Chapter 52

A guest to welcome, with an uninvited one tagging along as a bonus.

Blair forced an awkward smile as he sat beside a woman whose dazzling grin could brighten the entire room. Across from them, Odelliana sipped her tea with the grace of a queen, her calm demeanor unshaken by their presence.

To the untrained eye, it was a picture-perfect scene. Every sibling in this household, except Hermann, boasted stunning looks. Their refined beauty, coupled with the poised act of sipping tea together, created an image worthy of a masterpiece. Even the servants, under the guise of shaking out blankets, lingered by the windows, eager to sneak glimpses of the elegant tableau.

But beneath this serene exterior simmered an undercurrent of tension so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Wedged between his sisters, Blair sat rigidly, cold sweat forming on his brow. He didn’t dare speak, trapped in the suffocating silence between the two women. It was strange—they weren’t glaring at each other, arguing, or causing a scene. Yet, their very presence in the same room was enough to set the air crackling with barely restrained hostility.

“If we have a guest, we should greet them with a smile, sister,” Odette said, her tone deceptively light.

“If we didn’t have an uninvited one here, I might have managed that,” Odelliana replied without missing a beat.

“Surely you’re not still upset about what happened last time?”

“Upset? Don’t flatter yourself. Your choices and escapades have no bearing on me.”

“Then perhaps you could try being a bit more pleasant? Your sour expression is making me so uncomfortable, I can hardly stand it.”

“If that’s the case, the door is always an option.”

What was meant to be a discussion about Blair’s independence had devolved into pointless bickering, thanks to Odette’s unwelcome interruption.

Odelliana was not fooled by her sister’s feigned innocence. She knew exactly why Odette had come. Even now, Odette’s eyes darted slyly around the room, brimming with calculation. That cunning fox—what new chaos was she plotting?

“By the way, where’s that esteemed knight of yours, sister? Shouldn’t he be by your side, guarding you at all times?” Odette asked, her voice laced with mocking curiosity.

“I sent him away,” Odelliana replied coolly, not meeting her sister’s gaze.

“Sent him away?” Odette echoed, incredulity creeping into her tone.

“With a certain shameless adult eyeing a child with indecent intentions, how could I leave him here?”

At that, Odette’s lips twisted into a frown, her irritation clear.

“Well, if it isn’t our virtuous saint,” Odette scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

Losing interest now that her target had disappeared, Odette stood up abruptly.

“I’m leaving. This place is so dull it’s making me itch,” she declared with a dismissive wave, her heels clicking against the floor as she turned toward the door.

Blair, who had been sitting in tense silence, let out a deep sigh of relief as the oppressive atmosphere lifted with Odette’s departure. His body visibly relaxed, the tension in the room dissolving almost immediately.

Odelliana allowed herself a faint smile, a rare flicker of amusement passing over her face.

“So, everything’s almost ready?” she asked, shifting her attention back to Blair.

“Yes,” he confirmed, nodding. “I’ll head down first. Adolf has arranged your carriage. Oh, and before that, he mentioned wanting to see you.”

“Me?” Odelliana raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.

“He has a favor to ask of you. I was thinking of setting up a meeting. When would be convenient for you?” Blair inquired, his tone practical.

“Tomorrow works for me,” Odelliana replied. “But considering I’m someone who officially doesn’t exist, it might cause issues if Adolf comes here. It’d be better to meet outside.”

“But you can’t leave the estate…” Blair said, concern edging his voice.

“I can sneak out,” Odelliana said with a sly smile. “I’ve done it before when I went out with Matthias.”

Blair’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at her, disbelief clear on his face. “You… you’ve been sneaking out?” he asked, his voice tinged with incredulity.

Odelliana flashed him an embarrassed smile, her gaze shifting away. “I was just feeling suffocated being stuck here…” she began, her tone light but her eyes betraying a hint of discomfort. “Anyway, getting out isn’t hard. It’s just a matter of whether or not I get caught. Last time, it was dawn, so it worked out fine. A quick rendezvous late at night shouldn’t be a problem.”

Blair shook his head, still processing. “I’ll meet with Adolf, coordinate the schedule, and let you know,” he replied, his expression softening with concern.

“Alright,” Odelliana said, her smile returning, though it was fleeting.

“Don’t worry too much,” Blair added, his voice gentle but firm.

“I’m not worried,” Odelliana answered, her voice steady, though there was a hint of resolve in her eyes.

“It’s a relief, in this situation, that you haven’t even been formally recognized as part of the family,” Blair continued, his tone contemplative. “Even if I hide you, our family can’t publicly claim you, nor assert any rights over you.”

“But if I disappear, the family will suspect you first, Brother,” Odelliana countered, her gaze sharp as she met his eyes.

Blair paused for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. “Don’t worry. Even so, Eisenwald is a vassal of the Duke of Schaller’s domain. Neither Father nor anyone else in the Grüsewald family can meddle here lightly. A misstep could escalate into a conflict between families.”

Odelliana considered his words for a moment, but the unease never quite left her. But that doesn’t guarantee they wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics.

She glanced away, the weight of her thoughts heavy. Blair clearly doesn’t know about the curse of the beast.

Her mind raced with dark possibilities. The Grüsewald family would never sit idle. If she disappeared, their most valuable daughter would be lost, and they’d stop at nothing to bring her back—forcefully if necessary. If caught and dragged back… the consequences could be dire.

They might send me to some distant place where no one could help. A prison, perhaps, until the time came for Odette’s heart disease to surface. And when it did… they’d take my heart, and I’d meet a gruesome end.

Odelliana’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. In that sense, even Eisenwald isn’t entirely safe. Nowhere is. I might have to keep running until Odette dies. Even if I manage to endure… would the Duke of Grüsewald leave me alone?

The thought was suffocating. Not a chance.

To the Duke, a crippled daughter with no value would be nothing but a burden. She would be a liability, and he’d be even more determined to eliminate her, ensuring there were no loose ends.

The only option was to fortify her protection under Matthias. For now, it was the quickest way to secure her safety.

Odelliana nodded. “Set the date and let me know. I’m ready to meet with the Duke of Schaller whenever,” she said, her voice steady and resolute.

***

“What are you up to?”

Odette turned slowly, a smile playing at her lips. Leaning casually against the wall was the one person she’d been hoping to see—Matthias.

“I figured if I did something suspicious here, you’d show up. And you didn’t disappoint,” she remarked, her tone amused.

Odette’s smile widened, a glint of challenge in her eyes. “Such a loyal little servant. What’s the matter? Afraid I might harm my dear sister?”

Matthias’s eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Afraid? You’d be dead long before that happens,” he replied coolly.

Instead of being offended by his audacious tone, Odette’s eyes sparked with amusement. She stepped closer, studying him with a slow, almost predatory gaze.

“How did my sister tame such a wild thing?” she asked, her voice low and teasing as her gaze traveled boldly over his form. Despite his youth, Matthias’s physique was formidable—broad shoulders, a chest that spoke of strength even beneath his ash-gray tunic, and a height at least a hand taller than her own. His face, though still youthful, held a certain rugged charm, the soft features hinting at a boyish innocence that was quickly fading.

“Did my sister treat you that well?” she mused, her words laced with both curiosity and mockery.

Matthias only chuckled, the sound short and ambiguous—one that Odette couldn’t quite decipher. But she didn’t care. She was too caught up in her vulgar thoughts, finding even the smallest hint of a smile on his lips to be tantalizing.

“I could treat you better,” Odette continued, her voice suddenly sweet, laced with a darker edge.

Matthias’s brow twitched, but he said nothing, his expression unreadable.

“At the very least,” she added, stepping even closer, “I’m far more beautiful and skilled than she is.” 

Her behavior was a stark contrast to the saintly reputation she cultivated—one that felt more like a mockery with every passing moment. The title “Saint of Reveln” was laughable in light of her crude, streetwalker-like words. Her vanity, bordering on religious fervor, knew no bounds. She saw her beauty as not just a gift, but the ultimate weapon—one to be wielded with deadly intent.

Matthias stood with his arms crossed, his gaze steady and unflinching as he silently observed her. Taking his silence as encouragement, Odette moved closer, her steps slow but confident, pressing her body against his with deliberate boldness. She exuded a sense of invincibility, as if she believed no man could resist her charms.

With a seductive smile, she slid her pale, slender arms around Matthias’s waist, her touch bold and sure. Slowly, like a serpent, her hands crept under his tunic, her fingers inching higher as they became bolder with each passing moment.

“There, good boy,” she purred, her voice low and laced with playful dominance.

Her face, the one that had earned her the title of the most beautiful woman in Reveln, hovered mere inches from his. Her moist, ruby-red lips parted slightly, inching toward his own—

But in a flash, Matthias’s hand shot up, halting her advance with a firm, decisive grip.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice cold and commanding.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Matthias pushed her face away.