sighed. The anxiety was too much for him to carry. He was sitting alone in the painting room looking at the new painting of Flora he just finished last night: A face of first pleasure. That was its name. "Pleasure is addictive. One time is all that needs to make the body never forget about it and carry on asking for more. I sometimes ask myself how are you facing the distraction, Flora? Are you thinking about me from time to time? Are you getting wet, remembering that night? Are you touching yourself to let the pleasure go out and leave you? Or maybe, ar
Jack Black came into the ballroom at the time.The moment his cars entered the green zone, a chill crossed Charlotte's body:"Are you alright?" Asked Carl."He's coming" she responded.Charlotte and Carl were by Claude's side in the waiting room near the banquet hall. The moment Jack Black's cars passed the gate, Charlotte felt an ominous chill. Claude noticed her face getting pale and said nothing but:"Get a hold of yourself Charlotte. A princess should always keep a confident expression.""Brother Claude""Remember, that man is evil. And evil is weak.""Yes." Responded to the child with blind belief. Evil is weak.Today God is meant to prove this point.A minute later Jimmy came in:"Sir, they entered the green zone.""I know""How?""Order the men to take their positions. I want no mistake. Charlotte, Carl, out of pride the Knightlies will make their entrance a moment after Jack Black. Get ready.""Yes, Brother Claude!""Brother... May I ask something?""Yes, pumpkin?""Can I go
"I introduce to you my children, Carl and Charlotte"Claude presented his kids to Jack proudly and confidently. He marked them as two of his people that are forbidden to play with."How cute! Adopting poor orphans can only be proof of generous heart." Claude almost bet his tongue. This stupid son of h*e is trying to insult his children publicly!"Brother Claude is indeed a generous gentleman" Everyone got surprised by Charlotte's mature intervention "He takes excellent care of his family and friends"And to prove her point even more she held Claude's hand and gave Jack a couple of cold eyes."Oh! How cute!" Hack exclaimed in a way between mockery and friendliness."I am blessed by this brave boy and this angel-like girl. They are both well-mannered and smart. They are making me the best family.""Still you are not married, Mr Knightly! I wonder why!"Claude was about to say "none of your business son of a b*tch" but he got a hold of himself and kept the yellow smile:- I guess we are
"His Highness the Count Ludovic Castillo and His companion Madame Flora La Candida are making their entrance!"The silence that was heard in the ballroom at that moment, was of a cemetery.And there was Flora La Candida, the white flower of the north, the queen and mistress of the Knighly's household, side to side with his highness the Count. Behind her, entered Vlad as her guard. The three of them looked more than relaxed and confident. They looked glorious.Everyone knelt for the Count. And by it, they knelt to his companion. The Count was wearing a costume of a victorian nobleman. His lady wore a sublime white ballgown and a diamond Crown, probably one of Castillo's family treasures. She let her ebony, gorgeous hair down and wore gentle makeup and blood-red lipstick. She looked more than a noble lady.She looked like the ultimate queen of the ball.Those who knew who she was were seeing a dead woman alive, a walking dead! Those who didn't know her were astonished by her incomparab
"So, won't you tell us at least how you ended up with the Count?!" Asked Mielle."Well... That's a long story... But I can say that I was researching about the man I love and found myself in the process."Here, it was Claude's turn to get as red as a tomato."Gosh! Get a hold of yourself!" Mielle told him.But he was able to control it. Instead, he looked at Flora lovingly and said:"I'm still gonna punish you.""That's alright I'll take it""Hey you both, is punishment your love language or something?"It was awkward, yet sweet.On the other hand, Jack almost lost his brain. He heads to the toilets and through a tantrum there. Then when he finally got reasonable again he washed his face and looked in the mirror only to find Vlad standing behind him."How can I help you, Russian mercenary?""I am delivering a note from the Count.""You may read it""Flora La Candida is a protégée of the round table. End.""F*ck you and him and his f*cking ball table!""You better calm down to not have
The two lovers didn't let go. Ludovic knew they needed their time so he stood up, thanked Claude for the whiskey, and went out.Claude was barely able to respond to Ludovic respectfully. He was losing his head given Flora's perfume. She smelled like white flowers and strawberries. And she didn't need perfume to make him lose his mind.Flora held Claude as tight as she can. She felt tired and he was her only home, her safe place. Claude was carrying the weight of the world. In his head, he saw the shape of the end getting closer. But then he remembered he now has Flora and two kids. He doesn't have the right to let go anymore. Flora thought a moment about sacrificing herself so Claude won't get in trouble with the Round Table, one of the strongest cults in the country, and maybe in the whole world. But then she remembered, he may die from pain if she leaves him.The hug scene was beyond compare. A noble night, taking his beloved lady in his arms. It looked like a film scene or a poem l
"Isn't that?""Jack's voice? Yes. Go and hide behind the curtain. I will open for him."Claude slapped his face to wake up from the heat and he opened the door to Jack.Jack didn't get in. He was smiling devilishly as always and he said:"I have a collaboration suggestion for you."Claude looked suspicious. How did Jack get back to his right mind after such a shock? What is he thinking about:"What do you want?""My wife. As you see, Ludovic wants her for himself. But I want something from her, and you want something from her too.""What do you mean?!""You want her body and I want her tears. We can both take what we want if we capture her again.""Is that the wisest conclusion your head ever come up with?!""I told you that woman is the only thing that unites us. And here we have someone else trying to take her away. You can't resist him by myself nor can I resist him by myself either. So the best way to take her from him is by uniting our powers."Jack threw a tantrum in the bathroo
Flora woke up the next morning to the sound of knocking on her chamber door.“Yes?!” She asked“Are you decent?”“A moment please.”Flora jumped off the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She knew the voice owner: That was the voice of Mr. Wolfgang! Flora changed her clothes and did her hair then she stood up in the middle of the chamber, head high, straight posture, and severe facial expression:“Please, come in.”Wolfgang came into the room and smirked looking at Flora: She tried to appear solemn and severe but the excitement in her eyes failed her:“How was your night, young lady?”“Cozy, thank you. How have you been, sir?”“You can call me Father. Or don’t. That silly son of mine shall marry you first.”Flora got as red as a cherry and she looked down shyly. He knew she was emotionally entangled with his adopted son! “Calm down Flora. Don’t mess it up this time.” She whispered to herself.“Mr. Wolfgang.” She said to him, “I want to talk with you.”“Here I am.”“First,
“Are you happy?” said Mielle. Cassius barely added a word after Claude left him and Mielle. He asked her to give him her seal and gun if she had any. Mielle took off the necklace she kept under her clothes. That necklace had a seal on it: The seal of a thorny rose. With that seal, Mielle has the access to the Brotherhood’s database and has the right to communicate with other members. Without a seal, she is just a hanged member who has no voice. Cassius was not afraid of her. Even if she asks for help, his position as enforcer will prevent her from getting any. Plus, he knew she didn’t want help. Mielle was far too proud to not accept the consequences of her free actions. But he respected the protocol. From the moment she is considered a sinner, to the moment she accepts redemption, Mielle shall stay isolated from the rest of the brotherhood to not spread her sins among them. It was ridiculous, but it was the law that protected this brotherhood for centuries. Mielle gave him her gu
Mielle, the witty coffee shop owner, is an assassin.Cassius, the kind guy, is an enforcer.The enforcer’s job in the Round Table was not complicated. He has to keep order. Every member of the secret society should respect his place, his mates, and the law. And Mielle just broke all of it. Cassius was an enforcer linked to Claude, and Mielle was the assassin linked to Claude. Claude was a knight. Which is a very advanced position. To each knight, the Round Table attributes a functional unit. In the unit, there is an assassin who shall enforce the knight’s orders outside the brotherhood. The Round Table attributes every knight an enforcer in charge of keeping order and punishing those going berserk, even if they were the knight himself.Mille acted without her master’s consent two times. The first time was on the Orient Express where she killed a mafia man: Mr. Fortnight, to avenge her family. The second was in the peace masquerade where she poisoned a guest: Mrs. Ilnero gives her fri
Roxanna was aware of the situation. The moment Cassius told her Claude was waiting for her. She nodded and spared herself successfully from the police. She walked into the study where Claude was smoking and greeted him:- I pay my respect to the glorious silver knight.- Welcome Miss La Rosa. Do me the honor of sharing a discussion.It was a bit dark inside. The smoke made the air thick and gloomy. Roxanna knew that Claude was angry. With his dominant posture and cruel face, he looked quite the dangerous. Claude sat in front of Roxanna and offered her a cigarette. She accepted it and smoked as well. Claude sighed and asked her, with a dry tone:- Long story short, are you the one who did it?- Would you punish the one who did it?- No. I want a painful death for that witch. Yet, choosing this time is just irrational.- It was not me Mr. Knightly. If it was me, I would admit it with no fear.- In that case, do you know who did it?- No, no one told me about something like that happeni
Flora felt nausea. What has she done?! Claude will kill her for this! He will damn kill her!Once they heard Bianca’s scream, Flora was about to run into the building and head to the ballroom, when Vlad caught her hand:“Stay here, I will go to enquire.”“Yes.”The moment Vlad disappeared, Ludovic appeared as if he was waiting for her to be alone. “So? Shall we go?”“What have you done?!”“Nothing. But it is a good occasion to run without Jack and Claude noticing us.”“No, I can’t! I didn’t tell Claude yet that I am going with you! I can’t just disappear again! That would be cruel and disrespectful!”Ludovic grabbed the woman’s arm and growled: “Do you want to meet Wolfgang or not?”“But…”“Yes or No?! Make a choice!”“Yes.”“Then let’s go. We have no time left. Soon the two men will get aware of your disappearance.”Ludovic took Flora to his car and ordered his men to act as secretly as possible. And so, when everyone was swallowing the shock of the unpredictable incident, Ludovic
Bianca screamed as her mother collapsed in the ballroom: “Mother! Mother! Wake up!!!”A line of black thick blood was coming out of the mouth of the unconscious woman. “Poison!” cried a lady “She is poisoned!”Claude came to the ballroom with Jack as soon as they heard the screaming:“Is that your doing?” Claude asked Jack the moment they got to the door.“No. Yours?”“No.”“Who then?”They didn’t need that answer for the moment. Instead, they approached the victim:“What the f*ck is this?” said Jack as he knelt beside the collapsed woman.“Oh! Mr. Black! Mother! Mother got poisoned!” responded Bianca crying.Claude ordered his men to call the police and an ambulance. But Jack said coldly as he examined the woman: “Order them to hurry and bring a doctor along. I do not think she can make it in more than an hour.”“Alright. Ladies and gentlemen, please do not leave your positions. Stay where you are until the police are here.”Inside, Claude was cursing. That was far away from being a
Flora looked around her all the time. Claude was nowhere to be seen when she needed to talk to him as soon as possible. Staying around Roxana was the best. But Flora was anxious so she excused herself and went into the hallway to look for Claude. The anxiety made Flora not pay attention to Jack who came after her. But suddenly as she walked in the long corridor, she felt a shiver. And she immediately knew what it was. She turned to look solemn and saw Jack behind her, smiling as the devil he is:- Did you miss your Daddy, babydoll?He said with a teasing smile and Flora had the desire to vomit. And she did not answer. She just kept looking at him with pride and confidence.Jack’s smile started to fade as he sensed something was different about Flora’s eyes. He saw her arrogant look thousands of times before, but this… this was something different:- Come back to your house my dear wife. Your husband and family, we are all waiting for you- Does that include your wipes and ropes?- Of
It was the time for a Valse. Cassius asked Flora to be his partner and she didn’t let him down. Cassius, as the sweet guy he is, attracted many of the ladies at the ball. First, they got disappointed seeing he had a partner. Then, they got even more disappointed to see him dancing with the ball’s queen: Flora La Candida.Cassius only smiled at Flora. No word was said for a while. He led her softly and naturally. They looked perfect dancing together. But after some time, Cassius bent on his partner and whispered:- Tell me he didn't hurt you that night Flora. Please, tell me he didn't.- He didn't- Thank goodness. Cassius sighed. Now that you are back things will get better. As his close friend, I am truly happy you are back, Flora. Claude was acting strong but inside he was burning. Can you believe Mielle herself was kind to him?- Gosh... I am sorry - Don't be. Or be. If you want to apologize, apologize to Ciel. The poor man was having a VERY hard mouth.Flora laughed. Her sweet la
Back to the present,----------Flora woke up after some minutes. Claude was still holding her tight and caressing her back. When she opened her eyes she saw him looking at her and she felt like heaven."We must go back to the ballroom, don't we?""I think we should. I'll never get enough of the shocked face of your stepmother."Flora giggled:"Neither I !""Let me help you dress then I will go and ask a maid to help you with your hair and makeup.""Gosh! I have a problem. I didn't bring anything to correct my appearance!""That's alright. In the resting room, they are keeping some brushes and makeup simple.""What a relief to be in a masquerade held by a billionaire."Claude laughed and said:"Are you aware you came to a masquerade without a mask? All of that to disturb those b*tches?""Well, in fact, I was planning on wearing a mask and meeting you privately. Then I thought: Why am I scared? Let them know I am alive. Let them burn for my happiness. I think it was worth it. I am not